1 comments about Fred Hoyle's Universe.

1. Fred Hoyle was one of the most distinguished and at the same time the most controversial scientists of the twentieth century. He was also a quite popular author of science fiction novels, a popular radio announcer on the BBC -- a true renaissance man.
   
   His scientific achievements consisted of pioneering work in areas like the radioactivity in stars that produce all of the heavy elements which when subsequently blown into space and collected into planets become the stuff out of which we are all made. He also did fundamental research into some of the practical problems facing the use of Radar during World War II.
   
   The biggest controversy came from his support of the steady state theory of the cosmos rather than the Big Bang. Not only did he support steady state, he continued his support long after it became discarded by the mainstream of science. In fact, his last book, published just before his death continued steady state support and further annoyed most of the scientists with a photograph of a flock of geese blindly following one another representing the failure of the big-banger's to even consider an alternate approach.
   
   This book is essentially a biography, but it also gives a good look into the world of science in the last century. Good Reading!

4 comments about Einstein and Relativity: The Big Idea (Big Idea Series).

1. As the official Amazon review for this book mentions, it is more about the man than the ideas. It's not until past page 30 of this 90 pager that we even come into contact within any ideas whatsoever. And when Strathern gets to the ideas, he doesn't do much to aid our understanding of the difficult concepts.



2. Strathern gives more space in this book to the life of Einstein than to his scientific work. Still he manages to give capsule descriptions of the four great papers of the annus mirabilis of 1905. He also discusses 'General Relativity' and tells an interesting story of how Einstein was in ecstasy for days after hearing about the confirming experiments in 1919. It was that event which made Einstein the mythic figure. Strathern claims that Einstein saw the absurdity in the idol- worship around him but also knew how to play the part of the 'distracted scientist' to the hilt.
   I learned much about Einstein's life that I did not know. There are touching personal elements. His son Edward had been closely connected to him and then came to hate him when Einstein was divorced. There is not a lot about the familial situation, but apparently Einstein was not a cad. He gave his Nobel money the huge sum of thirty- two thousand dollars to his first wife, the mother of his children.
   Strathern paints a picture of Einstein's life from 1919 on as a sad one. The whole story of his search for a unified - field- theory the publication of results which met with scientific silence. Einstein's famous 'God does not play dice' rejection of Quantum Theory is seen by Strathern as key element in his scientific isolation.
   Strathern is very good in presenting the development of the young Einstein. Einstein virtually taught himself everything. His brief experience as the only Jewish child in a tough German military school made him a rebel and opponent to authority for life. Einstein went his own way asked his own questions, and changed our whole picture of the physical world by his doing so.
   Strathern also commends Einstein for his letter warning about the dangers of the Bomb. He does not however say anything about the key role Einstein played in having Roosevelt move ahead with the Chicago Project to build the Atomic Bomb. Strathern also commends Einstein a lifelong Zionist for his wife refusal of the offer to be President of Israel. This kind of public role was of course unsuited to the character of Einstein.
   This is a short book and there are many Einstein books which will provide far more information and analysis. But like all Strathern's books it is very well and clearly written, and a fine small book indeed.



3. This book, while interesting to read was a little basic in the scientific knowledge it displayed. It spent too long on Einstein's background and his general history and not enough on his ground breaking ideas that changed the view from the classical physics of Newton's era. The book describes Einstein's struggle for intellectual knowledge; how he was bored at school and ended up being expelled for not trying hard enough.
   
   The book, while centring on Einstein does give concise information on the other physicists of his time and how there work helped Einstein's. Strathern discusses the scientific work done by such influential people as Heinrich Hertz, Max Plank and Isaac Newton.
   
   Einstein's most famous theory, that of his paper on `General Theory of Relativity' is described by Strathern in an easily understood way but the skeleton of the theory remains. Einstein's theory is basically that over vast distances space and time become relative, only the speed of light remains constant. The formula that Einstein achieved and which eventually led to the bomb was that e = mc2 where e is energy released, m is mass and c is the speed of light. Also as a result of this theory scientists have been able to trace the history of the universe to within a fraction of a second after the Big Bang. Einstein's theory of relativity is truly one of the most revolutionary theories on parallel with that of Newton law and Darwin's theory of revolution.
   
   Unfortunately while Einstein's work led to huge developments in physics and him being awarded the Noble Prize for physics in 1921 it also led to the worlds most powerful weapon and the ultimate killing machine; the atomic bomb. While Einstein warned Roosevelt in 1939 about the splitting of the atom his anti-nuclear stance led to him being investigated by the FBI and denounced by McCarthy.
   
   Strathern has written this book in a historical and descriptive style; while also keeping the reader of the book informed about Einstein's work it does not over work his theories and instead keeps them short and to the point. Strathern uses an approach to Einstein that does not scare the reader of and entices them to read more. It is both understandable to the non-scientists while also being informative enough for those who want a more in depth view into Einstein.
   
   If one wants a book based purely on Einstein's work this is not the one to read; but for the more curious reader who wants an introduction to life and work of a genius then the book will fulfil them.



