In this thrilling and compelling exploration of the human con-dition, Appleyard exposes the central role of science in shaping our lives and our beliefs, tracing the history of science from Copernicus, Newton, and Descartes to Einstein, Feynman, and Hawking. He argues that the birth of environmentalism and the diminished importance of religion and philosophy in today's society are direct results of science's 400- year assault on our view of ourselves and the universe. Understanding the Present reflects views regarding the progression of science that are held by many people, especially non-scientists. With issues such as cloning and 'designer' babies coming to the forefront of the scientific debate, one question is repeatedly posed: 'How far should science go?' This valuable book explains why this question is being asked and provides the non-scientific reader with an accessible history of the discipline-and its place in society.