Einstein's Enigma or Black Holes in my Bubble Bath by C. V. Vishveshwara caught my eye at a library book sale. I originally picked it up for my wife who has some interest in the life of Einstein, then realized it was more about black holes which is up my alley!
Started: 9/4/2014
Completed: 6/15/2015
Recommendation: Strongly Recommended
Recommended By: Nobody
Review:
This is a layman's view of the physics behind a black hole. For most of the book, I was fine, but I can see where most of the book would be quite challenging to laymen. I found the last part of the book quite challenging. The author tried to ease the reader through it by relying more and more heavily on dream sequences that originated in a magic bathtub and was a sub-plot running through the book allowing physicist to "add their own" contributions to the author's understanding directly. The basic plot is that of one professor teaching another about black holes.
I can't imagine a more readable approach to the topic. It is worth noting, however, that this topic is not easily read or understood. The mathematics behind the physics are brutal and the physics is truly impenetrable to the average reader. I've spent more time reading Hawking's most recent paper on black holes then I spent working through this book.
That said, however, this book is approachable for the lay reader. You do not have to be physicist to understand the material. Of course a high school or college background in physics is going to help dramatically, but the information is presented exceedingly well. If you enjoy the history of science you will be doubly pleased with the short history lessons presented. If you are so well-rounded as to be an English scholar as well, then you will simply be over the moon with this book.
I enjoyed it and appreciated how difficult it was to write. It is already dated. I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in black holes.
This is a layman's view of the physics behind a black hole. For most of the book, I was fine, but I can see where most of the book would be quite challenging to laymen. I found the last part of the book quite challenging. The author tried to ease the reader through it by relying more and more heavily on dream sequences that originated in a magic bathtub and was a sub-plot running through the book allowing physicist to "add their own" contributions to the author's understanding directly. The basic plot is that of one professor teaching another about black holes.
I can't imagine a more readable approach to the topic. It is worth noting, however, that this topic is not easily read or understood. The mathematics behind the physics are brutal and the physics is truly impenetrable to the average reader. I've spent more time reading Hawking's most recent paper on black holes then I spent working through this book.
That said, however, this book is approachable for the lay reader. You do not have to be physicist to understand the material. Of course a high school or college background in physics is going to help dramatically, but the information is presented exceedingly well. If you enjoy the history of science you will be doubly pleased with the short history lessons presented. If you are so well-rounded as to be an English scholar as well, then you will simply be over the moon with this book.
I enjoyed it and appreciated how difficult it was to write. It is already dated. I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in black holes.
No comments:
Post a Comment