Reviews (2)

Good overview of how to start...
This book provides an excellent introduction to the conceptual design process (sizing and performance estimates) for the homebuilder. It's a bit wordy in places, and some examples are not entirely relevant to the average builder (who, besides the author and Burt Rutan, wants to build an asymmetrical design?). But it was the lack of any detail on load factors or structural analysis that prevented me from giving it 5 stars. If you want to understand the basics of how to size a wing, or calculate stall speed, then this book is an excellent choice.

Make This The One Book You Start With
As an amateur backyard builder attempting to design and build an airplane, I actually got much more out of "Simplified Aircraft Design For Homebuilders" than any of the other aircraft design books, including some extremely expensive volumes that are regularly advertised.

This book is well-written, covering the subject of aircraft design on a basic level that is easily grasped by the average homebuilder/non engineer. It's also gleefully sprinkled with a dash of humor, much like a "design book for Dummies". Dan Raymer goes to great lengths to include the finer details of aircraft design that are so illusive and so very time-consuming and difficult for the amateur to research. This book will actually save you months of frustration and research. It's all here in this one little book. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Please create an audio adaptation ...
To the publisher I would appreciate it if the publisher could produce an audio adaptation of this book. I would love to listen to this while I drive to work and to let my 16 month old son listen to it as a bedtime story. Arnold D Veness

The "Bible" of Galactic Dynamics
This book is a very well-known and widely used reference for students in extragalactic astrophysics and stellar dynamics. A solution manual for the problems would be highly welcomed. ... Read more

Book Description

This brilliantly written book unlocks the astounding implications of Einstein's revolutionary theories on the nature of science, time and motion.It far surpasses any previous explanation of Relativity for laymen. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

The Universe Made Simple? Fascinating!
How does one go about taking our immense universe--with all its galaxies, quasars, neutron stars, etc.--and put it into words that a high school senior could understand? Not only that, but include all of Albert Einstein's mind boggling theories on the universe and still make it interesting to read?

Ladies and gentleman, I give you Einstein's Universe. A book written by Nigel Calder. Mr. Calder delves deep into the inner workings of two of the most complex things known to man, the universe and Einstein's brain. He does so with great confidence, writing in the first person, as if it were Einstein himself explaining his theories. This leads to a feeling of intimacy while reading about the creation of the universe and many other topics related to the giant realm we call home. Nigel Calder does a superb job of presenting the theories and the evidence, and then always proceeding to explain how it all fits together.

If you've got a hankerin' for something juicy sweet to read, and enjoy pondering the ways of the great big black thing way up there, I highly recommend Einstein's Universe. Enjoy!

Couldn't put the book down! Fascinating!
I read the 1979 version of this book, not the newest version. I've always thought that no one could explain relatively better than Issac Asimov, but finally someone has. With almost no math, Calder explains how gravity and speed affect time, space, and other characteristics of our universe. Superb!

Relativity Made Easy!
For a long time I've desired an understanding of relativity. Having just finished this book, I have achieved my goal -- without struggling with impossible equations. Thank you, Nigel Calder. (Albert Einstein is not a co-author of this book, by the way).

Due to the complex subject, this book isn't a particularly easy read. But the author keeps it very interesting and does as good a job as possible in translating the theories into understandable concepts. If you want a basic understanding of gravity, time, space, energy, and mass, and how they are all tied together via relativity, then this book is for you.

There is an incredible amount of information packed into the pages. The famous equation E=Mc2 has never meant anything to me, but after reading just the first 25 pages of this book, I was able to explain to my wife the meaning and significance of the equation and some of the thought processes that led Einstein to developing it! I feel so much smarter now!

There were only a few places where I thought the author could have done a better job explaining some concepts, and some illustrations here and there would have been very helpful. But if you are capable of understanding the Doppler effect, you are capable of understanding the major concepts of relativity.

Now I feel ready to tackle the basics of quantum theory!

Descriptive and Energetic
Mr. Calder has done an outstanding job writing a book about relativity that non-physicists can read and enjoy. Mr. Calder writes with such clarity, such tangible descriptions, and such succinct summaries of the theory that the reader can begin to incorporate the implications of the theory into one's own worldview.

For instance, the author devotes much time and energy describing the possibilities of the universe being either open or closed (essentially, will the universe expand indefinitely, or will it eventually contract). By the time Mr. Calder begins to describe the metaphysical implications of these possibilities, the conscientious reader is already prepared to explore them on his own.

This ability to communicate science with such clarity as to allow a lay reader, whom I certainly am in physics, to be able to consider the implications of science, is a great complement to the author. Unfortunately, I am a hostage to much of what I read in science, so often having to rely on the author to describe the science as well as its implications.

In addition to summarizing and communicating extremely difficult material very well, Mr. Calder also writes with a great deal of energy and excitement. The author clearly shares his excitement about the subject matter to the reader.

This is an excellent read for anyone interested in the history of science and its implications.

Very good, although a little old
I found this book highly enjoyable and easy to read, especially considering the subject. Relativity is approached from several vantage points -- gravity, energy (E = mc squared), time shifts, and distance shortening. Of course, it all goes back to the same theory, so I liked having the multiple views presented to help me understand.

The biggest complaint I have about the book is that it's over 20 years old. This makes the last few chapters fairly useless since they are based on observations using 20-year-old telescopes. The first three-quarters of the book are still valid and insightful, which makes it worth reading. I bought this book in the Bargain section, so I'm not complaining.. ... Read more

Book Description

Aircraft Gas Turbine Engine Technology provides acomprehensive, easy-to-understand treatment of the background, development, and applications of the gas turbine engine it its various forms, such as turobjet, turbofan, turboprop, and turboshaft powerplants. Designed primarily as a resource for technicians preparing for the FAA aircraft powerplant mechanic certification, Aircraft Gas Turbine Engine Technology also may be used a reference. The text also discusses the changing maintenance and overhaul procedures and philosophies and the role of fuel metering in engine operation. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A compelling reference souce
This volume is the best publication for aeronautical gas turbine technology. It is a powerful tool as a reference and as a didactic implement.

