That's right, I just remembered that this was an especially rage-inducing chapter, haha! I just started reading all the history of the planets, wondered how we had got there, and gave up.

I finished the book but I listened to the audiobook and just did chores/played video games/walked the dog while listening.

Wait, he talks about the planets? Why?

Predominant elements on each, and the question whether all elements were there right at the moment of the big bang (as he claims a lot of people believe).

Sputters. What utter BS!

Well, he does address it to debunk the (allegedly widespread) belief ... (widespread among lay people, seems to be what he wants to convey).

I'm still skeptical. Trying to imply that a lot of planetary scientists believe that at the moment of the Big Bang the universe was cool enough to have every day elements is just...ugh. What happened to supernovae? I probably don't want to know what he says about supernovae, do I? Or Population III stars....

He really does NOT refer to scientists -- he's debunking a myth he says seems to be prevailing among LAY people.

Oh ok. But that's how you made it sound... :|

I just had a hard time following the author's train of thought. It seemed to leave the station for parts unknown without me! :D

Not you alone ... (and also agreed on his condescending attitude). And some of us had bones to pick with him contents-wise as well ...

Unfortunately I can't critique the content, which is kind of scary. I read these books to educate myself, so I have to trust that the authors are accurate. I'd be interested in knowing about any inaccuracies here!

tl;dr: BT and I discussed our content-related gripes in the comments on our respective status updates (as well as BT's review / final assessment). Basically, he misrepresents everything from paleonthological research / discoveries to various aspects of European history to Shakespearean quotes (and of course, all of this in his trademark condescending style, geared towards suggesting an authoritarian pronouncement) -- which we ultimately found beyond what we were willing to take. If we can't trust him on the subject areas that we are able to verify for ourselves, how are we supposed to trust him on anything where we just have to take his word?

I'm going to have to dig out the links to our various posts.

Here they are:

http://brokentune.booklikes.com/post/1834014/reading-progress-update-i-ve-read-33-out-of-400-pages
http://brokentune.booklikes.com/post/1834025/reading-progress-update-i-ve-read-56-out-of-400-pages
http://brokentune.booklikes.com/post/1834041/the-disappearing-spoon

http://themisathena.booklikes.com/post/1831685/reading-progress-update-i-ve-read-31-out-of-391-pages
http://themisathena.booklikes.com/post/1834022/reading-progress-update-i-ve-read-63-out-of-391-pages
http://themisathena.booklikes.com/post/1838679/dnf-chapter-4

Thank you! I'll have a look through those.

I hope it works much better for you than it has for some of us. :)