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Marcus Chown

The One Thing You Need to Know

The Simple Way to Understand the Most Important Ideas in Science

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Details

Imprint: O'Mara Books

Publication date: 09/10/2025

ISBN: 9781789296853

Subject: Non-Fiction

Category: Science - History - Philosophy

Binding: Paperback

Size: 198 x 129 mm

Extent: 256 pages

Illustration: B/w illustrations throughout

Territorial Rights: World (All Languages)

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Summary:

From gravity to black holes, special relativity to global warming, bestselling author Marcus Chown breaks down complex science into manageable chunks, explaining the one thing you really need to know to get to grips with the subject.

Rather than trying to bend your mind around all the vast and confounding details of things such as gravitational waves, electricity and black holes, wouldn’t it be easier to understand just one central concept from which everything else follows?

If you’ve ever found yourself fascinated by the idea of quantum computing but feel a little overwhelmed by the mindblowing subject of quantum mechanics or if you are concerned by climate change but haven’t been able to get to grips with the details of global warming, this book is for you. Let’s take atoms, for example – what on earth are they? Well, if you start to think of them less like things you can’t see with complex little nuclei and more like the alphabet of nature, which in different configurations can make a rose, a galaxy or a newborn baby, they might start to feel a little more understandable. Or gravitational waves – they sound poetic, but why are they creating so much excitement? Think of them as the voice of space or vibrations on the drumskin of space-time, before delving into all their complexities.

In twenty-one short and engaging chapters, Chown explains the one thing you need to know to understand some of the most important scientific ideas of our time. Packed full of astounding facts, scientific history and the entertaining personalities at the heart of the most pivotal discoveries about the workings of our universe, this is an accessible guide to all the tricky stuff you’ve always wanted to understand more about.

Reviews:

This book will surely spark many people’s interests in science by introducing them to an idea they can understand, be passionate about and pursue further.

BBC Sky at Night Magazine

The book’s charm is that it breaks down well-known scientific concepts into small, digestible chunks, and Chown’s humour helps hold the reader’s attention. Recommended for those who love science and are looking for a summary read.

Booklist

Sales points:

  • An original and easy-to-understand USP, focusing on engaging and current topics.

  • Chapter topics to include: gravity, tides, quantum theory, relativity, time travel and gravitational waves.

  • Marcus Chown is a well-reviewed bestselling science author with a strong X following (50,000).

  • Marcus Chown’s previous title published by Michael O’Mara Books, Infinity in the Palm of Your Hand: Fifty Wonders That Reveal an Extraordinary Universe, has been published in 12 languages worldwide.

About the Author:

Marcus Chown

Marcus Chown is an award-winning writer and broadcaster. His books include Breakthrough, The Ascent of Gravity, (which was the Sunday Times 2017 Science Book of the Year), Infinity in the Palm of Your Hand, What A Wonderful World, Quantum Theory Cannot Hurt You, We Need to Talk About Kelvin and Afterglow of Creation. The latter two of which were runners-up for the Royal Society Book Prize. Marcus has also won the Bookseller’s Digital Innovation of the Year Award for Solar System for iPad.

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