Infinite in All Directions: Gifford Lectures Given at Aberdeen, Scotland, April-November 1985 1st Edition

by Freeman Dyson (Author)

13 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0060390815

ISBN-10: 0060390816

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An expanded version of the author's 1985 Gifford Lectures - "In Praise of Diversity". Dyson looks at subjects as different as the origin of life and the design of nuclear reactors, stressing the infinity and diversity of the universe.--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

Hardcover: 321 pages
Publisher: Harper & Row; 1st edition (March 1988)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0060390816
ISBN-13: 978-0060390815
Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.3 x 1.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #697,524 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3432 in Books > Science & Math > History & Philosophy
- #4594 in Books > Science & Math > Technology
- #19858 in Books > Textbooks > Science & Mathematics

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Customer Reviews

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40 of 43 people found the following review helpful

Another absorbing journey with Freeman Dyson.

By A Customer on July 12, 1998

Format: Paperback

Mr. Dyson is one of the most respected and distinguished physicists in the world. He is also a great science writer for the layman. Although a gentle and gracious man by nature, Dyson is not afraid to take on the sacred cows and unfashionable areas of science, and it is obvious that there is little beyond his powers of comprehension. When I read Freeman Dyson, I feel as though I am in the presence of supreme, but very kindly intellect. This is a collection of 17 lectures that touch on many subjects, including 6 on biology. Unplug the phone, lock the door--whatever it takes to have some quiet time to yourself--and read this absorbing and thoughtful book. It will change the way you look at the universe around you. This book will also introduce the you other fascinating books that you've never heard about but will wish that you had.

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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful

A Meaning for Scientific Thought by a Master

By Roger D. Launius VINE VOICE on August 12, 2007

Format: Paperback Verified Purchase

As always with Freeman Dyson, this book is a provocative exploration of a set of interesting and often unusual themes in nature, thoughtfully related to the larger issues of the day. In "Infinite in All Directions" Dyson searches for meaning on the diversity of the Earth's ecosystem, the inner workings of the universe, and the place of humanity in our larger cosmological structure. Presented originally as a set of lectures at Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1985, the chapters of this book have a familiarity and sensitivity to events of the time that one might expect. This is both a strength and weakness of this book.

Dyson's interest in the origins and evolution of life emerges clearly in this volume, and this discussion sparked in part by the debates over abortion and creationism is most welcome. His concern for cold war issues, especially a lengthy discussion of the place of Austria, seems someone archaic more than twenty years later.

Somewhere in the middle is Dyson's admittedly important perspective and provocative essay on "nuclear winter," a theory advanced by Carl Sagan and others in the 1980s that suggested that a nuclear exchange between the superpowers would trigger a worldwide ice age. He questioned the theory with some excellent points drawn, as he said, from his background. Indeed, science may be autobiographical, Dyson writes, for Carl Sagan drew his analogies for "nuclear winter" from his studies of the cold, dry environment of Mars and the dust particles in its thin atmosphere. This is one approach, Dyson concludes, but not the only one and he drew his analogies from the London fog. "We both use the same mathematics and both work with the same laws of physics. Why then do we reach different conclusions?" (p. 262).Read more ›

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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

A FAMOUS PHYSICIST DISCUSSES RELIGION AS WELL AS SCIENCE

By Steven H Propp TOP 100 REVIEWER on June 23, 2010

Format: Paperback

Freeman John Dyson (born 1923) is a British theoretical physicist and mathematician, famous for his work in quantum field theory, solid-state physics, and nuclear engineering. He has written other popular books such as Origins of Life, Disturbing The Universe, and The Scientist as Rebel.

He states in the Preface, "Boiled down to one sentence, my message is the unbounded prodigality of life and the consequent unboundedness of human destiny. As a working hypothesis to explain the riddle of our existence, I propose that our universe is the most interesting of all possible universes, and our fate as human beings is to make it so."

One perhaps surprising aspect of this book is the amount of attention that he gives to religious topics. He states that many scientists are, "like me, loosely attached to Christian beliefs by birth and habit but not committed to any particular dogma." Surprisingly, he states, "(A)s I listen to the arguments raging in recent years between biologists and creationists over the teaching of biology in American schools, I am shocked to hear voices among the scientists sounding as arrogant as the voices of the creationists."

Concerning origin-of-life theories, he writes, "Directed panspermia is only a hypothesis on the wilder fringe of speculation, not quite science and not quite science fiction.Read more ›

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26 of 36 people found the following review helpful

POetic Writing with an Internal Contradiction

By Avid Reader on December 6, 2003

Format: Paperback

It has been noted that some of the best writing around can be found in the scientific world and this book is a confirmation. It is divided into two sections that the author describes as reflecting two meanings of the title - the infinite quality of the universe and the infinite responsibility of mankind. The essays are erudite, entertaining, informative and more than anything (especially in the "universe" section) demonstrate that the nature of science and humanity's involvement in it is complex, sometimes contradictory and at times perplexing.
Life is explored in all its variations - how it started, why it's complex, how it will end, what it means. Then the second part falters a bit. The author can be forgiven some of his remarks due to the date of publication as he goes on about the (former) Soviet Union, peace, NATO, Star Wars, Nuclear Winter, etc.
The problem with non-political types formulating policy is that over time the perception grows that Barbra Streisand is as knowledgable as Colin Powell or Freeman Dyson knows something that Madelaine Albright doesn't or that Jerry Falwell or Dr. Ruth or some college professor has the answer to the complex social problems of the day.
The peaceful manner in which the potentially explosive end of the Cold War was guided by those familiar with the situation is a rebuke to all the talking heads. A good essay on "Star Wars" and its meaning and potential was followed by some out of the box speculation on ways of dealing with the Soviet State. What was infuriating was the notion pushed by Dyson that scientists and intellectuals are peculiarly inclined toward peace. Do farmers, steel workers, bankers, programmers and chefs desire a nuclear war? Who created those weapons if not scientists?Read more ›

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

Five Stars

Dyson has some good things to say.

Published 2 months ago by Bill

Four Stars

Dyson at his best

Published 4 months ago by Leif Blumenau

Dyson is a 20th and 21st century Renaissance Man who writes...

This book is challenging and it's hard to add useful observations to what Dyson writes given his expertise. Read more

Published 14 months ago by Chad M

Don't know how this guy has slipped by me all these years

How can I have a degree in Physics from a major university and not have learned about this guy earlier. Read more

Published 15 months ago by Tobby

Sermons in stones

Great science writing, like great writing of any description, need not, should not date, but being a great scientist and an all-round decent chap does not of necessity a great... Read more

Published on June 16, 2013 by Simon Barrett 'Il Penseroso'

Fascinating insights into science and history

I found this book last week in an early spring garage sale, and have enjoyed dipping into it ever since. Read more

Published on March 28, 2012 by Robert C. Ross

Physics and Religion working together

Physicist Freeman Dyson puts religion in the landscape of the world of physics, physical sciences and biological sciences. Read more

Published on March 16, 2012 by swcornell

Worth the effort

Freeman is an excellent writer. I have no background in science and I was able to follow what he was saying. He writes in a clear and simple style.

Published on October 29, 2011 by T. Wiebe

Infinitely Intereting

dyson is such fun to read. Makes you think about abstract and abstruse things that - maybe we all should be paying attention to - even if they are not possible to solve. Read more

Published on April 27, 2009 by coastalkate