Lightman, Alan

Average customer rating:

An Almost Perfect Book for a Course on Astrophysics
Excellent Discussion
Standard Text in the Field

Radiative Processes in Astrophysics
George B. Rybicki , and Alan P. Lightman
Manufacturer: Wiley-Interscience
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0471827592

Book Description

Radiative Processes in Astrophysics: This clear, straightforward, and fundamental introduction is designed to present-from a physicist's point of view-radiation processes and their applications to astrophysical phenomena and space science. It covers such topics as radiative transfer theory, relativistic covariance and kinematics, bremsstrahlung radiation, synchrotron radiation, Compton scattering, some plasma effects, and radiative transitions in atoms. Discussion begins with first principles, physically motivating and deriving all results rather than merely presenting finished formulae. However, a reasonably good physics background (introductory quantum mechanics, intermediate electromagnetic theory, special relativity, and some statistical mechanics) is required. Much of this prerequisite material is provided by brief reviews, making the book a self-contained reference for workers in the field as well as the ideal text for senior or first-year graduate students of astronomy, astrophysics, and related physics courses. Radiative Processes in Astrophysics also contains about 75 problems, with solutions, illustrating applications of the material and methods for calculating results. This important and integral section emphasizes physical intuition by presenting important results that are used throughout the main text; it is here that most of the practical astrophysical applications become apparent.

Customer Reviews:

An Almost Perfect Book for a Course on Astrophysics.......2001-11-22

One of the peculiarities of Astrophysics is that, as a
subject, is difficult to teach. It requires to go deep into
the physics of the objects under study (which span the whole
Universe) but alto to keep a broad view (the so called "Big
Picture") since most of the objects and their histories
cannot be understood if they are isolated from the others.
One of the problems a teacher faces is, hence, how to strike a
balance between these two disparate goals within the limited
time of one or two academic terms.

Rybicki and Lightman success with this book is to take the
physics of astrophysical problems involving radiation from
the general approaches of the physics books to the particular
conditions of most of the cases that astronomy cares about
without leaving rigorousity along the way. With a little
abuse of language: They bring Physics a step closer to
Astronomy.

On the other hand, the area of actual applications that
astronomers use is almost neglected. For example, the
introductory chapters on Radiative Transfer and Black
Body Radiation could have served to motivate a chapter on
theoretical basis of photometry (theoretical approach to
color indices, extinction by dust or other microscopic
particles). This would have given the student a more
realistic flavor of the tools that astrophysicists use
in their everyday (every night?) work. The Problem Sets,
in addition, are claiming for a few numerical
applications to profit from the, now easily available
to students, computer power.

Every serious astrophysics teacher and student should
use this book... and think hard on how to take the
next step from Rybicki and Lightman to the Absolute
Magnitude versus Color Index diagrams.

Excellent Discussion.......2001-07-13

Thorough, concise, and very readable. Topics are clearly presented, equations are elegantly explained. One of the most useful texts I own.

Standard Text in the Field.......2001-04-17

This is THE standard text in the field of astrophysical radiation processes. Covers most processes of interest for the astrophysicist, at a depth adequate for graduate students. Well written and understandable. A must buy, despite the very high price.

Average customer rating:

Simple, yet entertaining.
Very interesting but..
Lightman's dreams not necessarily Einstein's
a good bedtime book
been there, and yes Einstien was an atheist

Einstein's Dreams
Alan Lightman
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 140007780X
Release Date: 2004-11-09

Amazon.com

If you liked the eerie whimsy of Italo Calvino's Invisible Cities, Steven Millhauser's Little Kingdoms, or Jorge Luis Borges's Labyrinths, you will love Alan Lightman's ethereal yet down-to-earth book Einstein's Dreams. Lightman teaches physics and writing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, helping bridge the light-year-size gap between science and the humanities, the enemy camps C.P. Snow famously called The Two Cultures.

Einstein's Dreams became a bestseller by delighting both scientists and humanists. It is technically a novel. Lightman uses simple, lyrical, and literal details to locate Einstein precisely in a place and time--Berne, Switzerland, spring 1905, when he was a patent clerk privately working on his bizarre, unheard-of theory of relativity. The town he perceives is vividly described, but the waking Einstein is a bit player in this drama.

The book takes flight when Einstein takes to his bed and we share his dreams, 30 little fables about places where time behaves quite differently. In one world, time is circular; in another a man is occasionally plucked from the present and deposited in the past: "He is agonized. For if he makes the slightest alteration in anything, he may destroy the future ... he is forced to witness events without being part of them ... an inert gas, a ghost ... an exile of time." The dreams in which time flows backward are far more sophisticated than the time-tripping scenes in Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five, though science-fiction fans may yearn for a sustained yarn, which Lightman declines to provide. His purpose is simply to study the different kinds of time in Einstein's mind, each with its own lucid consequences. In their tone and quiet logic, Lightman's fables come off like Bach variations played on an exquisite harpsichord. People live for one day or eternity, and they respond intelligibly to each unique set of circumstances. Raindrops hang in the air in a place of frozen time; in another place everyone knows one year in advance exactly when the world will end, and acts accordingly.

"Consider a world in which cause and effect are erratic," writes Lightman. "Scientists turn reckless and mutter like gamblers who cannot stop betting.... In this world, artists are joyous." In another dream, time slows with altitude, causing rich folks to build stilt homes on mountaintops, seeking eternal youth and scorning the swiftly aging poor folk below. Forgetting eventually how they got there and why they subsist on "all but the most gossamer food," the higher-ups at length "become thin like the air, bony, old before their time."

There is no plot in this small volume--it's more like a poetry collection than a novel. Like Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time, it's a mind-stretching meditation by a scientist who's been to the far edge of physics and is back with wilder tales than Marco Polo's. And unlike many admirers of Hawking, readers of Einstein's Dreams have a high probability of actually finishing it.

Book Description

A modern classic, Einstein’s Dreams is a fictional collage of stories dreamed by Albert Einstein in 1905, when he worked in a patent office in Switzerland. As the defiant but sensitive young genius is creating his theory of relativity, a new conception of time, he imagines many possible worlds. In one, time is circular, so that people are fated to repeat triumphs and failures over and over. In another, there is a place where time stands still, visited by lovers and parents clinging to their children. In another, time is a nightingale, sometimes trapped by a bell jar.

Now translated into thirty languages, Einstein’s Dreams has inspired playwrights, dancers, musicians, and painters all over the world. In poetic vignettes, it explores the connections between science and art, the process of creativity, and ultimately the fragility of human existence.

Customer Reviews:

Simple, yet entertaining........2007-05-20

First if all, these stories are NOT written by Einstein himself. They are a series of (very) short stories written as if by the great scientist himself, based on his actual writings and memoirs. They are actually written by the author, Alan Lightman.

Some of the stories are very though-provoking and fun, while others are extremely boring. Although, luckily, the slow ones are over with quickly, because none of the stories is longer than a few pages (roughly).

I got through this entire book in about 30 minutes. I would suggest it for a coffee table or bathroom... or, if you're a writer and want to be led in new directions, his book, while simple, is definitely unique!

Very interesting but.........2007-05-11

This brief novel should have a true 5 stars rating if you look only at its content.
The series of dreams Lightman imagine could have haunted Einstein's night during the last rush toward the formulation of Special Relativity are very interesting and suggestive: a true, extensive review of worlds ruled out by different conceptions of time.

I must say that here and there I have been quite bored by Lightman's style. A most recurrent stylistic module throughout the book is to line up many very synthetic icons (e.g.: "A boy is playing with his ball. A woman stands by the balcony looking at the sky. An old man is walking down the street", and so on). I know it is a peculiar feature of the American narrative style, which has been mimicked by some (so-called "neorealists") Italian writers, nevertheless I found it a bit annoying.

Well, I am Italian, so my mother tongue is one of Latin's children and inherited Latin's complex morphology and syntax: so we are used to long, complex phrases which allows a good writer to achieve a fluent style.
On the other hand, an eloquent writer like Henry Rider Haggard sometimes produces long, complex phrases, which are quite difficult to understand: phrases at the edge of English language's expressive possibilities. So I like best a "medium" style, when I read in English, an "aurea mediocritas" without any extremisms.

But Lightman is really a good, refined writer. I must say that Lightman's style has often a great lightness (nomina sunt consequentia rerum), the terseness of a crystal. And sometimes, unexpectedly, with one sudden wing beat, Lightman's writing reaches the highest poetry. These are the magical moments of the novel, often at the end of the chapters - or I should say at the end of the dreams.

I would like to add a last note, a historical flaw I found (see page 77). Lightman says that Einstein has something like "a vision of galaxies". In 1905 almost no scientists (much less astronomers) knew of galaxies: they talked of "nebulae" and the most renowned theory for those objects was that of the protostars. In 1755 Kant expressed his own belief and reasoning on this subject, talking of "island universes" similar to the Milky Way, but his opinion was not so influential.
The Great Debate between Harlow Shapley (protostar theory) and Heber Curtis (island universes) dates to 1920; only in 1923 Hubble proved that the strange nebulae were true galaxies.

Lightman's dreams not necessarily Einstein's.......2007-03-17

Imaginative but also silly and annoying at times.

The title is designed to cash in on the famous Einstein name.

