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43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best of my recent reads, December 30, 2004
This review is from: How the Universe Got Its Spots: Diary of a Finite Time in a Finite Space (Paperback)
Recently upon being asked what kind of books I like I gave the very ineloquent answer of "books by smart people who can write well." A better answer may have been "books like How the Universe Got Its Spots."
Janna Levin represents that rare mix I find so enjoyable to read. First off yes she is smart... very smart! One would have to be that smart to present such a full understanding of these topics of cosmology as she does. Secondly she does indeed write well. By this I do not just mean that she can string two sentences but that she really has an artist's perspective on the science that is her live. It is this approach that allows Levin to weave the stories of her personal and professional lives together so adeptly.
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34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
All of a sudden I realized how big our universe might be, February 3, 2004
This review is from: How the Universe Got Its Spots: Diary of a Finite Time in a Finite Space (Paperback)
The author is an astrophysicist and has all the right credentials in the scientific world to perpetrate her theories on the nature of the universe. However, she has targeted this book to a broader audience. Had I not seen her promote her book in a local bookstore I might not have had my interest piqued. Also, my book discussion book selected this as its monthly choice and I was determined to read it even though, at first glance, some of the scientific diagrams seemed impossible to me as I have no background whatsoever in this area. Wisely, though, the book is constructed as a diary of her personal life as well as explanations of her work in a letter format. She actually wrote these letters to her mother, and therefore I thought her descriptions would be simple. They weren't. However, by pushing myself to read every word, even though much of the theory was difficult, I made a discovery. All of a sudden I was introduced to concepts that I had never heard of before, no less understand. Although I'll never remember the details, I learned about Einstein and the theory of relativity, how the topology of the earth makes it a lot more complex than a perfect sphere and what the concept of "infinite" really means. And, most important, I realized just how big our universe must be and how we humans are just a tiny part of it. As this is probably the only book I will ever read about the world of physics, I must thank the author for taking me on a journey to new and unexpected places in the small universe that is my own personal mind. The book is not an easy read, but for anyone willing to explore new frontiers, I definitely recommend it.
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24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fascinating and original work, September 9, 2002
What is the ultimate nature of the universe? Is it finite or infinite? Does it have an edge or a boundary, or any definable shape? Janna Levin attempts to provide answers to these questions in this extraordinary and fascinating effort. The book's unusual style--written as a set of unsent letters to her mother--adds a kind of personal touch that, when combined with the author's free-flowing prose style (which makes shrewd use of metaphor, analogies, and alliteration) makes it a very reader-friendly experience. Adding to the book's intimate nature is Levin's frequent references to her often chaotic and sometimes lonely life as a scientist, especially when referring to the way her increasing knowledge has in some ways distanced her from those she loves. Her theories (which seem to have an equal number of critics and adherents) are largely based on an unusual combination of topology (her specialty) and cosmology into one elegant theory. She suggests that the universe is without an edge, staggeringly immense, but ultimately finite. But does it have a shape? Part of her theory hinges on the study of the study of the distribution of matter and the cosmic background radiation (the "echo" of the Big Bang) throughout the universe, a pattern that may eventually reveal the shape of the universe ( and may give us a greater sense of our place in it). Such a discovery could settle the debate over whether space-time curves back onto itself. If so, could hypothetical travelers move in a straight line through space and eventually come back to where they started? Perhaps topology holds the answer. In addition, Levin also discusses string theory, black holes, time warps, and numerous other theories past and present in her quest (and humankind's, as well) for an ultimate understanding of the universe. This is a well-written, comprehensible book, full of wonder and excitement about our efforts to understand the universe that is as friendly to the layperson as to the experienced. VERY highly recommended. See also: Kip Thorne's "Black Holes and Time Warps," Stephen Hawking's "A Brief History of Time" and "The Universe in a Nutshell," John Gribbin's "Unveiling the Edge of Time," and Tim Ferris' "The Whole Shebang."
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