Popular science writing has two components: the science and the writing. Authors in this field frequently have the first one down pat with the second part lagging far behind. This book, unaccountably out of print, is one of the most enjoyable non-fiction reads I've had in a long time. As did Robert Jastrow in God and the Astronomers, Augros and Stanciu relay the details leading up to the discovery of background radiation in the universe and the formulation of the big bang theory. As do many better-known popular level authors, they detail the experiments that led to the discovery of quarks and other sub-atomic particles, and the post-Cartesian views generally known as the "new physics." Along the way they fill in a wealth of insights from astronomy, biology, chaos theory and cybernetics (robotics and computers) in a manner as enjoyable to read as the best fiction. This book was reprinted in Bantam's short-lived New Age Books series, which may have kept some readers from dipping into it, but its appeal is far wider than that heading may suggest. Readers with any interest in science will enjoy this highly readable armchair guide to the cosmos.
Nothing new under the sun...
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
The concepts discussed are not new, except perhaps to the relativist post-Cartesian generations. Truth is unchanging and waits patiently to be discovered. Here's a great place to start your journey.
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