Product Description

A lighted-hearted scientific look at the rituals and icons of Christmas. How does snow form? Why are we always depressed after Christmas? How does Santa manage to deliver all those presents in one night? (He has, in fact, little over two ten-thousandths of a second to get between each of the 842 million households he must visit.) This new edition has been extensively updated and contains a new chapter on the latest seasonal science - how religion can help your mental life!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1064144 in Books
• Published on: 2001-09-13
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 352 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Roger Highfield, science editor of The Daily Telegraph and author of The Arrow of Time, takes an offbeat look at Christmas by examining it from a scientific perspective. Can Reindeer Fly? ranges across every field of science--from cloned Christmas trees and the genetic defect that makes Santa so plump, to warp-drive sleights and the physics of snow-flakes--and disentangles they myriad cultural influences that come together to make up our modern Christmas. What are the thermodynamics involved in cooking a turkey? Is the concept of a virgin birth scientifically feasible? What happens to us physically when we overindulge in alcohol? Do people really feel more depressed around Christmas? How does Santa manage to deliver all those presents in one night? (He has, in fact, little over two ten-thousandths of a second to get between each of the 842 million households he must visit.) With topics ranging from "The Decline and Fall of Virgin Births" to "Christmas Astrology"; from "Santa: The Hallucinogenic Connection" to "The Dreadful Sprout", Can Reindeer Fly will convince you that Christmas is for everyone-- even scientists.

Review
Great fun to read at any time of the year. The science editor of the Daily Telegraph interviewed 70 of the world's leading academics to uncover various fascinating explanations for absolutely everything that happens during the festive period, from why needles fall off Christmas trees to the laws of shopping. Astronomical theories about the identity of the Bethlehem star are discussed, suggesting comets, star births, star deaths, a slight hesitation in the orbit of a planet, even the sighting of the then unknown planet Uranus. Theories are proposed as to how a virgin birth could actually occur. The claims of psychologists in their proposition that this seasonal ritual reveals a great deal about our nature and relationship with others are explored. Under that tree lies a great deal of tantalizing evidence of how we relate to friends and family. A plethora of facts, plus many more entertaining but scientifically rigorous material. Review by psychiatrist DR RAJ PERSUAD, author of Staying Sane. (Kirkus UK)

Newsweek, Dec 14 Sharon Begley
For anyone curious about the science behind the season this book is just what the elves ordered...

Customer Reviews

A quirky scientific take on Christmas festivities
If you want to know how Santa delivers all those presents, why he is so fat, the chemistry of intoxication and the genetics of the Virgin Birth, this is the book for you. Can Reindeer Fly? has all this and much much more, from snowball Earth to GM Xmas trees. The hardback is a good price and, though a bit whimsical (if not daft) would make an excellent present for anyone who is in any way interested in science.

BRILLIANT - A great stocking filler!
A superbly written book detailing the scientific theories behind Christmas - from snowfall to how Santa manages to deliver all of his presents in one night (without incinerating due to the immense G forces and wind resistance he would experience)!!

This book does require some scientific knowledge but it isn't too heavy. You can really get into this and have a great laugh!

Buy it for your Dad!!!

Christmas questions answered
Was Jesus born in a stable? Was the Bethlehem star really a star or could it have been a comet or another planet? When was Jesus born? Why do we celebrate Christmas on December 25th each year? What about the Virgin Mary? Who was the original Santa? Where is Santa's grotto? Why is Santa fat? Why does Santa come down a chimney? Why does Santa say Ho-ho-ho? How did reindeer, holly, ivy, mistletoe, trees, candles, gifts, logs and stockings come into the Christmas festivities? Can reindeer fly? How is snow formed? Why does ice float on water instead of sinking beneath it? Why is ice so slippery? Why do so many people eat turkeys at Christmas? Why do most children dislike the taste of sprouts? Why do most people cheer up at Christmas? Why do a minority of people always feel miserable at Christmas? This book seeks to answer these and other questions in a way that is sometimes hilarious, sometimes serious, sometimes controversial but always entertaining. Some questions cannot be answered and in these cases possible explanations are offered.

The book begins with the controversial issues of the Bethlehem star, the birth of Jesus and the imposition of Christmas on the traditional post-winter solstice festivals. The Catholic Church wanted to do away with all the pagan festivities and replace them with religious worship but that's not how things worked out. The rest of the book (most of it) focuses on the festivities. I found the evolution of Santa particularly interesting. I'd heard vaguely about St Nicholas but here you can find out who he was, what he did and how he inspired others. When it comes to reindeer, the author is unable to explain why they became so important to Christmas but some of the funniest parts of the book are about reindeer, perhaps because it is so difficult to take their role seriously.

One aspect of Christmas ignored by the book is music, which (in my edition) gets just two brief mentions relating to musical Christmas cards and supermarket background music. This seems fair enough, since Christmas music merely reflects other aspects of Christmas, be they religious or festive. Apart from music, every other aspect of Christmas seems to be well covered.

So this book provides a highly entertaining insight into Christmas and how it became what it is today. If you are in any way curious about the history, the mystery and the science of Christmas, you'll surely find this book amusing while answering many of those questions that you wondered about.