Physics for Rock Stars

“I know nothing about physics.  And have you seen me?  Rock stars have hair.  But when you’re done, Physics for Rock Stars will teach you physics and remind you what true star power is.  Part-memoir, part-textbook, and all-cool, here’s absolute proof that physics is useful and beautiful.”—Brad Meltzer“Physics for Rock Stars is a clever, wryly passionate homage to the beauty of physics. It’s also a memoir of a Catholic girlhood, and that makes for a strange mix, but it works. Think Tobias Wolff meets Richard Feynman, only female. For me, the book’s shining achievement is an enthusiastic appreciation for science as described by an unconventional narrator. Not a nerdy guy, but a bright and over-achieving female sings the siren song for science.”—Dan Coffey, a.k.a. public radio’s Dr. Science“In Physics for Rock Stars, Christine McKinley presents science as performance art. She shows us how to use physics to perform fancy microphone throws, escape from a sinking car with outfit intact, discover your true identity, stop pointlessly spinning your wheels, handle chaos, keep secrets. Yes, there are equations, but they add to the fun as well as the understanding; even the quizzes make you laugh out loud. It’s the real deal, and a wild ride to boot.”—K.C. Cole, author of Something Incredibly Wonderful Happens: Frank Oppenheimer and his Astonishing Exploratorium 

Christine McKinley is a licensed mechanical engineer and hosts the History channel’s series Brad Meltzer’s Decoded. Her twenty-year engineering career has included projects in power generation, industrial facilities, and commercial construction. She lives in Portland, Oregon