Harrison gives detailed descriptions of multiple theories that were proposed to answer the question, "Why is it dark at night?" Each theory is dealt wHarrison gives detailed descriptions of multiple theories that were proposed to answer the question, "Why is it dark at night?" Each theory is dealt with in detail, and the fallacies they include are laid bare....more
I didn't quite get this book. I am sure it simply went over my head. I'm no stranger to physics and what-not so I figured this would be a good read. MI didn't quite get this book. I am sure it simply went over my head. I'm no stranger to physics and what-not so I figured this would be a good read. My review below is evidence of my frustration with this book.
I don't understand how people not only rated this book so highly, but also claim to have had some kind of enlightening experience from having read it. I thought this book was incredibly kitchy. Each chapter is a vignette of a world with some perturbation in the way time itself works, and by the end of each chapter I feel the author trying to push some point about how all of these vignettes are actually describing some aspect of time in reality. That we should all stop and smell the roses, etc.
I will give it to the author that yes, sometimes we need to see the absurd to recognize the flaws in our thought patterns (such as working on mechanical time rather than body time, or that we should live in the moment and not dread the future or dwell on the past). I get it. This is evident in the first few stories and seems to be repeated throughout.
I feel like the author (professor of both physics and writing at MIT) is someone who has never been criticized because everyone has always been too polite to do so. In this book, I think Dr. Lightman abuses both science and art. Unless I am just too dense to "get it." The scenarios make no sense... if everyone stops working because the world is ending, then who exactly are they ordering bread from in such a more pleasant way? If the butcher forgets where he lives daily, and even that he has a family, then why would he go back to the butcher shop every morning?
The aspects of time that are being stretched aren't even consistent with physics. Why would people have to pay more for a house that moves fast if they would never notice any benefit from it? being that they too are moving fast and therefore time would ravage the house at the same rate as if they were both sitting still. And similarly for the lovers near the center of time where "a kiss could last a thousand years"? It would only last a second to those two lovers... they wouldn't notice any difference in time, only outside viewers would. Relativity man, c'mon... this is Einstein 101 stuff...
Again I've found nothing profound in this book. Since my opinion goes against pretty much all the other reviews I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that I'm missing some really important points here. I seriously doubt the distinguished and best-selling professor of physics and writing from MIT would produce something that sounds like a collection of failed short stories that a high school aged kid would write unless there was a reason to do so.
Please, someone, point me to what I am missing here. I yearn for the kind of experience the other reviews mention, especially with this book. I obviously need to be educated here....more
This was a good book to read while winding down. After watching some videos of Feynman online, I could almost hear him telling these stories from the This was a good book to read while winding down. After watching some videos of Feynman online, I could almost hear him telling these stories from the book. He had a particular way about him that allowed him to see thing differently. This is evident in some of his stories. He was mischeivious and a bit full of himself, but he has the right to be. Afterall, QED wasn't an easy thing to have figured out.
I recommend this book at anyone that enjoys a light-hearted anecdote from time to time from one of the more important thinker of the 20th century....more
This book was my first experience reading about Feynman, though I had seen some of his videos online. As a lover of technical science, as well as biogThis book was my first experience reading about Feynman, though I had seen some of his videos online. As a lover of technical science, as well as biographies, this book definitely left me satisfied in those aspects. Though, I read this book nightly as I was trying to wind down and go to sleep. This didn't work out so well because a couple of the in-depth explanations were too taxing on my tired brain and I found myself rereading sections and once even wishing I had a pen and paper to doodle some diagrams. This was my own fault, and not that of the author. These topics aren't simple or intuitive and as such have complicated descriptions. Again, this was a very interesting take on a biography. I wish there were more "technical biographies" like this that put discoveries and breakthroughs in such context with the life, motivation, and growth of the subject....more
I was quite eager to read this book, but I found it hard to follow because of the conversational way it was written. I have issues with when the BuddhI was quite eager to read this book, but I found it hard to follow because of the conversational way it was written. I have issues with when the Buddhist Mr. Ricard says things along the lines of "why limit science to things than can be rationalized and proven with mathematics?" That is the definition of science. Anything claiming to be science yet does not meet those criteria is either pseudo science, conjecture, or a lie. It is akin to calling a turkey-burger a hamburger. They might look similar but they are completely different. (I wish I weren't so hungry at the moment, I might have come up with a better analogy.)
Aside from that, I assume that either I am too indoctrinated with western thought patterns, or I am too dense to fully comprehend the Buddhist conceptsand because of that I had a hard time accepting many of the "truths" revealed in this book.
I felt the physicist, Mr. Thuan, led most of the conversations and hardly let the Mr. Ricard elaborate of some things.
Overall I felt that this book of quantum mysticism attempted to claim that Buddhists have had it right all along, which I personally believe that no one has it all figured out yet. It is an interesting coincidence that the Buddhist way of thinking parallels much of modern physics concepts, but to attempt to claim that the western world is finally seeing the same things the Buddha spoke about is not cool....more
I love how his optimism in life really comes through in his writings. He never says anything bad about anyone and always has a positive outlook on thiI love how his optimism in life really comes through in his writings. He never says anything bad about anyone and always has a positive outlook on things. I think he would have been an enjoyable person to be around. Before reading this book, I assumed he was a stuck-up rich guy (being incredibly wealthy in his lifetime) however, it amazed me how gracious he was and how much he really gave back to the world.
This book was written in his spare time over several vacations and follows his life from starting in a poor Scottish town to the end of his life. I always keep this book around when it is rainy or dreary out, and I feel a bit down because Carnegie's cheery temperament always gets rid of my blues.
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