Science has produced the vast information explosion that barrages us daily with data both trivial and profound. Though people seem eager to acquire more and more information, few understand what to do with it or how to integrate it into a coherent worldview. Paradoxically, as information has increased, knowledge has declined.This book is designed to provide a thorough grounding in science literacy for the general lay reader. Acclaimed science writer and chemistry professor Keith J. Laidler reviews the major contributions of the different branches of science - including biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, and geology - and shows how they all lead to a unified conception of our place in the universe. He further asserts that by lifting the great veil of mystery through science, we can more fully appreciate the beauty of the universe. Although much still remains to be discovered, Laidler stresses that evidence from every field of science supports a consensus view, an elegantly logical and self-consistent picture of the formation and development of the universe and of life within it.Even more important than understanding the basic features of this scientific worldview is knowing the method by which science arrives at its conclusions. He points out that this approach to ascertaining the truth is used by judges in courts of law and by scholars in academic fields of the humanities, as well as by scientists. By learning to weigh sound evidence in an objective and unbiased fashion, we can selectively judge the information that surrounds us and integrate it into a scientific understanding, while still retaining our sense of wonder.This elegantly written and lucid explanation of science in contemporary life will not only spark an interest into the wonders of many fascinating scientific disciplines but will stimulate readers to think more critically and scientifically. "...very satisfying and imformative." -- Bookviews.com, December 2004 The vast information explosion that science has produced continues to barrage us daily with both the trivial and the profound. How should we cope with this massive influx of new ideas about science and related areas? Though the public seems eager if not infatuated with acquiring more and more information, few understand how to make use of or how to integrate it to create a coherent worldview. Paradoxically, as the amount of information increases, knowledge-the result of our brains selecting and processing information to form an intelligible view of the world-has declined. SCIENCE AND SENSIBILITY is exquisitely designed to provide a thorough grounding in the methods of science, stressing the importance of arriving at rational conclusions by carefully considering and evaluating the evidence available. Acclaimed science writer and chemistry professor Keith J. Laidler begins by reviewing the major contributions of the different branches of science-including biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, and geology-and showing how, together, the research conducted in these areas leads to a unified conception of our place in the universe. He asserts that by dispelling the air of mystery that pervades the public's perception of science, we can more fully appreciate the beauty of the universe. Although much still remains to be discovered. Laidler stresses that evidence from every scientific field supports an elegantly logical and internally consistent picture of the formation and development of the universe and of life within it. Dr. Laidler also explores the relationship between science and culture. Focusing on such topics as the nature-nurture debate, the importance of chance in everyday events, and the relationship between religion and science, he demonstrates how many of the important lessons learned from a study of science apply to many issues and situations faced by society. He points out that the scientific method of reaching the truth is used by judges in courts of law and by scholars in a wide variety of academic fields in the humanities and elsewhere, as well as by scientists. By learning to weigh relevant evidence in an unbiased fashion, we can objectively judge the enormous glut of information that surrounds us, integrate the useful portions into a scientific understanding, and still retain our sense of wonder. This elegantly written and lucid explanation of science, both historically and in contemporary life, will not only spark interest in the wonders of many fascinating scientific disciplines but will stimulate readers to think more critically. Keith J. Laidler  (1916 - 2003), Ph.D., was professor emeritus of chemistry at the University of Ottawa and the author of eleven books, including  To Light Such a Candle  (Oxford University Press, 1998),  Science and Sensibility , and  The Harmonious Universe  (the latter two by Prometheus Books). He received numerous awards including the American Chemical Society’s prestigious Dexter Award "for outstanding contributions to the history o