162:
154:
27:
435:
The exact date of the book's first publication is uncertain. Brewer believed it was 1840 but other sources suggest 1841 or as late as 1847. A second edition of the book was published in 1848 and two more in 1849. A total of 47 editions were published with the 47th edition appearing in 1905. The print
486:
Brewer said that he consulted "the most approved modern authors" and submitted additions to "the revision of gentlemen of acknowledged reputation for scientific attainments". Nevertheless, religious rather than scientific answers to certain questions are prevalent in the book, particularly answers
884:
436:
runs were among the highest of any scientific book published in the second half of the 19th century, and Brewer said the success of the book was almost unparalleled at the time. Several translations of the book were made including a
117:
and proved very popular. 47 editions were printed by 1905 in
English alone and translations made into various other languages. A revised version was produced for the US market which was digitised and republished in 2005 as part of
547:
style, the reviewer disagreed with one answer that we "feel a desire for activity in cold weather" due to "fanning combustion in the blood" by instead insisting that we feel a desire "to sit cosily over a fire in cold weather".
499:
between neighbouring water molecules, Brewer suggested that the reason ice is lighter than water, expanding as it freezes, is because it has been "wisely ordained by God that water shall be an exception to a very general rule".
260:
arrangement. The ultimate success of the book meant that this arrangement proved to be very profitable for both Brewer and
Jarrold, with Jarrold later refusing to sell his share back to Brewer even when offered 4000 pounds.
463:. Brewer wrote to Peterson expressing his satisfaction at the rearrangement but nevertheless prepared a revised edition of his own which was published in the US in 1864. This edition was digitised and republished by the
521:
in 1859. Part of Brewer's approach in promoting his ideas was to avoid discussing religious perspectives until about a third of the way into the book so that the introduction of these ideas would appear more natural.
224:
section deals with several more nebulous questions, including questions about sleep and dreaming. Within each part, the different chapters break the questions and answers up into subject areas organised thematically.
173:
was to present answers to over 2000 questions about common phenomena. There are questions dealing with man-made objects such as candles, stoves and chimneys, as well as answers seeking to explain
892:
455:, with a revised edition following in 1863. These versions were edited and rearranged in order to make them more suitable for American pupils and were used as a text-book by schools in
244:
style, leaving a space for answers when they were obtained. Brewer bound his book into a volume and, disregarding advice from one man of science to burn it, sought to have it
577:. The book's popularity also resulted in Brewer being sent "a large number of questions on all imaginary matters". These questions and their answers became the nucleus of
201:. Brewer intended his book to be intelligible to a child, since children might often ask the questions he sought to answer, but not so simple as to offend the scientific.
515:
science writers of the time presented religious themes and were able to keep them relevant to modern science in the mind of the public even after the publication of
1207:
1553:
925:
1370:
747:
579:
141:
1177:
1426:
1310:
971:
603:
section is included as a third part in the 1864 US edition, but is presented as a further chapter of the second part in the 1880 edition.
113:
presenting explanations for common phenomena. First published in the United
Kingdom around 1840, the book is laid out in the style of a
583:, first published in 1870. This latter book has long outlived all of Brewer's other publications and remains a classic reference work.
1573:
1558:
1399:
1379:
1340:
1534:
1514:
1493:
1523:
1502:
917:
1152:
950:
464:
743:
1391:
From Past-Present to Future-Perfect: A Tribute to
Charles A. Bunge and the Challenges of Contemporary Reference Service
468:
1012:
569:(published in 1860) in order to demonstrate that evolution had not destroyed theological tradition and to continue
128:
Although it presented itself as an accurate science text, the book actually promotes religious ideas, including
561:
517:
236:
had its origin in a habit of Brewer's of making and saving notes from his reading. He set his notes out in a
204:
The book is divided into two or three parts, depending upon the edition, each part having several chapters.