Theory. The development of theory is quite simple and straightforward. Being intended for technicians, the mathematical level is really easy, nevertheless the associated phenomenons are solidly explained. If the reader is looking for a more advanced maths dissection, he has to search a different book, conversely this treatment is the best complement to theoretical study: here concepts came alive and the mathematical set of solutions to equations are translated in real stuff.

Materials and technical evaluation. The edition copes with the advanced techniques introduced in more recent designs and products. The previous editions were full of excerpts from manufacturer pubblications or other technical papers, the current one is enriched by new illustrations and detailed explanations of advanced research. Drawings and graphs were the best facets of former editions and still they are, literally boosting reader's learning curve.

Engines. A wide selection of engines is avalable as examples, each one deeply dissected, showing typical arrangements and design solutions. This accurate study of construcion details and manufacturing techniques is explanatory since it shows the real article as designed, produced and maintained, focusing on each part functionality and it is real as it gets!

Great book for Gas Turbine Technician students!
I found this book to be intensively desciptive when I was taking my gas turbine technician course and would recommend it to any one who wishes to understand the concepts of the gas turbine engines.

One of the best gas-turbine books I've ever seen!
This book is awesome! Plain simple. It offers the reader in-depth introduction of aeronautical gas-turbine powerplants, in an easy to read format. This book is definately the book which want-to-be-aeronautical engineers would want to read. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

We can be the heart and mind of the universe.
To meet the modern crisis, Swimme says we need nothing less than a new creation story, a new cosmology.In the light of the new physics, this is what he presents.He says we are such stuff as stars are made of.The cosmos values those who awake to the splendor of the universe.The wonder that is a child has to be appreciated by adults.Our life purpose is to honour the beauty and wonder of the universe.We have to re-invent ourselves as the heart and mind of the universe.We have to move away from a merely human centered view into the cosmocentric, unfolding universe.Our primary teacher is the universe itself.This is a truly inspiring work that lifts us out of a hum-drum existence into an exciting universe fraught with cosmic purpose.Are we up to the challenge?Will we live like blind worms crawling on their bellies?Or will we be charged with star power and grasp our destiny as creators of a new world?Read this book and take a chance!

The Universe is a Green Dragon
Thanks for getting the book out so quick!

Undiscriminating mix of fact and fancy, patronizing tone
I am a scientist, and I do appreciate and feel the vastness and beauty of the universe, and the elegance of biological evolution. But I don't think Swimme's romanticizing of science, cosmology, and particle physics is going to lead us to build a better society or better individual lives. Educated people have already tried making a god of science in this culture, I presume because of the seeming miracles it has performed, and the result has been people with empty spiritual lives and a desperate need to fill the void with stuff - food, things, travel - anything to avoid facing the sense of meaninglessness they get when they feel like tiny insignificant cogs in a vast machine. It doesn't really matter whether the machine is the military/industrial complex or the universe, in terms of its effect on the human spirit. Granted, the current state of much organized religion is not ideal, but I don't think Swimme's approach is going to have any better results. There are many alternative approaches between religious fundmentalism on one pole and an exclusive devotion to matter on the other.
This particular book is also painful to read, due to its patronizing tone and the way science is mixed with the subjective speculations and opinions of the author. There is a lack of respect for logic or fact in this book, which is surprising considering its topic and the author's credentials. Swimme is misusing the hard-won authority of science, which has performed its seeming miracles by a rigorous attention to observable facts. He owes it to his trusting readers (note the many 5-star reviews at this site) to distinguish clearly between the facts and his interpretations. There is a lack of intellectual humility here, which ironically mirrors his complaint of inappropriate human grandiosity in relation to nature.

Why are we all here?
This book is the author's answer to that most basic of questions. His answer is a beautiful, life affirming one and given from the prespective of the cosmos. It also highlights are responsiblity as humans - ones that can be done with great joy. However, I don't know if I really see it as a synthesis of spirituality and science as it is made out to be. This is one of the best books I have ever read, if I only read one book this year, this would be it.

I don't want to give away too much, go read this book.

The best book I ever read
I couldn't stand looking at the one star review on the Amazon page that doesn't show that almost all the rest gave five stars. Hands down this is my favorite book -- for all the reasons the eloquent writers of the five star pieces cited. I've bought 400 plus copies -- if you are my friend, you've read it, and if you are someone I've brushed by who is listened to by others, I've pressed a copy in your hands. Understanding the concepts in this book changes you into what it is that hopefully us humans are becoming, where our gratitude for the privilege of human life in this wondrous creation supercedes our proclivity to blow each other up. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Just perfect!
A standard introductory textbook of nuclear astrophysics written by a real expert in a superb style. It has taught nuclear astrophysics to most of us and will teach many more. I keep refering to it all the time. It is my favorite. I warmly recommend it.

A standard reference on stellar structure and evolution
"Principles of Stellar Evolution and Nucleosynthesis" is a standard work on stellar structure and evolution. It is clearly written and approachable even by a senior undergraduate. It is a "must" for anyone seriously interested in stellar astrophysics.

Please create an audio adaptation ...
To the publisher I would appreciate it if the publisher could produce an audio adaptation of this book. I would love to listen to this while I drive to work and to let my 16 month old son listen to it as a bedtime story. Arnold D Veness ... Read more

Book Description

Using fundamental physics, the theory of stellar structure and evolution is able to predict how stars are born, how their complex internal structure changes, what nuclear fuel they burn, and their ultimate fate. This undergraduate textbook provides a clear, methodical introduction to the theory of stellar structure and evolution.Starting from general principles and axioms, step-by-step coverage leads students to a global, comprehensive understanding of the subject. Throughout, the book uniquely places emphasis on the basic physical principles governing stellar structure and evolution. All processes are explained in clear and simple terms with all the necessary mathematics included. Exercises and their full solutions allow students to test their understanding. This book requires only a basic background in physics and mathematics and assumes no prior knowledge of astronomy. It provides a stimulating introduction for undergraduates in astronomy, physics, planetary science and applied mathematics taking a course on the physics of stars. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent book for beginners
A truly excellent introductory book. It has worked problems at the back and actually has an index that allows you to find anything you need for reference. I actually used this book more than Padmanabhan's books for my graduate course, because Prialnik explains things very well.

