Everyone's Guide to Atoms, Einstein, and the Universe [Hardcover]

Robert L. Piccioni Ph.D. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 20, 2009

Everyone's Guide to Atoms, Einstein & the Universe allows the reader to enjoy exploring the mysteries of the universe, from the micro-world to the cosmos, and explains the major discoveries of modern physics, astronomy and cosmology in ways everyone can understand. Nothing is dumbed down; this is real science made accessible to real people by replacing technical jargon and math with English and heavenly pictures. Learn why stars shine, what atoms are made of, how we can generate more energy with less pollution, how old and how large is our universe. You don't have to be a great musician to appreciate great music. Nor do you need math expertise to appreciate the exciting discoveries and intriguing mysteries of our universe. If you can change money, you can understand Einstein. And black holes, relativity, quantum mechanics, and the Big Bang. This book contains 150 figures with 33 full color images. For more information about the book and a peek inside, please visit guidetothecosmos.com....

We are proud to announce that Everyone's Guide.. is the Award Winner in the Science category of the National Best Books 2009 Awards, sponsored by USA Book News!

Editorial Reviews

Review

As a little boy lying on the grass looking up at the sky, I marveled at the stars and wondered. What lies beyond? Who are we? Where did we come from? Finding answers has always been challenging. Everyone's Guide to Atoms, Einstein and the Universe has relieved my frustration and greatly broadened my perspective. Unlike other books, this one works for me. It is easy to read, easy to follow and easy to comprehend. You've made it easy to visualize the seemingly invisible. Thank you for illuminating the path. --Frank Gari, Gari Communications

Enjoyable to read. Great for those interested in furthering their knowledge in physics and astronomy. --Eugene S. Burke (Retired): JPL, Caltech

Fascinating...a splendid work. It nicely puts together a number of thoughts about physics for the reader who has (like me) heard bits and pieces about these matters over the years. --Gray Jennings, Attorney, 12 Handicap

Enjoyable to read. Great for those interested in furthering their knowledge in physics and astronomy. --Eugene S. Burke (Retired): JPL, Caltech

Fascinating...a splendid work. It nicely puts together a number of thoughts about physics for the reader who has (like me) heard bits and pieces about these matters over the years. --Gray Jennings, Attorney, 12 Handicap

About the Author

Dr Robert Piccioni is a physicist, educator, and high-tech entrepreneur. He has a BS degree in Physics from Caltech where one of his professors was Nobel Laureate Richard Feynman, and a PhD degree in high-energy physics from Stanford University where his thesis advisor was Nobel Laureate Melvin Schwartz. He was a member of the research faculty of Harvard University working with Nobel Laureate Carlo Rubbia. Subsequently, he was a principal of eight high-tech companies. Now retired, he explains the wonders of science at universities, high schools, civic organizations, business groups, adult education programs, and cruise ships.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Real Science Publishing; 1st edition (March 20, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0982278071
• ISBN-13: 978-0982278079
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #745,701 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book by an expert with a gift for explaining, August 4, 2009

By 

Michael Beeson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Everyone's Guide to Atoms, Einstein, and the Universe (Hardcover)

There are a lot of books attempting to explain physics and cosmology to the layman. This one stands head and shoulders above the rest, in my opinion. There are three reasons for that. First, you should understand that in this area of writing, there is traditionally a taboo, nay, a strict prohibition, on the use of equations. You may not realize that Scientific American's editors forbid its authors to use even a single equation. Piccioni breaks this taboo and uses a few well-chosen equations. Face it, you can't come close to understanding physics and cosmology with zero equations. Second, Piccioni has a natural gift for explaining things well. That gift leads him to use very few equations, and use them well, and it also leads him to tell a story well, and punctuate it with entertaining anecdotes. The third reason why Piccioni's book is excellent is that he himself understands these things very deeply. Here a disclaimer is in order: I have known Piccioni since we were students together at Caltech and Stanford. He always could explain things well, and he always understood things deeply. You will understand the things you read in this book, even the equations, except possibly for a page or two in the chapter on Dark Energy, where unfortunately even the best scientists in the world do not understand what is going on.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful blend of common sense and physics, October 12, 2009

By 

G. Jennings (Houston Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Everyone's Guide to Atoms, Einstein, and the Universe (Hardcover)

Piccioni's book contains a clear exposition of physics and cosmology that is accessible to an individual who did not study physics in school, and it contains enough detail so that those who did can update their knowledge of the subject. The author's prose style is refreshing. The book is well worth the effort whether for an airplane trip, for an afternoon when the weather keeps one from other matters or for an occasion when one's spirit would be lifted by considering new matters. Gray Jennings

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The layman's guide to the complicated mathematics and theories behind twentieth and twenty-first century science, July 10, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Everyone's Guide to Atoms, Einstein, and the Universe (Hardcover)

Einstein was a genius, but true genius is not something only understandable by other genius. "Everyone's Guide to Atoms, Einstein, and the Universe: Real Science for Real People" is the layman's guide to the complicated mathematics and theories behind twentieth and twenty-first century science. Anyone can understand quantum physics, says author Robert L. Piccioni, who then strives to make his point with straightforward, comprehensible explanations. "Everyone's Guide to Atoms, Einstein, and the Universe" is enthusiastically recommended to readers of all backgrounds, as well as to public library collections.