Customer Reviews

Fear Of Physics: A Guide For The Perplexed

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Krauss provides some great points about physics to the layman that you may not find in other layman-level physics books, but the rest of it is better suited to those who are already familiar with fundamental principles and the meaning of their equations.

Beginners and laymen will appreciate the exceptional explanation for the utility of scientific notation in physics in chapter two. He also points out how the three fundamental dimensional qualities (length, time and mass) can all be reduced to a single quantity via two linking constants (speed of light and Planck's constant) but don't expect to really understand this much

Chapter three (Creative Plagiarism) does a great job explaining the process of how new ideas are tested and accepted.

Beyond that, I strongly recommend layman and beginners switch to other books such as:
1. Basic Physics: A Self Teaching Guide by Karl Kuhn (includes easy formulas that really convey the basic idea)
2. There Are No Electrons by Ken Amdahl (to assist the basic book on electricity and magnetism)
3. Six Easy Pieces by the legendary Richard Feynman (the basics explained again to a physics educated audience, no formulas)
4. Why Things Are The Way They Are by B.S. Chanrasekhar (physics of condensed matter, a few equations and great pictures for laymen to get it).

Krauss is a smart and personable guy. Search for newspaper articles with his name and you'll get some great info on the possible fate of the universe and scientific viewpoints re: sci-fi (Physics of Star Trek, and Beyond Physics of Star Trek) that are much better appreciated after you've read these other basic books.

Dr. Krauss uses analogies like Feynman does to create lucid explanations for those who are interested in physics but don't have a degree in math or physics. It is aptly described as "A Guide for the Perplexed". Having an avid interest in physics I found it ideal. I have a degree in engineering science but am weak in the kind of math required for theoretical physics. If you want to know more about physics but can't seem to find a book that you can understand, you should read this book!

This is a short work, it doesn't take more than three days to read. Its light-hearted, and it isn't merely another overview of things that are too simplistic to bother with. Krauss (a theoretical physicist) crams a lot of info into the book. He attempts to tie all of the information together as best he can, though. He sometimes goes on tangents, but he always explains the tangents and connects them to what he is discussing. The chapter early in the book on Mathematics is useful to someone who isn't interested in grappling with modern physics mathematical workings.

I have one complaint about the book, however. I think Krauss is very ignorant of philosophy. I was somewhat offended by one of his comments, though I am sure (in light of the rest of the book) he meant the comment in a light-hearted manner. Something to the effect that philosophy is useless.

Nevertheless, Krauss tosses a lot of names into the book and gives the reader some good quotes from those men. The bibliography is small, but the book is not a research paper for a physics journal, either. I would suggest this book and also Gordon Kane's "The Particle Garden" as solid introductions to modern physics. Both are manageable reads for the non-physicist.

I totally loved the book. It's full of insightful points and connections that will put you in a state of awe. I got totally ecstatic while reading some of the chapters, made me remember why I loved physics in the first place. Even if you are very well trained in physics, I am sure you will find this book very enlightening and it will allow you to see things from a new and very beautiful perspective.
Only one thing.. Non physicists might become lost after the first few chapters. I think the book is more suited for physics students than for the layman.

This is a classic, and I know many high school teachers who recommend this for their good students. It is the only book I know written by a well known research physicist that gives a modern sense of how physics is done, and what wonderful things continue to be uncovered every day.

I totally loved the book.Its full of insightful points and connections that will put you in a state of awe. I got totally exctatic while reading some of the chapters, made me remember why I loved physics in the first place. Even if you are very well trained in physics, I am sure you will find this book very enlightning and it will allow you to see things from a new and very beautiful perspective.
Only one thing.. non physicists might become lost after the few fist chapters. I think the book is more suited for physics students than for laymen.

It was a pure joy to read this book. Many people that are serious about physics refuse to read a book named Fear of physics. Big mistake! I love this book. Physics ideas at their best. Thank you, Dr. Krauss.

Krauss is always engaging, thoughtful, thorough, yet easy to understand. A great introduction to quantum mechanics and theoretical physics.

FEAR of PHYSICS is an excellent book for both scientist an laymen.
Lawrence Krauss, as ever, writes in an easy and humerous style which makes reading a pleasure.

From my point of view (as a Medical Scientist) his emphasis that Mathematics and Physics are the fundamentals of all science is particularly relevant

I didn't like this book much, but it looks like some people do. It has some good points, but on the whole rather flat. I've read better ones.