1563:
1356:
1326:
110:
40:
440:
translation in 1858 and two French translations. The French translations were themselves translated into
488:
129:
1190:
217:
556:
451:
An edited version of the book by Robert Evans
Peterson was published in the United States in 1851 as
1568:
693:
Making of
America Books: A guide to the scientific knowledge of things familiar. By Rev. Dr. Brewer
691:
445:
220:, explaining why metal rusts in air, the operation of barometers, and the transmission of sound. A
984:"La clave de Las Ciencias. Manual para el conocimiento de los fenómenos comunes de la naturaleza"
174:
1422:
1395:
1375:
1336:
1306:
1201:
473:
161:
153:
120:
26:
1389:
787:
1038:
574:
535:
441:
437:
540:
magazine in 1850. The book was seen to be a "very useful little work". However, in typical
1499:, pages 453–454 (one of many available copies of an advert with accompanying reviews)
1330:
257:
253:
186:
1153:"Mirlyn - Ann Arbor and Flint: A guide to the scientific knowledge of things familiar"
511:
and wished to provide a religious framework for science. He and many other
Christian
1547:
496:
555:
convinced Brewer that his readers still accepted religious explanations rather than
456:
567:
Theology in
Science; or The Testimony of Science to the Wisdom and Goodness of God
1484:
1461:
1443:
1416:
1300:
245:
165:
Page viii and 1 of the 38th edition including the second page of the contents
157:
Pages vi and vii of the 38th edition including the first page of the contents
1335:(US ed.), Scholarly Publishing Office, University of Michigan Library,
1186:
1061:"A chave da Sciencia ou a explicaçao dos principales phenomenos da natureza"
249:
241:
182:
114:
1060:
1008:
212:, such as the sources of heat and its effects on humans and animals, while
512:
460:
66:
198:
178:
1034:
544:
508:
504:
983:
495:
formation show that most of its unusual properties result from the
263:
256:
was rejected. Instead, Jarrold agreed to publish the book under a
190:
160:
152:
1463:
Familiar
Science; or, the Scientific Explanation of Common Things
1445:
Familiar
Science; or, the Scientific Explanation of Common Things
453:
Familiar Science; or, the Scientific Explanation of Common Things
209:
952:
The new home; or, Wedded life, its duties, cares and pleasures
492:
237:
194:
1516:
Report of the commissioners By Schools inquiry commission
1538:
By American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
1511:
Sources expressing dissatification with cramming facts
20:
A Guide to the Scientific Knowledge of Things Familiar
1361:
A Guide to the Scientific Knowledge of Things Familiar
1332:
A Guide to the Scientific Knowledge of Things Familiar
94:
A Guide to the Scientific Knowledge of Things Familiar
1035:"Hvarför? och Huru? Nyckel till naturvetenskaperna"
82:
72:
62:
54:
46:
36:
248:. His initial offer to Thomas Jarrold to sell the
31:Title page from the 38th edition published in 1880
629:
627:
625:
623:
621:
619:
1495:Evenings at home, or, The juvenile budget opened
885:"Science in the 19th Century Peridical, Punch's
918:"Opie Collection, Section 'F': Natural Science"
860:
858:
856:
854:
1171:
1169:
852:
850:
848:
846:
844:
842:
840:
838:
836:
834:
8:
19:
810:
808:
806:
804:
723:
721:
719:
717:
715:
713:
711:
491:. For example, although modern theories of
1206:: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
1179:Local Structure of Hydrogen-Bonded Liquids
671:
669:
667:
665:
663:
661:
648:
646:
644:
642:
139:enabled Brewer to gather material for his
25:
18:
1267:
1265:
1009:"Nordic Authors / Ebenezer Cobham Brewer"
1003:
1001:
782:
780:
778:
776:
774:
772:
1506:By Frederick Patey Chappell, John Shoard
1490:, written following success of the Guide
1256:
1244:
1127:
1115:
1103:
1092:
1081:
926:Opie Collection of Children's Literature
879:
877:
875:
873:
864:
825:
814:
727:
686:
684:
145:which remains a classic reference work.
