Book Description

This riveting work of investigative reporting and history exposes classified government projects to build gravity-defying aircraft--which have an uncanny resemblance to flying saucers.

The atomic bomb was not the only project to occupy government scientists in the 1940s.Antigravity technology, originally spearheaded by scientists in Nazi Germany, was another high priority, one that still may be in effect today.Now for the first time, a reporter with an unprecedented access to key sources in the intelligence and military communities reveals suppressed evidence that tells the story of a quest for a discovery that could prove as powerful as the A-bomb.

The Hunt for Zero Point explores the scientific speculation that a "zero point" of gravity exists in the universe and can be replicated here on Earth.The pressure to be the first nation to harness gravity is immense, as it means having the ability to build military planes of unlimited speed and range, along with the most deadly weaponry the world has ever seen.The ideal shape for a gravity-defying vehicle happens to be a perfect disk, making antigravity tests a possible explanation for the numerous UFO sightings of the past 50 years.

Chronicling the origins of antigravity research in the world's most advanced research facility, which was operated by the Third Reich during World War II, The Hunt for Zero Point traces U.S. involvement in the project, beginning with the recruitment of former Nazi scientists after the war.Drawn from interviews with those involved with the research and who visited labs in Europe and the United States, The Hunt for Zero Point journeys to the heart of the twentieth century's most puzzling unexplained phenomena. ... Read more

Reviews (49)

Very entertaining
If you enjoy "X Files", "Roswell", even "Star Trek" for the entertainment value (as I do) you will probably like this book. If you are a passionate believer, or disbeliever, you won't. In "The Hunt for Zero Point" Nick Cook has crafted a very readable, entertaining novel around a subject for which there is little hard evidence, historical or current. And in a field which is rife with conspiracy theories and theorists he manages to underplay this aspect - as a respectable journalist should.

My father-in-law turned me on to this book. He is a taciturn fellow; his comment to me was "there is not a lot here, but you might enjoy it." He was right on both counts, and my guess is he should know. He was an electrical engineer, drafted into the Army during WWII, worked for ARPA, was posted to Germany towards the end of hostilities to help "clean up" after the Wehrmacht, and then went back to DARPA until he retired as a full colonel. Perhaps unsurprisingly, both of his sons work for large defense contractors managing "confidential" engineering projects.

So, regarding that conspiracy theory stuff? Hey, humans hide things from each other - you aren't telling your friends that you dress up in a tutu, suck your thumb and cry while your spouse spanks you, are you? We have our reasons. Our governments have their reasons (security) and our industries do too (to protect revenue).

Imagine trillions of dollars invested in a world-wide infrastructure, millions of people directly employed and many millions more indirectly, large profits and tax revenue generated, and maybe even a belief in the manifest destiny of humankind to fully utilize the resources that God has provided. Along comes a technology that will render the infrastructure obsolete, put all those people out of work, and destroy the profits and tax revenue - overnight. What do you do? You sit on the new technology until the resources are depleted (or until the asteroid strike). That's not a conspiracy, that's just common sense.

Recommended. Buy this book, and enjoy it. Then get on the web and find out that maybe it is not all smoke after all.

Great Read!
This book is great example of someone writing with a passion for searching for the truth. Well documented, the author takes us back to the early days of rocket development to search out if indeed we truly have man-made UFOs and the secret of anti-gravity.

HOW TO LEARN TO LOVE THE BOMB, PART II
How does one develop and exploit technology that can provide tunable "death rays," great anti-missile, anti-arty, anti-meteor defense, unlimited cheap energy, "flying saucer" spacetime travel, unlimited supplies of potable water, remediate nuclear pollution, enrich nuclear material, alter atomic structure, manipulate massenergy (i.e. increase or reduce gravitational/inertial mass, alter the weather, create seismic disturbances, "tractor beams," etc.), see through walls, and offer instantaneous, secure communications, among other things, but also provide a weapon that can sufficiently disrupt spacetime to destroy an entire planet? One needs a secret international, if not intra-galactic, extra-governmental military-industrial complex control group of some really stand-up guys. Or, let's at least hope they're "stand-up" since we don't exactly elect them. Let's also hope that all that power does not go to their heads! This book will help you understand a very small part of this story, namely what some of the sons of Adam figured out and built in massive underground complexes in Nazi-occupied Central Europe some six decades ago and how, with the help of the OSS at the fall of the Third Reich, a certain thoroughly evil genius for organization and intrigue named Hans Kammler, came west with the fruits of this technology after killing as many people who worked on it as possible. Think he might have taught us anything? If I have any fault with this book, it is that I could not help but suspect that the author, Nick Cook, editor of Janes Defence - Aviation, is not entirely the uninformed, naive, outside investigator that he protrays himself.

Not what you'd think
"Antigravity" is too restrictive a subtitle. It implies the author is focusing on gravity. In fact, he focuses on a search for technology that allows flight based on principles other than chemistry and aerodynamics. He chronicles his hunt for clues to alternative technologies hinted at in the footnotes of recent history. These technologies are based upon unusual phenomena, observed and partly tamed but not understood. He believes that significant advances were made in WWII Germany and continue to be developed today in "black" government programs. There are many intriguing hints of the existence of this technology and its direction, but the description of theoretical possibilities such as "zero point energy" seem only uninformed speculation. The author is severely hampered by a lack of technical training or mindset. Yet, this is an interesting tale with lots of diverse threads woven into an intriguing picture.

In and Out of the Shadows
In this shadowy world of antigravity, there is deliberate deception and false stories pointing to UFO's, and then ridiculing that possibility by others. People are whipped around by propaganda worthy of "1984". Nick Cook writes an excellent undercover book in The Hunt for Zero Point, but I am left wondering if he is participating in truth-telling, or deception, or both? It's well written, intriguing, and I cannot see any reason why anyone wouldn't like this book. But....at the end, is it true? My opinion is that antigravity is a deep black program and a lot of UFO sightings are sightings of already flying disc craft of human origin. ... Read more

Book Description

For as long as there have been people, men and women have looked up into the night sky and wondered about the nature of the cosmos. Without the benefit of science to provide answers, they relied on myth and superstition to help them make sense of what they saw. Lucky for us, we live at a time when regular folks, equipped with nothing more than their naked eyes, can look up into the night sky and gain admittance to infinite wonders. If you know what to look for, you can make out planets, stars, galaxies , and even galactic clusters comprising hundreds of millions of stars and spanning millions of light-years.

