History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Average customer rating:

A philosopher's view
At last a fundamental introduction for the layman
Great Ideas in a Digestible Format
Quantum Electrodynamics for the Rest of Us
Decent philosophy, mediocre physics

Great Ideas in Physics
Alan P Lightman
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0071357386

Book Description

What does it mean to say that time and space are relative? How can an electron be in two places at once? For anyone who wants a basic understanding of the physical processes that define the universe, Lightman provides the perfect introduction in Great Ideas in Physics. In addition to explaining physics, he brings in relevant passages from philosophy and literature to demonstrate how these great ideas have impacted the world of thought.

Customer Reviews:

A philosopher's view.......2007-01-21

This book both impressed and disappointed me. One of the disappointments is the way Lightman advances the notion that some physical theories can be logically deduced, a priori, without performing experiments, and without experiencing the real world. I thought we'd conquered that siren's song centuries ago, but it lives on in Lightman's book.

For example, Alan argues that "Thermodynamics is essentially nothing more than the theory of probability, and that the second law might have been logically deduced on the basis of pure mathematics, with no experience of the world. He repeats his faith in a priori reasoning on pages 27-28 where he claims to provide a derivation of the "law" of conservation of gravitational and kinetic energy "using only logic and algebra." In another example, he argues that, with only a pencil and paper, Maxwell discovered the theoretical possibility of traveling waves of electromagnetic energy. And he promotes the myth that Einstein's theory of relativity is an example of "deductive science, [in which] the scientist begins by postulating certain truths of nature, with only secondary guidance from outside experiments, and deduces the consequences of the postulates.

In so forcefully advancing a central role for a priori reasoning, Lightman fools himself and does a disservice to the student. For example, in deriving the "law" of conservation of gravitational and kinetic energy, his proof makes use of the fact that things fall down. But that's an observation. Without that observation, Alan wouldn't know if things fell down, upwards, sideways, some arbitrary direction, or just *sat there*. His a priori proof also uses the fact that things fall with a constant acceleration. But for hundreds of generations before Galileo, people thought otherwise until corrected by observation. Further, Alan's proof assumes that all masses fall with the same acceleration, regardless of composition, which is yet another bit of information based on observation.

To me, it's incredible that I could pick up a book written in the 21st century, ostensibly on physics, and read a philosopher who argues there are physical theories "deduced" "using only logic and algebra. The problem seems to be that, once the deductive arguments are two or more steps removed from the experimental results, Alan has a tendency to forget the observations all together and then make unwarranted claims about the power of a priori reasoning and deductive logic based on "postulates." The whole idea of a priori reasoning in the total absence of experimental observations should have been, at the very least, discarded when Darwin taught us that our brains are a product of evolution, and thus designed by natural selection to analyze the real world.

The level of difficulty is aimed at high school students or freshman college students who are just being exposed to ideas in science and physics. But I don't recommend this book for beginning students because of the aforementioned philosophical problems. There are also too many technical problems.

For example, Lightman uses two colliding balls to illustrate the conservation of kinetic energy, but his explanation fails to mention (at all) that kinetic energy is conserved only for elastic collisions. He could and should have used conservation of *momentum,* which is always conserved, but he fails to mention that conservation law at all. So, although his explanation is correct as far as it goes, it is inexcusably misleading and incomplete.

I genuinely enjoyed some of Alan's derivations, as they provided peripheral views on scientific concepts that are illuminating. But some derivations are sloppy, and likely to mislead beginning students, especially when Alan takes tenable conclusion and then makes sweeping conclusions, culminating with the declaration of "law." This wouldn't be a problem if he explained along the way that the reasoning is non-rigorous, and that the conclusions are only tenable, and subject to further experimental testing and validation. But he does just the opposite by giving the reader a false sense that the reasoning is far more rigorous than it really is.

