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smalefowles's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.5
I love how Levin writes about space, and I like space. Unfortunately, this is actually a book about astrophysicists, and I absolutely do not like astrophysicists (I dated one, and he was seriously the worst). The tiny sections about black holes were the gold flakes drifting in a larger tale of dudes doing science, which I found boring. I just need her to write a new book about only the science (like Black Hole Survival Guide, which is perfect).
dherzey's review against another edition
4.0
Subjects regarding relativity, black holes, gravitation - in general, physics and astronomy - have always been an interest of mine. Reading this book (although I expect more on the storytelling) is a thrilling delight, both in the scientific and historical aspects involving the first discovery of gravitational waves. Moreover, the personal conflicts and the many setbacks - political and technical - of all the people involved in such a huge experiment puts color and a rather "wordly" background to the whole scientific endeavor. It was nice to be reminded every now and then, that behind such objective experiments lies scientists - still fallible human beings - collaborating and clashing with each other while the ever peaceful, apathetic universe they are all trying to understand stood over them, bearing witness.
Ultimately, the many decades which leads to the great discovery of gravitational waves is both a story which started billions of years ago, a story whose mysteries are still deeply buried; and another story of a more finite scale, involving humans who are characters forever struggling to understand more of what could possibly be out there. Both stories are worth the tale.
Ultimately, the many decades which leads to the great discovery of gravitational waves is both a story which started billions of years ago, a story whose mysteries are still deeply buried; and another story of a more finite scale, involving humans who are characters forever struggling to understand more of what could possibly be out there. Both stories are worth the tale.
yates9's review against another edition
4.0
The story of the people behind the Gravity wave experiments is brought to life. I liked the vivid depiction of the characters involved and the workings of science. The book was missing some insight and conjecture: more ideas about the phenomenon that I didn't already know.
superpetemo's review against another edition
4.0
At its best in the skilled rendering of the sheer magnitude of both cosmic events and the scientific ingenuity, rigour, and organization necessary to observe them.
At its (admittedly tolerable) worst when waxing rhapsodic about grad student pub nights.
At its (admittedly tolerable) worst when waxing rhapsodic about grad student pub nights.
librarimans's review against another edition
5.0
This book explores the history of gravitational waves and the development of the LIGO program that was developed to detect the sound of black holes colliding in space. I loved absolutely everything about this book, and on an alternate Earth, there is a version of me who can actually do math and is working in a similar field. I cannot recommend this enough to anyone who is interested in space and/or physics.
davidjordan's review against another edition
4.0
The author, a theoretical cosmologist, describes the event that is at the heart of this worthwhile volume with these words: "Somewhere in the universe two black holes collide, an event as powerful as any since the origin of the universe, outputting more than a trillion times the power of a billion Suns. That profusion of energy emanates from the coalescing holes in a purely gravitational form, as waves in the shape of spacetime, as gravitational waves."
Professor Levin's book is the tale of the scientists who theorized and developed a means for detecting these gravitational waves, first predicted by Albert Einstein just over one hundred years ago. It is an intriguing and entertaining account of the creation of one of the largest and most sophisticated (but startlingly theoretically simple) projects in the last half century. Levin's particular gift is communicating for the reader the fascinating personalities and eccentricities of the scientists involved with the creation of the gravitational wave observatories.
A satisfying read on its own, but a good complementary story is "The Particle at the End of the Universe" by Sean Carroll, the story of the creation of the facility which detected the Higgs Boson particle.
Professor Levin's book is the tale of the scientists who theorized and developed a means for detecting these gravitational waves, first predicted by Albert Einstein just over one hundred years ago. It is an intriguing and entertaining account of the creation of one of the largest and most sophisticated (but startlingly theoretically simple) projects in the last half century. Levin's particular gift is communicating for the reader the fascinating personalities and eccentricities of the scientists involved with the creation of the gravitational wave observatories.