Astronomy For Dummies tells you what you need to know to make sense of the world above us. Written by one of the most well-known astronomers in the world, this fun, fact-filled ,and accessible guide fills you in on the basic principles of astronomy and tells you how to:

• Identify planets and stars
• Explore our solar system, the Milky Way, and beyond
• Understand the Big Bang, quasars, antimatter, black holes, and more
• Join the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI)
• Get the most out of planetarium visits
• Make more sense out of space missions

From asteroids to black holes, quasars to white dwarfs, Astronomy For Dummies takes you on a grand tour of the universe.  Featuring star maps, charts, gorgeous full-color photographs, and easy-to-follow explanations it gives you a leg up on the basic science of the universe. Topics covered include:

• Observing the night sky, with and without optics
• Selecting binoculars and telescopes and positioning yourself for the best view
• Meteors, comets, and man-made moons
• Touring our solar system and becoming familiar with the planets, asteroids, and near Earth objects
• Our Sun, stars, galaxies, black holes and quasars
• SETI and planets revolving around other suns
• Dark matter and antimatter
• The Big Bang and the evolutions of the universe

You might think the cosmos is a vast and mysterious place, but Astronomy For Dummies will make it seem as friendly and familiar as your own backyard. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Good introduction to astronomy
I recall having a great interest in astronomy for a time when I was a kid. About two years ago, as an adult, my interest in astronomy was somehow revived, and I decided to buy (and read) this book. The book was very helpful in re-introducing me to astronomy. It helped me to really understand astronomical concepts much better. It also helped me to understand better the scientific explanations and theories behind the behavior and characteristics of the stars, planets, etc. The author does a good job of introducing one to astronomy. I recommend this book especially for beginners in astronomy.

Happly surprised.
At first glance, this book seemed to be another, "these are the planets and this is the sun..." type of third grader material because of the title. It was much more. Filled with websites, interesting facts, and tons of first-timer tips, this book is excellent for some that is wanting to get there feet wet in astronomy. Well organized and entertaining, I would buy it merely for the references to all the websites.

Review Of Astronomy For Dummies
I own several astronomy books and this is by far the most informative and interesting.

Very Helpful!!
This book is the most helpful book I've ever read. Since I'm new in astronomy I used this book to at least give me the basics. It gave me more than I could ever ask for! Some things I liked just reading about like solar eclipses and reading about the planets. I really don't need to know how to find the planets because my meade etx70at does all the work for me which I highly recomend for the casual observer. Anyways this book is very helpful and I think you'll like it.

Excelente
Sorry, Is there spanish version of this book?. Astronomy for dummies. ... Read more

Book Description

What happens when the Dalai Lama meets with leading physicists and a historian? This book is the carefully edited record of the fascinating discussions at a Mind and Life conference in which five leading physicists and a historian (David Finkelstein, George Greenstein, Piet Hut, Arthur Zajonc, Anton Zeilinger, and Tu Weiming) discussed with the Dalai Lama current thought in theoretical quantum physics, in the context of Buddhist philosophy. A contribution to the science-religion interface, and a useful explanation of our basic understanding of quantum reality, couched at a level that intelligent readers without a deep involvement in science can grasp. In the tradition of other popular books on resonances between modern quantum physics and Zen or Buddhist mystical traditions--notably The Dancing Wu Li Masters and The Tao of Physics, this book gives a clear and useful update of the genuine correspondences between these two rather disparate approaches to understanding the nature of reality. ... Read more

Book Description

The most famous guide to the stars is now the most accessible! Generations of amateur astronomers have called it simply Norton's: the most famous star atlas in the world. Now in a beautifully redesigned, two-color landmark 20th edition, this combination star atlas and reference guide has no match in the field.

First published in 1910, coinciding with the first of two appearances by Halley's Comet last century, Norton's owes much of its legendary success to its unique maps, arranged in slices or gores, each covering approximately one-fifth of the sky. Apart from being presented more accessibly than ever before, the text and tables have been revised and updated to account for the new and exciting developments in our observation of the cosmos. The star maps themselves were plotted using advanced computer techniques yielding outstanding accuracy and legibility. Every heavenly object visible to the naked eye is included--stars to magnitude 6, star clusters, and galaxies, as well as other celestial objects. Presented with an authority that has stood for generations, observation hints, technical explanations, and pointers to specialized information sources make this the only essential guide to the night sky.

The updated and revised hardcover 20th edition also has new moon maps, clearer tables, new diagrams and a section on the latest computer driven telescopes--today's perfect home reference for curious minds from beginners to dedicated star gazers!

What are people saying? ... "The unique and time-honored projection used in the Norton's star charts is particularly handy and has always been my favorite." --Professor Owen Gingerich, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

"Once in a blue moon a book appears to dramatically and forever change its subject; in short, the work becomes an indispensable resource for generations. Norton's Star Atlas is such a work." --Leif J. Robinson, Editor Emeritus, Sky and Telescope

"Ian Ridpath is one of the most dedicated and prolific writers on astronomy. His works all have clarity and authority, and he is ideally suited to infuse new life into a classic." --Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal, University of Cambridge, author of Our Final Hour

Reviews (5)

20th edition, second printing is spectacular!
In a previous review I expressed disappointment that a printing error seriously marred the usefulness of the latest edition of this updated classic. Well, the publisher tracked me down and sent a copy of the second printing. I am delighted to report that all the errors have been fixed and this new edition is a wonderful addition to any amateur astronomer's bookshelf (or eyepiece case). The text begins with excellent discussions of time and celestial coordinate systems (often confusing to beginner and long-timer alike). The new higher contrast moon maps are a major improvement over the washed-out maps in some previous editions. The heart of the atlas are the 16 starcharts, presented in the two-disk/six gore format familiar to lovers of the previous editions of the Norton's. These maps are more readable than ever, giving visual precidence to the stars themselves rather than labels, grid lines, etc. A thoughtful touch was to print the charts with a generous gutter margin so that stars near the celestial equator don't get trapped out of sight down in the spine of the book. As a matter of style I differ (perhaps) with another reviewer who would have liked to have seen color photographs--I guess I am nostalgic for the familiar "Norton's Green" and appreciate that editor Ridpath and designer Nix have continued the tradition in what is otherwise a major update of the classic. They are to be commended for this beautiful, useful, and authoritative book.

