How To Dunk a Doughnut: The Science of Everyday Life.

A common refrain among schoolchildren is, "Why do we have to know this?" That's the question Fisher attempts to answer in these pages. He shows how science applies to everyday activities, ranging from boiling an egg to having sex. In the process, he gives readers insight into what scientists do, why they do it, and how they go about it. Some great discoveries, it seems, have come about by doing ordinary things. He points out that Count Rumford in the 18th century discovered the principle of heat convection after burning his mouth on an apple pie. Each chapter is built around a familiar activity and introduces a scientific concept that is central to it, such as how molecular structure explains foam in beer and bathtubs and how the laws of energy and force dictate the use of hand tools. In this book, Fisher makes a lot of concepts clear to unscientific minds. Originally published in Great Britain in 2002. Arcade Pub Inc, 2003, 255 p., b&w photos/illus., hardcover, $24.95.