Thursday, October 22, 2009 | Science : In the News | print version

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Transworld Acquires A New Book By Richard Dawkins

by [UPDATE] Press Release - booktrade.info

http://www.booktrade.info/index.php/showarticle/23872

Transworld Publishers is delighted to announce the acquisition of a new book by Richard Dawkins , WHAT IS A RAINBOW, REALLY?, in collaboration with the renowned illustrator, Dave McKean.

Aimed at the adult and young adult market, the book addresses big questions about the natural world, including What is a Rainbow? Why are there Seasons? and Who Was the First Man and the First Woman? Each question is answered first by myth and legend, and then by lucid scientific explanation.

Dawkins has always encouraged independent, critical thinking in young people, as well as adults. WHAT IS A RAINBOW, REALLY? presents the poetic beauty of the mythological answers to these questions, but in every case this beauty will be exceeded by the scientific truth.

Dave McKean has illustrated numerous adult and children's books, including those of Neil Gaiman and David Almond, and his artistic style complements perfectly Dawkins' prose. UK rights were acquired by Sally Gaminara, Publishing Director of Bantam Press from John Brockman at Brockman Inc who is currently negotiating multiple foreign rights deals with Dawkins' publishers worldwide. Dave McKean is represented by Merrillee Heifetz at Writers House.
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http://www.booktrade.info/index.php/showarticle/23872
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From today's Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/oct/23/richard-dawkins-teenagers-illustrated-book

Richard Dawkins targets teenagers with myth-busting illustrated book

God Delusion author plans to pair popular legends with 'lucid scientific explanations' in illustrated work for young readers
After squashing Darwin deniers and God-botherers with bestselling tomes including The God Delusion and The Greatest Show on Earth, Richard Dawkins is set to tackle what might be his hardest audience yet: teenagers.

The well-known scientist and atheist has struck a book deal for his first title for young adults, which will look to explode myths and legends about the natural world with science. Due out in autumn 2011, What is a Rainbow, Really? will take on topics including who the first man and first woman were, why there are seasons, what the sun is, how old the world is and why there are so many animals, first answering the questions with myth and legend, and then with "lucid scientific explanations".

"Richard has always been incredibly keen to reach children from the whole point of view of individual critical thinking and not to just toe the party line," said Sally Gaminara, who bought the book for Transworld, part of the Random House Group. "He will explore certain myths people are brought up with – he's very keen to do that, to make people look at things and not be accepting, to question more ... He will tell myths for what they are but will also delight in their poetic beauty."
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/oct/23/richard-dawkins-teenagers-illustrated-book

Posted: Thursday, October 22, 2009 | Permalink

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1. Comment #425855 by fossil-fish on October 22, 2009 at 8:24 pm

Now that is going to be something worth having even for this, far from young, adult.

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2. Comment #425863 by Big City on October 22, 2009 at 8:30 pm

Oh my god I'm freaking out so hard right now. McKean has been hinting about a special new collaboration recently on Twitter. I never would have guessed that it was going to be with Richard. Staggering.

Other Comments by Big City

3. Comment #425868 by NewEnglandBob on October 22, 2009 at 8:48 pm

Sounds delightful and intriguing. I assume this is NOT RD's book for children.

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4. Comment #425885 by Sh!fty on October 22, 2009 at 9:43 pm

For a second there I thought of Asimov's book where he explains things like these from a physicist point of view. I think it was called Mysteries of Earth and Space (translation from the in-spanish title I have at home). I always liked the book and having a new one with a biologist POV would be great!

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5. Comment #425887 by Fuller on October 22, 2009 at 9:53 pm

What a great idea. Look forward to seeing it. I assume this means Richard has two new books in the works then - this one and the one for children.

A quick whinge, does there really need to be a 'continue reading' link when there's only one paragraph to go? Can't the whole thing be here in cases like this?

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6. Comment #425890 by Quine on October 22, 2009 at 9:56 pm

A quick whinge, does there really need to be a 'continue reading' link when there's only one paragraph to go? Can't the whole thing be here in cases like this?

Perhaps some copyright issues are sidestepped by splitting as a general rule.

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7. Comment #425921 by prolibertas on October 23, 2009 at 12:34 am

Fantastic concept.

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8. Comment #425937 by SmartLX on October 23, 2009 at 1:45 am

I was surprised that the illustrator won't be Lalla Ward, but Dave McKean!? Awesome!

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9. Comment #425957 by Fuzzy Duck on October 23, 2009 at 5:09 am

Wonderful news! And hopefully next year I can FINALLY see Dr. Dawkins live (after many failed attempts before...).

Kevin Schreck

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10. Comment #426005 by Cartomancer on October 23, 2009 at 12:06 pm

And hopefully next year I can FINALLY see Dr. Dawkins live (after many failed attempts before...).

