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questionit
New Member
21 Posts |
 Posted - 01/03/2005 : 19:55:53
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 I'll admit up front that I'm not a scientist, but since the greatest scientists in the world all admit that string theory and quantum mechanics is beyond even them I don't feel entirely unqualified in posting a book review about The Elegant Universe.
I think one of the most important responsibilities in America belongs to the scientific ommunity in building a bridge of understanding to the public. The Elegant Universe does this very well. Advanced theories about the origin of the universe and the research into the sub-atomic world are explained with concrete examples (as concrete as this stuff can be) and even though I came away from it with my head spinning, I still felt a glimmer of understanding. If someone would write a book about evolution in this way (and maybe someone has) I don't think we'd have so many people still believing in Adam and Eve.
My only criticism is not of the book but of the subject matter, since it feels like philosophy more than science and the book makes the same point. A lot of it feels like I-ching more than particle physics. But it's a wonderful book and very difficult to put down.
[Edited to add book link - Dave W.]
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Ricky
SFN Die Hard
USA
4907 Posts |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26020 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2005 : 21:26:49 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by questionit
A lot of it feels like I-ching more than particle physics.
Beware of books comparing Eastern religions with quantum mechanics. The Tao of Physics and The Dancing Wu-Li Masters are two of the worst offenders, but there are plenty of others.
Dammit. My dad lent me a book years ago, called Newton's Apple of all things, which did a superb job of explaining particle physics. I can't find it with Amazon, which either means I've misremembered the title, or it hasn't been in print for a long, long time. I mean, Amazon has a couple of books with that title, but neither are the book I'm thinking of. Anyway, the book had no mysticism in it whatsoever. |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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questionit
New Member
21 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2005 : 19:31:21 [Permalink]
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The ELegant Universe is not at all comparable to the Tao of Physics. It's a book written by a real scientist, and deals with real science (as far as quantum mechancis goes.) You should check it out.
Origin of Species by Darwin is not the best example of relating the theory of evolution to the common era, I think. With all respect to the grandfather of the theory, I think it takes someone with the literary flair of Carl Sagan to bring it across to people again. But yes, I think that no book or movie will ever convince someone about evolution if they're bent on not believing it. I'm thinking of the young generations coming up the ladder. |
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Ricky
SFN Die Hard
USA
4907 Posts |
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Siberia
SFN Addict
Brazil
2322 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2005 : 14:25:22 [Permalink]
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| Hawkings has a good style of writing, considering his area is mind-boggling. |
"Why are you afraid of something you're not even sure exists?"
- The Kovenant, Via Negativa
"People who don't like their beliefs being laughed at shouldn't have such funny beliefs."
-- unknown
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moakley
SFN Regular
USA
1888 Posts |
Posted - 01/13/2005 : 15:45:28 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Ricky
Yes, I meant Darwin as a joke. Have you ever read Richard Dawkins? I heard his books were really good although I haven't read them.
Two of Dawkin's books worth picking up are "The Blind Watch Maker" and "Unweaving The Rainbow". His excitment for science really come through in the second one, but of course that was his goal
I have read other books by Dawkins, "The Selfish Gene", River Out of Eden", but I didn't enjoy them as much. |
Life is good
Philosophy is questions that may never be answered. Religion is answers that may never be questioned. -Anonymous |
| Edited by - moakley on 01/13/2005 15:47:05 |
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latsot
Skeptic Friend
United Kingdom
70 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2005 : 02:37:04 [Permalink]
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quote:
Two of Dawkin's books worth picking up are "The Blind Watch Maker" and "Unweaving The Rainbow". His excitment for science really come through in the second one, but of course that was his goal
I have read other books by Dawkins, "The Selfish Gene", River Out of Eden", but I didn't enjoy them as much.
I would recommend all of them. Personally, I found The Selfish Gene excellent - I first read it as a kid and it is a major reason I got interested in evolution in the first place. Of course, it is less of a pop-science book than most of his others and goes into some depth...but I still think it is very accessible to the non-specialist with a serious interest. The same is true for The Extended Phenotype - quite a lot of detail, some may find it takes a bit of effort to get to the end. I don't think either book is any the worse for that.
But definitely read Unweaving the Rainbow. This one is (mostly) not about evolution and should be meat and drink for most of the people on this forum. And damn it - read all the others too.
Kind of got off topic, didn't we?
Cheers
r
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marfknox
SFN Die Hard
USA
3739 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2005 : 09:04:02 [Permalink]
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My only criticism is not of the book but of the subject matter, since it feels like philosophy more than science and the book makes the same point.
Well isn't string theory merely a logically consistent idea until there's some empirical evidence to back up the theory? The math jiving without other evidence won't cut it. So it's probably good that the book feels like philospohy more than science. |
"Too much certainty and clarity could lead to cruel intolerance" -Karen Armstrong
Check out my art store: http://www.marfknox.etsy.com
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Dry_vby
Skeptic Friend
Australia
249 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2005 : 16:10:52 [Permalink]
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If you can't be bothered plowing through the book of "The Elegant Universe" there is a companion DVD (with real neat graphics) narrated by the author.
I know this isn't a movie revue section, but hey, it might get you interested in the book. |
"I'll go along with the charade
Until I can think my way out.
I know it was all a big joke
Whatever it was about."
Bob Dylan
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Hawks
SFN Regular
Canada
1383 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2005 : 16:31:36 [Permalink]
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quote:
Have you ever read Richard Dawkins? I heard his books were really good although I haven't read them.
I too have enjoyed a few of Dawkins books. I'm currently reading his latest (The ancestor's tale), and it's very good. |
METHINKS IT IS LIKE A WEASEL
It's a small, off-duty czechoslovakian traffic warden! |
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Dry_vby
Skeptic Friend
Australia
249 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2005 : 15:44:22 [Permalink]
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Neuromancer
William Gibson
Right where you are sitting now
Robert Anton Wilson |
"I'll go along with the charade
Until I can think my way out.
I know it was all a big joke
Whatever it was about."
Bob Dylan
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Siberia
SFN Addict
Brazil
2322 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2005 : 16:35:09 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Dry_vby
Neuromancer
William Gibson
Awesome read. Read in portuguese, have an english e-book. |
"Why are you afraid of something you're not even sure exists?"
- The Kovenant, Via Negativa
"People who don't like their beliefs being laughed at shouldn't have such funny beliefs."
-- unknown
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pleco
SFN Addict
USA
2998 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2005 : 17:40:23 [Permalink]
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| Anybody familiar with Jeff Noon - Vurt or Pollen? Excellent IMHO and the successor to Gibson. |
by Filthy
The neo-con methane machine will soon be running at full fart. |
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