The best parts were when Einstein was ''directly'' alluded to.

a good bedtime book.......2007-03-09

Don't be afraid to buy this book if you're not into science or science fiction, it is more metaphors for time that get you to think deeply about your life. I bought this for my girlfriend who i thought might be specticle, and she loves reading the short stories for something to think about at night. excellent gift, and it would even be good to read to children

been there, and yes Einstien was an atheist.......2007-02-22

This book was recommended by someone who was rather passionate about it, or else I wouldn't have bothered with it. This book didn't present any challenging ideas. Lightman's inquiries are the same ones that we as children and our children have marveled about time. And I am sure when they get into middle ages like we do, they will also have the same wonderment and longings that we have as grown ups about the "what if's" and the "why did that or this happened?" When your five year old son ask "Can we go and visit George Washington?" because he just read a simple little book that fascinated him about the man. You try and try to explain that George is no longer alive, then the inivitable barage of questions regarding human immortality come rushing out of this curious little boy. As hard as you try, nothing is resolve so you leave the discussion there, then a few weeks later, your spouse calls you at work wanting any suggestions on how to calm a hysterical little boy because in the middle of playing with his legos he finally understands that people die, George died, Abraham died and yes everyone will die eventually, grandma, grandpa and yes even him. So you do your best to explain what the circle of life is all about. You then look upon your own life and how you have lived it so far. Are you happy? Did you make the right decisions? Did you chose the right mate? Did you always chose the right path? What if you didn't marry? These are common questions and experiences that we all share. The main merit of the book is Lightman's beautiful writing. I wouldn't call each chapter a vignette, infact he didn't need to divide this little brown black book into chapters, he could have just written it continously until he ran out of ideas. He didn't even have to have the gimmicky title"Einstien's Dreams" He could have just called it "Lightman's Dreams" I do have a bone to pick with the a reference to Einstien religous convictions in 3 May 1905 "I want to understand time because I want to get close to the Old One." Einstien was a well known athiest. His only God was the amazing beauty he saw in Science. He stated in a letter to a friend "If something is in me which can be called religious, then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as science can reveal it." ( an excerpt from Who's Who in Hell, compiled by Allen Smith), So in conclusion, I am not trashing this book, I think its a nice read, it is well written and it presents some really neat, cute ideas about time and our perception of it.

The Discoveries: Great Breakthroughs in 20th-Century Science, Including the Original Papers

Average customer rating:

a good format to introduce scientifi papers
Gazing into the mind of great scientists...
Ignore the "IGNORE" - read the book and enjoy
Not as interesting as I thought it would be
One of the best reads in years

The Discoveries: Great Breakthroughs in 20th-Century Science, Including the Original Papers
Alan Lightman
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 037571345X
Release Date: 2006-11-14

Book Description

In this captivating and lucid book, novelist and science writer Alan Lightman chronicles twenty-four great discoveries of twentieth-century science--everything from the theory of relativity to mapping the structure of DNA.

These discoveries radically changed our notions of the world and our place in it. Here are Einstein, Fleming, Bohr, McClintock, Paul ing, Watson and Crick, Heisenberg and many others. With remarkable insight, Lightman charts the intellectual and emotional landscape of the time, portrays the human drama of discovery, and explains the significance and impact of the work. Finally he includes a fascinating and unique guided tour through the original papers in which the discoveries were revealed. Here is science writing at its best–beautiful, lyrical and completely accessible. It brings the process of discovery to life before our very eyes.

Customer Reviews:

a good format to introduce scientifi papers.......2007-05-14

I thought that this was a good format to introduce some complex papers by introducing each one in layman's terms first. The author explained why he chose these papers over others and I think he did a pretty good job with this book.

Gazing into the mind of great scientists..........2007-02-06

This is indeed an interesting book and I enjoyed reading it. Like any other top list, this one as well can be criticized for inclusion of one scientific breakthrough and exclusion of another. However, this book should be praised for asking us, or even inspiring us, to think about the real people behind some of the most important scientific discoveries of all time, and to read their own words, their doubts or even speculations. Personally, as a cancer biologist, I rarely read scientific papers written before 1980. This book does an excellent job in reminding us that final results are not always the only thing that matters. It also does an excellent job in helping us understand that, using the author's words, "the first reports of great discoveries of science are works of art. Like poetry, these papers have their internal rhythms, their images, their beautiful crystallizations, their sometimes fleeting truths." They allow us to "...gaze into the mind of a great scientist in a way that no summaries or commentaries can ever provide."

Ignore the "IGNORE" - read the book and enjoy.......2006-09-29

If you want an introduction to the major scientific discoveries of this century, this is a good place to start. Of course there are going to be those (as mentioned in other reviews) who dispute some of the claims of the discoverers featured here. That in itself is nothing new since science is nothing if not self-correcting and redefining.

The format is simple - an introduction that includes a short biography and an attempt to set the discovery in its cultural context. Following that is a description of the discovery and the thought process behind its discovery. Accompanying each article is the relevant paper by the actual scientist. One of the best aspects of the book was the explanation of that paper - whethter the approach was theoretical or experimental, how deeply past references were cited, etc. This is a good, solid read - nothing spectacular but a good overview.

Not as interesting as I thought it would be.......2006-08-23

The chapter intros, where we got to "meet" the important scientists, were always interesting, but the papers were boring, as I predicted they would be. I got it from the library so no big loss to me other than time.

This book was a wonderful concept that just doesn't fly.

One of the best reads in years.......2006-03-15

This book should allow the non scientist to actually understand how science works. "The Discoveries" has well written description of some of the major accopmlishments of 20th century science along with decsriptions of the scientists involved. After each description is a reprinting of some or all of the scientific papers to allow the reader to understand the thought process. I suggest the reader skip the first paper on Heisenberg (this paper is the most difficult to understand).

Average customer rating:

A philosopher's view
At last a fundamental introduction for the layman
Great Ideas in a Digestible Format
Quantum Electrodynamics for the Rest of Us
Decent philosophy, mediocre physics

Great Ideas in Physics
Alan P Lightman
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0071357386

Book Description

What does it mean to say that time and space are relative? How can an electron be in two places at once? For anyone who wants a basic understanding of the physical processes that define the universe, Lightman provides the perfect introduction in Great Ideas in Physics. In addition to explaining physics, he brings in relevant passages from philosophy and literature to demonstrate how these great ideas have impacted the world of thought.

Customer Reviews:

A philosopher's view.......2007-01-21

This book both impressed and disappointed me. One of the disappointments is the way Lightman advances the notion that some physical theories can be logically deduced, a priori, without performing experiments, and without experiencing the real world. I thought we'd conquered that siren's song centuries ago, but it lives on in Lightman's book.

For example, Alan argues that "Thermodynamics is essentially nothing more than the theory of probability, and that the second law might have been logically deduced on the basis of pure mathematics, with no experience of the world. He repeats his faith in a priori reasoning on pages 27-28 where he claims to provide a derivation of the "law" of conservation of gravitational and kinetic energy "using only logic and algebra." In another example, he argues that, with only a pencil and paper, Maxwell discovered the theoretical possibility of traveling waves of electromagnetic energy. And he promotes the myth that Einstein's theory of relativity is an example of "deductive science, [in which] the scientist begins by postulating certain truths of nature, with only secondary guidance from outside experiments, and deduces the consequences of the postulates.

In so forcefully advancing a central role for a priori reasoning, Lightman fools himself and does a disservice to the student. For example, in deriving the "law" of conservation of gravitational and kinetic energy, his proof makes use of the fact that things fall down. But that's an observation. Without that observation, Alan wouldn't know if things fell down, upwards, sideways, some arbitrary direction, or just *sat there*. His a priori proof also uses the fact that things fall with a constant acceleration. But for hundreds of generations before Galileo, people thought otherwise until corrected by observation. Further, Alan's proof assumes that all masses fall with the same acceleration, regardless of composition, which is yet another bit of information based on observation.

To me, it's incredible that I could pick up a book written in the 21st century, ostensibly on physics, and read a philosopher who argues there are physical theories "deduced" "using only logic and algebra. The problem seems to be that, once the deductive arguments are two or more steps removed from the experimental results, Alan has a tendency to forget the observations all together and then make unwarranted claims about the power of a priori reasoning and deductive logic based on "postulates." The whole idea of a priori reasoning in the total absence of experimental observations should have been, at the very least, discarded when Darwin taught us that our brains are a product of evolution, and thus designed by natural selection to analyze the real world.

The level of difficulty is aimed at high school students or freshman college students who are just being exposed to ideas in science and physics. But I don't recommend this book for beginning students because of the aforementioned philosophical problems. There are also too many technical problems.

For example, Lightman uses two colliding balls to illustrate the conservation of kinetic energy, but his explanation fails to mention (at all) that kinetic energy is conserved only for elastic collisions. He could and should have used conservation of *momentum,* which is always conserved, but he fails to mention that conservation law at all. So, although his explanation is correct as far as it goes, it is inexcusably misleading and incomplete.

I genuinely enjoyed some of Alan's derivations, as they provided peripheral views on scientific concepts that are illuminating. But some derivations are sloppy, and likely to mislead beginning students, especially when Alan takes tenable conclusion and then makes sweeping conclusions, culminating with the declaration of "law." This wouldn't be a problem if he explained along the way that the reasoning is non-rigorous, and that the conclusions are only tenable, and subject to further experimental testing and validation. But he does just the opposite by giving the reader a false sense that the reasoning is far more rigorous than it really is.