1371:Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
912:
910:
887:Guide to the Science of Things Familiar
748:Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
738:
736:
652:
615:
592:
580:Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
1220:
1199:
1189:, p. 8 (footnote), archived from
1139:
929:. Bodleian Library (bodleian.ox.ac.uk)
763:
678:, Chronological list of books, p. xiii
633:
1374:(New and revised ed.), Cassell,
1283:
1271:
1232:
947:According to an advert on page 94 of
788:"Nottinghamshire History: Edwinstowe"
751:
746:noted on the 1981 revised edition of
675:
7:
1554:Reference works in the public domain
1504:A Handy-book of the Law of Copyright
972:File:Guide to Science title page.jpg
467:in 2005 following a grant from the
1527:By Trev Lynn Broughton, Ruth Symes
1015:from the original on 14 March 2007
530:A review of the second edition of
14:
1418:Victorian popularizers of science
476:IV: the American voice, 1850–1877
216:deals with questions relating to
208:deals with questions relating to
123:IV: the American voice, 1850–1877
1460:Peterson, Robert Evans (1863),
1442:Peterson, Robert Evans (1851),
1421:, University of Chicago Press,
559:. Following the publication of
1448:, Robert E. Peterson & co.
465:University of Michigan Library
142:Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
1:
1415:Lightman, Bernard V. (2007),
78:1840-47? (first edition)
744:Times Educational Supplement
1388:Ferguson, Chris D. (1999),
469:Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
1590:
1176:Cavelleri, Matteo (2004),
444:in 1858 and 1890 and into
1488:By Ebenezer Cobham Brewer
1394:, Routledge, p. 80,
1299:Andrews, William (2008),
503:Brewer was ordained as a
266:
106:Brewer's Guide to Science
24:
1574:Jarrold Publishing books
1559:Encyclopedias of science
1286:, Editor's Preface, p. v
562:On the Origin of Species
518:On the Origin of Species
185:(including a mention of
16:Book by E. Cobham Brewer
1486:Sound and Its Phenomena
1368:Evans, Ivor J. (1981),
1357:Brewer, Ebenezer Cobham
1327:Brewer, Ebenezer Cobham
1235:, Introduction, p. vii
565:in 1859, Brewer wrote
482:Religious perspectives
166:
158:
111:Ebenezer Cobham Brewer
41:Ebenezer Cobham Brewer
1536:The Missionary herald
1305:, BiblioBazaar, LLC,
571:The Guide to Science'
164:
156:
1274:, Introduction, p. x
895:on 27 September 2007
553:The Guide to Science
532:The Guide to Science
526:Reception and legacy
267:Publication history
234:The Guide to Science
171:The Guide to Science
137:The Guide to Science
100:The Guide to Science
557:evolutionary theory
238:question-and-answer
21:
1466:(revised ed.)
1259:, pp. vii–xii
949:Home, New (1862),
696:. 5 September 1864
167:
159:
135:The popularity of
1508:, page 34–35
1428:978-0-226-48118-0
1312:978-0-554-52804-5
534:was published by
474:Making of America
433:
432:
175:natural phenomena
121:Making of America
90:
89:
83:Publication place
58:Science education
1581:
1474:
1473:
1471:
1456:
1455:
1453:
1438:
1437:
1435:
1411:
1410:
1408:
1384:
1364:
1352:
1351:
1349:
1322:
1321:
1319:
1287:
1281:
1275:
1269:
1260:
1254:
1248:
1242:
1236:
1230:
1224:
1218:
1212:
1211:
1205:
1197:
1195:
1184:
1173:
1164:
1163:
1161:
1159:
1149:
1143:
1137:
1131:
1125:
1119:
1113:
1107:
1101:
1095:
1090:
1084:
1079:
1073:
1072:
1070:
1068:
1063:. CienciaNet.com
1057:
1051:
1050:
1048:
1046:
1039:Project Runeberg
1031:
1025:
1024:
1022:
1020:
1005:
996:
995:
993:
991:
986:. CienciaNet.com
980:
974:
969:
963:
962:
961:
959:
945:
939:
938:
936:
934:
922:
914:
905:
904:
902:
900:
891:. Archived from
881:
868:
862:
829:
823:
817:
812:
799:
798:
796:
794:
784:
767:
761:
755:
740:
731:
730:, pp. 64–68
725:
706:
705:
703:
701:
688:
679:
673:
656:
655:, pp. 57–58
650:
637:
631:
604:
597:
575:natural theology
264:
97:, also known as
74:Publication date
67:Jarrold and Sons
29:
22:
1589:
1588:
1584:
1583:
1582:
1580:
1579:
1578:
1544:
1543:
1518:, Great Britain
1481:
1469:
1467:
1459:
1451:
1449:
1441:
1433:
1431:
1429:
1414:
1406:
1404:
1402:
1387:
1382:
1367:
1363:(38th ed.)
