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Reviews
Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs: The Astounding Interconnectedness of the Universe by Lisa Randall
meeeshell's review against another edition
3.0
I thought I would really love this book, but it became difficult to get through. Parts 1 and 2 moved along quickly and were easy to follow along with as a non-physicist (though I did take a few physics and astronomy classes in college). Randall tells a story about the history of the universe and makes it captivating. However in part 3, the story becomes about the research process around different aspects of dark matter. Randall provides explanations of the scientific terminology, but this was mostly lost on me. While I recognize the hard work of the physicists who did this research, this tale is less gripping than the history Randall describes earlier. The final chapter brings together recent research with the history of the universe, and the conclusion is uplifting.
shimmija's review against another edition
5.0
Meenutas natuke “Kõiksuse lühiajalugu”, kus räägiti väga mitmest valdkonnast ([osakeste]füüsika, astronoomi, astrofüüsika, geoloogia, paleontoloogia), ent keskenduti pigem faktidele, mida sai hiljem seostada Randalli käimasoleva teadustööga.
Kiidan taevani autori voolavat kirjutamist, mis ei jätnud kuiva oiviku monoloogi muljet. Raamatut on võimalik lugeda kui uue info ammutamise allikana või saamaks aimu, kuidas on Randall püüdnud seostada tumeaine olemasolu dinosauruste väljasuremisega.
Soovitan kindlasti neile, kellele pakuvad eespool loetletud teemad sügavalt huvi ja/või kes tahavad saada teada, mis peitub intrigeeriva raamatu pealkirja taga.
Kiidan taevani autori voolavat kirjutamist, mis ei jätnud kuiva oiviku monoloogi muljet. Raamatut on võimalik lugeda kui uue info ammutamise allikana või saamaks aimu, kuidas on Randall püüdnud seostada tumeaine olemasolu dinosauruste väljasuremisega.
Soovitan kindlasti neile, kellele pakuvad eespool loetletud teemad sügavalt huvi ja/või kes tahavad saada teada, mis peitub intrigeeriva raamatu pealkirja taga.
boggremlin's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting, in a way that vaguely makes me feel like I'm not smart enough to understand the concepts. The first two-thirds are a solid overview of celestial bodies and physics, with a focus on the solar system, meteors, comets, and planets. Randall's approach is conversational and she's great at breaking down some of the more esoteric history of the galaxy. I don't think I'll retain much of her sections on dark matter and the theory that it influenced meteor impacts, and thus the extinction event that killed the dinosaurs. Just above my head... literally.
davidjordan's review against another edition
4.0
Lisa Randall, who is a skiing enthusiast in addition to being a highly respected particle physicist, tells a story in her new book about a friend who skis only occasionally and describes his attempts to improve as "two steps forward, two steps back." The author graciously says that the effort to learn and her friend's presence on the mountain is progress in itself, regardless of how much skill is (not) gained during the attempt. What an apt metaphor to describe my efforts to understand concepts like cosmology, dark matter, and any other area of specialization that Professor Randall teaches in this impressive book. She does a great job in the opening chapters of laying a scientific foundation that even a dolt like myself can follow, but by the end of the book I could barely grasp the complex concepts of the final chapters. I will just have to take her words to heart, and accept that my effort to understand her theory about how dark matter may have influenced the cataclysmic event that led to the mass extinction of dinosaurs is progress enough. Who knows? Maybe I am just a little bit smarter for having read an amazing book about a fascinating theory written by a brilliant scientist and talented writer.
quietdomino's review against another edition
3.0
Hard to understate the significance of the subject matter but the prose got a bit plodding.
katieeighty's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed the broad scope of the science, from geology to galaxies and everything in between, and how it eventually coalesced into her main thesis. Even without her main idea, it's pretty remarkable how things in the universe fit together, and how different branches of science are so intertwined.
My only real gripe is that the writing sometimes felt a bit rough draft-y and conversational, though maybe that was intentional, and it never really got in the way of my enjoyment of the book.
My only real gripe is that the writing sometimes felt a bit rough draft-y and conversational, though maybe that was intentional, and it never really got in the way of my enjoyment of the book.
katherinera's review against another edition
5.0
a very fun and enlightening read! Dense but never boring (like the dark matter disk ;) )