I enjoyed the author's explanation of thermodynamics. The examples, starting out with small numbers of ideal molecules, nicely illustrate key principles. And, I like the way he expands these principles. This is one of the best sections in the book. I enjoyed his development of the first and second laws of thermodynamics, with the singular complaint that he provides so much time to bad philosophers who use thermodynamics to misrepresent evolution. He doesn't just let the philosophers and religious fanatics misrepresent evolution, either. He does it himself. For example, on page 110 Alan summarizes a philosopher's argument with the comment:

"Here Adams describes the conflict between Evolutionists, who think human society is forever progressing upward, and the Degradationists, who believe in the second law of thermodynamics."

The idea that evolution says "human society is forever progressing upward" is a flagrant misrepresentation of evolution. This sort false dichotomy misrepresents both evolution and thermodynamics, and is roughly in line with bogus arguments from religionists like Henry Morris, to whom Alan allots over a page of explanation under the bold-typed headline "The Second Law Used to Refute the Theory of Evolution." True, he does offer a paragraph explaining that the earth is a closed system, but to offer so much time to Morris, without a word from great scientists and philosophers like Dawkins, is just unforgivable. Without exception, every reference to evolution was either negative or neutral, which is an unforgivable slight on the greatest theory of the 19th century.

The conservation of energy, the theory of thermodynamics, the theory of relativity, and quantum mechanics are, truly, all great ideas in physics; hats off to Alan Lightman for writing a book about them. But it's a real shame the book had to be cluttered by the other stuff.

At last a fundamental introduction for the layman.......2006-01-24

I am starting to self-study physics and mathematics as part of a broader interest in astronomy and cosmology.
I am delighted by this book which focuses on 4 fundamental topics and explains them clearly with only algebra.
This is a great intro, very pedagogical, and I don't feel cheated on the science, compared to other popularizations.
I just wish there would be the solutions to ALL the exercises, and hope A.Lightman does a sequel.

Great Ideas in a Digestible Format.......2004-11-05

Alan Lightman, Senior Lecturer in Physics at MIT and author of the recent best-seller _Einstein's Dreams_, serves up four fundamental concepts that form the foundation of modern physics in an easy-to-read, comfortable manner. Not being a physics buff, I was pleasantly surprised at the ease with which Lightman commands and communicates his subject. After developing a beginner's understanding of the conservation of energy, the second law of thermodynamics, the theory of relativity, and quantum mechanics, it is fascinating to watch each of these ideas find traction in the world around you. For those who might view physics as an esoteric field that bears no real relevance to the lives of ordinary people, Lightman encourages them to look at the impact of these ideas, not only the science of the modern world, but on the social, spiritual, and intellectual aspects of the modern era as well. By weaving passages from writers, philosophers, theologians, and social theorists, Lightman explores the wide-ranging impact that physics has had on every academic field imaginable.

While some may find the text to be pedestrian and lack the hard math of more ambitious texts, this book is not geared towards experts and should not be considered anything more than a fun read for the informed. If you're ready to begin exploring the world of physics, this is a nice place to start. Just be prepared to view the world differently after you're done.

Quantum Electrodynamics for the Rest of Us.......2001-10-23

Whether the physics in this book is perfect or not, one thing is certain: the physics is readable. This is not a book for the aspiring physicist, I made that mistake. This is a book for a person curious about some of the major developments in the subject but NOT interested in the minutia and the math behind the theory. Physics is not just for nerds with overpowered calculators, anybody can be fascinated by this stuff.

Decent philosophy, mediocre physics.......1998-10-30

This is a decent book when it comes to discussing the philosophical implications of physics, but its discussions of the concrete physics are lacking. There are many typos and ambiguous problems, and in some cases important concepts are actually explained incorrectly. Only buy this book if you are already conversant with the physics it discusses (thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, and relativity) and want to read about the history and philosophy of them.

Flatland: A Romance in Many Dimensions (Penguin Classics)

Average customer rating:

A book of its time.
Everything A OK!
Sends the imagination soaring
A classic
Flatland as Analogy

Flatland: A Romance in Many Dimensions (Penguin Classics)
Edwin A. Abbott , and Alan Lightman
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 014043531X

Amazon.com

Unless you're a mathematician, the chances of you reading any novels about geometry are probably slender. But if you read only two in your life, these are the ones. Taken together, they form a couple of accessible and charming explanations of geometry and physics for the curious non-mathematician. Flatland, which is also available under separate cover, was published in 1880 and imagines a two-dimensional world inhabited by sentient geometric shapes who think their planar world is all there is. But one Flatlander, a Square, discovers the existence of a third dimension and the limits of his world's assumptions about reality and comes to understand the confusing problem of higher dimensions. The book is also quite a funny satire on society and class distinctions of Victorian England. The further mathematical fantasy, Sphereland, published 60 years later, revisits the world of Flatland in time to explore the mind-bending theories created by Albert Einstein, whose work so completely altered the scientific understanding of space, time, and matter. Among Einstein's many challenges to common sense were the ideas of curved space, an expanding universe and the fact that light does not travel in a straight line. Without use of the mathematical formulae that bar most non-scientists from an understanding of Einstein's theories, Sphereland gives lay readers ways to start comprehending these confusing but fundamental questions of our reality.

Book Description

An odd, amusing and still provocative fantasy. The narrator is a Square who lives in a world of two dimensions, and whose vision of a third gets him into grave trouble with the authorities.

Download Description

Flatland is about a two-dimensional world in which geometric shpates are the main charaters. The Square is the narrator of the book and he tells of his world and his fantastic contact with the three dimensional world. Mildly amusing and though provoking, a wonderful read for everyone! This book is easy to read in true text, not scanned images that can sometimes be difficult to decipher. This eBook has bookmarks at chapter headings and is printable.

Customer Reviews:

A book of its time........2007-06-20

This book was written in an attempt to prepare the minds of the Victorians to the concept of a fourth dimension, as a side story it is a commentary on the sexist and stratified society in which the clergyman, mathematician and head master Mr. Abbott found himself in. Abbott draws our attention to the lowly status of the "irregulars", triangles and in particular female "lines" not because he agrees with their plight but to highlight the inequity and absurdity that the majority can be lorded over by the minority. But I digress. The main story is about enlightening a people accustomed to 2 or 3 dimensions to the prospect of 3 or 4 dimensions respectively. I only gave it three stars as I dislike the first half of the book in that it doesn't have a coherent story - rather a series of chapters each on a different area of 2D society. A story is developed in the second half of the book and this is where it really picked up for me. While I would have liked to know how lines "give birth" to polygons I understand that this is a minor technicality and the concept is still sound without that detail being included.

A note to teachers: Don't set this as required reading, your students won't like it, they already know all about the 3D world and the 4D concept isn't alien to them like it was to the Victorian society it was written for. Instead read them Planiverse by A.K. Dewdney it will blow their minds.

Everything A OK!.......2007-05-16

This book has to be read by every mathematician and why not everyone! It can help you get a better view of higher dimension, in a very strict mathematical way, without having difficult terms. It is also a deep book with implications even to relegion and the way we see the world! Plus the whole story is very funny! As for the transaction it was excellent. The book came to me within the appropriate dates.

Great book great exchange!

Sends the imagination soaring.......2007-05-07

I have just finished reading this little book for probably the third time. As I tend to read in bed at night just before turning out the light to go to sleep, I would lie in bed after putting the book down trying to imagine the fourth dimension. The spiritual implications throughout the book are undeniable. Once one has been touched by a higher dimension, life will never be the same. However, trying to communicate to others what one has experienced proves near impossible, as our square friend in Flatland so aptly relates.

A classic.......2007-05-05

I have read this book at least a dozen times. It's a must read for anyone, a satire of many dimensions. While the aspects of dimensionality apply to the math geeks, the pun on straight-laced Victorian society actually mirrors many of the things we face in our society today, but with a different twist. This is a great way for a lay person to understand the concept of dimensionality. If you like this book, I also highly recommend reading Rudy Rucker's Spaceland and Ian Stewart's Flatterland. Both are great sequels to this original classic and absolutely hilarious!

Flatland as Analogy.......2007-02-20

I read Flatland (which, I believe, in the US was published without post colon, as it was in the UK) when I was a teenager in the 1970s studying geometry and many other things (girls, art, girls, movies, girls...) without understanding much of any of it. The book fascinated me, and I went on (probably not because of it, but certainly in appreciation of it) to study Mathematics at University. I even sometimes bring it up in my consulting engagements as a way to explain how different types think of their world and learn. While there are different dimensions represented in the book, there are different learning styles, different socioeconomic exposures, different interests, different *people* we all have to deal with. I'd recommend Flatland to anyone who wants to take a different slant on why we are all different.