This book should be the basis of any undergraduate stellar astrophysics course. ... Read more

Book Description

This newly updated, second edition of Digital Techniques for Wideband Receivers is a current, comprehensive design guide for your digital processing work with today’s complex receiver systems. Brand new material brings you up-to-date with the latest information on wideband electronic warfare receivers, the ADC testing procedure, frequency channelization and decoding schemes, and the operation of monobit receivers.

The book shows you how to effectively evaluate ADCs, offers insight on building electronic warfare receivers, and describes zero crossing techniques that are critical to new receiver design. From fundamental concepts and procedures… to recent technology advances in digital receivers, you get practical solutions to all your demanding wideband receiver problems. This hands-on reference is packed with 1,103 equations and 315 illustrations that support key topics covered throughout the book. ... Read more

Book Description

In the spring of 1543, as the celebrated astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus lay on his deathbed, his fellow clerics brought him a long-awaited package: the final printed pages of the book he had worked on for many years, De revolutionibus (On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres). Though Copernicus would not live to hear of its extraordinary impact, his book-which first posited that the sun, not Earth, was the center of the universe-is recognized as the greatest scientific work of the sixteenth century.

Four and a half centuries later, astrophysicist Owen Gingerich embarked on an extraordinary quest: to see in person all extant copies of the first and second printings of De revolutionibus. He was inspired by two contradictory pieces of information: Arthur Koestler's claim, in his famous book The Sleepwalkers, that nobody had read Copernicus's famous book when it was published; and Gingerich's discovery, at the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh, of a first edition of De revolutionibus that had been richly annotated in the margins by Erasmus Reinhold, the leading teacher of astronomy in northern Europe in the 1540s-strongly suggesting that Koestler's statement about the book was wrong.

After three decades of investigation, and after traveling hundreds of thousands of miles-from Melbourne to Moscow, Boston to Beijing-to view more than 600 copies of De revolutionibus, Gingerich has written an utterly original book built from his experience and the remarkable insights gleaned from Copernicus's books. Eventually he found copies once owned by saints, heretics, and scalawags, by musicians, movie stars, medicine men, and bibliomaniacs. Most interesting were the copies owned and annotated by astronomers, which even today illuminate the long, reluctant process of accepting the sun-centered cosmos as a physically real description of the world, and the tensions among scientists and between science and the church. Part biography of a book and a man, part scientific exploration, part bibliographic quest, Gingerich's book will offer new appreciation of the history of science and cosmology. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

The book everyone read
If I wish to determine who has read my publications or US patents, I can go to on-line sources of information. I can quickly get an idea of the influence of my work through the citations in subsequent publications. However, even citations do not necessarily assure that a work has been read. In order to find the influence of Copernicus' famous book, the author has spent decades tracking down the six hundred surviving copies of "De Revolutionibus" in the libraries of the world. He has used the marginal writings in these books to connect the books with their owners and groups of sixteenth century astronomers and mathematicians. Yes, Copernicus' book was read and analyzed by scientists throughout the western world.

Gingerich's book may be of more interest to library scientists than to astronomers. However, I did find the chapter on the geocentric Ptolemaic system vs. the Copernican heliocentric system fascinating. The author dispels the myth that the Ptolemaic system needed an unmanageable number of epicycles to match calculations with observations.. He shows that the two systems yielded equivalent predictions using about the same order of complexity. As a physicist, I would argue that you can work in any coordinate system that you choose, even one in which the Earth is stationary. However, the Copernican system did simplify the calculations and more importantly does more closely express the physical reality of the solar system. The work of Copernicus paved the way for Kepler's laws including the discovery of the elliptical nature of planetary orbits. Both the geocentric and heliocentric models were based upon the theory that the orbits of celestial bodies were fundamentally circular. This was a good first approximation for matching the precision of the existing observations. It was another century and a half after Copernicus that Newton formulated a theoretical basis for explaining planetary mechanics.

Copernicus for Bibliophiles
In the year of my birth, Arthur Koestler threw down a gauntlet when he labeled Nicolaus Copernicus' De revolutionibus [arguably the greatest science book of the last few thousand years] "the book nobody read." Owen Gingerich, astronomer and bibliophile, picked up that gauntlet and did battle with Koestler in the way a scientist must do battle - find empirical evidence that the book had been read. The Book Nobody Read is Gingerich's popular account of his decades long effort to track down every extant copy of the first and second edition of De revolutionibus to look for evidence of use [mainly using the marginalia left by the readers/owners]. The book flap blurb nails the book when it calls The Book Nobody Read "part biography of a book, part scientific exploration, [and] part bibliographic detective story." The blurb writer could have tossed in adventure story, too. I enjoyed the book immensely, especially the excellent way in which The Book Nobody Read illustrates the use of the scientific [empirical] method for what many folks would perceive as a non-traditional use. As a bibliophile and science teacher, I'm probably a member of the perfect audience for this book. I include the previous statement as a caution, because at least one of the reviewers seems to have misjudged what the book was about. If you are interested in traditional biography and want a book on Nicolaus Copernicus, The Book Nobody Read may disappoint. If you like books on books and have an interest in history [especially the history of science], I think you'd rate this book a classic.

Scholar's Story of Treasure Hunt
A respected historian of science, Owen Gingerich provides not only a fascinating introduction into the reception of Copernicus's De Revolutionibus but also a terrific narrative about the production of scholarship. The end result is both an engaging chapter in the history of science and an amazing foray into the history of reading more generally.

