The Seven Follies of Science [2nd ed.] A popular account of the most famous scientific impossibilities and the attempts which have been made to solve them. To which is added a small budget of interesting paradoxes, illusions, and marvels

A lively tour of the most celebrated scientific riddles, this work invites listeners to step into the arena where curiosity meets the limits of nature. From the ancient quest to square the circle to the endless chase for perpetual motion, each “folly” is presented as a story of ambition, error, and eventual insight. The narrator keeps the focus on why these problems captured imaginations across centuries, rather than on the technical minutiae.

The explanations are deliberately plain‑spoken, avoiding heavy formulae and instead relying on clear analogies and everyday arithmetic. Vibrant illustrations and occasional hands‑on demonstrations let even a casual hobbyist picture the experiments that once promised miracles. Along the way, surprising paradoxes and optical marvels appear, each resolved with a simple principle that demystifies the apparent impossibility.

Ideal for anyone who enjoys a blend of history, humor, and mind‑bending puzzles, the book offers a satisfying mix of education and entertainment. Whether you’re a teacher, a mechanic, or simply a curious listener, the stories provide a memorable glimpse into the human drive to test the boundaries of what can be known.