It's actually more readable under red flashlight !
My first impression of this new edition is, "What a beautiful book" ! And indeed, a lot of improvements have been introduced, with substantial new materials.
One thing most people forgot to mention about this "old classic" is that it does not shy away from hard technical definitions, tables, and quite a few key equations, which a serious observer will eventually need. Yes, it does not contain color astrophoto plates to make the readers feel warm and fuzzy, but it does contain more key information in one place.
I wish the other more detailed atlases could consider adding information like these in Norton's.
After browsing the atlas chart pages for a few minutes, I started to worry a little bit, especially after seeing the other reviewers' comments about the Green labels/fonts on top of green Milky Way background color. Under normal lighting it is certainly readable, but one tends to think the old black labels might have worked better...
Well, worry NOT ! When viewed in the darkness of the night under red flashlights, the green labels on green milky way background actually turn out to be clearer ! This design for better field usage justifies the choice of two-color printing in this new edition.
It's the same price as the previous edition, but in hardcover and heavy duty paper. What more can one ask for ?
Definitely a must for any astronomy lover !

Norton's Star Atlas and Reference Handbook
The most elegant and handsome edition of this classic I've ever
seen.Don't leave home (at night) without it!!
(No stars missing in my copy!)

New Edition
I purchased a copy of the 20th edition of Norton's (marked second printing on the copyright page) and I was pleased to find that the first printing errors I've read about have all been corrected. Having used Norton's since I was a youngster, all I can say is, "Wow!" This new edition bears no resemblance to the very old-fashioned (but extremely useful) book I've had for some time. The new maps are clear and easy to use, the tables are large and simple to follow, and the section on Practical Astronomy is particularly well composed and presented. I wish there were some color photos of the planets taken by amatuers- especially of Mercury's recent show-but there are many other books that do it. Perhaps in a 21st edition, the publisher will add color photos. I think many readers would welcome that.
I'll need to see if the claim on the jacket is true, that the maps will be easier to use in red light because of the green ink, but overall, I'd say this is a long overdue and fantastic revision. Extremely well done!

MAJOR typo in early shipment of this edition (now corrected)
The Norton's Star Atlas is one of the great traditions of amateur astronomy. Unfortunately, the early printings of the 20th edition are marred by a serious typographic error that makes them useless: in many of the star charts the Milky Way is shown as a green band that blots out all the stars in the plane of our galaxy. This new edition is a wonderful update of the classic, but before you buy make sure that this error in the charts has been corrected. (These errors have been corrected in the second printing. Please see my revised review. RS) ... Read more

Book Description

This book provides an introduction to geometric algebra as a unified language for physics and mathematics. It contains extensive applications to classical mechanics in a textbook format suitable for courses at an intermediate level. The text is supported by more than 200 diagrams to help develop geometrical and physical intuition. Besides covering the standard material for a course on the mechanics of particles and rigid bodies, the book introduces new, coordinate-free methods for rotational dynamics and orbital mechanics, developing these subjects to a level well beyond that of other textbooks. These methods have been widely applied in recent years to biomechanics and robotics, to computer vision and geometric design, to orbital mechanics in government and industrial space programs, as well as to other branches of physics. The book applies them to the major perturbations in the solar system, including the planetary perturbations of Mercury's perihelion.Geometric algebra integrates conventional vector algebra (along with its established notations) into a system with all the advantages of quaternions and spinors. Thus, it increases the power of the mathematical language of classical mechanics while bringing it closer to the language of quantum mechanics. This book systematically develops purely mathematical applications of geometric algebra useful in physics, including extensive applications to linear algebra and transformation groups. It contains sufficient material for a course on mathematical topics alone.The second edition has been expanded by nearly a hundred pages on relativistic mechanics. The treatment is unique in its exclusive use of geometric algebra and in its detailed treatment of spacetime maps, collisions, motion in uniform fields and relativistic precession. It conforms with Einstein's view that the Special Theory of Relativity is the culmination of developments in classical mechanics. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great for physicists, okay for others
This is a great introduction to the Geometric (Clifford) Algebra. It's fundamentally a physics textbook, however. Those readers whose only desire is to learn the Geometric Algebra might feel some frustration at having to separate out the Geometric Algebra from the physics. Readers that prefer learning by exploring applications and examples will like this book; those that prefer explanations in the abstract will still enjoy many sections, but will have to make it through the more applied sections to get the full story.

Reading the book and working through the problems gives a firm grounding in the use of the Geometric Algebra and teaches classical mechanics besides. I could easily recommend this book as a physics textbook on its merits in that area alone.

Excellent place to start learning Clifford Algebra.
A briliantly pedagogical introduction to Clifford Algebra as a unified algebraic language for Newtonian Mechanics in three dimensions. The book is full of applications and nonstandard approaches which simply cannot be found anywhere else. This is essential reading for anyone interested in Clifford Algebras or who wants a deeper appreciation for classical mechanics. This is a lot of book...