I enjoyed the author's explanation of thermodynamics. The examples, starting out with small numbers of ideal molecules, nicely illustrate key principles. And, I like the way he expands these principles. This is one of the best sections in the book. I enjoyed his development of the first and second laws of thermodynamics, with the singular complaint that he provides so much time to bad philosophers who use thermodynamics to misrepresent evolution. He doesn't just let the philosophers and religious fanatics misrepresent evolution, either. He does it himself. For example, on page 110 Alan summarizes a philosopher's argument with the comment:

"Here Adams describes the conflict between Evolutionists, who think human society is forever progressing upward, and the Degradationists, who believe in the second law of thermodynamics."

The idea that evolution says "human society is forever progressing upward" is a flagrant misrepresentation of evolution. This sort false dichotomy misrepresents both evolution and thermodynamics, and is roughly in line with bogus arguments from religionists like Henry Morris, to whom Alan allots over a page of explanation under the bold-typed headline "The Second Law Used to Refute the Theory of Evolution." True, he does offer a paragraph explaining that the earth is a closed system, but to offer so much time to Morris, without a word from great scientists and philosophers like Dawkins, is just unforgivable. Without exception, every reference to evolution was either negative or neutral, which is an unforgivable slight on the greatest theory of the 19th century.

The conservation of energy, the theory of thermodynamics, the theory of relativity, and quantum mechanics are, truly, all great ideas in physics; hats off to Alan Lightman for writing a book about them. But it's a real shame the book had to be cluttered by the other stuff.

At last a fundamental introduction for the layman.......2006-01-24

I am starting to self-study physics and mathematics as part of a broader interest in astronomy and cosmology.
I am delighted by this book which focuses on 4 fundamental topics and explains them clearly with only algebra.
This is a great intro, very pedagogical, and I don't feel cheated on the science, compared to other popularizations.
I just wish there would be the solutions to ALL the exercises, and hope A.Lightman does a sequel.

Great Ideas in a Digestible Format.......2004-11-05

Alan Lightman, Senior Lecturer in Physics at MIT and author of the recent best-seller _Einstein's Dreams_, serves up four fundamental concepts that form the foundation of modern physics in an easy-to-read, comfortable manner. Not being a physics buff, I was pleasantly surprised at the ease with which Lightman commands and communicates his subject. After developing a beginner's understanding of the conservation of energy, the second law of thermodynamics, the theory of relativity, and quantum mechanics, it is fascinating to watch each of these ideas find traction in the world around you. For those who might view physics as an esoteric field that bears no real relevance to the lives of ordinary people, Lightman encourages them to look at the impact of these ideas, not only the science of the modern world, but on the social, spiritual, and intellectual aspects of the modern era as well. By weaving passages from writers, philosophers, theologians, and social theorists, Lightman explores the wide-ranging impact that physics has had on every academic field imaginable.

While some may find the text to be pedestrian and lack the hard math of more ambitious texts, this book is not geared towards experts and should not be considered anything more than a fun read for the informed. If you're ready to begin exploring the world of physics, this is a nice place to start. Just be prepared to view the world differently after you're done.

Quantum Electrodynamics for the Rest of Us.......2001-10-23

Whether the physics in this book is perfect or not, one thing is certain: the physics is readable. This is not a book for the aspiring physicist, I made that mistake. This is a book for a person curious about some of the major developments in the subject but NOT interested in the minutia and the math behind the theory. Physics is not just for nerds with overpowered calculators, anybody can be fascinated by this stuff.

Decent philosophy, mediocre physics.......1998-10-30

This is a decent book when it comes to discussing the philosophical implications of physics, but its discussions of the concrete physics are lacking. There are many typos and ambiguous problems, and in some cases important concepts are actually explained incorrectly. Only buy this book if you are already conversant with the physics it discusses (thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, and relativity) and want to read about the history and philosophy of them.