Sleuthing about ownership & readership of De Revolutionibus
At his death in 1543 Nicholas Copernicus published De Revolutionibus, arguing that the sun, not the earth, was at the center of the known universe. There were over 600 copies of two editions that began to interest astronomical historian Gingerich who set out to scrutinize each copy in libraries and personal collections around the world, partly out of curiosity and partly to judge how widely the book had been read. The author engages in intriguing detective work, extending the known provenance of each book to include other owners while tracing its impact on scientific thinking in 16th and 17th century Europe. Since many of the copies contained marginal comments and were owned by astronomers, it became apparent from studies of handwriting who the students and who the professors were, giving us an insight about the readership. We learn about the formation of watermarks, types of glue, and how papermaking, printing and binding were accomplished. The author's expertise has been called upon to trace prior ownership of stolen copies offered at auction, and we learn that parts of one copy were sometimes used to round out the contents of another copy. Eight pages of bibliographic notes; good 16-page index; 8-pages of color; two appendices, one of which gives the location of extant copies. Highly recommended for history enthusiasts of astronomy and the Renaissance.

Ensure mind is engaged before keyboard is in gear ...
"Gee gosh golly" anecdotal intelectual flabbyness, mostly centering on "I," and written in flacid prose. Would award no star at all if that were possible.

For coverage of similar and related material would highly recomend J. L. Heilbron's "The Sun In The Church" -- a vigorous and active intelect conveying complex insights clearly and writing with a dry sense of humor. ... Read more

Book Description

The National Geographic Encyclopedia of Space offers clear and concise explanations of the planets; telescopes; manned space flight; satellites; the origin of the universe; the contributions of Nicolaus Copernicus, Edwin Hubble, and Stephen Hawking; and much more. The Encyclopedia of Space answers such questions as How vast is the Milky Way? What makes a satellite stay up? How does deep space affect our daily climate? Arranged in six thematic chapters, the Encyclopedia of Space brings together in one accessible volume the varied aspects of space science: the solar system, deep space exploration (manned and unmanned) and discovery, satellites and orbits, and the commercial, scientific, and military uses of space. Tables, diagrams, maps, and fact boxes provide additional information and value.The encyclopedia is enriched by recently declassified intelligence material and photographs from the U.S. Navy and the National Reconnaissance Office, the latest Hubble images, and essays written by leading professionals in the field, such as Kathryn Sullivan and Sylvia Earle. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who landed on the Moon with Neil Armstrong, will write a foreword to the encyclopedia. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Plenty of books try to explain the origin of the universe, but despite the ascendance of the Big Bang theory, numerous details of that theory remain in flux as new observations are made and new hypotheses formed (and then confirmed or rejected). Timothy Ferris's The Whole Shebang is an up-to-date account of the various mechanisms believed to have contributed to the universe as we now know it, from the Big Bang itself to inflation to superstrings. The Whole Shebang eschews mathematics and formulae and explains cosmological concepts in clear and enticing prose. If you need an update on the state of the universe, you'll find it here. ... Read more

Reviews (56)

Stunning summary of the Cosmos
This is an absolutely stunning summary of the leading edge theories of advanced physics in an easy to read and entertaining format. Although nobody can understand a physics book without at least a modicum of knowledge about the basics, Ferris' work manages to remain easy reading until the end. It addresses everything you always wanted to know about quantum physics, cosmology, space-time, unified theories, superstring theory, etc. More importantly, instead of shoving a long, historical introductory chapter into your face (like most other books in this genre tend to do) it sneaks in the relevant historical facts in the form of small, captivating and humorous personal stories that pepper every chapter.

It is getting outdated, of course, as the years go by, but I still haven't seen anything that would be better while remaining just as comprehensive and readable. It is in roughly the same genre as "The Cosmic Code" or "The Dancing Wu Li Masters", but without any pretentious mumbo-jumbo. Finally, it shows much more respect to religion than other works, which is refreshing.

This book covers the whole....well, you know
Although he taught English and Journalism at the university of California, Berkeley, Timothy Ferris is one of the more knowledgeable fellows on the planet when it comes to cosmology. And this is, in fact, an extraordinary work on cosmology.

As a pre-requisite to Ferris' book, I would recommend "The First Three Minutes" by Stephen Weinberg. Although Weinberg's book is 20 years old (published, 1979), it is nonetheless still a classic in the cosmology field. It is also rather terse - only 150 or so pages in & out.

Ferris brings us up to to date on many of the "happenings" in cosmology since 1979. He discusses such diverse areas of physics as gravity waves, the mystery of singularities, why black holes have no hair and quantum weirdness (although the latter is an understatement...). I actually preferred this book over the much more famous "A Brief History In Time" by the Cambridge physicist Stephen Hawking. Hawking's prose is a bit more dry than Ferris' and "Brief / Time" does not go as in depth into many important concepts as this book.

So, for those of you who wonder (like me) how in the world the universe began (or, perhaps, how in the universe the world began), this book is for you. Ferris can't answer all your questions, to be sure. But you can learn an awful lot in the process of engaging what we don't know. Also, in addition to this book I would recommend the PBS home video "The Creation Of The Universe" which is hosted by Ferris. It is the best video cosmological documentary I have ever seen (and I have seen quite a few). It, too, is available at Amazon.com

The Book of the UNIVERSE
Now there is a plenty of the books of the authors of every possible calibers from various schools and predecessors. All of them are good in own way.

However offered book is laborious work of the author giving to generalize and to inform to us in the form the unique summary of a basis cosmology.

And so it is time to begin to understand with this cosmology. Please, take and read this book. It will be useful both schoolboy, and student, and pensioner.

