Skip

About the Book

Skip: From Common Sense to Cosmology is a book about our failure to apply simple, straightforward thinking, contributing to a flawed development in our lifestyles, social and political systems, education and ultimately also in contemporary science.

Skip is six years old and the author is eight when they meet. They are in a small, early 1950's, sawmill camp and later become neighbours on small farms. The story follows the life of Skip through a series of snapshots describing a proud and independent child and later, man, who is too stubborn to learn to read. He chooses to think and live like a pre-literary person, gathering his experiences through the oral aspects of his world and in so doing remains firmly embedded in common sense. The episodes are humorous, unique and true to life. The author, through his association and friendship with Skip, is inspired to embrace a similar common sense in his more literate and scientific world.

Supported by Skip's keen, down-to-earth judgement, the critiques and commentaries show how our contemporary sophisticated, abstract thinking has led us astray in many respects. Finally, the book offers an insight into how Relativity would be judged by the practical thinking individual who bases all judgement and analysis on common sense. The book concludes with a fresh and surprising review of those historic events that led up to the Theory of Relativity.

About the Author

Norbert Duerichen grew up in the Central Interior of British Columbia and, after several years of academic life, chose to explore various trades including alternative house construction and steel fabricating. During this period he designed and constructed wood home heating systems. His book Woodburning Stoves, gives an in-depth account of what he learned about wood heating. During his experiences with alternative building, ecoforestry and pinoneer farming Duerichen became a spokesman for the practical. He developed an ever-increasing suspicion of the claim that science and technology offers a genuine and sustainable improvement over pre-industrial village life.

Norbert Duerichen lives on Galiano Island, British Columbia with his wife and two youngest children.