Black Holes and Time Warps: Einstein’s Outrageous Legacy (Commonwealth Fund Book Program)
September 4, 2010 by admin
Filed under Relativity
Black Holes and Time Warps: Einstein’s Outrageous Legacy (Commonwealth Fund Book Program)
- ISBN13: 9780393312768
- Condition: New
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In this masterfully written and brilliantly informed work, Dr. Thorne, the Feynman Professor of Theoretical Physics at Caltech, leads readers through an elegant, always human, tapestry of interlocking themes, answering the great question: what principles control our universe and why do physicists think they know what they know? Features an introduction by Stephen Hawking.
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Einstein’s Cosmos: How Albert Einstein’s Vision Transformed Our Understanding of Space and Time (Great Discoveries)
- ISBN13: 9780393327007
- Condition: New
- Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
In paperback for the centenary of the discovery of relativity, “a fresh and highly visual tour through Einstein’s astonishing legacy” (Brian Greene). The year 2005 marks the 100th anniversary of the publication of the paper that launched Einstein’s career, made E=mc2 famous, and ushered in a revolution in science—the paper that announced the theory of special relativity. And there’s no better short book that explains just what Einstein did than Einstein’s Cosmos. Keying Einstein’s crucial d
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Review by Reinaldo Olivares for Black Holes and Time Warps: Einstein’s Outrageous Legacy (Commonwealth Fund Book Program)
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I thought not. I was wrong. The reason: Kip Thorne. I really enjoyed the reading of this book because it offers the theoretical face of the so-called “Black Holes Mechanics” and a very important and delightful part, the history behind the theorems. The book begins with several chapters dedicated almost exclusively to the bases of the Special Theory of Relativity and the General Theory of Relativity, which describes the gravitation field in almost any place of our universe (if you get the book you will see why I say “almost”). Thereafter, the text covers the most important aspects of stellar implosion, which, in fact, brings Black Holes into existence. Once you are immersed in the very topic of the holes, the author studied profoundly their properties with informative boxes, spacetime diagrams, lots of references about discoveries, people and, the great difference with others books, an outstanding and thorough historical background. By the end, the author presents the most excitement predictions about the future use of Black Holes and the yet ill-understood Quantum Gravity Theory (predictions like backward time travel and wormholes). Finally, Kip Thorne closed the book with an excellent glossary of exotic terms and a list of principal characters that appeared throughout the text. I can say, without any doubt, that this is one of the most illustrative and complete books I have ever read, and in my opinion, is a book that every “Black Hole serious student” might have in his/her shelve. If you are looking for a less technical book, I suggest you “Black Holes: A Traveler’s Guide” by Clifford Pickover. Nevertheless, if you want a higher challenge, get the book “Gravitation” by Thorne, Wheeler and Misner.
Review by doomsdayer520 for Black Holes and Time Warps: Einstein’s Outrageous Legacy (Commonwealth Fund Book Program)
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Don’t be too swayed by the word “outrageous” in the title of this book. That may be there to attract attention, but needless to say, physicist Kip Thorne does a good job of explaining the more bizarre aspects of the universe in this book. Thorne’s writing style is very accessible and down to earth, as he explains relativity, black holes, quantum mechanics, and even time warps. However, you’ll still need to be really on the ball to understand many of these extremely complicated topics. I was impressed by Thorne’s ability to explain bizarre concepts like gravitational time dilation and Einstein’s theory of relativity to non-eggheads. But some of the more arcane aspects of quantum gravity or unified field theories will be beyond even the most well tuned laymen who read this book. Thorne also keeps the mood light by giving us the human side of advanced physics research, focusing on the friendships, rivalries, and personalities of the world’s leading minds. This extends from Einstein in the beginning to Hawking in the present, and dozens of other less famous but almost as brilliant minds in between.Watch out for some inconsistency in this book however, as Thorne sometimes gets into too much sentimental detail about the scientists’ social lives (including his own), while the middle of the book sags as it digresses into the mechanical specs of radio telescopes and gravitational wave detectors. Also, beware of Thorne’s suspiciously enthusiastic endorsements of gravitational wave research in chapter 10, as this is his own field of research, and I suspect he’s trying to promote the need for funding. There’s also a little intellectual arrogance here, as several times Thorne proclaims that the laws of quantum mechanics, as they are currently understood (which isn’t much), are “indisputable” or “incontrovertible.” Scientists used to say the same thing about Newton’s laws until they were weakened by Einstein. Then the theories of Einstein (worshipped by every physicist in this book) were weakened by quantum mechanics. You never know, the knowledge presented in this book may someday be overthrown as well. But in the meantime, Thorne does a great job of explaining it to those of us who are interested but don’t have multiple PhD’s.
