1. Comment #50188 by MIND_REBEL on June 15, 2007 at 3:21 pm

This should be required viewing for everyone wanting to understand the world. Had i had more science education growing up i'm postive i'd be a happier, more successful person.

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2. Comment #50193 by ft77 on June 15, 2007 at 3:39 pm

Awesome review.
Check out this if you haven't already. The personal approach Prof. Dawkins takes in it nicely compliments the more formal approch of his books.

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3. Comment #50196 by artofwar420 on June 15, 2007 at 3:53 pm

Awesome, if I had children, this would be a must. Still I'll get it.

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4. Comment #50200 by Nails on June 15, 2007 at 4:18 pm

Focus is a good mag, reviewing science and technology with a bit of humour. Much more readable and mainstream than SciAm or Nature.
http://www.focusmag.co.uk/default.asp
Latest issue has an interview with our fave prof and ask him questions from Steve Jones and other scientists.
Worth a read.

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5. Comment #50201 by Nails on June 15, 2007 at 4:19 pm

Oh, and the DVD is really good!!!
i enjoyed it more than my kids, but I guess they'll just get used to it...

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6. Comment #50208 by commonhumanity on June 15, 2007 at 5:30 pm

I love this DVD. Love that cute grin when the wrecking ball almost bonks him, and he knows it will not, knows his knowledge of physics will save him from what looks like certain death.

Love his discussion of coincidence, illustrated by the young man left standing, but not because he is any smarter or more astute or more of a "prophet" than the others, but just by chance he happened to have been placed in the pool of survivors. I remind myself of that whenever I [mistakenly] bewail my wretched fate. Remind myself that I should not feel guilt. (After all, it was just coincidence the student and I backed out across from each other, did not see each other, bammed the heck out of each other's cars.)

I believe Richard Dawkins is far and away the best creative non-fiction writer alive today, bar none. Being an English professor, I am eligible to nominate for the Nobel Prize in Literature which I happily do each spring for the awards in October. Guess I need to put that under his writing instead of under his DVD, but what the hey [hay?], he's a splendid teacher also, as you saw here so clearly.
Dorothy Sutton
Eastern Kentucky University

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7. Comment #50229 by Planeten Paultje on June 15, 2007 at 11:17 pm

I saw the series when it was aired by the BBC. I'm very glad it's om DVD now and got me a copy right away. I wish all the other Christmas Lectures were available this way, especially since they completely dropped below the horizon (as seen from Holland)......

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8. Comment #50271 by LeeC on June 16, 2007 at 7:53 am

I remember the Christmas lectures… I use to watch them every year (would still, but I am no longer living in England)

I also remember this lecture the first time round; I guess I was too young to really to truly understand it then though…

However, I always found these lectures interesting on another level… they were to be aimed at 10 and 11 years old, but I remember watching some while doing my A-levels (16/17 years old) and not understanding most of them or just being bored by the style. I know I could never watch them as a 12 year old.

Maybe I was just stupid then…(maybe I am still now)?

My point is the lectures were spoken to a young age group, but aimed at a higher level…. At least this is true for most of the lectures I remember.

Still… I still NEED this DVD… where is my credit card.

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9. Comment #50280 by bluebird on June 16, 2007 at 10:41 am

Huzzah for RD and this DVD; our teenage sons are enjoying this during summer break.

RE #6, nominating him for a NPP in Literature is a fan-tabulous idea.

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10. Comment #50349 by blueollie on June 17, 2007 at 4:35 am

Kids? These things are wonderful for adults!!!!

Get your copy, now!

(even better if you have kids)

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11. Comment #50476 by phasmagigas on June 18, 2007 at 11:08 am

i saw this when i was 21 and it pretty much kick started my present world view. those who say 'show it to your kids', i'd agree, i just wonder how many evangelists (who have never seen this) would look at this as some form of indoctrination? well of course it isnt just as long as we dont tell our children that this 'must be believed because i say its true!!' Highly engaging and yes, we love that shirt!! I think its interesting to see just how much computers have evolved since that programme, i wonder how many rolls royce cars could now fit on a pinhead?????

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12. Comment #50881 by AdrianT on June 20, 2007 at 9:44 am

My godson is three years old on Friday - and I bought this as a present. I know he's too young now - but I bought this to make a statement. This is such a wonderful collection, it teaches so much, I feel it has to be 'there' in anyone's library, like for some the Bible is.

Actually, I'm hoping his parents will watch it.I am sure the 'virtual reality' example will be somewhat dated when he gets round to watching it in 5 years' time, and by then it will be on a USB stick the size of a pin... that's memetic evolution for you I suppose.....!

This was the best Christmas lecture my a mile, too.

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