A satisfying read on its own, but a good complementary story is "The Particle at the End of the Universe" by Sean Carroll, the story of the creation of the facility which detected the Higgs Boson particle.
obsessivelybookishjojo's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic tribute to the decades-long effort towards LIGO and the succesful detection of gravitational waves! One of humanity’s best and most epic endeavors.
kevenwang's review against another edition
4.0
I probably enjoyed it more with a broader physics background. But good writing
realityczar's review against another edition
3.0
Levin’s book is interesting. I was initially more interested in the science of gravity waves than the personalities behind the LIGO project. It turns out the more-or-less oral history that this book largely comprised of includes some intriguing elements. However, the story is also banal in long stretches, and the use of he-said/he-said counterpoints with unsatisfying resolutions causes the story to drag for stretches.
Levin writes well, even beautifully in places, but sometimes uses flights of rhetoric unsupported by the drama of the story and which, in turn cannot lift the narrative structure on its own. In places, the writing is desperately, almost incomprehensibly, overwrought:
For me, that paragraph is merely something to trip over on the way through the story.
Meanwhile, the science is inexplicably neglected. As far as I can tell, the “songs” of the subtitle are mostly a device for explaining gravity waves (though they can, in fact, be made audible). Unfortunately, that metaphor is only superficially explained, and while I cheer for the success of the efforts documented, I don’t feel like I understand them much better than I did when I picked up the book. I have a better understanding of office politics at Caltech, which is something, but I expected something altogether else from an astrophysicist and professor.
Levin writes well, even beautifully in places, but sometimes uses flights of rhetoric unsupported by the drama of the story and which, in turn cannot lift the narrative structure on its own. In places, the writing is desperately, almost incomprehensibly, overwrought:
Kip aspired to drive a snowplow, but his career redirected at the age of eight when his mother took him to an astronomy lecture. The introduction could not have been so fortuitous. As though too well inscribed with a mathematical ability nurtured under Utah’s firmament, Kip seemed destined for astrophysics. By the time he met his influential mentor, John Archibald Wheeler, no dreams of snowplows complicated his determination.
For me, that paragraph is merely something to trip over on the way through the story.
Meanwhile, the science is inexplicably neglected. As far as I can tell, the “songs” of the subtitle are mostly a device for explaining gravity waves (though they can, in fact, be made audible). Unfortunately, that metaphor is only superficially explained, and while I cheer for the success of the efforts documented, I don’t feel like I understand them much better than I did when I picked up the book. I have a better understanding of office politics at Caltech, which is something, but I expected something altogether else from an astrophysicist and professor.
davecapp's review against another edition
5.0
For science nerds who also love a good story, this one's a keeper.
In September 2015 the LIGO project made the first direct measurement of gravitational waves and observed the first ever binary black hole system. Black Hole Blues is the amazing tale of the 50 year project to validate Einstein’s 1915 predictions on gravity, and the incredible story of the people and personalities behind the effort.
Janna Levin writes with humor, insight, compassion, but with a scientists discerning eye towards separating truth from perception, and avoiding the trap of rewriting history based on those who won. For anyone with a love of science, and history, and the amazing people behind the stories, this book is a must read, and to top it all off, it has an amazing ending.
For those in love with astronomy or astrophysics, it’s on par with Lonely Hearts of the Cosmos (Dennis Overbye – 1992).
In September 2015 the LIGO project made the first direct measurement of gravitational waves and observed the first ever binary black hole system. Black Hole Blues is the amazing tale of the 50 year project to validate Einstein’s 1915 predictions on gravity, and the incredible story of the people and personalities behind the effort.
Janna Levin writes with humor, insight, compassion, but with a scientists discerning eye towards separating truth from perception, and avoiding the trap of rewriting history based on those who won. For anyone with a love of science, and history, and the amazing people behind the stories, this book is a must read, and to top it all off, it has an amazing ending.
For those in love with astronomy or astrophysics, it’s on par with Lonely Hearts of the Cosmos (Dennis Overbye – 1992).