1355:
1347:
1345:
1343:
1325:
1317:
1315:
1313:
1302:Literary Byways
1298:
1295:
1290:
1282:
1278:
1270:
1263:
1255:
1251:
1243:
1239:
1231:
1227:
1219:
1215:
1198:
1193:
1182:
1175:
1174:
1167:
1157:
1155:
1151:
1150:
1146:
1138:
1134:
1126:
1122:
1114:
1110:
1102:
1098:
1091:
1087:
1080:
1076:
1066:
1064:
1059:
1058:
1054:
1044:
1042:
1033:
1032:
1028:
1018:
1016:
1007:
1006:
999:
989:
987:
982:
981:
977:
970:
966:
957:
955:
948:
946:
942:
932:
930:
920:
916:
915:
908:
898:
896:
883:
882:
871:
863:
832:
824:
820:
813:
802:
792:
790:
786:
785:
770:
762:
758:
742:Comment by the
741:
734:
726:
709:
699:
697:
690:
689:
682:
674:
659:
651:
640:
632:
617:
613:
608:
607:
598:
594:
589:
573:s promotion of
551:The success of
528:
507:and later as a
484:
231:
151:
109:, is a book by
75:
32:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1587:
1585:
1577:
1576:
1571:
1566:
1561:
1556:
1546:
1545:
1542:
1541:
1532:
1531:
1530:
1521:
1509:
1500:
1491:
1480:
1479:External links
1477:
1476:
1475:
1457:
1439:
1427:
1412:
1400:
1385:
1380:
1365:
1353:
1341:
1323:
1311:
1294:
1291:
1289:
1288:
1276:
1261:
1249:
1237:
1225:
1213:
1165:
1144:
1132:
1120:
1108:
1096:
1085:
1074:
1052:
1026:
997:
975:
964:
940:
906:
869:
830:
818:
800:
768:
756:
732:
707:
680:
657:
638:
614:
612:
609:
606:
605:
591:
590:
588:
585:
527:
524:
483:
480:
431:
430:
428:
425:
421:
420:
418:
415:
411:
410:
408:
405:
401:
400:
397:
394:
390:
389:
386:
383:
379:
378:
375:
372:
368:
367:
364:
361:
357:
356:
353:
350:
346:
345:
342:
339:
335:
334:
331:
328:
324:
323:
320:
317:
313:
312:
309:
306:
302:
301:
298:
295:
291:
290:
287:
284:
280:
279:
276:
273:
269:
268:
258:profit sharing
230:
227:
187:ball lightning
169:The object of
150:
147:
88:
87:
86:United Kingdom
84:
80:
79:
76:
73:
70:
69:
64:
60:
59:
56:
52:
51:
48:
44:
43:
38:
34:
33:
30:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1586:
1575:
1572:
1570:
1567:
1565:
1564:Science books
1562:
1560:
1557:
1555:
1552:
1551:
1549:
1539:
1537:
1533:
1528:
1526:
1525:The governess
1522:
1519:
1517:
1513:
1512:
1510:
1507:
1505:
1501:
1498:
1497:By John Aikin
1496:
1492:
1489:
1487:
1483:
1482:
1478:
1465:
1464:
1458:
1447:
1446:
1440:
1430:
1424:
1420:
1419:
1413:
1403:
1401:0-7890-0767-3
1397:
1393:
1392:
1386:
1383:
1381:0-304-31589-3
1377:
1373:
1372:
1366:
1362:
1358:
1354:
1344:
1342:1-4255-5648-5
1338:
1334:
1333:
1328:
1324:
1314:
1308:
1304:
1303:
1297:
1296:
1292:
1285:
1280:
1277:
1273:
1268:
1266:
1262:
1258:
1257:Lightman 2007
1253:
1250:
1246:
1245:Lightman 2007
1241:
1238:
1234:
1229:
1226:
1223:, p. 369
1222:
1217:
1214:
1209:
1203:
1196:on 2007-09-29
1192:
1188:
1181:
1180:
1172:
1170:
1166:
1154:
1148:
1145:
1141:
1136:
1133:
1129:
1128:Peterson 1863
1124:
1121:
1117:
1116:Peterson 1863
1112:
1109:
1106:, p. iii
1105:
1104:Peterson 1863
1100:
1097:
1094:
1093:Peterson 1863
1089:
1086:
1083:
1082:Peterson 1851
1078:
1075:
1062:
1056:
1053:
1040:
1036:
1030:
1027:
1014:
1010:
1004:
1002:
998:
985:
979:
976:
973:
968:
965:
954:
953:
944:
941:
928:
927:
919:
913:
911:
907:
894:
890:
888:
880:
878:
876:
874:
870:
866:
865:Lightman 2007
861:
859:
857:
855:
853:
851:
849:
847:
845:
843:
841:
839:
837:
835:
831:
827:
826:Lightman 2007
822:
819:
816:
815:Ferguson 1999
811:
809:
807:
805:
801:
789:
783:
781:
779:
777:
775:
773:
769:
765:
760:
757:
753:
749:
745:
739:
737:
733:
729:
728:Lightman 2007
724:
722:
720:
718:
716:
714:
712:
708:
695:
694:
687:
685:
681:
677:
672:
670:
668:
666:
664:
662:
658:
654:
649:
647:
645:
643:
639:
635:
630:
628:
626:
624:
622:
620:
616:
610:
602:
601:Miscellaneous
596:
593:
586:
584:
582:
581:
576:
572:
568:
564:
563:
558:
554:
549:
546:
543:
539:
538:
533:
525:
523:
520:
519:
514:
510:
506:
501:
498:
497:hydrogen bond
494:
490:
489:divine design
481:
479:
477:
475:
470:
466:
462:
458:
454:
449:
447:
443:
439:
429:
426:
423:
422:
419:
416:
413:
412:
409:
406:
403:
402:
398:
395:
392:
391:
387:
384:
381:
380:
376:
373:
370:
369:
365:
362:
359:
358:
354:
351:
348:
347:
343:
340:
337:
336:
332:
329:
326:
325:
321:
318:
315:
314:
310:
308:January 1849
307:
304:
303:
299:
296:
293:
292:
288:
285:
282:
281:
277:
274:
271:
270:
265:
262:
259:
255:
251:
247:
243:
239:
235:
228:
226:
223:
222:Miscellaneous
219:
215:
211:
207:
202:
200:
196:
192:
188:
184:
180:
176:
172:
163:
155:
148:
146:
144:
143:
138:
133:
131:
130:divine design
126:
124:
122:
116:
112:
108:
107:
102:
101:
96:
95:
85:
81:
77:
71:
68:
65:
61:
57:
53:
49:
45:
42:
39:
35:
28:
23:
1535:
1524:
1515:
1503:
1494:
1485:
1468:, retrieved
1462:
1450:, retrieved
1444:
1432:, retrieved
1417:
1405:, retrieved
1390:
1369:
1360:
1346:, retrieved
1331:
1316:, retrieved
1301:
1293:Bibliography
1279:
1252:
1247:, p. 42
1240:
1228:
1216:
1191:the original
1178:
1156:. Retrieved
1147:
1142:, Title Page
1135:
1130:, p. vi
1123:
1118:, p. ii
1111:
1099:
1088:
1077:
1065:. Retrieved
