Just read Death From the Skies and craving more.

[Nick Theodorakis]

After Phil Plait's "Death from the Skies" I'd recommend "Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries" by Neil deGrasse Tyson. Like Phil Plait, Neil deGrasse Tyson is an excellent, imaginative writer and it is interesting when they both approach somewhat similar themes.

I liked them both, but Phil and Neil have very different styles. Some time ago I reviewed both those books here.

Since someone asked, I also recommend Mlodinow's Drunkard's Walk.

Nick

[EDG]

I've got plenty of other fiction to read, thanks.

If nothing else, Worlds In Collision is a good exercise for recognising non-scientific arguments and finding their flaws. As such, I would say that it's excellent training and required reading for anyone who likes to think of themselves as a skeptic.

And frankly, it is a fun read. I knew it made no scientific sense, but it still paints a rather wild picture of its version of history (that frankly isn't that much crazier than the myths that it is based on) and it's amusing to read.

[ElectricUniverse]

Well, if you read my post more carefully, I wasn't suggesting that you believe Velikovsky's conclusions, since, as you said, they are based mostly on his interpretation of ancient myth. I was just saying that it is very stimulating subject material that he handles in like manner to Plait's Death in the Skies, and that is much more interesting than most of the "what-if" doomsday books that have littered the lanscape since World's in Collision was published 60 years ago. I don't think you would argue with me on that, since it is a personal opinion I am stating here.

[Gillianren]

Well, if you read my post more carefully, I wasn't suggesting that you believe Velikovsky's conclusions, since, as you said, they are based mostly on his interpretation of ancient myth. I was just saying that it is very stimulating subject material that he handles in like manner to Plait's Death in the Skies, and that is much more interesting than most of the "what-if" doomsday books that have littered the lanscape since World's in Collision was published 60 years ago. I don't think you would argue with me on that, since it is a personal opinion I am stating here.

It's perfectly acceptable to disagree with someone's opinion, and I'll tell you why I do. The fact is, there are people who take it just as seriously as Death From the Skies! It may be an interesting experiment in critical thinking, but I don't think silly misinterpretation of things is stimulating. I'd find it irritating beyond words. It wasn't meant as "what-if." It was This Is What Happened.