Average customer rating:

It wouldn't leave me alone
Intriguing but unclear
Diagnosis:The Existence of a Disease or Condition
Why read The Diagnosis?
ugh

The Diagnosis: A Novel
Alan Lightman
Manufacturer: Pantheon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Dance for Two: Essays
A Sense of the Mysterious: Science and the Human Spirit
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Reunion
Great Ideas in Physics

ASIN: 0679436154

Amazon.com

In the bravura opening chapter of Alan Lightman's novel The Diagnosis, a nameless horror befalls Boston businessman Bill Chalmers in the hubbub of his morning commute. As he jostles his way aboard the train and makes cell-phone calls to check last-minute details on his morning meeting (for Bill is punctilious), a realization surfaces in his brain, "like a trapped bubble of air rising from the bottom of a deep pond." He has forgotten where he's going. All he can remember is his anxious urgency and his company's creed, "The maximum information in the minimum time." Acutely aware that he's got a 9:15 appointment, but recalling only the first six digits of his phone number, Bill helplessly gazes out the window. "Trees flew by like flailing arms.... Railroad tracks fluttered by like matchsticks. Trees, white and gray clapboard houses with paint peeling off, junkyards with stacks of flaccid tires." Lightman's Kafka pastiche is as pitch perfect as his verbal music: note the rhyming x sounds in stacks and flaccid (which is not pronounced "flassid").

Terrifyingly soon, Bill is mad, homeless, beaten, and experimented on by comically evil doctors. He recovers and reunites with his family, but inexorably, mysterious paralysis ensues. Doctors try to diagnose him. Coworkers offer empty condolences and plot to steal his fast-track job. His wife seeks consolation with a passionate virtual lover on the Internet, a professor she's never met in the flesh. His teenage son triumphantly hacks into AOL's Plato Online, and Bill's last days are counterpointed with the trial of Socrates and his troubled, rich inquisitor Anytus. Instead of the real story, we get a second shimmering Lightman fable. Anytus's strife with his rebel son, a Socrates supporter, parallels Bill's grief as his son is distanced from him by illness.

Though I felt glimmerings of understanding from time to time, I never did fully figure out exactly what the Socrates story and Bill's decline have to say about each other, nor what Bill's paralysis says about modern times. I implore a smarter reader to explain it to me in the customer comments below. But I can tell you that every character is resonant, and every sensory particular is exquisitely precise, as in Lightman's biggest hit, the Italo Calvino pastiche Einstein's Dreams. --Tim Appelo

Book Description

Alan Lightman's first novel, Einstein's Dreams, was greeted with international praise. Salman Rushdie called it "at once intellectually provocative and touching and comic and so very beautifully written." Michiko Kakutani wrote in The New York Times that the novel creates "a magical, metaphysical realm . . . as in Calvino's work, the fantastical elements of the stories are grounded in precise, crystalline prose." With The Diagnosis, Lightman gives us his most ambitious and penetrating novel yet.

While rushing to his office one warm summer morning, Bill Chalmers, a junior executive, realizes that he cannot remember where he is going or even who he is. All he remembers is the motto of his company: The maximum information in the minimum time.

When Bill's memory returns, "his head pounding, remembering too much," a strange numbness afflicts him, beginning as a tingling in his hands and gradually spreading over the rest of his body. As he attempts to find a diagnosis of his illness, he descends into a nightmare, enduring a blizzard of medical tests and specialists without conclusive results, the manic frenzy of his company, and a desperate wife who decides that he must be imagining his deteriorating condition.

By turns satiric, comic, and tragic, The Diagnosis is a brilliant and disturbing examination of our modern obsession with speed, information, and money, and what this obsession has done to our minds and our spirits.

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The author of "Einstein's Dreams" offers the story of Bill Chalmers, an ordinary man who loses his memory and can only recall his company's motto. Worse still, when his memory returns, he descends into a Kafkaesque nightmare in which the more he discovers, the more he realizes what he has already lost.

Customer Reviews:

It wouldn't leave me alone.......2007-03-22

I will admit a few things up front. First, I have enjoyed all of Mr. Lightman's fiction. I think he is a master at writing lyrical prose. Secondly, I was prepared to love this book - I was waiting to savor every page. Thirdly, when I did read it the first time, I was disappointed. But, the book wouldn't leave me alone.

Months after reading it, and not truly enjoying it, I found it would slowly surface in my mind, when I was reading, or listening to music, or riding on a train. Characters, and phrases would slip into my mind without any perceivable reason. I decided to read it again. This book needs, and deserves, to be read more than once.

It is funny, and frightening. It is insightful, and sarcastic. I think that there are good reasons I did not enjoy it the first time through - primary among those being that I was too much like Bill Chalmers. I was clueless, and scared, and wanted someone to connect the dots for me.

I could give you some reasons and answers for this book. I could tell you why I think the various stories and characters relate to each other, and what they tell us about ourselves. But I don't want to - it would be cheating.

Bottom line, this book is pretty cheap... But it. Read it now, then put it back on your shelf, and try not to think about it. When it comes back to get you in your thoughts, read it again. I am glad this book wouldn't leave me alone.

Intriguing but unclear.......2007-01-09

This is no trifle of a beach read -- it is a book with accessible language and a fairly enjoyable plot. However, though it has been well reviewed by critics, it has also confounded them. The book is about a man who has his nose to the grindstone at work. He faces pressures both from competitive workmates and the fast pace of technology including cell phones, e-mails, texts, etc. While on his way to work on the subway one morning, he forgets who he is and where he is going. After a surrealistic journey of sorts, he regains his memory only to lose his neurological faculties. The medical system is no help either. Rather than give a diagnosis or offer any real help, the doctors follow their own agendas. They show very little regard for his true needs; they make him jump through the hoops of the medical system offering no human connection or plausible help. He becomes paralyzed and eventually finds his only connection with the outside world is tracing the shadow a leaf throws on the floor. His friends and family are unsupportive, with the exception of his son. His son is a computer geek, a champion of his father's quest for a diagnosis, and a child ignored by both his parents.

The reader is also shown the e-mails from an online philosophy course on Sokrates (sic) that his son takes. In this story, Sokrates is betrayed a jealous man who fears Sokrates is blaspheming the democratic ideas of the state by stirring up questioning of accepted principles. This man helps prosecute Sokrates leading to his death sentence. While Sokrates swallows his poison with grace, the betrayor's son tells his father that Sokrates has been drawing all over his prison cell, telling the story of the human soul. This man's son is disgusted by his father's disregard for the great philosopher -- and one gets the idea the man betrays Sokrates in great part out of jealousy (since his son has much more admiration for Sokrates than his own father).

The big question that has been stumping most people is why the Sokrates story line fills up so much of the book. My best guess is that Lightman may be trying to draw a connection about man's lust for power and his love/hate relationship with progress. How can we move forward if it means we might be left behind? Will the process of keeping up destroy us in the end? In the main story line, our protagonist is a weak man who allows himself to be crushed by the fast pace world around him, preferring to miserably try to move up the office food chain than to find peace. In the end, he allows himself to weaken to the point of being paralyzed, blind, and near death. In Sokrates' case, though he is not weak himself, others around him are threatened by his potential power over the masses and make sure he is crushed. The father /son relationships in both story lines are complex. However, the juxtaposition may be Lightman's offering of hope for the futility otherwise demonstrated in this book. The way to address the pains of progress experienced by us or those around us, we would best be served in nurturing our relationship with our parents. Social progression will not come easily and we will easily be crushed unless we understand the handing of the torch from one generation to the next. If either father truly listened to or understood his son in these stories that make up the book, a great philosopher would have lived a lengthier life, and our protagonist may have been able to find enough light in human connection to understand how to maneuver around the suffocating information highway.

There are some interesting allusions to Plato's Myth of the Cave. Both our undiagnosed protagonist and Sokrates are imprisoned, either by a neurologically void body or in a prison cell. They draw shadows of a leaf and shadows of the human soul. Our protagnoist holds on to his last true connection with the outside world -- nature. Sokrates expresses his connection to humanity by telling the story of its soul. I'm not sure if I can flesh out the whole Platonic Idea connection. Unfortunately, I'm not sure I want to work this hard.

I would recommend this book to those interested in philosophy and those who are interested in books with big themes such as power and the human soul. It is not recommended for those who like clean, resolved endings.

I found this book intriguing; it is probably an important book. It flows well and is fairly entertaining. Read it if you like a true mystery. I am mostly left scratching my head. It sort of reminds me of Cloud Atlas in that way.

Diagnosis:The Existence of a Disease or Condition.......2005-04-03

Dedicated in memory of Bob Z, an Amazon reviewer.

Bill Chalmers, a junior executive with a large firm in downtown Boston, jumps on the "T" at Alewife Station on his way to... Well, there you are, here he is on the MTA and can't remember where he is going and all he has memory of is the first 3 numbers of a telephone. Help......

Bill finds himself going through extreme testing at the hands of physicians who will tell him a little bit of this and a little bit of that. What they are trying to find out is "The Diagnosis", "the determination of the existence of a disease or condition. Diagnosis generally involves the evaluation of a patient's medical history, clinical symptoms and laboratory test results." Well, ok, the emergence of high technology and the multitude of tests that accompany any diagnosis. First, there was numbness and then the numbness turned suddenly to complete paralysis. What has happened? "I am not completely sure, what is going on here." says one of the dcotors, "we need more tests". Test after Test reveals, well, a little bit but not enough to put any REAL diagnosis together. But, there are always more tests, and the granddaddy of them all the PET Scan. Whoopee!