Math making sense
The entirely new approach to the mathematical treatment of familiar Physics situations. A very useful tool for a Physisist. ... Read more

Amazon.com

On April 13, 1970, three American astronauts were on their way to themoon when a mysterious explosion rocked their ship, forcing them to abandon the main ship and spend four days in the tiny lunar module which wasintended to support two men for two days.A harrowing story ofdanger, courage and brilliant off-the-cuff engineering solutions which resulted in a dramatic rescue. ... Read more

Reviews (33)

This is a really great book
Apollo 13 was a really well written book that tells all about not only the voyage of Apollo 13, but of the space program from begining to the end of the Apollo era. It covers the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs extremely well, and captures the suspense and action of the Apollo 13 voyage from all angles, whether it was the bleary-eyed crew, crammed inside the lunar module, or Marilyn Lovell facing the very real possibility that her husband may not come home again.

A MUST READ!! TEN STARS!!

Tying up loose ends...
Did you see the movie and wonder some things? Like what WAS that PC+2 burn they kept talking about in the movie? (A burn to speed up the ship that occured 2 hours after the craft reached the pericynthion of its orbit, or the closest point the craft came to the moon) Did that seat-of-the-pants burn that was shown actually occur? (Yes, it did, but only lasted 14 seconds instead of the 30 in the movie) Did Jim Lovell really tell his wife that they were not going to Acupulco (sic) but instead the moon? (Yes, but during Apollo 8)

Just as engaging as the (wonderful) movie and twice as informative (not that the movie WASN'T, just that the book lasts longer then the movie), this book is a great read even if you are not into the Apollo era. It is filled with ironic humor ("...Apollo 13, so the Houston guys now had it, would be coming home on the afternoon of April 17 - or perhaps on the evening of the seventeenth, or perhaps sometime on the eighteenth - and would be splashing down in the South Pacific - or perhaps the Indian Ocean, or perhaps the Atlantic.") and loads of information, which make the movie look like it tells you nothing. Information is included on the trans-lunar injection simply mentioned in the movie (which got Apollo 13 going towards the moon), the PC+2 burn, an explosion of one of the betteries in the LEM, yet another quick burn about 5 hours before reentry, and a description of why the explosion occured that is far more satisfying then what was offered in the movie.

See the movie, then read the book. Then see the movie again. And enjoy. :)

An Heroic Journey
I listened to the audio version (abridged) of this book. It is an incredible story, about incredible men, facing incredible odds. The chances of getting back to earth after Apollo 13 encountered her "problem" were very low. It was the brains of NASA ("work the problem people") and the cool demeanor of the three astronauts, who were under incredible stress, that made the successful return possible.

The audio version was incredible. The narrator was very good and they incorporated actual transmissions from Apollo 13 which gave the listening experience an authenic touch. Jim Lovell read certain parts of the book and that also gave the audio book a more personal touch. I think some of the more technical aspects of the book were easier to absorb in an audio format.

Overall, a great story of heroic achievment for the American space program. Apollo 13 may not have made it to the moon, but they made it home, when home seemed very far away.

Best Astrounaut Book Ever !!!!!!
Excellent book a portail of the trial and tribulations that led up to the accident that happend on the fateful night of April 13, 1970. I have read the book about 10 times already and still to this day this is probably the best portail of the real thing because of the fact it was the longest 2 days of their lives and all of the world especially the media was involved. I think the best thing is that this became a movie that starred Tom Hanks and Kevin Bacon. Great Flick see it soon and enjoy the book.

Movie whets appetite, book fills it!
It had been a long time since I first saw the Apollo 13 movie and it was on TV, so I stopped and watched (and didn't move again until it was finished). The movie was fascinating, and it really triggered an interest to know more about what actually happened. With the limited time format in a movie to convey the technical information and the science behind 'slingshotting' the Apollo spacecraft around the moon, it was difficult to the full impact of the immense effort to get these men back safely. So when I had an opportunity to get the book, I did.

I think this is the first time I've read a book and seen a movie that were both excellent. The movie did the best possible job in a limited time to convey the urgency. The book, which is filled with the conversations of the astronauts with NASA space center, as well as the innovation behind the scenes of all the men involved (and the companies) is absolute 'must' reading for anyone who wants to understand the science and engineering behind this almost-disaster. I beg to differ with the men who felt they had failed, including Lovell who did not get to land on the moon. Without the knowledge they gained from this flight, more people may have died...and it certainly advanced knowledge and understanding for space flight for the rest of us left on earth below.

This is an incredible story and an well-written book. I could hardly put the thing down, and this is not an area of expertise or interest for me usually. It's a little hard to keep the names and people straight, because so many were involved. But it is worth the effort. This is an excellent book to give to students interested in space or engineering. I could see requiring this book to be read in science classrooms, showing the movie, and then having the students get more involved in the actual science, such as calculations of distances...map/reliefs of why the moon for a slingshot effect, etc.

Great stuff, and for once, great men who truly can be called heroes (both on the earth and in space). A means of teaching that true heroes are those who use their minds and actually 'do' something that has an impact for good.

Karen Sadler,
Science Education,
University of Pittsburgh ... Read more

Book Description

Space travel . . . Genetic engineering . . . Computer science . . . Astounding achievements as new as tomorrow. But stunning recent evidence proves that as these ultramodern advances were known to our forfathers millions of yrsterdays ago . . . as early as 3,000 years before the birth of Christ!

In this remarkable companion volume to his landmark EARTH CHRONICLES series, author Zecharia Sitchin reexamines the teachings of the ancients in the light of mankind's latest scientific discoveries -- and uncovers breathtaking, never-before-revealed facts that challenge long-held, conventional beliefs about our planet and our species.

Reviews (35)

Provocative, to say the least...
I've read all of the Sitchin Earth Chronicles titles plus this one. Conclusion? Whatever one's opinion of the "ancient astronaut" craze, Sitchin is certainly above average in scholarship. His work makes for fascinating reading, and although I have serious reservations about his conclusions(we still have no compelling evidence that extraterrestrials have ever visited this planet or that man's evolution was "tinkered with" by aliens), I do enjoy his style. I recommend Sitchin to the curious who have a strong background in science and history.

