http://atheistmidwife.wordpress.com/2009/07/25/thank-you-sciency-types/

Ferris wrote “The Whole Shebang,” “The Mind’s Eye,” and the one that I read first, “Red Shift.” He writes so well it makes me want to kick my word processor and always gives me mind-expanding ideas on a par with science fiction, but rooted in real science. His narrative style enlivens his books without detracting from their solid scientific ground.

Before that, Issac Asimov’s nonfiction, especially his essay collections on scientific topics, and most especially, Lewis Thomas, the doctor who did a series of books of essays late in his life, proved that writing about real science need not be dull. I still reread Thomas and Ferris frequently to remind myself that writing well about science may be work, but is worth it.

It seems to me that writing about science is one of the more meaningful ways to wield a pen (or keyboard), even if the best science writing may end up having us ask ourselves more questions and feeling we have fewer answers than all the gobblygook about psychic phenomena, UFOs, astrology and such out there.

http://thoughtbegetsheresy.com/2009/07/21/thank-you-popular-science/

Not long after my introduction to the SGU, I heard Richard Dawkins on NPR’s Fresh Air where he was interviewed about The God Delusion. I was starting to “get” it, and that interview really got me to explore what it was about religion that I found so compelling.

About a year later and really soaking up a lot of skeptical and philosophical content, I said goodbye to religion.

Thanks Professor Dawkins and the crew of the SGU!

Isaac Asimov
Arthur C. Clarke
Carl Sagan
Willy Ley
George Gamow

for showing me how much I didn’t know and how fun and interesting it could be and inducing me to find out more.

I suppose I should give a back-handed shout-out to Erich von Daniken for providing such a good example of what pseudo-scientific gibberish looks like.