The world's foremost experimental physicist uses humor, metaphor, and storytelling to delve into the mysteries of matter, discussing the particle accelerator and the as-yet-to-be-discovered God particle. 85,000 first printing. $100,000 ad/promo. Tour.
The God Particle
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From Publishers Weekly
The "God particle" of the title is Lederman's term for what other physicists call a Higgs boson--a hypothetical particle that might hold a key to the subatomic world of quarks and leptons. To find out if a Higgs boson indeed exists, this Nobel laureate in physics conceived of the Superconducting Super Collider, which, if constructed, would be the world's most powerful particle accelerator. Writing with Teresi (coauthor of The Three-Pound Universe ), Lederman first surveys moments of discovery from Newton to Einstein in a breezy, folksy style that can be annoying ("Galileo was an irascible sort of guy . . . . He could be a pain in the ass"). This style, however, serves the reader well when Lederman and Teresi enter the complexities of subatomic physics, clarifying the search for squarks and winos, grand unified theories, superstrings and dark matter. $100,000 ad/promo; author tour.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Nobel Laureate and physicist Lederman is funny, clever, entertaining, and highly accessible as he charts the course of experimental physics from 430 B.C. to the planned opening of the Superconducting Supercollider (SSC), of which he is one of the principal architects. This book might be seen, in fact, as a sort of advertisement for the SSC, answering as it does the question, What is the SSC for ? Even allowing for Lederman's open bias toward big physics, his book is a delight to read and absorb, far more accessible than most books about contemporary physics, because it is rooted in the experimental; the "God particle" of the title is the missing link of experimental physics, just as this book is the missing link between a complex world and the general reader. By contrast, Amit Goswami (physics, Univ. of Oregon) is interested in the metaphysical, or perhaps the meta-metaphysical. Drawing heavily on New Age and Eastern philosophical concepts, he attempts to demonstrate that the world as we know it is but a construct of human consciousness; mind, not matter, is the stuff of which we are made. Where Lederman explains for the delight of knowing, Goswami explains only to support his thesis, making for a much more abstract and strange book. All but the converted will find this heavy sledding. The books are thus not interchangeable: Lederman will appeal to those interested in learning about science and the physical world, Goswami to those seeking a hip confirmation of their own sense of self-enlightenment.
- Mark Shelton, Athens, Ohio
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
- Mark Shelton, Athens, Ohio
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Steve G
Format:Paperback
The cover of the book had a caption that read “The funniest book about physics ever written”. Immediately springing to mind was the question, how many funny books on physics are there? Well, the cover of the book was correct. Professor Lederman, a Nobel Prize winner, managed to combine a detailed yet clear presentation of physics with a keen sense of humor. His disdain for theoretical physicists was actually quite funny. Lederman covered the history of physics, from the ancient Greeks up to modern times. While the book is a little outdated now (it was written in 1993) Lederman did update the preface in 2006. The only time that I got bogged down was when Lederman was discussing his own experiments. I feel that the book could have used more illustrations, particularly about particle accelerators. However, the web site http://particleadventure.org/ was very useful in clearing up much of my confusion. This book was well worth the investment of time and I was sad when I finished the book. I felt as if I were leaving an old friend and mentor in Professor Lederman.
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was surprised to be able to read such a complete book on Quantum physics that easily. Although I am not a scientist, I was allways interested in the field and the discussion around the events of July 2012 in Switzerland boosted my curiosity towards the matter. I tried a couple of books but none was truly depicting in scientific terms and made available to the general public the real meaning of this discovery. Although the book was written in the early 90's it is still very actual and the great sense of humor that Dr Lederman displays through the book makes it more palatable to humble mortals like me. I recommend it warmly for those who get it and who don't.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This book is a good physics book, however (there's always a however)if you know anything about particle physics or quantum theory it probably is not worth reading. The book is very slow moving. Taking a painfully long time to explain trivial concepts and when it finally gets interesting there is a lot of hand waving involved. If you know absolutely nothing about physics, then read this book. If on the other hand, you got a well rounded education then I would have to suggest a different book.
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4.6 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
The God Particle
Written by a nobel prize winner, this book offers both a review of basic physics and an introduction to modern physics. Read more
Published on Sep 22 2009 by William A. Thomas
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Interesting Read
This book is very interesting to read and provides a good introduction to the world of physics for someone who has no knowledge on the subject.
Published on Dec 3 2008 by Eric Boyer
5.0 out of 5 stars
A very good book
It is indeed a very good book. It's too bad that the super collider was not built in Texas, but progress continues nonetheless. Read more
Published on Mar 1 2004 by William Horton
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ride along on a 2500 year quest
Dr. Lederman takes the reader through the history of the search for the smallest building block(s) of the universe, from the thought experiments of Greek philosopher Democritus... Read more
Published on Dec 9 2003
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing Book
As hard as it is to believe that a book about physics
could be riveting, I was unable to put this book down once
I started reading it. Read more
could be riveting, I was unable to put this book down once
I started reading it. Read more
Published on May 21 2002
5.0 out of 5 stars
not a book on cosmology
I read this book, and thought it very informative and even fun. Later I read some of the reviews others readers had offered. Read more
Published on April 12 2002
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a great "book"
Who thought one could laugh (out loud) while reading a book covering physics.
I did not want this book to end. Read more
I did not want this book to end. Read more
Published on Feb 2 2002 by Richard M. deCaneva
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a Book! You must read it!
This is undoubtedly one of the best popular science
books ever written!
books ever written!
Comparable in content and richness of presentation
with the 'Cosmos' by Carl Sagan, this book... Read more
Published on Nov 13 2001 by Ganapathy Subramaniam
1.0 out of 5 stars
Don't waste your money.
The study of cosmology is a hobby of mine. I freely admit that I am no physicist, only a free thinker who has read widely on the subject. Read more
Published on Aug 25 2001 by "sclosma98"
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Masterpiece!
Leon Lederman is an experimental physicist and winner of the Nobel Prize in physics (1988). If there will be Nobel Prize for the humor, he will be double winner. Read more
Published on May 31 2001 by Hrvoje
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