Reveals the hard facts behind the laughter on TV’s most popular sitcom
The highest-rated scripted show on TV, The Big Bang Theory often features Sheldon, Howard, Leonard, and Raj wisecracking about scientific principles as if Penny and the rest of us should know exactly what they’re talking about.
The Science of TV’s The Big Bang Theory lets all of us in on the punchline by breaking down the show’s scientific conversations. From an explanation of why Sheldon would think 73 is the best number, to an experiment involving the physical stature of Wolowitz women, to an argument refuting Sheldon’s assertion that engineers are the Oompa-Loompas of science, author Dave Zobel maintains a humorous and informative approach and gives readers enough knowledge to make them welcome on Sheldon’s couch.
In addition to his seven-year stint as a writer for public radio’s The Loh Down on Science, Dave Zobel has penned segments for the University of Texas at Austin’s StarDate, NPR’s Day to Day, and the game show Says You! A science pundit who’s appeared on G4 and Discovery, Zobel sits on the board of Trash for Teaching, an L.A. not-for-profit that rescues manufacturers’ discards and repurposes them as science and art kits for schools.
Published: June 2015
Dimensions: 6 x 9 in.
“Beware. Reading this delightful book will allow you to understand what Sheldon Cooper is really saying. And who knows where that might lead. Bazinga!” — Ira Flatow, host of Science Friday and two-time guest star on The Big Bang Theory
"Whether you're a hardcore fan or you've only seen a couple of episodes, this book will give you a glimpse of the way science geeks see the world, and why they find science so much fun. Zobel won't steer you wrong. The documentation and fact checking are impeccable." — F.D. Flams, Forbes Magazine science columnist
"The author breaks down some of the series' scientific lingo and concepts, dedicating chapters to physics, math, gravity, light, computers and robotics. Maybe now you can find out why Mentos explode in Diet Coke." — LA Weekly
“This is an ideal book for fans of The Big Bang Theory who want to understand what the science-minded characters are talking about . . . Zobel's humor and references to the show make this an entertaining and informative read for anyone interested in science.” — Publishers Weekly
"As Dave Zobel has shown in his fascinating new book, television's The Big Bang Theory offers a wellspring of clever scientific references amidst its quirky dialogue. Impress the Sheldons and Amys in your life with the vast array of insights the book provides. Fun, savvy and at just the right level!" — Paul Halpern, author of What's Science Ever Done for Us?: What The Simpsons Can Teach Us about Physics, Robots, Life, and the Universe and Einstein's Dice and Schrödinger's Cat: How Two Great Minds Battled Quantum Randomness to Create a Unified Theory of Physics.
"The Science of TV's The Big Bang Theory . . . covers an astonishing variety of material — a bathroom book in the very best sense of the word. . . . Zobel is a consistently entertaining but full-bore writer, so brace yourself for a fire hose of good puns, bad puns, vividly visual metaphors, satirical asides and inside jokes." — The California Tech
"Zobel mines the show’s scripts for science references and then plunges readers into the nuts and bolts of everything from particle physics to potato electricity. The result is like a mash-up of a megafan’s guide to The Big Bang Theory and David Macaulay’s classic science and technology book, The Way Things Work." — Science News