If you want to see Richard Dawkins live then there is a free method. Go to Oxford and hang around by the postbox outside the Clarendon Building of the Bodleian Library. Very occasionally Richard will stop by to post a letter. I have observed this phenomenon myself three times in the last couple of years. If you have lots of free time, why not keep a diary of his letter-posting frequency, or, better yet wait until he is gone and fish the letter back out, to put with the collection of Dawkins paraphernalia in the secret basement shrine to the man?

Yes, it is technically stalking I suppose, but the ends justify the means!

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11. Comment #426015 by Sally Luxmoore on October 23, 2009 at 1:10 pm

Carto

(Careful - people may guess what you've been doing all this time that you claim to have been working. That stripy workman's hut with the big camera lens sticking out from it, across the road from the postbox, was never that good a cover story)

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12. Comment #426056 by Enlightenme.. on October 23, 2009 at 2:37 pm

Fuller:

"A quick whinge, does there really need to be a 'continue reading' link when there's only one paragraph to go? Can't the whole thing be here in cases like this?"

-----

This used to bug me, but I've gotten used to it - the articles often have interesting comments or other links worth following.

I'd prefer if they opened up in a new tab automatically rather than having to drag & drop the link to the top or right clicking (um.. wear & tear on my mouse?)

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13. Comment #426074 by PERSON on October 23, 2009 at 3:14 pm

12. Comment #426056 by Enlightenme.. on October 23, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Middle click?

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14. Comment #426082 by OlavRokne on October 23, 2009 at 3:33 pm

Well, I'm glad someone is finally taking on the spectrum-of-light-deniers.

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15. Comment #426134 by vicars_daughter on October 23, 2009 at 6:19 pm

Love Dave's art. Love Richard's words.

Sweet!

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16. Comment #426189 by gary_4567 on October 23, 2009 at 9:50 pm

WHAT IS A RAINBOW, REALLY?

hope they think of a better title

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17. Comment #426198 by Clairebear on October 23, 2009 at 10:05 pm

hope they think of a better title

Agreed. But I don't care, I just can't wait for this to come out!

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18. Comment #426249 by Enlightenme.. on October 24, 2009 at 2:17 am

13. Comment #426074 by PERSON on October 23, 2009 at 3:14 pm
12. Comment #426056 by Enlightenme.. on October 23, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Middle click?

Hey! Thanks very much, PERSON, I never knew that.

:)

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19. Comment #426354 by j.mills on October 24, 2009 at 6:03 pm

Dave McKean is da man. This should be well cool.

You guys talking about 'his book for children' - this one's for 'young adults', surely these 'books' are one and the same?

(Hey, that middle-click works on Firefox too! Cool.)

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20. Comment #426378 by SaintStephen on October 24, 2009 at 8:16 pm

Very occasionally Richard will stop by to post a letter. I have observed this phenomenon myself three times in the last couple of years.

It's actually a remarkable demonstration of Richard's stunning hypocrisy with regard to matters of faith. To wit: by posting the letter in this blind fashion, Dawkins believes it will be delivered to its rightful destination simply on faith, and thus fails to differentiate himself from those he excoriates so stridently.

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21. Comment #426382 by j.mills on October 24, 2009 at 8:21 pm

I bet his belief is being sorely tested at the moment...

(That's a postal strike gag, for all you forinners.)

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22. Comment #426470 by Herbie on October 25, 2009 at 8:51 am

I'd recommend the Terry Pratchett 'Science of Discworld' trilogy - chapters about an Unseen University based story broken up by real life science discriptions of what happened in the previous chapter.

They're very good.

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23. Comment #426477 by Richard Dawkins on October 25, 2009 at 10:05 am

WHAT IS A RAINBOW, REALLY?
hope they think of a better title

Of course that is not my title. It was just the title of the sample CHAPTER that Dave McKean and I showed to the publishers. Somebody, somewhere, decided to make that the 'working' title of the whole book. As for the real title, that will require much discussion and agonizing. Suggestions welcome.
Richard

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24. Comment #426485 by Cellar on October 25, 2009 at 11:03 am

Probably something that gets across that as captivating as myths are, the truth is even more amazing.

Could perhaps hack apart the Arthur Eddington quote to make "Stranger Than You Can Imagine", or hack apart a Dawkins quote to make "The Poetry of Reality".

Of course squeezing the word "Twitter" into there would be really hip with the kids. I imagine. :)

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25. Comment #426487 by Jiten on October 25, 2009 at 11:07 am

My suggestion would be : Growing Up In The Universe.

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26. Comment #426490 by SaintStephen on October 25, 2009 at 11:40 am

4 AM is not optimal for ideas on book titles, but here are a few variations on a possible theme:

From Fanciful Fables To Fantastic Facts
Fanciful Fables And Fantastic Facts
Foolish Fables Versus Fabulous Facts
Facts Are More Fun Than Fables!

ZZZzzzzzzzzz...

