A COLLECTION of essays by big thinkers answering big questions may never be a page-turner, but should still be deeply satisfying. And This Explains Everything delivers.
Its editor, John Brockman, is the man behind the Edge website, which has been inviting scientists, philosophers, artists and science journalists to tackle a big question annually since 1998.
The 2012 question comes from neuroscientist Steven Pinker: “What is your favourite deep, elegant or beautiful explanation?” It draws thoughtful responses, collected here, from a diverse band that includes Nobel prizewinning physicist Frank Wilczek, philosopher Gloria Origgi and Pixar co-founder Alvy Ray Smith.
Charles Darwin’s…
