Harry Potter Inside

Editorial Reviews

Book Description:
Can Fluffy the three-headed dog be explained by advances in molecular biology? Could the discovery of cosmic “gravity-shielding effects” unlock the secret to the Nimbus 2000 broomstick’s ability to fly? Is the griffin really none other than the dinosaur Protoceratops? Roger Highfield, author of the critically acclaimed The Physics of Christmas, explores the fascinating links between magic and science to reveal that much of what strikes us as supremely strange in the Potter books can actually be explained by the conjurings of the scientific mind. This is the perfect guide for parents who want to teach their children science through their favorite adventures as well as for the millions of adult fans of the series intrigued by its marvels and mysteries.

Customer Reviews

confusing by Carolynne P. Slicer
unless you have a degree in physics, i wouldn’t recommend this book. i had a very hard time wrapping my mind around alot of the concepts. the book also has very little to do with harry potter and much more to do with all of the scientific advances out there that semi-resemble things from the books.

Fantastic! by pam kelso
I loved this book. Behind every ‘old wives’ tale is a body that ate a certain substance or an occurance that happens every time certain conditions are met. I loved the quote “that the highest form of technology is indistinguishable from magic”. The country people are ’superstitious’ and the learned are ‘factual’. Those who are adept at manipulating matter are witches.

What this book does is take every single magic trick and give the physics explanation for how they work. Behind every act of ‘magic’ is either an illusion or an adaption and manipulation of matter. Period. Physics can and does explain both. This is a book that should be widely read and hopefully widely understood

Critical Account of Scientific Reading by Jessica Shelton - Year 12 A level student - Aged 16
For a piece of school A level coursework, I chose the book - The Science of Harry Potter - By Roger Highfield. His best-known work to date gives a flavour for the kind of writer he is, `Can Reindeers Fly?’ a discussion on the science of Christmas.

I personally love to read, no matter what the book is about. However unfortunately, I struggle on the imagination side, and most books I find it hard to get my head around the fictional creations - Including many of the Harry Potter Books written by J.K.Rowling. So I thought this book would be great in explaining the scientific side of how the magic really works.

I was very exited to get started on this book, and my aim was to read the whole thing. However by the second page I found myself confused at Mr Highfields intelligent, though odd attempt to straddle the imaginative worlds of science and fiction. I had hoped this book was an effort to introduce basic science concepts to young Potter fans (After all, It is these people who will go out an buy his book - simply because it has the word Harry Potter on the front…) But instead I was met with the rational laws of science, quantum physics to ethnobotany and cosmic antigravity?

“While special relativity deals only with flat space-time, general relativity deals with space-time that has been warped by gravity.”

It should be noted that you will not be able to levitate a broomstick after reading it… And I personally found that this book really does read more like an obsessive PhD dissertation! Also, I cannot not stress how much the scientific ideas are really quite challenging!

Lots of information by Patricia Leff
An interesting way to get some kids interested in science. It’s a little like a leader ad in the paper. I honestly was hoping for a less serious take on the subject, with more interesting artwork similar to what we see on the cover of the book. I have to agree with other reviewers and say that, for some people, this books contents could diffuse the wonder of the original Harry Potter stories.

Similar Products