Synopsis
Discusses the major issues in science, including the structure of particles within the atom, origins of species, and the birth of the universe
Reviews
Any book attempting to explain topics as diverse as the inner workings of atoms and the origin of the universe, as well as everything in between, is bound to be superficial. Gribbin's is that, but it is also informative, providing a knowing, if idiosyncratic, view of many of the major contemporary issues in science. Gribbin (In Search of Schr?dinger's Cat, etc.) has written "a guide not so much for fans of science and the cognoscenti but more a guide for the perplexedAanyone who is vaguely aware that science is important, and might even be interesting, but is usually scared off by the technical detail." He begins by paying attention to the work of physicists and their view of the atom, moving sequentially to chemists, biologists, geologists, meteorologists, astronomers and cosmologists. Topics as diverse as the nature of chemical bonds, the structure of biological molecules, evolution, plate tectonics, the greenhouse effect, stellar evolution and the big bang all touched on. Throughout, Gribbin emphasizes fundamentals of science and of the scientific methodAparticularly through the mantra, "if it disagrees with experiment it is wrong." Overall, this is a good bet for the would-be weekend scientist who favors breadth over depth and wants to know a lot in little time.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Gribbin, assisted by his occasional co-author Mary, tops himself with this one-volume summary of the current state of scientific knowledge. Author of numerous science books for the layperson (The Search for Superstrings, Symmetry, and the Theory of Everything, 1999), Gribbin steps back to show the broad perspective of what science knows about the universe, from the subatomic level up. After stating the central principle of science (``If it disagrees with experiment it is wrong''), Gribbin begins with the concept of atoms and elements, which led to much of modern science. As useful as the atomic hypothesis was, it wasnt until Einstein that it was widely accepted as a factual description of reality. By that point, there was a growing body of evidence that the atom itself was a complex entity, made of smaller particles. The activity of one of those particlesthe electronis responsible for all of chemistry. Thence Gribbin leads the discussion to organic chemistry, through the structure of DNA, and thus to genetics and evolution. In such small but closely connected steps, the discussion goes on to geology and the history of the Earth, to astronomy and stellar evolution, all the way to cosmology and the structure of the universe as a whole. Gribbin is quick to make connections among the various sciences he discusses: for example, the simple quantum mechanical reason for the vital fact that ice floatswithout which life as we know it would certainly be impossible. He smoothly introduces anecdotes about the scientists responsible for various theories and discoveries, and draws usefully on everyday experience to illustrate his material. And while he provides sufficient detail to give the various subjects immediacy, his eye is always on the big picturehow the world fits together and what it means to each of us. A definitive treatment of the subject, clearly and elegantly written. If you're going to own just one general science book, you'd do well to make it this one. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
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