Sitting on the Shoulders of Giants turns 52 deceptively simple questions into surprising explorations of science, psychology, economics and human behaviour. Why do we fear sharks more than heart disease? Why does losing money hurt more than finding it feels good? And why might gravity not actually be a force at all?
Beginning with familiar everyday observations, each chapter opens into a clear and entertaining explanation of the extraordinary ideas that shape how the world works. The book draws on the thinking of history's great minds-including Aristotle, Newton, Einstein, Kahneman and Hawking-to make complex concepts understandable, relevant and enjoyable for general readers. Entertaining, thought-provoking, and endlessly browsable, Sitting on the Shoulders of Giants offers readers a fresh way to look at ordinary experiences through the lens of the world's most powerful ideas.
Professor Christoph Schumacher is an economist, academic and public commentator with a long-standing passion for making complex ideas accessible. He is Professor of Innovation and Economics at Massey University and Director of the Knowledge Exchange Hub. He is also the co-creator of GDPLive, the world's first AI-powered real-time GDP tracker. Born in Germany and now based in New Zealand, Schumacher holds degrees in Engineering, International Business and Economics, as well as a PhD in Economics, and has completed advanced study at MIT.
Alongside his academic research, he is a regular media commentator, former resident economist on TV3's Three60, and a columnist for the National Business Review. In Sitting on the Shoulders of Giants, he brings together decades of teaching, research and public communication to reveal the surprising ideas shaping everyday life.
Paperback / softback