A Brilliant Book on our Universe
This is the most coherent (and in depth) book on the cosmos I have ever read. I have numerous books on "the universe", gravity, astrophysics, physics, etc, but this book is FAR and AWAY the most lucid thing I have ever read on the topic. Generally I like to skip around to certain sections of interest to me but with this book, the WHOLE THING is incredibly fascinating. I also bought the Audio Version (which he reads himself) and it is very well read. If you want to know the fascinating structure and workings of the Universe you live in, THIS IS THE BOOK. I think it is a shame that most people go through their whole lives not knowing how cool this Universe really is. His discussion of Gravity and "the SHAPE of space" is a perfect example. Just read it and you will find out. Things are not always what they seem. An amazing book!

A Great Book.
The Whole Shebang is a marvelous book that expertly explains the working of the universe in a simple and understandable manner, which almost ever reader will comprehend. Whether you're an amateur cosmologist, or just an average Joe (or Joe-Ann) who wants to learn a little about the universe, this book is for you! Ferris does a wonderful job of explaining all the basics of the universe, in a loose and fluid writing style, without overwhelming the reader, making the book a lighter read then some of its counterparts. Does this sound too much like a commercial? Well, if it does, I'm sorry. But this book is by far the best educational literature I have ever read. ... Read more

Book Description

Winner of the 1988 American Institute of Physics Prize, Ferris's book offers the listener "an exhilarating, wide-ranging journey that takes us from the shores of the Mediterranean, where the second-century astronomer Claudius Ptolemy fashioned his creaky celestial spheres, to modern-day research institutes, where theorists contemplate this and other universes bubbling out of a quantum vacuum." (The New York Times) ... Read more

Reviews (19)

A good history of the sciences and Astronomy in particular.
This book is an excellent tour through history of astronomy and astronomers quest to uncover our place (and time) in the universe. Ferris goes into quite a bit of detail and does not treat his readers with kid gloves. There are many interesting anecdotes about various astronomers and Ferris sometimes gives mini biographies of the more interesting/eccentric of them. Ferris starts with the greek astonomers such has hypocratus, goes through copernicus, kepler, galileo, newton, and then onto the astronmers of the last 200 years. But in his final section, he also talks about how the geosciences, and the theory of evolution began to give us a better perspective of where we fit in the universe not just in space but in time. The last chapters are devoted to the cutting edge of science - quantum physics. Ferris reports discoveries up to the point practically that this book was published! All in all, a good read for anyone interested in science and particularly in Astronomy.

COSMOS on steroids.
This book is an excellent tour through history of astronomy and astronomers quest to uncover our place (and time) in the universe. Ferris goes into quite a bit of detail and does not treat his readers with kid gloves. There are many interesting anecdotes about various astronomers and Ferris sometimes gives mini biographies of the more interesting/eccentric of them. Ferris starts with the greek astonomers such has hypocratus, goes through copernicus, kepler, galileo, newton, and then onto the astronmers of the last 200 years. But in his final section, he also talks about how the geosciences, and the theory of evolution began to give us a better perspective of where we fit in the universe not just in space but in time. The last chapters are devoted to the cutting edge of science - quantum physics. Ferris reports discoveries up to the point practically that this book was published! All in all, a good read for anyone interested in science and particularly in Astronomy.

The more we know, the more we see how little we know
In charting the place of mankind in the universe Timothy Ferris explores as different topics as history, evolution, physics, mathematics, cosmology, theology or philosophy and that from the Big Bang over the Greeks to the end of the 20th century.
Within this tour-de-force I would like to emphasize a few extremely important statements.
First, the importance of Godel's incompleteness theorem:'there is not and never will be a complete and comprehensive scientific account of the universe that can be proved valid'.(p. 374)
Secondly, the killing of the 'monstrous' philosophy of determinism (Einstein's belief) by quantum physics:'Quantum indeterminacy ... celebrates the return of chance to the fundamental affairs of the world.' (p.291)
Thirdly, the all importance of symmetry in the gauge field theory with force as a medium to maintain the invariance and particles as messengers of symmetry.
When one reads a book about the fate of mankind in (or and) the universe, one encounters nearly always approaches from new angles. Timothy Ferris' book is in that league.
I have only one small remark: the short personal biography of Einstein is not correct.
Not to be missed.
I also recommend strongly the works of Lee Smolin and Richard Dawkins.

Old Ideas in science revisited, New ideas introduced
Great book! I finished this 500+ pages book in a week, a record for a slow like myself. "Coming of Age in the Milky Way" tells us how our concept in astronomy and cosmology changes and evolves, how man struggles to understand the universe through diligent research, and what will the future of SETI be. Timothy Ferris tells us how, for example, we develops the idea that earth is spherical from simple observations of Eratosthenes from Alexandria, and that measuring the distance of earth to sun accurately is an endeavour that takes hundreds of years and take hundreds of scientist globe-trotting to observe transit of Venus (the passing of Venus in the sun's disc), which will be an accurate method to determine the earth-sun distance. In short, this books tells us how human can gain all the knowledge that is now a popular knowledge to everybody.

The titles suggest that we, human, are just becoming of age in our universe. Young, passionate, eager to face the world, but brash and hold many future. In the final chapters, Timothy Ferris introduces us to the concept of galactic beacon that will hold all our profile so that it can be transmitted to other civilizations in other stars.

