Learn all of science in less than half an hour

• Book information
• 30-Second Theories by Paul Parsons
• Published by: Icon Books
• Price: £12.99

THIS beautifully illustrated book claims to contain "the 50 most thought-provoking theories in science, each explained in half a minute". "Explained" might be a stretch. After all, there's only so much one can garner about quantum theory or sociobiology from a few brief paragraphs.

Still, there's much food for thought on topics from natural selection to information theory. Expert contributors present difficult concepts as simply and succinctly as possible, and each entry comes with a "3-minute thought" for readers willing to invest an additional 180 seconds. (As the bit on relativity explains, those 180 seconds will take you much further if you happen to be travelling at close to the speed of light.)

30-Second Theories is the kind of book that can spark curiosity and inspire you to seek more information, and would make a lovely gift for the inquisitive non-scientist in your life.

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