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When I first received the book, I said to myself, “Whoa, 619 pages! It’ll take me a while to read this!”…I honestly could not put the book down! Overall, it took me about a week to finish the book. Every page had something interesting on it! Thorne even threw in some neat equations, which were easy enough for a 15-year-old high-school genius to figure out. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to be blasted with information about our universe…and others!
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Mr. Thorne has managed to write a book that while going into a lot of detail in explaning the history, the people involved and the science behind Black Holes, Wormholes, and Time Travel, he DOES NOT lose the reader [assuming that Astrophysics is of interest to the reader] due to the amount of detail. The illustrations in the book are superb. Mr. Thorne explains the science in such a way that is not intimidating, but doesn’t skimp on the details. I found this to be a better book than “The History of Time”. It is a complete package. The glossary at the back of the book is VERY helpfull.I cannot stress enough how well Kip Thorne explicates on this subject. The amount of technical and mathematical detail instead of being a deterrent was the strenth and potency of this book. Even the history dimension of the book I found interesting. There is a sense of awe, to a person interesting in Astrophysics, in finding out how these people came to be the best in their field and their contribution as well as an understanding of thier contributions. If I had to recommend one book for someone interested in Black Holes, Time Travel and the like, it would definately be this book! A Cosmic tour-de-force! HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Review by Daniel Lalonde for Black Holes and Time Warps: Einstein’s Outrageous Legacy (Commonwealth Fund Book Program)
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WHO WROTE IT: Kip Thorne is the Feynman Professor of Theoritical Physics at CalTech. He wrote several other books, including such a classic as GRAVITATION (withJ. Wheeler, C.Misner). This rich combination (plus an obvious talent as a communicator and an apparently fun loving personnality) makes him both a knowlegeable and understandable writer.
WHAT YOU GET: Many books have been written about black holes. Some are really simple. They make for a good introduction but are somewhat too basic for my taste. Some aim at staying intellectually affordable but they describe more than they explain. You are left frustrated: you don’t understand what you are shown (see among others, John Gribbin’s Unveiling the Edge of Time ). Some are too technical and took me out of my depth. K. Thorne gives explanations wich are complete enough to give you a coherent understanding while still being aimed at a non specialist public.
HOW IT IS DONE: The theoritical concepts involved are exposed along an historical structure . This way, the necessity of each element of the theory is made more obvious. Also, one gets briefly acquainted with the circumstance of the discoveries, the personnality of the involved researchers and the prevalent questionning as our knowledge evolved.
WHAT YOU NEED: The book contains very little mathematics. A college level should suffice. There are no equations (still rigourous; quite a challenge). Thorne illustrates his text with schematic illustrations, diagrams and simple mathematical curves. Being acquainted with the theory of relativity is probably a prerequisite. Thorne’s explanation’s of Einstein’s space-time appears too short to bring you up to speed if you have no notion on the subject. Many good books with varying level of maths exist on the subject, including the original monography by A.Einstein himself (Relativity, by A. Einstein). I personnaly read Banesh Hoffmann’s: Albert Einstein Creator and Rebel .
THE RESULT: This book is pleasant to read yet does not shy away from in dept explanations. It is intellectually rigourous without being austere. As an eagerly curious non specialist, I was very satisfied with that book.
Addendum, Jan 2005
The more I read, the more I realize that this book stands above the crowd. It really deserve 5 stars
Review by T. Scherff for Einstein’s Cosmos: How Albert Einstein’s Vision Transformed Our Understanding of Space and Time (Great Discoveries)
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as you can see from my title, i am a child of the 60′s. einstein died when i was 4. i am of average intelligence, with a college degree in english. math and science were never my favorite subjects, nor was i very good at them.
with all that in mind, i was blown away by this book. it covers the biography of eistein only minimally and spends the majority of its fast paced, easy reading 235 pages talking about the discoveries of einstein and their impact on the sceintific community.
i won’t try to improve on what the author does so well, and that is explain in simple terms the concepts of einstein. to be perfectly honest, i’m still not sure of them all exactly nor what they portend.
what further amazed me is how this genius thinks. he thought in pictures. “what if i traveled as fast as the speed of light, what would it look like?” “why when i fall do i become weightless?” his failure at the end of his life to solve his unified field theory was because he couldn’t put it into a picture.
i always go back to the old movie “the paper chase”. in it the harvard professor played by john houseman tells his students that it is his job to teach them how to think. i firmly believe that that is what the education system needs to do. teach people how to think. had i been taught physics with the concepts in this book, i would not have dreaded every minute i spent in that course.
read, enjoy, wonder! a great trip through an amazing mind.