The best scientific book i have ever read
I first heard about this book on a video that i watched. There was in interview with Sitchin and i got the book from my local library. As a bit of a sceptic, with no religious up-brining, i found Sitchin to be true to the point, in everything he wrote, compared with the minimal amount i learned. The study of the Mesopotamian & Sumerian texts,has lead me to believe that someone watches over. Since reading Genesis:Reveisited numerous times, i have begun to ask questions, like a lot of other people. Now i just need to find the asnwers. Sitchin has instilled a belief in me that was never there before. His ability to interpret & comprehend what some see as myth, is proved in history. Particularly interesting was the parts on 'Nebiru', the planet beyond our solar system. What i would like to know is...Where did it REALLY all begin? By K.Stein

Good.
Here is something you don't see every day, a Christian who beleives in alien life, UFO's, Conspiracy throries and the possibility that maybe we've misinterpreted the Bible all these years! I do beleive in God and I do beleive in Jesus, but Mr. Sitchins works are simply too hard to ignore. it IS a fact the creation account of Genesis, the Flood account and the tower of Babel and other accounts in Genesis are downsized versions (abridged) of their ancenstors accounts from Meopotamia. It's foolish to assume that all of the ancient myths are just sroies for fantasy and not early mans attempt at jouranalistic reporting. Sitchin also proves what Chritians have been saying for years, THERE IS SCIENCE IN THE BIBLE!!!!!!!! While the very validity of evolution is coming into question by an alarmingly growing number of scientists nowadays (most of whome have no religious loyalties by the way) portions of Sitchins works may be discredited, but it is still a worthwhile read.

Skyrockets in the night
a work that delighfully pries open rigid brain cells, stimulates them to expand marvelous new synapses and leaves the reader brimming with revolutionary ideas.

Unusual, unique, elegantly researched but hope-filled theorized notions that will rock your world. Sitchin takes you into the outer limits and you become the better for it.

Very entertaining reading.

REPLY to shankar from singapore
Very low level of intelligence? Pity? Just because something is unknown does not mean it is impossible. People who first said the Earth was not flat were ridiculed. Do your own research. Do not stop with Sitchin, read others (Drunvalo Melchizedek, Doreal). Keep an open mind. Or, play it safe and follow mainstream - ignorance after all IS bliss! ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

A concise, accessible introduction to this exciting and dynamic subject.
* Adopts an approach grounded in physics rather than mathematics.
* Includes worked examples and student problems, along with hints for solving them and the numerical answers.
* Many reviewers have commented that this is one of the best 'introductory undergraduate level' texts on the subject and they would all welcome a Second Edition. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A concise and accessible overview.
This is a highly readable introduction to Cosmology. The author states clearly that the approach is grounded in physics rather than mathematics and indeed, any reader with a basic grasp of single-variable calculus would cope with the derivations that are presented. Its ready accessibility would make it an enjoyable introduction for those working on their own wanting more than a 'popular 'account of Cosmology.I have adapted and used some of the material and problems for my year 13 physics class.

The main body of the book is self-contained and requires no further material for the interested reader to get to grips with the rudiments of the standard cosmological models. More complex results are stated without derivation and some are used as the basis for the exercises. The 'Advanced' topics require a little more of the reader and are presented as brief summaries rather than being rigorous. For example ,the chapter on General Relativistic Cosmology is 'for those readers who have experienced some general relativity'. As a teacher of physics,I found this book to be a very useful addition to my library.

Best elementary Book on Cosmology.
This is the clearest book on Cosmology available. It is also the most up-to-date. Some math is used, so it is not a book for absolutely everyone. I would say it is for beginning undergraduates, but more advanced readers will get more from the "Advanced Topic" sections. Many problems are included. The advanced readers will have to solve them all, to really get all the book has to offer.
The price per page is high, compared to the Cambridge and Princeton paperbacks.

An excellent introduction
I came across this book because it was required reading for my cosmology course. The book gives a Newtonian (it only briefly mentions the much more complicated General Relativity equations) overview of the current theories about the universe: its mass, its age, its shape and its ultimate destiny. The text is very readable, equations are explained properly and the diagrams are useful. The reader is left with a good impression of why the currently proposed cosmological models are sensible.

The book puts the case for the hot big bang model, which is by far the most popular cosmological model at this time. There is a chapter on the successes of this model: explanation of the cosmic background radiation, universal expansion, and the relative abundance of elements in the early universe. There follows a chapter on the major problems of this model: how come the background radiation looks the same (to within one part in a hundred thousand) everywhere, even when light hasn't had time to travel between all these regions? How did the universe become structured (into things such as stars) when physics predicts that matter should be homogeneously spread? And why does the universe (seemingly) possess the exact right density (to almost infinitessimal precision) to stay flat, as we see it today? Inflation theory offers some help, but at the same time asks a bigger question: which of the many inflation theories (if any) is right? Liddle doesn't go into much detail on this point, but you get a good introduction into what inflation is and why such an odd theory would be proposed.

I'm making it sound as if the big bang model has more problems than it solves, which I don't think it does (heck, it's the best theory we've got). But the problems are more interesting!

On which subject, there are problems (solvable ones!) at the end of each chapter, with brief solutions at the end of the book.

clear as crystal
This book is the most clearly written book I have ever read. Liddle has a knack for making difficult concepts easy to comprehend through his use of analogies and vividly accurate descriptions. The cosmological ideas are explained at an intuitive level and have been imprinted on my mind forever. This book is a great introduction for the less mathematically minded though also a great source of information for others. This book book covers a great amount of cosmology the big bang, nucloesynthesis, inflation, cosmological models etc and is set out in a very logical order. I would thoroughly recommend this as an introduction although for those interested in more mathematical rigour other text books may be necessary.

Well done Dr. Liddle ! A great achievement .............

Its cool
Dr Liddle was my academic tutor at Imperial College, London.

I have every trust that his books is as clear as his tutorials. ... Read more

Book Description

Concise compilation of subsonic aerodynamic characteristics of NACA wing sections, plus description of theory. 350pp. of tables.
... Read more

Reviews (7)

classic aeronautical text
This is a classical text for aeronautical engineering for the expert, expert-to-be or novice. A large portion of the book deals with specific NACA airfoils and the math is advanced. But even without the math, one can glean much knowledge between these covers.