And what about Bill's life during all of these tests? What happens to his job? Well, it appears pretty obvious that Bill will never be able to return so there is a fast competition to see who will secure Bill's job! And, the wife, why she is involved in an internet romance with a professor she has never met. But it keeps her occupied and she needs a diversion. After all taking care of Bill is a lot of work. And, Alex, the son? Ales is busy emailing the various doctors involved in the case to try and figure out just what is going on with his dad. Friends, family, pop in from time to time and it becomes pretty obvious that Bill isn't going to be able to remain at home- why he is paralyzed and that kind of condition tends to wear you down and the family needs to move on. Another type of hospital would be recommended for Bill- the family would visit as would all the friends, and as soon as the doctors are finished all the tests and can come up with a diagnosis well, then everyone can move on.

In the midst of this novel, Bill's son, Alex, starts reading to him galleys of a book about Sokrates and Anytus. Father and son. And how does this Greek story interplay with the Alex and Bill real life mystery? Aha, the brilliance of the writer Alan Lightman and his sometimes comic and tragic sequences of life will introduce a semblance of an answer.
This novel was at once disturbing and fascinating. The emergence of high tech in medicine and the Diagnosis of a man and his disease. What hath we wrought?
Highly recommended. prisrob

Why read The Diagnosis?.......2005-01-09

You all know what The Diagnosis is about, so I'll keep myself from summarizing and cut right to the point: The Diagnosis, while (in my mind) certainly entertaining and involving enough to prompt the reader to finish, does not find its footing in being a good page-turner or thriller-style novel.

The reason it is important, then, is its overall message, which I believe most of us are aware of already. However, Lightman's writing style so uniquely conveys the sense of chaos and meaninglessness, the "spiritual poverty", that confronts our society that I would recommend it to anyone who considers themselves humanistic or "spiritual", as well as aspiring professionals. This book forces you to consider where you stand in your own life and re-think your priorities. As a student halfway through college, it only helped to harden my resolve to do everything in my power not to end up the "Bill Chalmers" type, idly pursuing the so-called American Dream, and to search for more than mere money and material comfort in my life.

I've noted on some of the other reviews posted here that a lot of my fellow readers didn't understand the point of the Socrates/Anytus interludes. While I agree that the life of Bill Chalmers somewhat paralleled the life of Anytus in terms of his relationship with his son, I think it is also crucial to realize the significance of the fact that Anytus was the person primarily responsible for the death of Socrates. Socrates, for those who don't know, was the "gadfly" of his city, and had the ability to prove to people that they had no real rational basis for their beliefs and values. He made people reconsider their priorities and examine themselves on a much deeper level, a talent which eventually made him a threat to his society. He had a real passion for people, it seems, which overrode all desires for fame, fortune, etc., and he did not fear death.

So then, what is the point of these interludes? I believe that the execution of Socrates by Anytus' efforts mirrors that of Bill Chalmers' true "self" by his daily life in a society with little regard for people as human beings. I think this is what Lightman was really getting at...perhaps he should have devoted more time to Socrates and his teachings instead of simply focusing on his death. I am reminded of Mel Gibson's treatment of Jesus in The Passion.

ugh.......2004-08-26

I listened to this book ( 10 Cds!) waiting for something to happen.... waiting, waiting, ( does this sound like the book) and was just totally disappointed in the book. It went no where after a very exciting beginning and left me totally cold. If you are thinking of reading it, don't.

The Best American Science Writing 2005 (Best American Science Writing)

Average customer rating:

Boondoggles, biosciences and . . . a blather
Stimulating addition to an outstanding series
My Personal opinion of "The Best American Science Writing 2005"
A Source of Pleasure
Another Captivating Collection of Great Science Writing

The Best American Science Writing 2005 (Best American Science Writing)
Alan Lightman , and Jesse Cohen
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060726423
Release Date: 2005-09-06

Book Description

Together these twenty-seven articles on a wide range of today's most current topics in science, from Oliver Sacks, James Gleick, Atul Gawande, and Natalie Angier, among others, represent the full spectrum of scientific writing, proving once again that "good science writing is evidently plentiful" (Scientific American).

Customer Reviews:

Boondoggles, biosciences and . . . a blather.......2006-07-10

Today's science writing is growing more interesting and timely in its presentation. These annual collections are nearly always a delight to own. Each essay presents an issue demanding reflection and sometimes action on the reader's part. Lightman introduces this series with a brief overview of the progression of science writing over the years. He cites such classics as "The Silent Spring" and "The Double Helix" as examples. Stephen Gould's and David Quammen's columns paved the way for a wider audience for science writing, he notes. Enough production of this sort has led the way to a variety of styles, formats and topics. He presents just such a spectrum in this collection. With more than two dozen articles offered by an excellent array of authors, Lightman aptly demonstrates how far science writing has come.

With such a span, the reviewer has the choice of summarising them all [see "Synaptic mogul's fine synopsis, below], or selecting a few favoured examples. Given the range of topics and high quality of the writers, that's no easy chore. Choosing Oliver Sacks to begin the series was a wise choice. Sacks, always an expressive narrator, returns with an account of the "creation" of "new" elements. Another "regular" in this series, Natalie Angier, portrays the work of Jacquiline Barton. A woman of remarkable abilities and dedication to further research in the properties of DNA, Barton may well be making substantial changes in our understanding of "the molecule of life". Another biology specialist, Jennifer Ackerman, offers us a story of the quest to save one endangered species, the North American whooping crane. The method of preserving these magnificent birds may seem bizarre, but past efforts have fallen short of expectations. Ackerman's subject, crane biologist Richard Urbanek, leads a programme in which young cranes never encounter humans. This technique, he avers, will make transforming the chicks into their regular environment more natural, enhancing their chances for survival.

Although atomic physics, cosmology and recovering animals into their natural environments are always enticing reading, most of us remain concerned about human affairs. In dealing with our species and its many aspects, Lightman proves at his best and worst in assembling this collection. A campaign to eradicate polio in India, related by Atul Gawande, portrays the paucity of resources available to the medical workers. While expensive wars continue to impede progress by diverting resources, dedicated technicians strive to overcome the limitations imposed on them. In protecting public health, artificial issues such as "bioterrorism" have diverted attention from more immediate and pressing concerns. Philip Alcabes tots up the funds and personnel used in combating a minimal threat in contrast to the real problems of natural epidemics. He finds the Bush administration's focus a medical boondoggle. A new, more socially challenging topic has emerged in recent years. Some health issues, Robin Marantz Henig reports, may deserve focus on your "ethnic" origins. Certain afflictions appear to attack blacks more often or virulently, than whites. The first "ethnic medicines" are already on the market, with more to follow. Is this "racism" on the part of the pharmaceutical firms, or is it a valid market niche that should be followed by other drugs? And who will determine how they should be prescribed?

Inevitably, "American Science Writing" collections must deal with evolution by natural selection. Darwin's great insight is still subject to challenge in that nation. Lightman turns to one of the great nature writers, David Quammen, to provide a case for the defense [why Darwin needs "defending" is left unsaid]. Quammen, in one of the leading articles here, provides an excellent overview of how natural selection works. Quammen's style clarifies many aspects of evolution and is readable by anybody's standards. The only problem seems to be in bringing those who need to read the article to it.

Natural selection in the animal kingdom must raise the question of where humanity fits in the scheme. Many commentators have resisted the inclusion of our species in the process. In this collection, Lightman inexplicably inserts one of these objectors. David Berlinski's article on evolutionary psychology is less an example of "science writing" and more of an assault on a nascent science. His approach is formulaic by now - decry the lack of "hard evidence" on the roots of human behaviour. Since nearly everything in behavioural studies is by inference and comparison with other species, his complaint is groundless. Unless he's indirectly advocating detailed, controlled experiments on a wide segment of the human population, the chances of providing for his demands is close to nil. Berlinski, who must know of studies in sociobiology and palaeoanthropology, steadfastly ignores these indicators. Why Lightman felt the need for this kind of polemical blather remains a mystery. It can't be from a paucity of available material. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Stimulating addition to an outstanding series.......2006-03-22

I look forward every year to the annual edition of this series and its competitor, Best American Science and Nature Writing. Since there are way too many good magazines published I gave up long ago trying to keep up with them, and this book/series serves two useful functions. First, it provides a delightful sampler of science-related writing of the past year, and, second, it often introduces me to some new writers as well as familiar names. It is the kind of book that has repercussions: I have never failed to follow up by buying additional books, either books by the authors represented or books referred to in the selections (WARNING: This book could be dangerous to your budget!)
The series editor provides a certain stability and may ensure some breadth to the selections, but each volume bears the stam of the interests of the guest editor. Given Alan Lightman's literary bent, it was therefore not surprising to see someone like Diane Ackerman included.
This was probably not the best of the series, but it nonetheless was not one I would want to miss.

My Personal opinion of "The Best American Science Writing 2005".......2006-03-15

I am a scientist. U of Michigan. I am 61
I make synthetic gem and laser crystals for a living. I read many scientific journals weekly. I think this series of "The Best American Science Writing" is extremely good with always very up to date topics. An absolutely great selection of articles written by or about top people and topics each year. I use this series to help keep me up to date on everything scientific. I highly recommend the entire series.

A Source of Pleasure.......2006-03-07

Every year these little anthologies deliver a wealth of essays and articles. Whether they are "best" or not is in the eye of the reader, but nearly all of them are always more than worth reading, and some of them can change the way you see the world. Not bad for a few bucks.