The best starter for anybody.
Professor Ferris 1988 work is absolutely worth of pursuing - beautiful writing style, fantastic read. He researched historical details about voyages, discoveries and lives of the greatest philosophers and scientists. He tells us how people started to observe and realize the depth of the Universe.
Final chapters depict selected important subjects of particle physics, quantum mysteries and SETI dilemma. I have rarely seen topics like: symmetry-invariance, gauge field theory, description of particle accelerator, vacuum inflation (just to mention a few) so brilliantly presented. Topped with practical glossary - book ends where Alan Guth proposed his inflation hypothesis. This book is better than Hawking's original "The Brief History of Time" and would be better (if not a date of publishing) than Fred Adams "Origins of Existence". Robert Kirshner's "Extravagant Universe" would be the good choice to get more updated and ready to absorb whatever new is coming from the space - unless professor Feriss updates his great masterpiece. ... Read more

Book Description

The Cambridge Guide to the Solar System provides a comprehensive, funamental, and up-to-date description of the solar system.It is written in a concise, light and uniform style, without being unnecessarily weighted down with specialized materials or the variable writing of multiple authors.It is filled with vital facts and information for astronomers of all types and for anyone with a scientific interest in the Earth, our Moon, all the other planets and their satellites, and related topics such as asteroids, comets, meteorites and meteors. The language, style, ideas and profuse illustrations will attract the general reader as well as professionals.A thorough report for general readers, it includes much compact reference data. Metaphors, similes and analogies will be of immense help to the lay person or non-science student, and they add to the enjoyment of the material.Vignettes containing historical, literary and even artistic material make this book unusual and interesting, and enhance its scientific content. Kenneth Lang is professor of astronomy in the Physics and Astronomy Department at Tufts University.He is the author of several astrophysics books, including The Sun from Space (Springer Verlag, 2000), Astrophysical Formulae: Radiation, Gas Processes, and High Energy Physics (Springer Verlag, 1999), Sun, Earth and Sky (Copernicus Books, 1997), Astrophysical Data: Planets and Stars (Springer Verlag, 1993), and Wanderers in Space: Exploration and Discovery in the Solar System (Cambridge, 1991), ... Read more

Book Description

Resin Transfer Moulding and other similar 'liquid moulding'manufacturing methods have been used to make non-structural compositesfor the last 35 years. However, in the last eight years these methodshave become the subject of enormous interest by aerospacemanufacturing companies. Resin Transfer Moulding for Aerospace Structures describes allaspects of Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) for aerospace structures.Written by an international team of experts, from both industry andacademia, it is a comprehensive work providing complete and detailedinformation on the process of RTM from theoretical modelling topractical experience. With subjects including manufacturing, tooling,fabric design and flow modelling all covered, this book is aninvaluable up-to-the-minute reference source which provides the readerwith a good understanding of RTM and its possible uses, especially forhigh performance applications. Resin Transfer Moulding for Aerospace Structures is an idealguide for those in the aerospace and related industries, who want tounderstand and utilize RTM, as well as those directly involved in theRTM industry. ... Read more

Book Description

This book provides an introduction to understanding combustion, the burning of a substance that produces heat and often light, in microgravity environments-i.e., environments with very low gravity such as outer space. Readers are presented with a compilation of worldwide findings from fifteen years of research and experimental tests in various low-gravity environments, including drop towers, aircraft, and space.

Microgravity Combustion is unique in that no other book reviews low- gravity combustion research in such a comprehensive manner. It provides an excellent introduction for those researching in the fields of combustion, aerospace, and fluid and thermal sciences.

• An introduction to the progress made in understanding combustion in a microgravity environment
• Experimental, theoretical and computational findings of current combustion research
• Tutorial concepts, such as scaling analysis
• Worldwide microgravity research findings ... Read more

Book Description

In modern industrial environments where responsibility for quality control is being placed upon individual workers, the understanding of dimensional metrology principles is becoming increasingly important.That's why the fourth edition of our best-selling Fundamentals of Dimensional Metrology book offers a direct path to understanding and applying the principles, techniques, and devices used within the dimensional metrology field today. This edition uses both the Metric and Imperial systems, yet emphasizes Metric measurement devices and concepts in all examples for greater consistency with the latest industry trends. Information on particular devices and concepts, previously presented in separate chapters, has been combined to improve the logical flow of the material. New chapter-end review questions have also been added to eliminate the potential for ambiguity, allowing readers to gauge their understanding as they progress through the book. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Excellent Resource
As an ASQ certified Mechanical Inspector and Quality Technician, I would like to say that; This text is a fine resource for any person working in the metrology field. It covers a wide range of topics and is well worth having. Written in a style that is both informatve AND interesting. I was well pleased with this book.

Excellent Resource
As an ASQ certified Mechanical Inspector and Quality Technician, I would like to say that; This text is a fine resource for any person working in the metrology field. It covers a wide range of topics and is well worth having. Written in a style that is both informatve AND interesting. I was well pleased with this book.

This book leaves something to be desired
I have been reading this book for a class. I must say that this book is not as detailed as I would like it to be. I am an engineer and my expectation was that when a statement is made details would be provided to backup the statements. And the figures in the book are not easy to understand quickly. There must be a better book out there.

Great book for dimensional calibration technicians
This book would be useful to any machinist, but it is specifically written for the dimensional calibration technician, a wealth of practical, useful information.Thanks.

Is Anything Better Out There?
This book has been required for a Dimensional Metrology class at Palomar College for the last ten years.This course is required for students seeking an AA in Quality Assurance Technology, or Quality certification.Though not a definitive guideline for the science of measurement, it seems to be the best text available.

Although there is an abundance of illustrations most are outdated and from the sixties. The field of Metrology has changed substantially and this text has not been revised accordingly.The questions and answer choices that follow each chapter are ambiguous in nature and need to reflect current issues. I would like to see more alignment with the ASQ CMI body of knowledge, inclusion of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing, and revision of the statistics chapter to include Gage R&R and various continuous improvement tools (cause and effect diagrams, run charts, process capability, trend charts, check sheets, etc.).The QS 9000 guidelines and newer calibration standards should also be referenced.

Let's see a major overhaul with the next issue. ... Read more

Book Description

A veritable cult figure to many, Sir Fred Hoyle was one of the most important, famous, and controversial figures of 20th-century astronomy. He coined the term "Big Bang" and earned himself scientific celebrity by enthusiastically endorsing theories that ran counter to conventional wisdom.

Fred Hoyle's prolific career spanned more than 60 years. During that time, he made major contributions in fundamental areas of astronomy. His most important work focused on the evolution of stars, the origin of the chemical elements, the nature of gravitational forces, and the origin of life on Earth. But he is perhaps best remembered for his rare talent as a science communicator. He hosted one of the first radio programs that focused on science and then moved his show to the new medium of television, making him a household name long before such science luminaries as Patrick Moore or Carl Sagan rose to prominence.