Review by Stephen Pletko for Einstein’s Cosmos: How Albert Einstein’s Vision Transformed Our Understanding of Space and Time (Great Discoveries)
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+++++
This book, by Dr. Michio Kaku, deals with three main themes that are intertwined together:
(1)The life of Dr. Albert Einstein (March 1879 to April 1955)
(2)The all-important science of Einstein
(3)The important scientific contributions of others and some insight into their lives.
This slim book contains three parts each made up of three surprisingly easy-to-read chapters. Below I will give the title of each chapter (not necessarily the same as the book’s) and what I consider to be the highlights of each chapter. For chapter nine, I will provide a overview only.
Part I:
(1) Physics before Einstein
The scientific discoveries of Isaac Newton and James Clerk Maxwell.
(2) The Early Years of Einstein
Einstein in school; Einstein and religion; Einstein’s introduction to science, mathematics, and philosophy; his thinking; his loves; Einstein and authority; Einstein begins working for a living; his marriage.
(3) Special Relativity and the “Miracle Year of 1905″
Einstein’s first thought picture; two simple principles by Einstein that “mark the most profound insights into the nature of the universe since Newton’s work;” his famous equation; Einstein explains the photoelectric effect; he gives the first experimental proof of the existence of atoms; Einstein receives his Ph.D.: Einstein’s guiding principle in physics; Experimental evidence confirms some of Einstein’s ideas; Einstein becomes a professor of physics; the famous “twin paradox;” his marriage begins to “unravel;” Einstein meets his second love.
Part II:
(4) General Relativity (1915)
The concept of free fall; the difference between Newton’s and Einstein’s thinking; Einstein’s second thought picture; Euclidian or flat-surface geometry versus non-Euclidian or curved-surface geometry; Einstein explains what causes gravity; Einstein focuses on three experiments that would eventually prove his ideas concerning the geometry of space and gravity; an outbreak of war; Einstein saves a close friend from execution; he suffers a breakdown; Einstein marries again.
(5) Einstein Becomes Famous
A solar eclipse of 1919 confirms Einstein’s theory of gravity; he goes from professor of physics to a world figure, “a worthy successor to Isaac Newton;” Einstein’s fame attracts many detractors; Einstein decides to promote other causes such as peace; he wins the Nobel Prize; Einstein visits the United States; his thoughts on philosophy and religion.
(6) Einstein’s Universe
Einstein’s static and finite universe; he introduces a “fudge factor” (cosmological constant) in his theory of general relativity; Edwin Hubble’s discoveries “shake the foundations of astronomy”; Einstein’s “greatest blunder of his life;” general relativity introduces unexpected concepts such as the expanding universe, the “big bang,” black holes, neutron stars, gravity waves, and Einstein lenses & rings.
Part III:
(7) Unification and Quantum theory (1925)
Einstein begins work on the unified field theory (unifies his theory of gravity and the theory of electromagnetism) – this theory is also known as the “theory of everything;” marble versus wood; reformulation of Einstein’s general relativity into five dimensions (four of space and one of time); problem: Einstein has no guiding thought picture to show him the way to develop a unified field theory; physicists become preoccupied with quantum theory or quantum mechanics; the dual nature of light; a famous wave equation; antimatter; the uncertainty principle; the historic Bohr-Einstein debate; a famous physicist’s cat; Einstein’s EPR experiment; wormholes.
(8) War, Peace, Death, and an Unfinished Theory
In December 1932, Einstein and some of his scientific colleagues leave Germany for good; Einstein goes to the Institute of Advanced Study at Princeton in the U.S.; Einstein’s second wife dies and he is devastated; the atomic bomb in theory; neutron discovered (1932); nuclear fission of uranium (1938); verification of Einstein’s famous equation; worry that the Germans would be the first to develop the atomic bomb; historic letter (signed by Einstein) given to President Roosevelt; the secret Manhattan Project; Einstein not chosen for this project since he “could not be trusted;” first bomb detonated July 1945; Einstein makes the cover of “Time” (1946); Einstein becomes chairman of the first major anti-nuclear organization; Einstein continues work on the unified field theory; time machines; Einstein’s first wife and some friends die; Einstein dies (1955); unification field theory unfinished.