Another Captivating Collection of Great Science Writing.......2006-01-26

Each year I am thrilled when this book comes out, along with its equally good competitor of the same format (Best of Science and Nature Writing, 2005). This year, my kids gave me one of each for Christmas. This book has 27 articles from 16 magazines. Without further ado, I will briefly summarize or provide a provocative quote from each essay for you. If at any time you feel inspired to quit reading this review in favor of the real thing, you will not be disappointed.

Introduction, by this year's editor, Alan Lightman, who made the final selections: "So far, not a shred of experimental evidence supports string theory. However, some of the best theoretical physicists in the world are infatuated with it."

Oliver Sacks: The story of how scientists have created new elements based on what could be predicted from the Periodic Chart of the Elements.

James Gleick: The grand new exhibition on Isaac Newton at the New York Public Library correctly portrays him as the genius of rationality and order that he was. His fingerprints mark every part of science, but they left out a major part of the story. Newton was heavily into alchemy and other pseudoscience, was a social disaster who had no friends, and was chronically poisoned by the mercury he experimented with. His works ended up being a pivotal event in the emergence of the age of science from centuries of dependence on superstition. His complex and tormented soul might represent the conflict between science and superstition.

Frank Wilczek: A discussion of Newton's second law of motion, F = ma. Force is "insubstantial" and has no independent meaning. For these reasons and that it has no algorith, Wilczek had problems with it as a student. He elaborates...a little over my head, but that's OK.

Peter Galison: As any pilot knows, the standard compass is problematic in aircraft because it leads and lags in turns, acceleration, and deceleration. Einstein addressed this problem as an expert witness because of technical skills he learned in the patent office.

William Broad: Reversal of the Earth's magnetic fields appears to have started in earnest about 150 years ago. The author discusses earth's long history of magnetic reversals and present implications for power grids, satellites, ozone holes, migratory animals, and extinction of species.

K.C. Cole: The only life we know is built on a scaffolding of carbon that floats in bags of water. As we search (SETI) for other life in the universe, why are carbon and water necessary - or are they?

Dennis Overby: Looking for planets: "What seems indisputably clear is that our knowledge of the universe is dwarfed by our ignorance."

Jim Holt: Some of the more fanciful speculations of top cosmologists about the eventual fate of the universe.

Natalie Algier: Women in top-level science are scarce - A close look at multiple award-winning chemist, Jacqueline Barton.

Jennifer Couzin: The competition and conflict between two prominent researchers studying the genetic causes of aging - in graduate school, one was the mentor of the other.

Robin Henig: Should we look for biological determinants of race. Sociologists say no, calling race a social convention, even its study causing a variety of pernicious consequences. Genomics and Medicine says yes, and a new drug, BiDil, has been niche-marketed specifically for African-Americans.

Mark Dowie: Dr. Stuart Newman applied for a patent for a "chimera" - half human, half something else. Not that he wanted to create one - the idea of a chimera so revolted him that he wanted to keep anyone else from doing it for 27 years. Six years later, it's still in court.

Gina Kolata: Some groups focus on cells taken from human embryos. Some focus on adult stem cells that have mysteriously survived long after their original mission is over. As the two lines of research proceed along parallel lines, researchers say it is too soon to bet on which, if either, will yield cures first. Meanwhile, the political problems over the use of human embryonic stem cells goes on.

Philip Alcabes: "The stranger spreading germs is a metaphor, and largely an empty one. Bioterrorism is not a public health problem, and will not become one."

Laurie Garrett: AIDS is poised to explode in Vietnam. US money is being held up because the Bush administration will not support condom use or a needle exchange program.

Atul Gawande: The WHO is in the closing stages of a campaign to wipe out polio. The author accompanies a WHO team to a poor region in India, where they try to limit the damage from a new outbreak.

Jerome Groopman: Can a positive attitude lead to a better outcome in fighting disease? Can the natural anxiety that accompanies cancer do the opposite? New information collected in scientifically valid ways suggests that the answer is in contradiction of the popular belief. "As to the mind-body connection, I told Julie that I knew of no data whatsoever that supported the notion that her natural feelings of anxiety or her moments of despair would accelerate the growth of her disease."

Ben Harder: Maggots still work in removing dead and infected tissue. While most US medical institutions don't use maggot debridement therapy, it is still a viable option for ulcers from bedsores, diabetes, trauma, burns, or flesh-eating bacteria.

Jennifer Ackerman: The author follows a group of "craniacs" who are trying to bring these remarkable species back from the edge of extinction.

Edward Hoagland: This author spent his childhood in a love affair with nature that has continued throughout his adult life. He now wonders whether humanity will survive current assaults on our environment.

David Quammen: Since about half of Americans doubt evolution, National Geographic magazine commissioned the author to compose a primer for the general public. The evidence is there, and it is not "just a theory."

David Berlinski: Although evolutionary psychology is convincing and is one of my favorite subjects, the author correctly points out how difficult it is to gather hard data on a soft science.

Mark Solms: By the 1980's, Freud's notions of the id and ego were considered hopelessly antiquated. New developments in brain research, however, are producing results that fit surprisingly well with his theories. Certainly it's becoming increasingly clear that a good deal of our mental activity is unconsciously motivated.

Ellen Ullman: The author caricaturizes the difficulties researchers have in creating artificial intelligence (AI) by pointing out the problems a robot would have in enjoying fine cuisine. In a moment of introspection - while in the supermarket check-out lines with its conveyor belts, credit card machines, and bar-codes - it occurred to her that we should perhaps worry more about humanity becoming robotic. This is the only article that was chosen for both books.

Andrea Barrett: This novelist was thrust into a situation of working independently, but alongside, various other scholars from varied disciplines. She was forced to think about how very differently scholars, on the one hand, and poets and novelists on the other, approach their material.

Diane Ackerman: "I remember one chilly morning in California, when a colleague and I held just-tagged monarch butterflies in our open mouths and warmed them with our breathe, so that they could fly to safety."

A delicious treat to read and a definite 5 stars.

A Sense of the Mysterious: Science and the Human Spirit

Average customer rating:

The collection of essays over Science and the art of Human Spirt
Fun reading for physics enthusiasts who can also appreciate the humanities
Exhilirating
Inspired essays of intellectual curiosity and excitement
Interesting and yet not quite satisfying

A Sense of the Mysterious: Science and the Human Spirit
Alan Lightman
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books

History of Science | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Discoveries: Great Breakthroughs in 20th-Century Science, Including the Original Papers
Dance for Two: Essays
Einstein's Dreams
The Diagnosis: A Novel
Great Ideas in Physics

ASIN: 1400078199
Release Date: 2006-01-03

Book Description

From the bestselling author of Einstein's Dreams comes this lyrical and insightful collection of science writing that delves into the mysteries of the scientific process and exposes its beauty and intrigue.

In these brilliant essays, Lightman explores the emotional life of science, the power of imagination, the creative moment, and the alternate ways in which scientists and humanists think about the world. Along the way, he provides in-depth portraits of some of the great geniuses of our time, including Albert Einstein, Richard Feynman, Edward Teller, and astronomer Vera Rubin. Thoughtful, beautifully written, and wonderfully original, A Sense of the Mysterious confirms Alan Lightman's unique position at the crossroads of science and art.

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Unusually gifted as both a physicist and a novelist, Alan Lightman has lived in the dual worlds of science and art for much of his life. In these brilliant essays, the two worlds meet. In A Sense of the Mysterious, Lightman records his personal struggles to reconcile certainty with uncertainty, logic with intuition, questions with answers and questions without. Lightman explores the emotional life of science, the power of metaphor and imagination in science, the creative moment, the different uses of language in science and literature, and the alternate ways in which scientists and humanists think about the world. Included are in-depth portraits of some of the great scientists of our time: Albert Einstein, Richard Feynman, Edward Teller, and astronomer Vera Rubin. Rather than finding a forbidding gulf between the two cultures, as did the physicist and novelist C. P. Snow fifty years ago, Lightman discovers complementary ways of looking at the world, both part of being human.

Original, thoughtful, and beautifully written, A Sense of the Mysterious confirms Alan Lightman’s unique position at the crossroads of science and art.

Customer Reviews:

The collection of essays over Science and the art of Human Spirt .......2006-09-20

Lightman tells his experience from 1950's to the 1990's in these thrilling yet scientific stories. He starts when he was a teen sitting around the house making projects like a spark-generating induction coil from movies like "Frankenstein" and getting his poetic writing from his role models. Later on in the story he shows his emotion when he was almost finshed with the project about Einstein's theory when someone from across the world got there first. At that time Lightman understands that the answer to the prombles in science was already there it's just needs to be found. In the late years of this book he starts to write again in a whole collection of essays talking about other scientist and the work they were credit with. If at all you get to read this book it in time would inhance your intellagance about poetic writing and most of all science. This book would be one of the top ten list if you were going into any field of science or writing.

Fun reading for physics enthusiasts who can also appreciate the humanities.......2006-06-22

Alan Lightman is one of those rare individuals who has a solid background in both physics and the humanities. As a result, he has been able to write this very enjoyable collection of essays dealing with the human context of science, especially physics. None of the essays are ultra profound, but they're still insightful enough to make worthwhile reading, especially considering that the amount of literature in this genre is fairly limited. This book reminds me of "Feynman's Rainbow" by Leonard Mlodinow, which I also found to be very enjoyable and, like Mlodinow's book, Lightman's book is a quick read.