1055:
1043:. Retrieved
1029:
1017:. Retrieved
988:. Retrieved
978:
967:
956:, retrieved
951:
943:
931:. Retrieved
924:
897:. Retrieved
893:the original
886:
867:, p. 66
828:, p. 67
821:
791:. Retrieved
766:, p. 11
759:
698:. Retrieved
692:
653:Andrews 2008
600:
595:
578:
570:
566:
560:
552:
550:
541:
536:
531:
529:
516:
502:
485:
472:
457:Pennsylvania
452:
450:
434:
233:
232:
221:
213:
205:
203:
170:
168:
140:
136:
134:
127:
119:
105:
104:
99:
98:
93:
92:
91:
1221:Brewer 1880
1140:Brewer 1864
764:Brewer 1880
634:Brewer 1880
471:as part of
286:1840–1847?
278:Print size
1569:1838 books
1548:Categories
1540:, page 327
1520:, page 812
1284:Evans 1981
1272:Evans 1981
1233:Evans 1981
752:Evans 1981
676:Evans 1981
611:References
487:inferring
446:Portuguese
319:July 1849
1529:, page 52
1187:Stockholm
636:, Preface
545:satirical
448:in 1900.
250:copyright
246:published
242:catechism
183:lightning
115:catechism
63:Publisher
1359:(1880),
1329:(1864),
1202:citation
1013:Archived
513:populist
461:Brooklyn
214:Part two
206:Part one
199:rainbows
177:such as
47:Language
1434:22 June
1348:1 April
1318:22 June
1158:30 June
1019:1 April
933:2 March
899:1 April
793:1 April
700:30 June
442:Swedish
438:Spanish
272:Edition
252:for 50
229:History
179:thunder
149:Content
55:Subject
50:English
1470:1 July
1452:1 July
1425:
1407:1 July
1398:
1378:
1339:
1309:
1067:2 July
1045:2 July
1041:. 1890
990:2 July
958:2 July
509:priest
505:deacon
341:1857?
254:pounds
197:, and
191:clouds
37:Author
1194:(PDF)
1183:(PDF)
921:(PDF)
587:Notes
542:Punch
537:Punch
427:1905
417:1892
407:1880
399:4000
396:1874
388:4000
385:1866
377:4000
374:1862
366:4000
363:1859
355:8000
352:1858
344:8000
333:8000
330:1850
322:7000
311:5000
300:3000
297:1848
289:2000
1472:2009
1454:2009
1436:2009
1423:ISBN
1409:2009
1396:ISBN
1376:ISBN
1350:2007
1337:ISBN
1320:2009
1307:ISBN
1208:link
1160:2009
1069:2009
1047:2009
1021:2007
992:2009
960:2009
935:2012
901:2007
795:2007
702:2009
599:The
459:and
275:Date
210:heat
493:ice
424:47
414:44
404:38
393:32
382:22
371:16
360:13
349:12
338:11
240:or
218:air
195:dew
189:),
103:or
1550::
1264:^
1204:}}
1200:{{
1185:,
1168:^
1037:.
1011:.
1000:^
923:.
909:^
872:^
833:^
803:^
771:^
735:^
710:^
683:^
660:^
641:^
618:^
478:.
327:5
316:4
305:3
294:2
283:1
193:,
181:,
132:.
125:.
1210:)
1162:.
1071:.
1049:.
1023:.
994:.
937:.
903:.
889:"
797:.
754:)
750:(
704:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
