themulhern: Both books are about the process of science as well as the facts of science. Both are written for young adults but readily appreciated by fully mature adults.

themulhern: Two famous authors of popular science try writing for children. Dawkins is much better, however, he never seems to be dumbing it down and he doesn't make the dumb jokes.

themulhern: Both books are science books directed at a younger audience. While "A Little History of Science" is mostly descriptive, "The Magic of Reality" is persuasive, and hence more intellectually demanding. It is true that "The Magic of Reality" is not going to convert the anti-scientific, but it's going to help the scientific understand why they have reason to believe the things they do, which as John Stuart Mill pointed out in "On Liberty" is a very valuable sort of knowledge. So, I'ld say that "The Magic of Reality" is the stronger book, but "A Little History of Science" has more facts and history, and is therefore useful in that way.… (plus d'informations)