There are two kinds of students in this world; those who love science and those who don’t. However, if Superman becomes the science teacher, then even the weakest of students would love to know what he has to say, and Tammy Enz’s Outrunning Bullets does exactly that.
In this book, Superman uses his infinite knowledge of science to present it as a fun subject, instead of it being a problem. The Man of Steel helps kids like you learn about science with examples. Known to be ‘Faster than a speeding bullet’, Superman’s speed keeps him ahead of his enemies, but if you understand the ‘logic’ behind his powers, you would see a bit of ‘Superman’ in a lot of creatures and vehicles around you.
The book not only helps you explore the real-world science and engineering related to Superman’s super-speed, but with the help of illustrations from the 1990s Superman: The Animated Series, it keeps the reader’s interest intact.
Do you know that even standing still, you are travelling at an enormous speed? Who retains the title of the fastest man alive? How can one stop a speeding bullet? How to break the sound barrier? What is the speed of light? These are some of the questions that are answered in easy-to-understand language on these pages, with Superman giving you the lecture.
Divided into five sections, the book begins with the ‘Speed of Earth around the Sun’, while the second and third sections describe acceleration, speed of sound, velocity, and G-force. Gravity and friction appear as the ‘bad guys’ in the book, as they usually help in decreasing speed. However, as Superman explains, lift and thrust can help a lot in minimising these effects, and with real-life examples, one can easily get a clear concept of how gravity and friction fail in the first place.
The fourth section cites examples of animals, birds and reptiles, who have powers similar to Superman. Even the slowest animal, a sloth, with a speed of 0.15 miles per hour, gets a mention in the book. By the end of the book, readers will begin to see examples that replicate the Man of Steel’s powers around them.
The information is presented in paragraphs accompanied by text boxes, photographs and drawings, while the glossary explains what seems difficult.
Although the images of Superman don’t interact with the information provided, the presence of Man of Steel throughout the 32-page book is super for readers, who will see ‘speed’ in a different light once they are through.
Published in Dawn, Young World, February 11th, 2023