A man of ceaseless intellectual activity, Hoyle pushed the boundaries of our knowledge by being both right and wrong. When he was right, his contributions were of Nobel Laureate quality. Indeed, even when he was wrong, he stimulated his exasperated opponents to work that much more furiously to produce damning evidence against him, thus yielding additional discoveries and leading to more knowledge on a topic.

Simon Mitton's sensitive biography tells the story of Hoyle's life as well as his science. Structuring each chapter around an intellectual puzzle, the science is framed within the context of the knowledge available to Hoyle at the time. Drawing on his personal knowledge of Fred Hoyle, Mitton vividly recreates the many public clashes between Hoyle and his critics, and at the same time he clearly explains the science underlying the conflict. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The best way to write about science
This is the best way to write about science! Although Simon Mitton is a distinguished astronomer, this is science written for anyone intelligent, regardless of background - those of us in the humanities as well as sciences can read this fascinating book with equal enjoyment.

Fred Hoyle was probably wrong on how the universe began, holding to steady state rather than the Big Bang, in which most scientists now believe. But his reasons were perfectly cogent, as Mitton points out. He was also the first true communicator of science to a wide audience, including his brilliant science fiction plays for children that I can still recall over 40 years later. If astronomy is now a cutting edge subject, with considerable lay interest (especially after Mittonand Hoyle's Cambridge colleague Stephe Hawking) it is all because Hoyle was there first.

In short, Mitton has written an outstanding book for all of us. I should also add that the mistakes pointed out in the Publisher's Weekly review have been corrected by the final version - they must have seen proof copies.

Buy this book! Science has become fun for all of us, and Hoyle's pioneering research and communication skills set that ball in motion. Simon Mitton is a worthy follower of his old master, and this book is proof of that.

Christopher Catherwood (author of CHURCHILL'S FOLLY: HOW WINSTON CHURCHILL CREATED MODERN IRAQ: Carroll and Graf, 2004) ... Read more

Book Description

Stephen J. Gould, Harvard professor, claims that "professionally trained scientists virtually to a person, understand the factual basis of evolution and don't dispute it."This book refutes that statement with essays from 50 doctorate-holding scientists from around the globe who give sound reasoning and evidence for believing in a literal six-day creation. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

My mind was changed
Relish that the previous reviews are strongly conflicting! I find it humorous and a exciting because authentic issues of faith are rarely clearly resolved. Does this book touch on issues of faith? Certainly!, not as a scientific rebuttal to the theory of evolution but as a sketch from different scientific thinkers as to why Chreation, with it's own untestable mysteries, is convincing to them. If I had no doubt that evolution is an impregnable fortress of truth, and were looking to pick a fight, this book would not change me into a Bible-thumping creationist. Fact is, there are thousands of scientists (not just 50) who believe that a creator God is more than nursery rhymes. There are multiple arguments that stack up agaisnt both creation and evolution. Here, 50 scientists, in one chapter apeice, share the arguments that cast evolution in a fog. To think that each chapter is a complete and convincing appology to evolutionists, as several of the reviewers of this book anticipated, seems to miss the point. The point is that thinking people find faith in the Bible to be as relavent as science. (Let hardcore evolutionists shake their heads here--you will not be convinced by faith or reason).

As for me, I have been an old earth, young creation Bible believer; but this book has moved my mind toward a young earth, young creation persuasion. Some of the arguments in the book will hit you, others may not. The beauty of this book is that it's written by 50 authors--all with qualified scientific credentials. Each took one chapter to share a scetch from their personal story of doubt, reason, and faith. If you want to line your quiver with darts to throw, it might produce a few, but you have missed the target. This book is about the experience of those who have balanced reason and faith and can not disqualify either. I recommend this book to evolutionists and creationists to don't know everything yet.

Is evolution fact or faith?
An earlier reviewer correctly pointed out that creationists have a starting bias with which they use to interpret all data, but he mistakenly seemed to think that evolutionists are somehow more objective in their approach to science. This is a common picture presented to the general public, but is it true? As a previous reviewer documented, the idea of "objective" science exists only in the mind of young (naive and inexperienced) scientists and laymen.

But don’t simply take my word for it. Professor Richard Lewontin, a geneticist (and self-proclaimed Marxist), is a renowned champion of neo-Darwinism, and certainly one of the world's leaders in evolutionary biology. He recently wrote this very revealing comment. It illustrates the implicit philosophical bias against Genesis creation - regardless of whether or not the facts support it...

So here we have one of the world’s leading evolutionists admitting what the general public was never told - that evolutionists have universally accepted a materialistic interpretation scheme as truth. All evidence stands or falls based upon it’s fit with the dogma of evolution. Any data that does not fit within this hypothetical framework is discarded or explained away...

Uselessly biased and inane argumentation
Quoted excerpt from the back cover of this book:

"Science can neither prove nor disprove evolution anymore than it can creation...However, certain factors are present today which are capable of swaying one's beliefs one way or the other."

The object of this book is to obviously induce the scientifically uninitiated into accepting the account of Biblical creationism as true using scientific "evidence" which contradicts the theory of evolution, as an influential source of persuasion.

This book abounds with scientific hypotheses which attempt to discredit evolution yet, once this "evidence" is used to discern the shortcomings of evolutionary theory, these testimonies unscientifically assign these facts as correlating truth-claims regarding the Christian Bible's account of creation.
From the onset Mr. Ashton wants you to accept a fallacious and preconceived dichotomy, one in which you are simply an atheist who believes in evolution, or a Christian who believes in creation. Mr. Ashton fails to note that there may be a variety of alternative explanations (metaphysical or otherwise) derived from such "evidence". This book simply alludes by default a biased interpretation of the evidence, exclusively that of Christianity.
One example of this is biodiversity, which it must be noted that certain religions predating Christianity have made claims of "inextricable oneness" when describing man in relation to the universe.