Heisenberg Probably Slept Here: The Lives, Times, and Ideas of the Great Physicists of the 20th Century

Average customer rating:

Good bibliographies, not so good explanations
High school physics on steroids
Heisenberg slept?!
Fascinating and Well Written
The book had exquisite view of those great scientists

Heisenberg Probably Slept Here: The Lives, Times, and Ideas of the Great Physicists of the 20th Century
Richard P. Brennan
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The New Quantum Universe (Revised and Updated Edition)

ASIN: 047129585X

Amazon.com

Physics turned weird recently--really weird. That doesn't necessarily mean that modern physicists are weird, though, does it? Well, yes and no, says science writer Richard P. Brennan, whose book Heisenberg Probably Slept Here chronicles the lives of seven great scientists of the 20th century--Einstein, Planck, Rutherford, Bohr, Heisenberg, Feynman, and Gell-Mann--as well as their spiritual father, Isaac Newton. Fascinating and funny, each biographical sketch illuminates the man, his surroundings, and his achievements with unusual clarity.

Writing about the enormous driving force engendered in physics by World War II, with scientists on both sides striving to advance their knowledge far enough to win a terrible war, Brennan shows us the delicate contingencies that led to our current level of understanding. What if the Nazis hadn't rejected "Jewish science"? What if the Allies had assassinated Heisenberg? More generally, he tells us stories of men working like maniacs to answer some of the hardest, most basic questions about our universe ever devised, only to find more questions for the next century to ponder. We may hope that a new generation will be inspired by these stories to take weird 20th-century science much further; perhaps some day quantum mechanics will seem more quaint than abstruse. --Rob Lightner

Book Description

"Here is a book I wish I had when taking physics my senior year in high school!" -Book Report

A lively illumination of modern physics' marquee players, featuring:
* Albert Einstein
* Max Planck
* Ernest Rutherford
* Niels Bohr
* Werner Heisenberg
* Richard Feynman
* Murray Gell-Mann

"Brennan has a knack for explaining difficult technicalities simply. His essays give a useful summary of twentieth-century science." -Financial Times

"Highly recommended to expert and layperson alike." -Choice

Customer Reviews:

Good bibliographies, not so good explanations.......2006-04-18

This book is really helpful for several reasons. If you are looking for a good story and you enjoy science, then this book is perfect. In addition, the stories are not too long, so those to tend to hyper focus will be able to take a break. This book tells of the often humorous lives of scientific legends. It shows the human behind these legends. For example, these physicists did stupid things in college, like take 6 aspirin and three cokes just to prove they could. They also had marital problems and arguments with their friends. After reading this, these physicists seem more like everyday people. (Granted, most fathers don't read bedtime stories from the encyclopedia.) Over all, this is a good book because it is about real people with real lives.
Another good reason for reading this book is for research on these physicists and their theories. There is plenty of information on their lives and their work for research projects, and the book is very understandable. If you are simply looking to gain a simple understanding of their theories, this book is a good source. However, if you are looking to have an in depth debate on the theories or do serious research, I would not recommend it. The author, while explaining the theories, has a tendency to contradict himself a little. He seems to understand the general concept of the theories, however, upon closer observation, he doesn't make much sense. For example, when he says that scientists "cannot detect" particles in motion and then, just two lines later, says that their calculations about them are accurate, something seems to be wrong with his explanation. This is a great book if you want a good story or a simple overview of the theories; however, if you are looking for "accuracy" then you probably need to refer to the physicists' actual papers on their theories.

High school physics on steroids.......2001-07-22

A lot of the material was similar to what I did in high school physics...but excellent presentation combined with insights into the lives of the phycisists made this a much more interesting text.

Heisenberg slept?!.......2001-06-19

First of all, the subtitle of this book, "The Lives, Times, and Ideas of the Great Physicists of the 20th Century," is a bit inaccurate. Among the 8 physicists depicted in Brennan's mini-biography is Sir Isaac Newton; obviously not a denizen of the 20th century. Granted, Newton had more influence on the present epoch of physics than anyone else up until the time of Einstein, so his presence in this work is not inappropriate. It's just that he's not a 20th century physicist.

On the other hand, a startling omission is Erwin Scroedinger. It is understood that one's selection of who's in & who's out can never please everyone in these types of books. However, I can't imagine someone assembling a roster of 20th century physicists without including the venerable Schroedinger. Just my opinion.

