- Paperback: 240 pages
- Publisher: Basic Books (July 2 1996)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0201408260
- ISBN-13: 978-0201408263
- Product Dimensions: 20.9 x 13.6 x 1.6 cm
- Shipping Weight: 240 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#347,643 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #59 in Books > Science > Physics > Nuclear Physics > Particle Physics
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
This nontechnical survey by Kane, professor of physics at the University of Michigan, is an engaging and fast-forward tour through today's looking-glasslike state of particle physics-the physics of subatomic particles: electrons, quarks, photons, bosons and company. The first five chapters, we are told, require no knowledge of the subject; but for chapters six through 13 (the end), hold on to your hats. The "garden" metaphor in the title is only loosely stitched throughout the text, which is so well presented that popularizing constructions of this kind are unnecessary to keep the reader alongside the author's detailed, necessarily abstruse exposition. Topics covered include a history of particle physics, the Standard Theory, "grand unification" and beyond and the relation of particle physics to cosmology and astrophysics. These coherent lectures for nonscientists are a pleasure to read and reread for the layers of understanding that contemporary physics requires of the generalist. The hefty glossary is a plus. Illustrations.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
As theoretical and experimental research steadily pushes back the frontiers of physical knowledge, physicists find it increasingly difficult to explain the physical world to the rest of us. This title is a successful attempt by a University of Michigan professor to communicate in plain language what his profession knows and how it discovers that knowledge. Kane reviews the training of particle physicists, shows how they carry out their research, and explains just what makes up the "physics community," both here and abroad. In nonmathematical terms, he reviews the history of his specialty and where it stands today, concluding with a look at the next frontiers, supersymmetry and grand unification, and the intersection of particle physics with astrophysics and cosmology. As a clearly written description for the interested lay reader, this is probably about as good as it gets. Recommended especially for public libraries.?Donald Marion, Univ. of Minnesota Science & Engineering Lib., Minneapolis
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Up to date and exceptional,
By
This review is from: The Particle Garden: Our Universe As Understood By Particle Physicists (Paperback)
Anyone interested in the state of current particle physics understanding should read this book. If you have a scientific interest at all, you will have no problem reading and understanding the material. Kane starts with the basics of particle physics, the structure of matter, and guides you through to our most recent theories, and the questions we need to answer about particle physics in the near future. Written in a clear and interesting style which will make it hard to put the book down. Highly recommended.
1.0 out of 5 stars
Boring,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Particle Garden: Our Universe As Understood By Particle Physicists (Paperback)
I've read several popular physics books, and I think this one was the worst. I hoped the followup "Supersymmetry" would be better. I think I made it through the first chapter before putting it down for good. Try Elegant Universe or one of Stephen Hawking's books instead.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book For Interested Physics Students,
By Brett Sanders (Encinitas, California United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Particle Garden: Our Universe As Understood By Particle Physicists (Paperback)
When reading books about Chemistry or Physics, the level of depth is usually to the electron, proton, neutron, and there is usually some mention of quarks and antimatter and dark matter, but with no explanation of where these ideas are coming from. This book gives a good, nonmathematical description of the Standard Theory (Model) of particle physics, which gives a good account of what particles are known, how forces are treated using particles called Bosons. The books will answer any questions about what is known, but without proofs. I plan to study physics as an undergrad, and probably grad too, and have always been attracted to learning about the fundamental particles. This book was very satisfying for me, and will be for other interested students. Kane provides information about not only the standard theory, but also the facilities where research is done, where the field is going, and what a future student can expect. A quick read and definitely worth the time!
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