4. Paul Strathern is known for concise "in a nutshell" publications, such as his excellent "The Philosophers in 90 Minutes" series of books. However, "The Big Idea" doesn't live up to that legacy, and anybody with a few moments and an internet connection can find all sorts of web pages that are more elucidating than his "Big Idea" books.

   While his books provide a historical viewpoint that presents pertinent background information about each subject, one is certainly better off with books such as The Elegant Universe, by Brian Greene which does everything Strathern tries to do but with much more substance (and all in just the first few chapters).

   Strathern's "Big Idea" books, with their large 14-pt print are elementary\middle-school level reading; and while they would probably make great educational gifts, they don't have much value outside that age group.

   Final verdict: If you're interested in physics and relativity, there read "Relativity Visualized" by Epstein or "The Elegant Universe" by Green; or better yet, spend some time browsing the net and you'll be surprised at what you can find.

No comments about Blackett: Physics, War, and Politics in the Twentieth Century.

3 comments about Percival Lowell: The Culture and Science of a Boston Brahmin.

1. The first fully satisfying biography of a man who helped to change astronomy, sustained its popularity and mystery, and tested the wills of mainstream astronomers.



2. Strauss is not content with telling us the story of Lowell's fascinating life--he portrays each milieu in which Lowell worked and lived with a complexity that gives us the tools to understand Lowell in context. For example, he gives us piquant details about life in the upper reaches of Boston Brahmin culture. One of the more interesting stories is Lowell's move from prominence in academia to the position of crank and critic of the increasing professionalization of astronomy.

   This is the portrait of a restless mind, worth delving into.




3. Strauss' historical look at Lowell is extremely engaging and I found this book hard to put down. Some great historical context about Boston and Japan really give you the feeling of what is was like to be there back in the 1800's. I recommend this to all.

1 comments about From Telegrapher to Titan.

1. I enjoyed reading this book, it kept my attention, and never got dull or dry. Very well researched. I appreciated the sources she used especially Van Horne's personal letters to his friends, family and business associates.
   
   I feel, however, that the book really should have included more photographs. I would have liked to have seen his artwork, photos of his massive collection, and more photos of his family.
   
   Other than that, is was an excellent job.

No comments about Darwin's Illness.

1 comments about Beneath My Feet: The Memoirs of George Mercer Dawson.

1. "Beneath My Feet" is a difficult book to describe. It's based on the journals, letters, and notebooks of George Mercer Dawson, one of Canada's most important scientists and the man after which Dawson City, Yukon and Dawson Creek, B.C. were named. Phil Jenkins has joined together Dawson's words into a seamless memoir.
   
   For the most part, it works very well. Dawson (as portrayed by Jenkins) describes his many adventures in 19th century Western Canada with the kind of page-turning excitement you'd expect to find in a Patrick O'Brien sea story. He describes everything from the last great buffalo run on the Prairies to canoeing down the wild Pelly River to meeting the Haida Indians of the Queen Charlotte Islands to sailing into the teeth of a violent Pacific storm with enthusiasm and joy. Part of this is that Dawson really was there: he really did descend the Chilikoot Pass at the end of a thousand-mile canoe trip through northern British Columbia and Yukon. He really did sled with his team from Edmonton to Winnipeg in the middle of a Prairie winter. He really did travel up the Fraser River years before the first road or railroad. And, in the end, after all the risk-taking and all the excitement, this indefatigable explorer really did die almost at his desk of a simple chest infection.
   
   Dawson's lively personality infuses the entire book. He writes of his mother and his sister Anna with love, expresses his impatience with his beloved father's anti-Darwinism and his religion, excoriates his brother Rankine for (as Dawson saw it) exploiting his father's memoirs for his own financial gain, and pours out his anger and resentment at the unnamed "love of his life" who abandoned him for another man. Dawson, a man of his time, never fails to note the relative attractiveness of the women he meets, but is more likely to be blunt and negative about the attractions of First Nations women, calling them "hags", "very ugly", and "hideous" at various times.
   
   One interesting point is that Dawson rarely mentions the fact that he was severely physically disabled. He was diagnosed with Pott's disease or tuberculosis of the spine, a condition that stunted his growth and gave him a prominent hunchback that must have made long treks on horseback incredibly painful. But only two or three times in the entire narrative does he refer to his disability.
   
   The only qualm I have about Beneath My Feet is that Jenkins, the compiler of Dawson's memoirs, does not show which sections are Dawson's own words and which are not. What concerns me most is the last section, which purports to give Dawson's thoughts as he lay dying. This must be fiction. It led me to wonder if anything else in the book was invented by Jenkins or if anything relevant to Dawson's personal life was left out for reasons unrelated to the course of the narrative. It's unfortunate because the book would have been just as compelling had it ended with Dawson's last diary entry in which he complains of not feeling well, followed by his obituary.
   
   Because of this unanswered question, I would be wary of using this book as an educational tool, but I do recommend it for anyone interested in adventure, geography, or 19th century Canada. It's a great read.