The content of the personages Brennan does write about is quite remarkable. Brennan does a reputable job of describing the major motifs of different biographical epochs of each physicist, then mixing in some nice anectdotes for good measure. He also does not get carried away & deify the scientists to make them look infallible. Rather, Brennan fairly integrates their faults into his text. As a bonus, there is also a brief synopsis of the history of Pre-Newtonian physics.

The most informative pages are those devoted to Heisenberg. I had always wanted to believe the stories about how he tried to sabatoge the Nazi bomb effort from the inside. Unfortunately, referencing British documents which were de-classified in 1992, Brennan nullifies those arguments as nothing but wishful thinking and ad-hoc propoganda engendered by H himself.

I would highly recommend this book as a prelude for those who wish to study the lives of these great physicists more deeply. As it is a quick read, it is an equally ideal book for physicists who have only a marginal interest in the great lives of their predecessors.

Fascinating and Well Written.......2000-08-04

I thouroughly enjoyed this book for several reasons. Richard Brennan does a remarkable job of explaining each physicists' work in a manner a layperson can understand, but still involved enough that the reader appreciates the significance of each discovery. Brennan also manages to capture the character and personality of each physicist with relatively a short biography. He has also structured the book so that the implication of each of the subjects' work on his successors is clear. In short, I found the physicists' personal stories compelling and the science fascinating.

The book had exquisite view of those great scientists.......2000-07-14

When I read the book at first time, I was attracted to the stories. They are not only an interesting narrative but also provide the correct attitude of life and research of science for us. When I finished reading the book, I was deeply affected by the stories. I introduced the book to my friends, and I stilly like reading the book now.

Average customer rating:

The conceptual ideas of high school physics
This book is the fountainhead of modern physics
From the horses mouth
good for the price

Matter and Motion (Great Minds Series)
James Clerk Maxwell , and Joseph Larmor
Manufacturer: Prometheus Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1573929891

Book Description

The great physicist's elegant, concise survey of Newtonian dynamics proceeds gradually from simple particles of matter to physical systems beyond complete analysis. Includes "On the Equation of Motion of a Connected System," from Volume II of Electricity and Magnetism. Appendixes deal with relativity motion and principles of least action.

Customer Reviews:

The conceptual ideas of high school physics.......2006-02-06

Maxwell wants to explain the "fundamental doctrines of matter and motion", by which he means not formulae and calculations but rather the conceptual framework that serves to "guide the current of thought". Modern readers will not be too impressed since all of this is basically stuff that we teach to high school kids today. One should understand physics in terms of matter and forces and Newton's laws and so on. It's not all Newton, however, because physics "has now fairly entered on the next stage of progress", recognising energy as a fundamental concept. Conservation of energy "furnishes to the physical enquirer a principle on which he may hang every known law relating to physical actions, and by which he may be put in the way to discover the relations of such actions in new branches of science". So it goes. Even in the last chapter celestial mechanics is touched on not as a success of Newtonian physics in reaching insights about the world, but only as an "instructive example" of how great our conceptual framework is since it can easily accommodate the law of universal gravitation. In short, this book amounts to celebrating the first ten pages or so of the Principia while ignoring the hundreds of pages of actual physics. The publishers have added a chapter from Maxwell's Electricity and Magnetism, and appendices and notes by Larmor, quite a bit of which is on relativity theory. Both of these additions are completely out of line with the original text.

This book is the fountainhead of modern physics.......2005-03-11

I suggest that the other reviewers completely missed the significance of Maxwell's book "Matter and Motion" as it is the fountainhead of modern physics. First, it introduces and outlines "Dimensional Analysis" which ALL physics theories MUST conform to. Dimensional Analysis is physics: Equations are maths: Units are politics. Secondly, Maxwell set the stage for Quantum Mechanics by introducing the concept that it is necessary to use statistics to model reality.