As other reviewers have noted, the specific essay topics are a mixed bag including autobiography, biography, the relationship between math and physics, the nature and experience of scientific inquiry, and other broader topics such as the influence of technology in human life.

As indicated in my title, if you have at least a popular-level familiarity with modern physics, and can also appreciate the humanities, I predict that you will find this book to be quite enjoyable, and perhaps also somewhat enlightening. I enjoyed reading the book, and I expect that I will read it again in the future.

Exhilirating .......2006-01-31

This clearly and at times beautifully written work often takes on the character of intellectual autobiography. Lightman tells of his youthful enthusiasm for Science, his work under his mentors William Gerace, Robert Naumann, Martin Rees, and Kip Thorne. He writes about the process of work in science in fascinating intellectual portraits of Einstein, Feynmann, Teller and the astronomer Vera Rubin. He extends the analysis in writing about the way Metaphor can be vital in scientific discovery and explanation. He writes a chapter on how 'Words' in Science provide clear 'naming'( denotative meaning) while in Literature they are more hidden and multiple( Connotative meaning) He in one startling chapter tells how at the age of thirty- five he realized that his best scientific work was behind him, and followed his youthful plan to become a writer-novelist. In this chapter he contrasts the often frustrating , difficult problem of solving scientific problems with the day-to-day seemingly simpler satisfaction of the novelist. And here he indicates that nothing can quite compete with the creative joy of answering a scientific question definitely and precisely- and in so doing knowing one has an answer which is universal. And this in comparison to the always somewhat unclear result of one's own literary efforts.
Lightman's love for science and his genuine interest in the work of others, and their personal struggle give this book an extra dimension of intensity in feeling.
His excitement and enthusiasm with creative work is best indicated in the chapter which gives its title to the work. He cites Einstein," The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious.It is the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true science"
Lightman then provides his understanding of Einstein's words.
" I don't think he meant that science is full of unpredictable or unknowable supernatural forces.I believe that he meant a
sense of awe, a sense that there are things larger than us, that we do not have all the answers at this moment. A sense that we can stand right at the edge between known and unknown and gaze into that cavern and be exhilirated rather than frightened.
Now he adds his own autobiographical confession.
" Just as Einstein suggested I have experienced that beautiful mystery both as a scientist and as a novelist. As a physicist, in the infinite mystery ofphysical nature.As a novelist , in the infinite mystery of human nature and the power of words to portray some of that mystery."
An exhilirating work.

Inspired essays of intellectual curiosity and excitement.......2006-01-16

Comprised of essays from different years, this is an excellent book for those about to embark on studies in the sciences, or for those who like finding out what drives people to do what they do. The writings fall into two categories: the autobiographical pieces where Lightman tells us about how and why he became a physicist then novelist, and the others, which are essentially short bios of different figures in the sciences, like Einstein or Richard Feynman. I enjoyed the former more, mostly because the reader feels close to the author's enthusiasm, his sense of discovery and enlightenment. The distinctions Lightman makes between the Arts and the Sciences are also revealing, especially in discussions of the individual and of `naming'. This book is highly recommended.

Interesting and yet not quite satisfying.......2005-07-10

A collection of essays on various topics by Alan Lightman - some autobiographical, some dealing with the interesting contrast and similarity of his careers in science and writing, some biographical expositions into the pscyhe of famous scientists like Einstein, Edward Teller, Richard Feynman, and Vera Rubin) and others just exploring not science itself but the 'human dimension' of science, if you will, as an enterprise. I read 10 of the 11 essays but did not find it as stimulating or interesting as his book Einstein's Dreams, which I read in the late 90s.

The Best American Essays 2000 (The Best American Series)

Average customer rating:

politically correct and lame
Same old same old trendy lefty PC rubbish
Great essays - not perfect, but a joy to read
21 different flavors in one book
These essays soar!

The Best American Essays 2000 (The Best American Series)

Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 061803580X

Amazon.com

Alan Lightman has put together a collection chock full of questioning and struggling. As he writes in his introduction: "For me, the ideal essay is not an assignment, to be dispatched efficiently and intelligently, but an exploration, a questioning, an introspection. I want to see a piece of the essayist. I want to see a mind at work, imagining, spinning, struggling to understand." The Best American Essays 2000 features the usual forays into memory (Fred D'Aguiar on his family), travelogue (Mary Gordon on Rome), and identity (Geeta Kothari on learning to eat like an American). But this guest editor has a marked fondness for essays that make the reader engage with ethical or philosophical problems. In an arresting piece, Peter Singer describes the Brazilian film Central Station, wherein a woman is promised a thousand dollars if she will deliver a homeless boy to a certain address. "She delivers the boy, gets the money, spends some of it on a television set, and settles down to enjoy her new acquisition." When she learns the boy will likely be killed and his organs sold for transplantation, she resolves to return the money and save him. Singer asks, "What is the ethical distinction between a Brazilian who sells a homeless child to organ peddlers and an American who already has a TV and upgrades to a better one, knowing that the money could be donated to an organization that would use it to save the lives of kids in need?" He follows his logic to the end of the essay, where he concludes, "whatever money you're spending on luxuries, not necessities, should be given away."

Andrew Sullivan, meanwhile, struggles with the appellation "hate crime." He contrasts the gay-bashing murder of Matthew Shepard with the abduction of a girl by her boyfriend: "Which crime was more filled with hate? Once you ask the question, you realize how difficult it is to answer. Is it more hateful to kill a stranger or a lover? Is it more hateful to kill a child than an adult?" And physicist Steven Weinberg takes on the most infinite of domains, wondering "whether the universe shows signs of having been designed by a deity more or less like those of traditional monotheistic religions...." This kind of passionate questioning is the stuff of late-night bull sessions, something most of us don't have time for in our day-to-day lives. It's refreshing, for once, to be put on the spot. --Claire Dederer

Book Description

Best-selling author Alan Lightman selects the year's finest nonfiction as this acclaimed series celebrates its fifteenth year. He has chosen a diverse, very personal collection that celebrates the essay as an independent genre unlike any other. This year's pieces embrace stylistic freedom and strong opinions and afford the reader a fascinating view of the writer's mind as it struggles with truth, memory, and experience. Featured writers include Jamaica Kincaid, Edward Hoagland, Cynthia Ozick, Mary Gordon, Edwidge Danticat, and others.

Customer Reviews:

politically correct and lame.......2001-07-26

This is the most disappointing collection of Best American Essays I have read in a decade. Most seemed included because they take a particular greeny-wishywashy-save the worldy point of view, not because they are outstandingly original or thoughtful meditations on their subjects. Some are pretentious (Jamaica Kincaid), most are just wet. Ian Buruma's on The Perils of Victimhood is about the only one that will stand the test of time.

Same old same old trendy lefty PC rubbish.......2001-01-31

If you listen to NPR you'll love this collection of soothing nothings from your old pals. If you loathe NPR you'll wonder where the controversy, contrast and color is. Editors could not seem to find anything at all worthwhile from Reason, National Review, Weekly Standard, American Spectator, etc. which do publish excellent essays. So we are forced to read essays by little would-be commissars who would like the power to dictate what is in all our lives a necessity and what a luxury. Andrew Sullivan's piece is the only thought-provoking one in the book and look at all the amazement it has elicited from the other reviewers.

Save your dough. Save your time. This whole waste is the ultimate example of preaching to the choir.

Great essays - not perfect, but a joy to read.......2001-01-14

Great writing! Lightman's introduction falls below the talent of the essayists, but it is colorful nonetheless, and I like the simplicity with which he explains why he chose these pieces: "I can make no claims that these twenty-one pieces were the 'best essays' of the past year . . . it is inevitable that some essays will have slipped by the editors' notice, even very good ones . . . What I can say is that I liked all of these essays a great deal, they made me think, they got under my skin, they took me on journeys, they made me feel alive."

They did the same to me. Andrew Sullivan's "What's so Bad About Hate?" challenges some of our prevalent beliefs about what hate is - why we conveniently define hatred by the victim (e.g. sexism and racism b/c victims are hated on the basis of gender and race, respectively), and whether hatred geared towards a specific group - such as anti-Semitism or racial prejudice - is really any more reprehensible than hatred in general. The essay's last line may strike some as a bit cynical or comformist, but it makes us think: "For all our rhetoric, hate will never be destroyed. Hate, as our predecessors knew better, can merely be overcome."

Another good one is Edwidge Danticat's "Westburry Court." After reading it I purchased her novel "Breath Eyes Memories," also pretty good. (Note to reviewer G. Merrill: Danticat is very much a "she" not a "he").

Greeta Kothari's "If You Are What You Eat, Then What Am I?" is a creative portrayal of the struggle to remain faithful to one's culture while trying also to "fit in"; I liked it mainly because it is so detailed and the writing is very colorful.

Well, if I go on with every essay, I'll far exceed the 1,000 word maximum that Amazon allows us amateur raters. So read the book and judge the 'em for yourself.