The book is truly a must edition for any aviation library, whether you are an engineer, kit builder or simply an aviation enthusiast. Last, I gain nothing from this review other than the satisfaction of providing an objective opinion for anyone selecting books due to an interest in aviation. Learn to fly. Build an aircraft

Great Supplement
I use this for my Aerodynamics courses (recomended by prof.). It is a great supplement to our book "Fundementals of Aerodynamics" by Anderson. Great buy for the price.

The classical approach and text to section design
I have worn out two copies of this in my professional days, and I am doing so again with my 'hobby' copy. It is much handier that the on-line references for NACA data and for doing the 'quick flip through' when thinking about design. It is not, however, for either the mathematicall un-initiated, nor for the first-time designer. The book is both thorough and rigorous in its treatment of the topics it covers. All in all, along with the other standard texts, it supplies the needed data ad information when thinking 'I wonder if that will work...'

A must for Aerospace Students or Engineers.
Even if the book is old, it's the base of the airfoil understanding, because of the data included. Don't look for strange things here, just the classic stuff, but very complete.

Indispensable reference text for airfoils
This book contains a historical review of the development of wing sections along with their mathematical basis and provides not only coordinates but performance data on many. Most of the source data for my shareware program came from this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Throughout history, the mysterious dark skies have inspired our imaginations in countless ways, influencing our endeavors in science and philosophy, religion, literature, and art. Filled with 380 full-color illustrations, Celestial Treasury shows the influence of astronomical theories and the richness of illustrations in Western civilization through the ages. The authors explore the evolution of our understanding of astronomy and weave together ancient and modern theories in a fascinating narrative. They incorporate a wealth of detail from Greek verse, medieval manuscripts and Victorian poetry with contemporary spacecraft photographs and computer-generated star charts. Celestial Treasury is more than a beautiful book: it answers a variety of questions that have intrigued scientists and laymen for centuries.

Book Description

This self-contained book presents basic methods of numerical simulation of gravitational systems, with applications in astronomy and cosmology. The first half of the book presents and explains the fundamental mathematical tools needed to describe the dynamics of a large number of mutually attractive particles. Particular attention is given to the techniques needed to model known planetary and astrophysical phenomena such as Hubble motion. The second half of the book demonstrates how to develop clear and elegant algorithms for models of gravitational systems. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

What we have been expecting!!!
This is an excellent book on simulation of n-body systems. The
author gives a very good description of several techniques and
algorithms together with some theoretical background. This is
the book to have on your desk if you don't want to have a pile
of pappers and other books. ... Read more

Book Description

The updated revision of the well-respected book on analyzing aircraft performance
This Second Edition of the bestselling Aircraft Control and Simulation has been expanded and updated to include the latest technological advances in the field. In addition, a new section on basic aerodynamics, aircraft configuration, and static stability makes this complex material more accessible to beginners.
This comprehensive guide discusses the fundamental principles and theory of aircraft control and simulation. It also covers modeling and dynamic analysis, stability evaluation, multivariable control theory, and computer-aided design techniques. The inclusion of topics from geodesy and gravitation lays the groundwork for a discussion of the theory for suborbital aircraft now under development.
Special features of this new edition include:
* New and updated computer calculations using MATLAB(r)
* A new section on basic aerodynamics, aircraft configurations, and static stability
* Coverage of new MIMO design techniques, robustness theory, and nonlinear design
Complete with examples of actual designs from the aircraft industry plus exercise problems, Aircraft Control and Simulation, Second Edition is an excellent reference for anyone involved in the design and modeling of aerospace vehicles and an outstanding text for both undergraduates and graduate students. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Aircraft Control and Simulation
This book is an excelent reference for anyone who works on, has an interest in or has studied the design and modeling of aircrafts. Its explainations are very clear and understandable ... Read more

Book Description

The Universe in a Nutshell
Stephen Hawking's phenomenal, multimillion-copy bestseller, A Brief History of Time, introduced the ideas of this brilliant theoretical physicist to readers all over the world.

Now, in a major publishing event, Hawking returns with a lavishly illustrated sequel that unravels the mysteries of the major breakthroughs that have occurred in the years since the release of his acclaimed first book.

The Universe in a Nutshell
* Quantum mechanics * M-theory * General relativity * 11-dimensional supergravity * 10-dimensional membranes * Superstrings * P-branes * Black holes

One of the most influential thinkers of our time, Stephen Hawking is an intellectual icon, known not only for the adventurousness of his ideas but for the clarity and wit with which he expresses them. In this new book Hawking takes us to the cutting edge of theoretical physics, where truth is often stranger than fiction, to explain in laymen's terms the principles that control our universe.

Like many in the community of theoretical physicists, Professor Hawking is seeking to uncover the grail of science -- the elusive Theory of Everything that lies at the heart of the cosmos. In his accessible and often playful style, he guides us on his search to uncover the secrets of the universe -- from supergravity to supersymmetry, from quantum theory to M-theory, from holography to duality.

He takes us to the wild frontiers of science, where superstring theory and p-branes may hold the final clue to the puzzle. And he lets us behind the scenes of one of his most exciting intellectual adventures as he seeks "to combine Einstein's General Theory of Relativity and Richard Feynman's idea of multiple histories into one complete unified theory that will describe everything that happens in the universe."

With characteristic exuberance, Professor Hawking invites us to be fellow travelers on this extraordinary voyage through space-time. Copious four-color illustrations help clarify this journey into a surreal wonderland where particles, sheets, and strings move in eleven dimensions; where black holes evaporate and disappear, taking their secret with them; and where the original cosmic seed from which our own universe sprang was a tiny nut.

The Universe in a Nutshell is essential reading for all of us who want to understand the universe in which we live. Like its companion volume, A Brief History of Time, it conveys the excitement felt within the scientific community as the secrets of the cosmos reveal themselves.