From the horses mouth.......2001-02-11

This is how founding fathers thought and wrote about the Matter and Motion. It is a nostalgic reading. Maxwell himself wrote about Matter and Motion of course based on Newtonian Physics. You do not learn any new Physics unless you are doing study in the History of Science. Maxwell basically starts with definition of concepts in Newtonian Mechanics and explains Newton's laws of Motion. Force, Energy, Momentum all the good staff. Short book and interesting piece of history. Definitely worth reading of it for leisure or for study.

good for the price.......1998-02-25

definitely not the best intro to newton mechanics but if you already know it and need the info in a new prespective this book will do you.NOT A SELF STUDY GUIDE.Is best when used as a review.

Music, Science, and Natural Magic in Seventeenth-Century England

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Lutes, viols and virginals
Great. Please contact me!

Music, Science, and Natural Magic in Seventeenth-Century England
Penelope Gouk
Manufacturer: Yale University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0300073836

Book Description

What influence did music have in the domains of natural magic and early modern experimental science? In this highly original book, Penelope Gouk argues that developments in sixteenth-century musical practices changed English thought on science and magic in the next century. Her exploration of the relationships among these apparently separate disciplines sheds new light on the history of each.

Customer Reviews:

Lutes, viols and virginals.......2000-11-19

How changes in the theory and practice of music echoed and exemplified a crescendo of new natural philosophy, and an equal and opposite diminuendo of traditional natural magic, is the subject of Gouk's book, an harmonious work that comprises three movements. The first, 'Geographies', poses and answers such questions as how was music understood in the period; how was it taught; who performed it, and on what instruments; where was it played and appreciated; and who were its audiences. The second is an annotated 'Gallery' of illustrations -picturing, amongst other things, the Theatre of Instruments, the Division of the Scale, and the Harmony of the Spheres- taken from contemporary publications by diverse authors, among them Fludd, Kircher, Schott and Mersenne. The last part, 'Narratives' relates the history of the Royal Society's engagements with music and the new Science of Acousticks, then studies of the role of music in the lives and works of Hooke and Newton. The author shews that, over the course of the century in question, the pursuit of knowledge and truth via natural philosophy took on an increasingly public and collaborative character, and this trend had an analogue in the increasing prevalence of public performance of music that had previously been confined to the chambers of the elite: in both cases, a species of Performing Art was being redirected, outward, to a broad audience in a secular setting. This absorbing book is clearly a distillation of many years' study and thought, and the resultant brew is a potent elixir of images and ideas, which almost evokes, at times, the sound of a lute, a viol or a virginal.

Great. Please contact me!.......1999-11-08

I haven't read the book yet but I do want to get in touch with the author, Penny Gouk. We were at university together and I am putting together a newsletter for all those of us in her year. Please ask her to contact me on: MWaller@compuserve.com

Newton and Gravity: The Big Idea (Big Idea Series)

Average customer rating:

I Love the Book
A quick read, but shallow

Newton and Gravity: The Big Idea (Big Idea Series)
Paul Strathern
Manufacturer: Anchor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Curie and Radioactivity: The Big Idea (Strathern, Paul, Big Idea.)

ASIN: 0385492413
Release Date: 1998-07-13

Book Description

A good case can be made for Isaac Newton being the finest mind humanity has yet produced. His theory of gravity offered his contemporaries their first glimpse of how the universe actually works, and his mathematics enabled later generations to walk on the moon. Today, we know that gravity keeps our feet on the ground, but how many of us know how Newton's greatest discovery really works? In Newton & Gravity, Paul Strathern encapsulates several of Newton's more mind-expanding discoveries, explaining in lively prose their cultural context as well as Newton's early obsession with science (bordering on dementia) that made his revolutionary vision possible. Just a few of the big ideas covered here are:

Newton's discovery of calculus at age twenty-three Why gravity, one of the greatest human insights of all time, was in fact a hunch and how it actually works Why it took Newton twenty years after his discovery to reveal to the world the secret of gravity and planetary motion

Ideal for the intelligent reader eager to better understand how and why the universe works the way it does, Newton & Gravity is a fascinating refresher course that makes physics not only fun but shockingly easy to understand.

