• click here to return to the homepage •
Home > Categories > Books > Non-Fiction > Why the Toast Always Lands Butter Side Down. The Science of Murphy's Law review
The real scientific reasons why everything always goes wrong.
Start looking for Murphy's Law, and you will find it everywhere. Buses go round in threes, the queue you join always goes slowest, when your hands are full your nose starts to itch, you think of 10 important things to remember just as you are falling asleep...
Can there ever be a rational explanation?
The answers turn out to be one part scientific to three parts psychology. The worls has changed a lot in the last 4000 years, but our brains haven't/ So, again and again we find our reactions are just plain out of date.
Why do you take the same wrong turning every single time?
Why, when you lose something, do you keep looking in the same place over and over?
Why is it suddenly there the twentieth time you look?
Hover Car Racer
Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things
World's Wierdest Sports
The World House
Many Bloody Returns
Luther and the Cloud-Makers
The Scorpio Races
Pirate Pete
Dingle Dangle Scarecrow
The 39 Clues Doublecross #3: Mission Hurricane
Creepella Von Cacklefur: #8 The Phantom of the Theatre
The Chronicles of Aden Weaver - 1 - Or'in of Tane
Skandar and the Unicorn ThiefProduct reviews...
Members are welcome to post a review. You will need to log in to post yours.
Review by: diogenes (Rob)
Dated: 15th of March, 2006
Ok, so it is well known that I am a bit of a nerd, and science books attract me like, well, add any metaphor you like here, but keep it clean - it is a family site.
Popular science books seem to be quite a popular genre at the moment, with many books covering many subjects: Genetics, biology, social sciences, nature ad nauseam. Psychology books seem to be thin on the ground, probably because of the perceived complexity of the science.
Robinson has done the seemingly impossible in presenting psychology in a catchy, readable book by examining "Murphy's Law", in its numerous guises and lengthy explainations, with a very helpful index of Murphy's laws, from why toast falls butter side down to why your queue always moves the slowest, and many, MANY more helpful explanations of Murphy's Law and how psychology relates to it.
It must have been a gutsy decision on the part of the author to write it, a gutsy decision on the part of the publisher to publish it and release it - and in my opinion, their gamble paid off. It really is a gambol through the field of psychology and the workings of the human brain.
It is well worth a read, and if you are anything like me, the book will be finished in hours not days or weeks. You will not regret buying this book, and even if you buy it for a friend, be assured that it will be gratefully received and read.
Random listing from 'Books'...
Can Alfred find what he is looking for?
When Alfred goes to the optometrist, he finds out he needs glasses. But life can be tricky when you are a cyclops. Can Alfred find glasses that suit him?
Eye Spyclops is a story about finding the right fit and learning it's okay to stand out.
This book presents a relatable story about being comfortable with who you are in a world that includes both the everyday and the ... more...
All trademarks, images and copyrights on this site are owned by their respective companies.
KIWIreviews is an independent entity, part of the Knock Out News Group. This is a free public forum presenting user opinions on selected products, and as such the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinion of kiwireviews.nz and are protected under New Zealand law by the "Honest Opinion" clause of the Defamation Act of 1992. KIWIreviews accepts no liability for statements made on this site, on the premise that they have been submitted as the true and honest opinions of the individual posters. In most cases, prices and dates stated are approximate and should be considered as only guidelines.
"Focus 90% of your time on solutions and only 10% of your time on problems."
Anthony J. D'Angelo, The College Blue Book