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27. Comment #426503 by j.mills on October 25, 2009 at 1:07 pm

How about, Unweaving The Rainbow? Oh hang on...

Brainstorming:

A World Of Wonder
The Thrill Of Discovery
Tall Tales, Tremendous Truth
Truth And Beauty
What We Know And How We Know It
With Eyes Wide Open
The Awesome Truth (Bit hip, that one, down wiv da kids.)
Good Questions, Better Answers

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28. Comment #426523 by NakedCelt on October 25, 2009 at 2:17 pm

Better Than We Ever Guessed
If Only They'd Known
Eyes Wide Open -- EDIT: aagh! ninja'ed.

Is there a metaphor or image that you use as a linking thread in the book, Richard? That might be the best source for a title.

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29. Comment #426675 by TheLordHumungus on October 25, 2009 at 11:31 pm

High schools in Texas are already preparing the book burning bonfires.

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30. Comment #426701 by palaeodave on October 26, 2009 at 12:23 am

Maybe something like 'A Better Way of Knowing'?

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31. Comment #426722 by Kiwi on October 26, 2009 at 1:41 am

How about
"Sorry religious kids, you've been lied to"

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32. Comment #426739 by NakedCelt on October 26, 2009 at 2:36 am

Stranger Than We Can Imagine

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33. Comment #426749 by NakedCelt on October 26, 2009 at 3:34 am

(because I don't think Queerer Than We Can Suppose is going to get into the children's section in today's world)

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34. Comment #426765 by Atticus_of_Amber on October 26, 2009 at 5:33 am

Suggested titles:

Good and Bad Reasons for Believing (from your famous letter to your daughter)

A Letter Julliet (ditto)

A Letter to Julliet and other Essays for Young Adults (sounds boring, but I've always thought "adult" implied sceptic/atheist in the sense of someone who faces up to where teh evidence leads)

How Do We Know What's True?

How To Know What's True?

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35. Comment #427000 by Butler on October 26, 2009 at 6:44 pm

How about just "You Know What?" It's casual, but without trying too hard be "hip", and it can have multiple meanings depending on how you read it.

"You know what?"

"You know WHAT?"

"You know... what?"

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36. Comment #427043 by seals on October 26, 2009 at 7:51 pm

Magic Science and Myth

Two Worlds Collide - this seems familiar from somewhere ;)

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37. Comment #427215 by weavehole on October 27, 2009 at 8:24 am

A Fool for Five Minutes

from the Chinese Proverb

One who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; one who does not ask a question remains a fool forever.

or

At any rate, you live.

from DNA's

You live and learn. At any rate, you live.

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38. Comment #428143 by Kaffir Latte on October 30, 2009 at 12:52 am

Beyond fairytales

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39. Comment #428145 by Laurie Fraser on October 30, 2009 at 1:04 am

The Bumper Kids' Manual for Pissing Off Your Psycho-Jeezoid Parents

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40. Comment #428867 by InYourFaceNewYorker on November 2, 2009 at 6:44 am

Suggestions:

1. From Rainbows to Religion
2. Why We Know
3. From Wind to Wings

I'm not the best at coming up with titles... hope this helps!

Julie

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41. Comment #428918 by SaintStephen on November 2, 2009 at 3:29 pm

A Fuzzy Ball Of Yarns
Nine Myths of the World and How Science Untangled Them

("Nine" is, of course, replaced by how many actual stories there are. My second choice is Laurie Fraser's suggestion in Comment #39.)

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42. Comment #428936 by SaintStephen on November 2, 2009 at 5:12 pm

Strident and Shrill :
How To Ruin The Church Picnic With Fun Facts From Science
by
Richard Dawkins

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43. Comment #428946 by Sciros on November 2, 2009 at 5:47 pm

I liked What Is a Rainbow, Really? just fine, but if it's the name of a chapter I'm happy.

For the book title, how about The Rhino and the Unicorn or something. I just like the way it rolls of the tongue, the rhythm it creates. That and it matches a mythical creature with a real one. And it sounds like something kids might like to read, since kids like rhinos because rhinos are sweet.

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44. Comment #428948 by bendigeidfran on November 2, 2009 at 5:48 pm

From fear to modernity:- How facts fucked faith.

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45. Comment #429062 by InYourFaceNewYorker on November 2, 2009 at 9:32 pm

St. Stephen, "Fuzzy Ball of Yarns" is a great idea!

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46. Comment #429067 by SaintStephen on November 2, 2009 at 9:41 pm

45. Comment #429062 by InYourFaceNewYorker on November 2, 2009 at 9:32 pm

It should be... it took me all morning to come up with it! LOL (Thanks!)

EDIT: I think the "cat's curiosity" angle could also be played up with a title like this, in the introduction or illustrations perhaps, since everyone knows how much cats love balls of yarn. The cat angle might additionally attract young female teens to the book, as well.

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