Customer Reviews:

I Love the Book.......2001-12-15

This book told me several significant points about Issac that I (and most other people) are not aware of. It also inspired me to learn more. It requires a small amount of time to read. For me that is an advantage.

This is a great book for people that avoid fat books which are padded with trivial details that can't be remembered anyway.

A quick read, but shallow.......1999-08-18

Strathern's summary of the life of Issac Newton is less than 90 pages of unusually large print -- a very quick read indeed. At best, it is a superficial glance that provides little insight into the life or work of Newton.

Book Description

Stephen Hawking is arguably the most famous scientist in the world, and many of us may know that black holes are his forte, but do we really have any idea what a black hole is? In this remarkably engaging book, Paul Strathern not only demystifies Hawking's universe-expanding theories, but helps readers appreciate why such knowledge is essential for anyone who wants to more fully understand the world around them.Just a few of the big ideas featured in Hawking & Black Holes are: how the universe originated and what this has to do with black holes how the big bang actually worked why black holes aren't actually black Is a Unified Theory of Everything possible (the ultimate Big Idea)?

Hawking & Black Holes also portrays the iron-willed determination of a man who continues to search for the key to understanding the cosmos, despite the devastating effects of motor neuron disease. Brilliantly simplifying the most complex ideas, Hawking & Black Holes will help you grasp the universe in ways you never thought possible.

Customer Reviews:

Strathern Tackles Science & Scientists.......1999-09-21

Paul Strathern, author of the outstanding Philosophers in 90 Minutes series, hits the mark once more in a series about scientists. In this work, he gives the reader a comprehensive yet brief overview of Stephen Hawking's life & works. Strathern, as usual, is entertaining, informative & funny. Strathern cuts through the vernacular & brings the subject matter in plain, direct language. This book is definately a winner!

Atomic Structure (Great Ideas of Science)

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Atomic Structure (Great Ideas of Science)
Rebecca L. Johnson
Manufacturer: Twenty-First Century Books (CT)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

Anatomy & Physiology | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Science & Technology | Teens | Subjects | Books

Forces in Physics (Greenwood Guides to Great Ideas in Science)

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Forces in Physics (Greenwood Guides to Great Ideas in Science)
Steven Shore
Manufacturer: Greenwood Pub Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books

Heat and Thermodynamics: A Historical Perspective (Greenwood Guides to Great Ideas in Science)

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Heat and Thermodynamics: A Historical Perspective (Greenwood Guides to Great Ideas in Science)
Christopher J. T. Lewis
Manufacturer: Greenwood Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books

History of Science | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

Heat and energy form the backbone of modern physics, but the ideas are not intuitive for most students beginning their study of physics. Instructors spend much valuable time in the classroom and lab explaining such concepts as entropy, thermodynamics, and the conservation of energy. But, as educators know, such ideas can become clearer if students learn how the scientists who developed these concepts came to their discoveries through experimentation and observation. This volume in the Greenwood Guide to Great Ideas in Science series provides a historical perspective to heat and thermodynamics, providing readers with an accessible introduction to the people whose work led to our profound understanding of the nature of the universe. Originally stimulated by the invention of the steam engine during the Industrial Revolution, thermodynamics developed into a universally applicable and powerful scientific theory. Heat and Thermodynamics shows readers how the powerful ideas of energy and heat were developed by scientists over the centuries: BLExplores the history of the ideas of what heat was from the ancient element of "Fire" through the notion of heat as an indestructible fluid -- "caloric" -- of the 18th century. BLExplains the revolutionary experiments of Sadi Carnot, James Joule, and others as they develop the early theories of thermodynamics BLDiscusses great scientists such as Lord Kelvin, and their theories that helped formalize the new ideas of heat and energy Heat and Thermodynamics includes illustrations, a bibliography, timeline, and glossary for students who wish to research the subject in more detail.

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