The Illustrated Brief History of Time
In the years since its publication in 1988, Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time has established itself as a landmark volume in scientific writing. It has also become an international publishing phenomenon, translated into forty languages and selling over nine million copies.The book was on the cutting edge of what was then known about the nature of the universe, but since then there have been extraordinary advances in the technology of observing both the micro- and the macrocosmic world. These observations have confirmed many of Professor Hawking's theoretical predictions in the first edition of his book, including the recent discoveries of the Cosmic Background Explorer satellite (COBE), which probed back in time to within 300,000 years of the universe's beginning and revealed the wrinkles in the fabric of space-time that he had projected.

Eager to bring to his original text the new knowledge revealed by these many observations, as well as his most recent research, for this revised and expanded edition Hawking has prepared a new introduction to the book, revised and updated the original chapters throughout, and written an entirely new chapter on the fascinating subject of wormholes and time travel.

In addition, to heighten understanding of complex concepts that readers may have found difficult to grasp despite the clarity and wit of Hawking's writing, this edition is magnificently enhanced throughout with more than 240 full-color illustrations, including satellite images, photographs made possible by spectacular new technological advances such as the Hubble telescope, and computer- generated images of three- and four-dimensional realities. Detailed captions clarify these illustrations, enabling readers to experience the vastness of intergalactic space, the nature of black holes, and the microcosmic world of particle physics in which matter and antimatter collide.

A classic work that now brings to the reader the latest understanding of cosmology, The Illustrated A Brief History of Time is the story of the ongoing search for the tantalizing secrets at the heart of time and space. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Explaining the Unexplainable
When I bought Stephen Hawkings first book, the multimillion best seller, A Brief History of Time, I didn't know why I bought it and along with 90% of others, I didn't read it.

There is much speculation about why we all did this. Inquisitivenes of a Physically Impaired Physicist? Egotistical dinner party host who not only chooses great wine, but understands physics as well!

Did the 'upwardly mobile' set all cruelly steal this from Stephen's first book, just as nature was cruelling stealing his mobility.

No. The answer is that we are all secretly fascinated about what is 'out there', where did we come from. What's it all about Stevie?

This second volume, The Universe in a Nutshell attempts to explain the unexplainable with beautiful Salvador Dali-like illustrations, and a style of words which are easy to digest.

Buy the set if you want to be inched closer to the ultimate truth of how we got here, and what are the forces that hold us together. But like an ant in a balloon, dont expect to know who blew up the ballon, or who's watching you through it, as you try to figure it all out. Steven provides some educated guesses, and they provide a wonderful voyage through space and time. Fear not if you don't follow it all - to paraphase the great scientist Heisenberg when talking of quantum mechanics, if you think you've understood it - then you don't really understand it

Good but redundant
I bought this set because it was not much more than just purchasing an Ilustrated Brief History of Time. After reading both, it was apparent to me I could have chosen just one and gotten 90% of the information contained in both.

I first read Illustrated Brief History of Time. Hawking does a great job of explaining complex subjects in simple plain speak which does not feel over your head. His descriptions of Relativity, Quantum Theory, String Theory, and other topics are great and easily understood by someone with a limited science background. Those with a science background, such as myself, my wish for more in depth analysis at times, but that is not the focus of book, it is more an overview. There is a list of further reading books if one is interested.

I then read Universe in a Nutshell. The book started very similar to Brief History and although it was layed out a bit different the content was very similar, in fact some of the illustrations were exactly the same. There was a little more on String Theory in this book, but not enough to justify buying both unless you are a die hard Hawking fan.

Overall, I would recommend buying just one and saving a few bucks to buy one of the other books on the recommended reading list if you want to delve deeper.

Book Report Review
Stephen Hawking uses a mixture of humor and wit to explain some of the most difficult concepts of our time. The book contains illustrations that give visual aid to otherwise inconceivable ideas. I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. It provides a provocative view of our universe, while encouraging stimulating thoughts of the vast limits of existence. I would encourage readers to brush up a little on their physics so that they don't feel too lost, in which case unless you're a genius physicist you most likely will need to do so.

REPEAT LISTENER
LISTENING TO STEPHEN HAWKING'S THEORY'S AND PROJECTIONS, I'VE LEARNED THE TRICK TO UNDERSTANDING HIS WORKS IS TO PLAY IT OVER AGAIN. SOMETIMES I'LL PLAY HIS AUDIOBOOKS TWICE IN A ROW, THEN PLAY IT AGAIN A FEW WEEKS LATER. THE UNIVERSE IN A NUT SHELL HAS SIMILARITIES THAT ARE IN HIS CAMBRIDGE LECTURES. HIS "ASSAYS" AUDIOBOOK ALSO HAS SIMILARITIES. HIS IDEAS ARE PUT INTO UNDERSTANDABLE TEXT. SOMETHING YOUR AVERAGE SCHOLAR PROBABLY COULD NOT DO. IT'S FACINATING TO CATCH WHAT'S BEING EXPLAINED AND SAY"WOW" OUT LOUD. KEEP THE GREAT WORK COMING.

great books
I've read both, and assuming you have basic physics/mathematics in your background (say, an intro college class or a good high school class), they are excellent! Otherwise, probably a bit deep.... The guy is amazing. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A Traveler's Guide to Mars revitalizes the Red Planet, leaving readers with the urge to don a spacesuit and take a long trip. With the look and heft of a guide to someplace you might actually go, the book presents Mars as a place of canyons and volcanoes, mesas, and barren plains, not that dissimilar from parts of Earth. Author William K. Hartmann, who participated in the Mars Global Surveyor mission, uses all the photos and data collected by scientists in decades of research to give a thorough, yet not boring, overview of the planet. The most exciting stuff is about water--whether it ever flowed on Mars, where it went, why it's hard to find. Beyond that, there are the rocks, dust, and weather to talk about, and Mars has lots of all three. Sidebars, maps, and chronologies help keep the regions and geology of Mars organized. Hartmann never forgets he's writing for the lay reader, and his style is personable and clear. When answering claims of NASA cover-ups, ancient civilizations, and hidden structures on Mars, he calmly lays out the facts and pictures, urging readers to simply examine the evidence. Hartmann offers a tourist's-eye view of one of our most intriguing planetary neighbors and does more to polish NASA's tarnished image than a thousand press releases. --Therese Littleton ... Read more

Reviews (8)

THE book on Mars
This book may very well be the best popular science book I've ever read. The story of what we know about Mars and how it was discovered unfolds in an exciting progression that leaves one convinced that not only has there been a lot of water on Mars in the past, but there is almost certainly still a lot of it underground all over the planet.

