What Remains to Be Discovered: Mapping the Secrets of the Universe, the Origins of Life and the Future of Human Race

by John Maddox

Book Overview

What wonders of science will the 21st century bring? John Maddox takes up this challenge by describing precisely what remains to be discovered. Building on twenty-three years' experience at the helm... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 068482292X
• ISBN13: 9780684822921
• Release Date: October 1998
• Publisher: Free Press
• Length: 434 Pages
• Weight: 1.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Great Survey of Science Now, Past & Future.

John Maddox was long-time editor "Nature". Magazine. All in professional scientific research know "Science" and "Nature" are the two preeminent journals where technical papers are first published. Some of the great discoveries such as the electron, DNA and quantum theory have been published in these journals. It is a great fortune that John Maddox, the retired editor of "Nature" took the time write this book and at the turn of the century, turn of the Millennium. It is a gift of great learning that Mr. Maddox has given to the world at the turn of the millennium.Some writers have commented this book is hard reading, hard to follow and dense technical writing. Friends, this is not "People" or "Time" magazine. This is not supposed to be light reading; this is a discussion of what science has discovered and what science may discover in the future. Many commentators and professional scientists have long awaited this book.Mr. Maddox breaks the book into three parts. 1. Matter 2. Life 3. Our World. This alone is noteworthy breakdown of our present knowledge of the world. Of note, Mr. Maddox writes that all scientific explanation of anything must include a "physical or materialistic" explanation. The physical explanation or rather Physics has triumphed over virtually all other sciences. Indeed, physics is the foundation of all the sciences. We all know the chief problem of physics is the unity of theory of relativity with the quantum theory. Indeed as writer Michio Kaku said, our sum total knowledge of the universe is in the theory of relativity and of the quantum. Mr. Maddox was a Physics professor before and his knowledge of physics allows him to delve into great details about the unification of the two great theories of the 20th. Century.The second and third part of the book on "Life" "Our World". This discussion is a bit murky. We all know biology is not an exact science and any discussion of "Our World" is bound to be of a subjective nature. Mr. Maddox discusses the computer, mathematics, and a family tree of man, avoidance of asteroids. Needless, one 400 page book is not going cover this in detail nor with precision or clarity.The book can be read in one or two days. It not a textbook per se but a general discussion now, past and the future of science. It provides a sense of "time" and "place" of science for the lay reader and the professional scientists. It is great for practicing scientists and for individuals who aspire to be scientists. It may even offer general roadmap of where we want to be headed in science. This book is a must buy.

Heavy Lifting.

Though I am not schooled in any of the sciences and my only motivation to read the book was my endless curiosity, I got quite a bit of information and enjoyment out of What Remains To Be Discovered. John Maddox possesses an impressive intellect and the ability to convey the world's most complex theorems in a way many of us can appreciate. To read the book is to receive a graduate degree in physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics--or least the Cliff Notes version.I was left with more questions than answers, but I think that's the point. We'll never know it all. I was fascinated by the riddles and incomprehensible beauty and perfection of life and matter at the sub-atomic levels our knowledge now reaches. The impossibility of how things apparently work is enough to secure one's faith in a supreme being--or not, depending on your point of view.I really enjoyed the section in the end in which Maddox looks at the probabilities of global catastrophe, such as meteor impacts, global warming, etc. I found one gem in there so intriguing, I've made it part of the premise in my next novel (Big Ice, ISBN #1-59286-587-9).This book is clearly not for every reader. Those with marginal vocabulary or reading skills--or no interest in science--will be turned off immediately. This is sophisticated stuff. It's written about as readable as you can make it, but for some that won't be enough. For Brainiacs who would rather slit their wrists than read a Louis L'Amour novel, this book is a dream come true. Prepare to exercise your brain. --Christopher Bonn Jonnes, author of Wake Up Dead.

Outstanding

This is one of the best books I have read all year. It differs from the standard "cool things in science" tract in that it focusses on what we don't know - where the mysteries are. In the end, that's often what's most interesting anyway...It is true that it is not always the easiest going, though I disagree with some of the other reviewers as to how hard it really is. If you truly paid attention in high school physics, biology, and chemistry, you should not have much trouble. The author does throw around terms like "reducing" or "organic" and expect you to understand them. Other terms, like "eukarote," are defined once - one must read attentively.If you can get past that, the clarity and comprehensiveness with which this book is written is breathtaking. I think I want to read it again.

Read it, you'll enjoy it and understand more of our world.

You really have to read What Remains to be Discovered by John Maddox to believe that one man could know so much about so many things. That Maddox is Editor Emeritus of Nature and was knighted for his service to science helps bridge that credibility gap....but this man is extraordinary. Although his book covers some of the most complex scientific issues of today, Maddox is able to distill the essentials and present them in a way that just about anybody can understand. Maddox introduces us to his world of quarks, strings, introns, and thinking machines with no incomprehensible formulas, absolutely no technical arrogance, and just enough jargon so you feel like you have a "conversational" understanding of the field. I think that if you want to better understand the issues and opportunities in some of the major fields of science then the easiest way is to read Maddox's book, put it down for a few months then read it again. Try it, you'll enjoy it both times.

An outstanding overview of where science is taking us.

In this extraordinary book the reader is lead to the brink of human scientific knowledge and allowed to peer over the edge. While some understanding of basic science is requisite, this book gives clear explanations of many of the most basic concepts of 20th century science. The evolution of life as read in the genetic code, or the mapping of the universe are events we can expect to unfold as the next century passes. In all John Maddox paints a convincing picture of a century to come where scientific advances will once again surpass all that have come before, even the amazing discoveries made in the remarkable century just ending.