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thetbrstack's review
4.0
Wow. I finally finished this book, and I'm glad I did.
It was a hard book to read, with dozens of scientific concepts exceedingly difficult to understand. Some I did not. But others I was able to grasp, thanks to the wonderful writing and explanations by Brian Greene.
Now, I think I understand Einstein's formulas, how and why gravity works, the mysteries of black holes and dark energy, and string theory. Not, mind you, that I'm able to explain them in great detail. But I do grasp the fundamentals, and when new information comes up, I can nod my head and pretend to know what it means.
I started this book because I have a growing interest in time, what it is, what it means, and why it only goes in one direction. I more from this book than others I have picked up. I also had enjoyed the Nova series based on the book that Greene had narrated.
I like Greene's writing. He explains physics without resorting to the complicated equations that would mean little to me (though he make some available in the notes). He uses common analogies that are easy to comprehend. He recognizes that he's not speaking to specialists with the vast knowledge and background that he has, but people with an interest in elementary physics.
A job well done.
It was a hard book to read, with dozens of scientific concepts exceedingly difficult to understand. Some I did not. But others I was able to grasp, thanks to the wonderful writing and explanations by Brian Greene.
Now, I think I understand Einstein's formulas, how and why gravity works, the mysteries of black holes and dark energy, and string theory. Not, mind you, that I'm able to explain them in great detail. But I do grasp the fundamentals, and when new information comes up, I can nod my head and pretend to know what it means.
I started this book because I have a growing interest in time, what it is, what it means, and why it only goes in one direction. I more from this book than others I have picked up. I also had enjoyed the Nova series based on the book that Greene had narrated.
I like Greene's writing. He explains physics without resorting to the complicated equations that would mean little to me (though he make some available in the notes). He uses common analogies that are easy to comprehend. He recognizes that he's not speaking to specialists with the vast knowledge and background that he has, but people with an interest in elementary physics.
A job well done.
pcbernhard's review
challenging
informative
fast-paced
5.0
This book explains the most difficult concepts of modern physics in a way that I can actually understand the main ideas, on a certain level. It also turns you slightly mad
lizardbeats's review
4.0
I have always really enjoyed Brian Greene’s books. He does a lovely introduction to basic physics while diving deeper into the subject. It’s a difficult skill to try to appeal physics to a broader audience.
In comparison to his other books though, for those with STEM background, this book is pretty low in complexity, and is likely to be a lot of information you’ve heard before.
In comparison to his other books though, for those with STEM background, this book is pretty low in complexity, and is likely to be a lot of information you’ve heard before.
katj3x's review
took me three tries to get going with this – all those examples built around simpsons mythos put me off hard – but it turned out to be a good and entertaining overview of contemporary physics, if often indeed superficial to the point of incomprehensibility. (the simpsons do mercifully go away after a few chapters, although mulder and scully then make an appearance to try to compensate for what they must take to be leftover seriousness. the rest of the book then boasts what must be two of the most bizarre images ever set down in science writing: «what would happen if you were to drop a frog into a hot metal bowl with a pile of worms lying in the center»; «think of a huge but flexible box filled with many thousands of swarming children, incessantly running and jumping». whether these make a plus or a minus is up for you to decide, no disclosure needed.)