The story is lavishly illustrated with many amazing high-resolution images from the Mars Global Surveyor and other orbiter missions, along with a dozen or so of the author's own paintings.

The book answered all of the nagging quesitons I had about whether or not there's really evidence of water on Mars, and several times a question that formed in my mind (like "ok, maybe it was some fluid other than water like liquid CO2") was explicitly answered on the next page.

This book is a real gem, and if you want quick fun way to pick up the appropriate background for enjoying and understanding the results from the Spirit and Opportunity rover missions then this is it.

Sadly The Brittish Beagle 2 lander seems to have followed the Simplified Planetary Local Approach Trajectory that was favored by many previous attempts to land on Mars, but with the success (so far) of Spirit and high hopes for Opportunity landing soon, there will be plenty of exciting new information about Mars available soon, and I can only hope that the author of this book sees fit to give us a second edition in a year or so that summarizes all the new knowlege.

But for now, this it *the* book to get up to speed on Mars.

G.

Wonderful tour with a great guide
If I were to take a guided trip to Mars, there are a handful of people that I'd like to choose my guide from - people who have spent their careers trying to understand Mars from the Mariner, Viking and Mars Global Surveyor missions. Bill Hartmann is certainly one of the members of that pool. He cut his geological teeth on the moon with Gerard Kuiper in the early 60's, and made wonderful, major contributions to our understanding of the moon. Then he has been involved in all the major Mars missions since the start. He is an artist as well as a scientist, so he informs this book with the soul of an artist as well as the mind of a scientist.

When I first saw the promotional literature for this book, I was struck by the beauty of the images in it. The book itself did not disappoint. It is a paperback, in the format of a field guide, but it is richly illustrated with color and black and white images. The book has two large fold-out maps - one of the best pre-space probe maps showing the Mars that can be seen with a telescope, and a topographic maps from the Mars Global Surveyor mission.

Hartmann uses his "Traveler's Guide" format to take us on a tour of Mars. The organization of the tour is based on the geological history of the Red Planet. So along the way, in addition to seeing the most fascinating places on Mars, we learn their geological context in chronological sequence.

Although it would be easy to bury the reader in geological jargon, Hartmann succeeds in making the study of Mars accessible and exciting. It is clear from reading the text that Mars is a world that still harbors many surprises for us. He is not afraid to share his thoughts with the reader - but he is careful to point out where they depart from the main stream. But given Hartmann's track record, one has to give his speculations more weight than most. He also enlivens the book with a thread of his personal journey as a Mars scientist in a series of stories from his career labeled, "My Martian Chronicle" that are is interwoven with the main text. These help illuminate the human side of the scientist.

Highly recommended!

A wonderful tour of our most fascinating planetary neighbor
In thruth, I can add little more to the other Amazon reviews other than to say that they are right. William Hartmann's "A Traveler's Guide to Mars : The Mysterious Landscapes of the Red Planet" is a wonderful tour of Earth's most intriguing planetry neighbor, incorporating both a lively history of our evolving knowledge of Mars and also a up-to-date guide to the most fascinating mysteries. What are the sources of the strange gullies and canyons that sometimes stretch hundreds of miles? Why do vast areas of the Martian surface look like gigantic staircases? How much water is there?

The photographs from various interplanetary probes are marvelous and the maps eye-opening. The format of the book makes it especially suited for browsing -- dipping in here and there as whim takes the reader -- yet it also merits a more methodical approach to discover what four decades of space exploration has taught us about Mars.

So when does the first flight leave?
Some of us who saw the lunar landing in 1969 are still wondering why we haven't gotten to Mars yet. Shouldn't that have been next?

Well, it still could be, and you can get more information on the possibilities by checking out the Mars Society and Red Colony websites. (I can't post the URLs here but in each case your first guess will be correct.)

And if you want more information on the planet Mars itself, this is the book you want.

Packed with gorgeous photos from the various Mars missions (and some from Earth for purposes of comparison and inference), this book is a garden of delights for areophiles: the very latest information and theories about the red planet, interspersed with the reminiscences and personal views of the author, astronomer William Hartmann, all in a very high-quality glossy paperback designed for long shelf life -- and, one hopes, for interplanetary travel.

If you've ever wondered what gives Syrtis Major its dark color, or even if you've just looked at the night sky once in a while wondering what the heck might be _out there_, you'll find something to engage you in this volume.

Have a look. Then let's start getting ready to go.

A must-read!!!
This is book is simply amazing!! I wish I could give it ten stars - off the scale. The author has captured the majesty and mystery of Mars, clearly and concisely. Filled with hundreds of stunning, high resolution photographs, the book a real page turner for anyone in the general public who yearns to know what's out there awaiting us on Mars. ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

Stephen Hawking, science's first real rock star, may be the least-read bestselling author in history--it's no secret that many people who own A Brief History of Time have never finished it. Hawking's The Universe in a Nutshell aims to remedy the situation, with a plethora of friendly illustrations to help readers grok some of the most brain-bending ideas ever conceived.

Does it succeed? Yes and no. While Hawking offers genuinely accessible context for such complexities as string theory and the nature of time, it's when he must translate equations to sentences that the limits of language get in the way. But Hawking has simplified the origin of the universe, the nature of space and time, and what holds it all together to an unprecedented degree, inviting nonscientists to share his obvious awe and love of the unseen forces that shape it all.

Yes, it's difficult reading, but it's worth it. Hawking is one of the great geniuses of our time, a man whose life has been devoted to thinking in the abstract about the universe. Wit