5 comments about Creating the New World: Stories & Images from the Dawn of the Atomic Age.

1. great read about the history nuclear power and where it's been and where it's going. it talks a lot about the struggles the industry has faced and is facing despite using the strictest guidelines to ensure public safety. or perhaps it is because they used the strictest guidelines for operational safety that the public has regarded it as something insanely dangerous and that the scientists and engineers behind it all have no idea what they're doing. it is a very objective book simply stating facts. there is a bibliography at the end showing all the references and studies it was based on. in fact the whole book is trying to get the sympathy or rather understanding of the reader to not be biased and to make their own conclusions about nuclear power.
   
   another thing that makes this a great read is that this book is NOT pro-nuclear. nor is it entirely about nuclear power. this book deals a lot about the public and the media. the book is like one whole, long, and extensive example about how the media can distort public perception on a subject ignoring numerous studies and facts that have long since been proved and acknowledge. the author questions how it came to be that the public scrutinizes scientists and engineers for not taking into consideration the 'dangers' of nuclear power and lack of safeguards to it. in one instance the author recalls the Three Mile Island incident. he doesn't defend it, nor cast blame. he just states what happens then asks at what point is it bad to have too many safeguards in place, explaining that the operators at the plant were faced with over 100 alarms within two minutes and the alarms continually going off. he gives the reader a brief insight into the mindset of what was going on. But again, he does not provide a biased view. he also goes into what could and should have happened and compares it to rickover's nuclear navy.
   
   the book also goes into depth about relative perceptions as that really is the only way to give a full description of nuclear power without knowing much on the subject. such as what is more damaging to the body, working as a nuclear operator receiving radiation from a reactor or working in a conventional power plant. or smoking everyday to working around a nuclear power plant everyday.
   
   of course the reader may get the impression that all media is bad and untruthful, but the author encourages the reader to not be biased. to not be so subjective. to just simply read the facts and base conclusions on that. to not watch the news and expect them to automatically distort it but to listen to the facts and the possible facts left out to make your own conclusions. to be your own detective really.



2. Man's ability to harness he boundless energy of the Atom has forever changed the world. Nuclear Pioneer Ted Rockwell recounts his role in "Creating the New World" in a series of thirteen essays describing the evolution of his 60 years in Nuclear Technology.

   Rockwell is truly one of the American history's unsung heroes, having worked on the "Manhattan Project" supporting the development of the world's first Atomic Bomb, serving as Technical Director of Admiral Hyman Rickover's Nuclear Navy Program that founded America's Nuclear Navy and built the first commercial nuclear power plant at Shippingport, PA, and co-founded a leading engineering firm specializing in high-reliability technologies. Rockwell is also the author or editor of several government publications, articles in trade magazines, as well as a book -- "The Rickover Effect: How One Man Made A Difference."

   One of the most astonishing facets of Rockwell is that despite his incredible technical accomplishments, he is able to relate his experience in the nuclear industry in a way that non-technical people like myself understand and appreciate. Throughout the book he is able to relate political, social, and technical issues clearly and persuasively, to give an appreciation of the subject matter.

   The first four chapters discuss his work in the Manhattan Project from the time he was recruited out of college into the program at Oak Ridge. He does a great job describing the life style during World War II, explaining how the people banded together to build a community dedicated and their optimism of ending the war through the secret weapon they were developing. The next three chapters mesh Rockwell's work in Rickover's nuclear navy program and explain how his work there defined the values and principles that ultimately made him who he is today. The remaining chapters discuss some of the defining moments later in his life, such as his work evaluating the Three Mile Island accident, discussing the fallacy of that being pro-environment means being anti-nuclear, and revealing the other 90% of nuclear uses that people rarely think of. His overall theme in this book is to show that nuclear technology is "understandable and beneficial" to society.

   This book is a must read for anyone that works with nuclear technologies and particularly serves as a means of conveying the history of the industry to the next generation of nuclear workers. However, anyone seeking to learn more about the evolution of nuclear technologies from a historical perspective would also benefit.

   The one flaw I found in this book is that it retells some of the same stories that were part of "The Rickover Effect," although at a different level. Then again, if the stories were not the same in both books, that would leave me scratching my head also.




3. This book brings to life the environment and times of the early scientists and engineers who made the Manhattan project a reality. Dr. Rockwell is an effective eyewitness to history and his book provides an invaluable look inside this important part of WWII history.



4. This book brings to life the environment and times of the early scientists and engineers who made the Manhattan project a reality. Dr. Rockwell is an effective eyewitness to history and his book provides an invaluable look inside this important part of WWII history.



5. This book brings to life the environment and times of the early scientists and engineers who made the Manhattan project a reality. Dr. Rockwell is an eyewitness to history and his book provides an invaluable look inside this important part of WWII history.

No comments about Ernest L. Eliel: From Cologne to Chapel Hill (Profiles, Pathways, and Dreams).

No comments about Pan Chao: Foremost Woman Scholar of China, First Century A.D..