Another testimonial goes to great length to discount spontaneous generation in support of biogenesis which states that "life *must* come from life." Then proceeds to (fallaciously) presume God's inevitable role in the matter. The problem here is in considering God a life-form.
If you consider God (the entity) a life-form then (via biogenesis), God himself/herself must derive from a previous form of life. (how can this be?) Conversely, if you consider God the fountainhead of life (not a life-form per se) then "God creating life" is in complete contradiction with the biogenesis claim.

Finally, from the dawn of time man has sought to appease some type of God for that which he does not fathom. This book is no different. Science cannot prove how the universe came into existence therefore God must fill the gaps that science has left unexplained. This is simple "God of the gaps" argumentation.

Each testimonial indicate a Christian bias and by assembling this collection the author is disingenuously using science to disclaim any preconceptions held in favor of evolution yet, he expects the uninitiated reader to unscientifically, accept the unsubstantiated preconceptions he holds toward creationism.

In summary: Scientifically it is interesting - Theologically it is useless - Philosophically it is a joke!

A less-than-inspiring format for a compelling topic
"In Six Days", for those wishing to understand "young earth" creation theories, provides thought-provoking questions and answers. As with any book that looks at a highly charged issue, it is important to come to it with an open mind. That many reviewers here on both sides of the issue cannot keep from vehemently pointing fingers at each other says nothing about the actual content of "In Six Days", unfortunately, so I hope this review can find some middle ground. Rather than making this review simply another in a line of rabid apologetics for one side or the other, I hope to relate whether the book succeeds in accomplishing what it intends.

To create this book, many Christian scientists (of various disciplines) from around the world were asked "Why do you believe in a literal six-day biblical creation as the origin of life on earth?" The fifty best responses ultimately were included.

Sadly, this format makes "In Six Days" less than useful - on any level. The answers provided resemble testimonies rather than useful scientific analyses. Respondents tended to repeat each other, answer too generally, or (conversely) too technically on a single point. Further compounding the problems of the book, the great majority of the scientists refer to points outside their own discipline. If I were looking for serious answers to important questions about a six-day creation, would I want to read a mechanical engineer's musings on organic chemistry? Probably not. This book would be infinitely more helpful if the question had been posed as "What are five discoveries within your field of expertise that point specifically to a six-day creation?" But as phrased here, the original question automatically leads to unfocused answers.

In truth, only about twenty of the respondents provide compelling arguments. Of those twenty, half spoke about ideas outside their disciplines. That doesn't leave the reader with much unimpeachable "ammunition" to counter evolutionists.

This is not to say that nothing here satisfies. Twenty percent of the respondents had compelling information that either casts doubt on treasured pro-evolution precepts or supports a God-inspired young earth. Unfortunately, for those that have some passing knowledge of the Creation vs. Evolution hysteria, few of those ten scientists had anything new to contribute to the body of work out there already in the pro-creation community. For this reason, it must be assumed that this book is intended for people who have never explored the claims of creationists. Given some of the issues already mentioned, the result is less than stellar.

And this is a shame since there are many excellent books that make strong arguments for the creation viewpoint. Several of the scientists quoted in "In Six Days" refer to these books. My question is then: "Why not skip 'In Six Days' and just read those more scholarly and better-constructed books?" One book, "Darwin's Black Box", was mentioned repeatedly - it's probably a good bet.

If you have some knowledge of the debate, pass on this book. If you know someone who is asking questions and doesn't have a tremendously technical bent, "In Six Days" might work for them in spots. Otherwise, there are increasingly more pro-creation, young earth, and intelligent design books out there that offer the reader a better use of their time.

A counter-effective book
This book is the most counter-effective exercise in persuasion that I have met. It appears to provide to people with creationist sympathies the supporting intellectual arguments that they might otherwise lack. In practice, it does the opposite. I admit that I approached the book with evolutionist views but as science provides only probabilistic conclusions and all these merit assault, I was interested to find out what were the best arguments that creationists could assemble. But these! Are these the best the creationists can offer?
There are several arguments that occur many times and all could be demolished even in a review such as this one. I will give one example.
About a quarter of the essayists claim that the second law of thermodynamics prohibits evolution. Dr. Don B. Deyoung states it thus, "It describes unavoidable losses in any process whatsoever which involves transfer of energy. The energy does not disappear but some always becomes unavailable, often as unusable heat. Stated another way, everything deteriorates, breaks down and becomes less ordered with time". This is nearly right but not quite. It states only that the entropy (disorder) of a closed system AS A WHOLE steadily increases. It does not prohibit decreases in entropy (more order) within a closed system provided they are local and temporary. If he and all the other essayists who consistently omit this truth were right, there would be no mountain building, no rain, no tides, no photosynthesis and therefore no life. Agreed that the solar system as a whole (a closed system) is suffering steadily increasing entropy (more disorder) but within it, locally and temporarily, more order is permitted and we are some of it. The denials of this by people with Ph. D. degrees are astonishing or sinister. Take your pick.
There are similar examples relating to the role of chance, the fossil record and dating techniques. If you want to become an evolutionist, read this book. ... Read more

Book Description

This pioneering book offers an exciting and rigorous introduction to a wide range of sciences, including astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, and cosmology. Life in the Universe captures the reader's imagination by exploring fundamental pan-scientific questions, such as: "How did life begin on Earth?", "What are the most extreme forms of life currently known?", "How likely is life in our solar system and beyond?", and "What are the challenges of trying to colonize another planet?" The book motivates readers to develop an understanding of the nature and process of science through skillfull writing and a wealth of features. An award-winning author and contributor team spanning the sciences ensures that coverage is complete, authoritative, and accessible.Interdisciplinary coverage and a wealth of exciting topics engage non-science students, introduce them to a range of sciences, and motivate them to explore the nature of science itself.Readers interested in astronomy and life in the universe. ... Read more