21 different flavors in one book.......2001-01-02

Essays are a bit like wine: the amount of material consumed is small, the taste can be extraordinarily intense, and the effect often lingers long afterwards. Essays can be bubbly and bright, like Champagne, or dark and moody like a Shiraz. An anthology like this book is something of a wine tasting, prepared by an experienced sommolier.

Alan Lightman, the editor of this year's volume, is apparently one who practices what he preaches, beginning his introduction with a lively essay about his family's Year 2000 new year's eve celebration. Just as I was thinking to myself that it was as if I had actually attended that party, he abruptly ends that story to explain the philosophy of choice that guided him in selecting the 21 essays appearing in this book, writing "The qualities I treasure most about these essays are their authenticity and life. In reading an essay, I want to feel that I'm communing with a real person..."

I doubt if anyone will find the taste of each of these essays immediately pleasing. Is it the point of such a sampling to be consistently pleasurable to every reader? I think not. Lightman has carefully chosen for his readers a wide selection of wines, including multiple varieties from several regions, and I had not tasted all of these wines before. Some were exquisite to me, evoking memories that I had not visited for many years, but not all were necessarily pleasing to my palate. Yet each is a sophisticated wine, with complex aftertastes; well-crafted by experienced vintners. You will never know what you like if you don't try new things.

Perhaps some potential readers would appreciate a few more practical details about the content of the book. There are several common themes woven through this collection. Three of the essays deal with the subject of travel--specifically with the cities of New York, Paris, and Rome. The subject of death and chronic medical problems appears several times, as does the related subject of family and its influence on the outlook of the essayists. I found two of the early essays comfortably curmudgeonly, addressing the subjects of misplaced victimhood and single-issue politics. An essay on the nature of hate by Andrew Sullivan resonated with ideas that I've been wrestling with for years. Singer's solution to world poverty should be disturbing to the conscience of just about any reader. Although several of the writers deal with spiritual themes, from my Christian perspective, the religious sentiments are somewhat superficial.

This is a diverse group of well-written essays, chosen as much for their ability to stimulate as for their reading pleasure. A desire to agree with the agendas of each author before reading would miss the point of such book.

These essays soar!.......2000-11-06

Each of the twenty-one selections included in this volume was originally published in 1999. As such, this collection (together with its list of other notable essays) is perhaps representative of the spectrum of American thinking at the end of the millennium. This collection is worth reading for that reason alone.

These essays soar! For a day I lost myself in this collection. "The qualities I treasure most about these essays," Editor Alan Lightman writes in his Introduction, "are their authenticity and life . . . What I can say is that I liked all these essays a great deal, they made me think, they got under my skin, they took me on journeys, they made me feel alive" (pp. xvii-xviii).

We visit Paris, Rome and New York in these pieces. In the first essay of the collection, Andre Aciman revisits his "romance" (p. 1) with Paris, the "sunlight, faces, foods, places, emotions" of the Paris in his mind (p. 7). "This was not just the center of the world, or even the center of my life," he writes, "it was me" (p. 4). In her essay, Mary Gordon remembers after "wandering and musing"(p. 75) through Rome "as a stranger, a dumb cluck of a tourist, a naive and starstruck lover" (p. 77), she discovered her own meaningful place in that city. Cynthia Ozick takes us to New York, ever "populous, evolving, faithfully inconstant, magnetic, man-made, unnatural--the synthetic sublime" (p. 110).

Despite his distrust for movements, Wendell Berry writes about "the possibility of renewing human respect for the earth and all the good, useful, and beautiful things that come from it" (p. 18) through the "good use" of the "world's goods as they are given to us" (p. 19). In his contribution, "Earth's Eye," Edward Hoagland writes, "I need my months each year without electricity and a telephone, living by the sun and looking down the hill a hundred times a day at the little pond" (p. 84). In a world where everything "feels upside down these days, created for our entertainment," where the natural world "is becoming invisible, appearing only as a backdrop for our own human dramas and catastrophes," (p. 217) we find Terry Tempest Williams confronting sharks at the Monterey Sea Aquarium, American Museum of Natural History, and Brooklyn Museum of Art, while contemplating wilderness as "an aesthetic," as "conceptual art."

"My father is the window. I am the wasp" (p. 46). In his poignant essay, "A Son in the Shadow," Fred D'Aguiar struggles "by rumination, contemplation, conjecture, supposition" to "fill the gaps, try to piece together" (p. 41) the father he never knew. In her essay, "Westbury Court," Edwidge Danticat recalls her childhood "too consumed in the intricate plot" of a television soap opera, too "wrapped up in the made-up drama of the world" (p. 49), to rescue neighbor children from a fire.

Lightman's selections will not disappoint you, and it is likely that you will want to tell others about these truly engaging essays.

Book Description

A new edition of the most definitive collection of Albert Einstein's popular writings, gathered under the supervision of Einstein himself. The selections range from his earliest days as a theoretical physicist to his death in 1955; from such subjects as relativity, nuclear war or peace, and religion and science, to human rights, economics, and government.

Customer Reviews:

Depends on your purpose.......2007-05-13

If your purpose is simply reading Einstein's articles on issues like world politics, morality, peace, human beings, etc. than this is the book for you. Personally, I wanted the best of his articles, articles that you really want to read because of their specific nature or subject. This is not such a book. Simply a collection of articles.

Window Into One of the Greatest Minds of Modern History.......2007-01-30

This books offers a series of articles written by Einstein on all subjects of life, such as Religion, Politics, War, the Jewish People, and Science. Not only was Einstein a brilliant scientist, he could grasp elements of human life that could rival that of any great philosopher.

Einstein approaches all of the topics with a pragmatism and clarity that is accessible to any reader, which is rare among many intellectuals. It is very interesting to contrast his opinions before, between, and after the world wars and see the further emphasis he puts on his calls for reform around the world. While some might see some of Einstein's socialist tendencies as negative, they are, as stated in the title of the book, only one man's opinion and should be treated as such.

The only reason I give this book 4 stars instead of 5 is the fact that some of the articles seem to be quite similar, repeating themes and ideas that were previously discussed. Also, while someone with a little science background should be able to understand most of the scientific articles, they could be somewhat difficult to get through at times.

Overall, this book provides a great opportunity to read about Einstein's ideas and opinions as a man, not just as a scientist.

Insight.......2007-01-12

If youve ever wondered what was inside Albert's head, than this is the book for you. one example is that I was always torn between science and religion, and Albert was able to elaborate his thoughts on that matter and it was a perspective that I found myself finally agreeing with.

Ideas & Opinions.......2007-01-09

Since Einstein was supposed to be the smartest man of the 19th and 20th centuries, I thought I could get some insight into questions that had puzzled man since the beginning. The meaning of life. What am I doing here? That kind of stuff. Well, let me tell you I spent all my time looking up words on my Franklin. That's the problem with smart people. They try to prove how smart they are by using words that nobody else understands. In my case, Einstein succeeded. I think he's real smart but I still don't know what I'm doing here.

Einstein was not a scientist..........2006-11-23

E=MC 2 = God...

Jesus said: If they ask you, "Where are you from?" reply to them, "We have come from the place where light is produced from itself." - The Gospel of Thomas Line 50a

(E=MC 2 means Energy & Matter are a Unity. Light (Photons), the stuff of the Universe, is liquid matter. Matter is frozen energy. Energy (Light) is God. God is the stuff the Universe is made of.)

"If they ask you, "What is the sign within you of your Father?" reply to them, "It is movement. It is rest." - The Gospel of Thomas Line 50c

(A Binary system. Yin & Yang. Control & Release. How the Universe operates. How God works. God is not a "person". God is a system. God is an event. God is the law of causality. (Einstein) God is the process of Yin & Yang (Buddha) God is the system of Control & Release in Nature.)

Jesus said: If your leaders say to you, "Look! The Kingdom is in the sky!" Then the birds will be there before you are. Rather, the Kingdom is within you and it is outside you. - The Gospel of Thomas Line 3

John 12:28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. The people therefore that stood by, and heard it, SAID THAT IT THUNDERED: others said, AN ANGEL SPAKE TO HIM. Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.

They asked him: When is the Kingdom coming? He replied: It is not coming in an easily observable manner. People will not be saying, "Look, it's over here" or "Look, it's over there." Rather, the Kingdom of the Father is already spread out on the earth, and people aren't aware of it. - The Gospel of Thomas Line 113

Jesus said: I am the light above everything. I am everything. - Line 77a

Split wood, I am there. Lift up a rock, you will find me there. - Line 77b

The Universe is made out of God. We are made out of God. If you have NO IDEAS and are operating in TOTAL FREEDOM you are using your mind as NATURE intended it to work before SOCIETY (Maya, Illusion) implants false IDEAS in your head. "Enlightenment" is stopping the false IDEAS in your mind so your mind will function as FREE and CREATIVE as NATURE. Then you are "following the Tao" or are "full of Grace" and your actions are the most logical ones to do in any situation without thinking (Without using Logic). This is psychology, not religion. This is Zen. See the exploding miracle of NOW (REALITY)!!!

I want to know God's thoughts... all the rest are details. - Einstein

I am Oriental by blood. - Einstein

A human being is part of the whole world, called by us "Universe". He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separate from the rest - a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. The striving to free oneself from this delusion is the one issue of true religion. - Einstein

Einstein was prone to talk about God so often that I was lead to suspect he was a disguised theologian. - Friedrich Dürrenmatt, writer

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