We all live in a world which, if not dominated by science, is certainly strongly influenced by it. Yet most people seem have only a vague, and often erroneous, understanding of what science is all about. This is both sad and dangerous. If we depend on science but don’t really understand it, we are likely to make uninformed decisions with disastrous consequences.Since this book is directed at people who basically don’t like science — or worse, fear it — it needed to be organized to be as readable and approachable as possible. To this end, there are no chapters about specific sciences, i.e. everything you really need to know about physics, everything you really need to know about chemistry, everything you really need to know about astronomy, etc. Instead, it takes the form of easy-to-read essays, some of which are based on speeches given to lay audiences, some of which have already been published elsewhere, and some of which are being published here for the first time. Each essay is self-contained, so they can be read. You don’t have to read the first essay first in order to understand the second one, and so on. In addition to the essays, you will also find a wide variety of quotations about science from well-known scientists such as Einstein and Newton, lesser known scientists, as well as authors, philosophers, poets, etc. Again, each quotation is self-contained. Therefore, they are not categorized into specific sub-headings. However, where necessary, a quotation will be commented on to make certain that Is references and allusions can be easily understood.Believe it or not, some people find science to be fun; scientists like to laugh at themselves. Science for the Concerned Citizen therefore concludes with several pages of jokes. Again, where necessary, a joke will be commented on to make certain that its references and allusions can be easily understood.