--- product_id: 20950755 title: "Critical Mass: How One Thing Leads to Another" brand: "philip ball" price: "£43.51" currency: GBP in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/20950755-critical-mass-how-one-thing-leads-to-another store_origin: GB region: United Kingdom --- # Critical Mass: How One Thing Leads to Another **Brand:** philip ball **Price:** £43.51 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Critical Mass: How One Thing Leads to Another by philip ball - **How much does it cost?** £43.51 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.uk](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/20950755-critical-mass-how-one-thing-leads-to-another) ## Best For - philip ball enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted philip ball brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Full description not available ## Images ![Critical Mass: How One Thing Leads to Another - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31gqMajDYzL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐ I really wanted to like this book... *by K***N on Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2005* My feeling on Critical Mass is that it is a mixed bag. When Philip Ball discusses physics his prose is, to borrow a United Kingdom phrase, "spot on" (I particularly liked his description of entropy). However, when he attempts to extend these descriptions to the social sciences, he sometimes (in this reviewer's opinion) simplifies the line between cause and effect as well as exaggerates foibles of those that came before him.In some chapters (e.g., "On the road") I would argue that at best, all Critical Mass is doing is importing names from physics to describe similar appearing phenomena in our macro world. However, as the great Richard P. Feynman once said: "simply knowing the name of something is not knowledge". To me at least, there should have been more discussion on experimentation to back up the assertions that the similar appearing phenomena are in fact the same thing. Then it would truly illustrate something deeper. Again, to borrow from Feynman using his famous license plate analogy, if you have already observed the results and then develop a theory it is not science.I could also have done without some of the condescending comments on the some of the great men that came before that apparently disagreed with the author's politics. For example, when discussing Adam Smith's theories on economics (Rhythms of the Marketplace), the book belabors his theories (e.g., page 180 "...even on its own term's Smith's economic theory was too simplistic to cover the whole story..." or page 184 "...Smith does not endorse the grinding poverty implicit in his words...") In contrast, the author is positively gushing when in the same chapter he describes Karl Marx's theories as "...the most influential of `scientific' economic theories in the nineteenth century..." (page 183) and "Marx's economic vision contained the crucial concept of a market that was potentially unsteady and to oscillate between boom and bust..." (page 186).Just one man's opinion. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A great structure, carefully built with care *by F***Č on Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2021* This seems like a good choice for required reading for any person engaged in politics. A very broad work with a mass of useful information.But, it is a shame that the e-book was converted so carelessly. The footnotes do not work and there are typos all over.Read it and tell off the publisher! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Science book that is entertaining and enjoyable! *by C***Z on Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2021* I enjoyed this book from start to finish! It is very easy to "digest" and every page offered me a new perspective on concepts that I thought I already knew. This book helped me transcend my thinking and analysis of common events in my life. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/20950755-critical-mass-how-one-thing-leads-to-another](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/20950755-critical-mass-how-one-thing-leads-to-another) --- *Product available on Desertcart United Kingdom* *Store origin: GB* *Last updated: 2026-05-31*