The Dancing Wu Li Masters (Mass Market Paperback)

by Gary Zukav (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Can there be a true marriage of particle physics and psychedelia? Can an Esalen-inspired seminar on physics yield insights into Zen, enlightenment, or other transcendental phenomena? Gary Zukav sounds an emphatic yes as he explains how he, physicist David Finkelstein (Yeshiva University), and Al Chung-Liang Huang, a T'ai Chi master who was leading a workshop at Esalen, met over dinner and evolved the concept of dancing Wu Li masters. Huang explained that physics was called Wu Li back in Taiwan where he learned it. And Wu Li means patterns of organic energy. It also means My Way, Nonsense, I Clutch My Ideas, and Enlightenment (used as chapter titles in the book). The dance is what physics "masters" do who elaborate theories and deal with the absurdities that sometimes characterize quantum physics. (Light as particle and wave, for example, the notion of spin when there is no spin. . . .) With this as theme, Zukav takes off to explain special and general relativity theory and the evolution of ideas in contemporary physics down to the current embarrassment of riches in particles with their various strange properties (including strangeness). When he sticks to Einstein thought experiments or simple examples not unlike those used in Gamow or Hoyle, the text is all right. Where the reader has cause for despair is in Zukav's enthusiastic jumps to Zen, right-left brain differences, Freud - or when he indulges in endless puns and uses his favorite foil for explanation, Jim de Wit. Pared of these excesses, this might be a good popularization. But that would be to eliminate just the East-West bridges Zukav wants to build. (Kirkus Reviews)

It was either this book, or Fritjof Capra's Tao of Physics, to balance the Einstein inclusion. I chose this because the New York Times described it as 'the most exciting intellectual adventure since Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance which was another contender for this page. Whereas most of Einstein's attempts to explain life and the universe will never be fathomed by the layperson, Zukav makes it entertaining and understandable - linking hard science with modern psychology and Eastern mysticism. Although a little outdated scientifically, he succeeds in showing that how you should depend on more than just your senses and observations to understand the universe. (Kirkus UK) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
A layman's guide to developments in physics, pointing out parallels with modern psychology and eastern mysticism. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Bantam (September 1, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553249142
• ISBN-13: 978-0553249149
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,109,692 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mind Expanding to the fullest extent, September 27, 2003

By	"oberon69" (Vancouver Island, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dancing Wu Li Masters (Audio Cassette)

This book is THE book to read for those who are not familiar with complex math, but are interested in the basic principles of quantum physics. First, I must say that anyone who gives this book a bad rating has either not understood any of the material or not read the book at all [...]. It covers all aspects of basic quantum theory from the first beginnings of it (Plank's constant, discovery of quanta through study of Black-body radiation; wave-particle duality, Heisenburg's uncertainty principle, Schrodinger's wave equation & wave functions, etc...) to relatively newer quantum theory (the Space-Time Continuum, Black Holes, Bell's theorum, quantum logic, etc...) as best as english (combined with articulate diagrams) can describe WITHOUT MATH. This book contains the best desciption and examples of Einstein's Special and General Theories of Relativity that I have ever UNDERSTOOD. Coupled with Zukav's amiable style this book is an extreme pleasure to read. One thing I found foresightful was that many parts of the book have footnotes that are written by physists who previewed the book and expounded upon the writing therein with by clarifying concepts for those who are familiar with physics and math already. 95% of this book is about understanding these new ideas (more specifically being led upon the road to experience and understanding rather than having things crammed into your brain just to be regurgitated into nothingness) and 5% (in the introduction and last chapter mostly) about how this "New Physics" coorelates to eastern religious views (NOT NEW AGE RELIGION) that have been in practice for thousands of years. The book comes complete with bibliography of all the literature Zukav has referenced in his own quest to understand quantum physics and the nature of reality and a extremely complete index that is very useful when you need it. Over all this book was relatively very easy to read (when it comes to science books) and I would recommend it to anyone who is curious about how reality is defined.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As good as you can get within the limitations of language., September 27, 2003

By	"oberon69" (Vancouver Island, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dancing Wu Li Masters: Overview of the New Physics (Paperback)

This book is THE book to read for those who are not familiar with complex math, but are interested in the basic principles of quantum physics. First, I must say that anyone who gives this book a bad rating has either not understood any of the material or not read the book at all (this is probably the case for the one star review [Mr. Bernie]). It covers all aspects of basic quantum theory from the first beginnings of it (Plank's constant, discovery of quanta through study of Black-body radiation; wave-particle duality, Heisenburg's uncertainty principle, Schrodinger's wave equation & wave functions, etc...) to relatively newer quantum theory (the Space-Time Continuum, Black Holes, Bell's theorum, quantum logic, etc...) as best as english (combined with articulate diagrams) can describe WITHOUT MATH. This book contains the best desciption and examples of Einstein's Special and General Theories of Relativity that I have ever UNDERSTOOD. Coupled with Zukav's amiable style this book is an extreme pleasure to read. One thing I found foresightful was that many parts of the book have footnotes that are written by physists who previewed the book and expounded upon the writing therein with by clarifying concepts for those who are familiar with physics and math already. 95% of this book is about understanding these new ideas (more specifically being led upon the road to experience and understanding rather than having things crammed into your brain just to be regurgitated into nothingness) and 5% (in the introduction and last chapter mostly) about how this "New Physics" coorelates to eastern religious views (NOT NEW AGE RELIGION) that have been in practice for thousands of years. The book comes complete with bibliography of all the literature Zukav has referenced in his own quest to understand quantum physics and the nature of reality and a extremely complete index that is very useful when you need it. Over all this book was relatively very easy to read (when it comes to science books) and I would recommend it to anyone who is curious about how reality is defined. (And people should really read books before reviewing them Mr. Bernie)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the prologue alone is worth the whole book!, August 20, 2002

By	"spywacket" (Hollywood, FL "The Gold Coast" USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dancing Wu Li Masters (Mass Market Paperback)

Zukav gives us a sterling example of quantum physics in layman's terms with this book. Well written. He guides the reader through the amazing concepts of his subject with prime example, steadily stretching our imaginations to begin to grasp the principles that underlie our Universe, as currently understood. His prologue to Dancing Wu Li Masters is masterful in and of itself; artfully weaving mythos into current scientific standard, the summation of which is breathtaking: simple and true. I have handed this book to my friends and said, "Just read the intro...". They are hooked. This book is a 'standby' for me; always handy to pick up and open to any passage and have plenty to think about. It rests with Hawking, Capra, Castaneda and Chopra, all 'my' re-readable inspirations! It can be read en toto or in sections after the first reading. I am not a critic or a scientist, just an avid reader, and I had to contribute. Thanks!