(9) Einstein’s Legacy: This chapter is a truly fascinating one. Kaku explains:
“[S]cientific developments in the last few decades have given us an entirely new look into Einstein’s legacy. Because his work was so fundamental…his impact continues to reverberate throughout physics…[C]rumbs that have tumbled off Einstein’s plate are now winning Nobel Prizes for other scientists…This chapter discusses new developments in three areas where Einstein’s enduring legacy continues to dominate the world of physics: the quantum theory, general relativity and cosmology, and the unified field theory.”
This book reads like a novel. Considering the subject matter, I think being able to say this makes this book an extraordinary achievement. As well, this book contains no equations (except Einstein’s famous equation). Kaku’s main narrative is easy to read. He incorporates into the main narrative the actual words used by Einstein and others. I especially enjoyed Kaku’s parenthetical statements he made throughout the book.
I’m not sure why but this book has no index. (A name index listing all the scientists and Nobel Prize winners would also have been an asset). Even though this is not absolutely necessary, it helps if you want to look up something quick. Also, there are no diagrams or pictures in this book. Again, these are not absolutely needed since the narrative is so clearly written.
Finally, I was surprised that there was no mention of the chemical element named after Einstein. It’s called Einsteinium (symbol Es).
In conclusion, this book interweaves the story of Albert Einstein’s scientific insights with his personal and political life. If you want a comprehensible tour of one of the most creative minds of the twentieth century, then this is the book to get!!
(first published 2004; preface; acknowledgements; 9 chapters; main narrative of 210 pages; (foot)notes; bibliography)
+++++
Review by for Einstein’s Cosmos: How Albert Einstein’s Vision Transformed Our Understanding of Space and Time (Great Discoveries)
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There are many Einstein biographies out there, and I’ve read a number of them. In my opinion, this is one of the most concise and readable ones. The writing is clear and engaging, thus making the book difficult to put down. Einstein’s theories are clearly explained for anyone to understand, amidst the main highlights of his life and times. I recommend this book to a wide audience, from science buffs to Einstein fans to anyone wanting to understand what is was that made Einstein so famous, and why.
Review by Michael Wischmeyer for Einstein’s Cosmos: How Albert Einstein’s Vision Transformed Our Understanding of Space and Time (Great Discoveries)
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Michio Kaku, a respected theoretical physicist at City College of New York, has created an outstanding examination of Einstein’s life and technical accomplishments, certainly among the best books on Einstein that I have encountered. Einstein’s Cosmos targets the layman and as such it avoids mathematics, and yet I am quite certain that it will appeal to technically inclined readers also. Michio Kaku’s explanations of Einstein’s monumental work, especially the Special Theory of Relativity and his General Theory of Relativity, are remarkably clear and will be readily understood by nearly all readers.
I was especially fascinated by Kaku’s analysis of Einstein’s later efforts to unify gravity and electromagnetics. He argues persuasively that much of Einstein’s unification efforts, almost always dismissed by writers and biographers as irrelevant and misdirected, has in recent decades pointed a new generation of physicists toward new breakthroughs and discoveries. Einstein’s vision was decades ahead of most of his contemporaries. His final quest may have been unsuccessful, but his legacy remains vibrant and highly influential.
Einstein’s Cosmos : How Albert Einstein’s Vision Transformed Our Understanding of Space and Time was published 2004 in the Great Discoveries Series. I also highly recommend another title in this series, Incompleteness: The Proof and Paradox of Kurt Godel by Rebecca Goldstein. Godel was Einstein’s closest intellectual companion during Einstein’s later years at the Institute for Advanced Studies at Princeton.
Review by slim for Einstein’s Cosmos: How Albert Einstein’s Vision Transformed Our Understanding of Space and Time (Great Discoveries)
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The author shares personal details (as well as scientific triumphs and failures) of Einstein in such a way that you will feel like you had been Einstein’s close personal friend throughout his life. Extrememely well-written, and easy to understand. I don’t have much time to read as I am a busy mom, but this book was worth making the time for.