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22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Where does it end?, October 14, 2006
Joseph Silk, a leading cosmologist, gives his latest take on the scientific quest to comprehend our universe, its origins, and where it is going. I've read Silk's book on the Big Bang (which can be considered a companion volume) and he is able to explain scientific cosmology in fairly understandable terms. Unfortunately given the scales of time and space involved, many of which are far removed from our ordinary experience, the heavy use of arcane physical concepts and mathematical ideas far from ordinary life are inevitable. Yet, the conclusion Silk offers is our universe is probably infinite. Interestingly, Silk dabbles in the possible theological and philosophical conclusions of an infinite universe, ranging from the possibility there are infinite numbers of parallell Earths and selves, to the possibility our universe is only one possible universe out of an infinite set of universes, most of which are inhospitable to life. Silk is aware of the limits of speculation (he is deeply knowledgeable about Astronomy) and gives a surprisingly positive estimate of philosophy and what it might offer science, and what science might offer to philosophy. The book is quite enjoyable, though due to its expense, more worth borrowing than buying.
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Dense and Difficult, February 17, 2008
As a general rule, I enjoy reading books about what is currently happening in physics. I enjoy them because I studied physics in school and taught it for many years. Not only am I trying to keep current myself, but I am also looking for things that will help my students understand physics a little better. Unfortunately, though Dr. Silk is clearly up on what is happening, he doesn't communicate it very well. This is not a book I would pass on to my students. When it comes right down to it, this is a very hard book to read. I'm reasonably well-versed in the subjects Dr. Silk is discussing and yet I found his prose unnecessarily dense and filled with numerical data that only superficially helps him make his points. Brilliant and knowledgeable he might be, but Dr. Silk has a real problem communicating his ideas in an appealing way. Certainly, unless you have a physics background and facility with a mathematical argument, I would stay away from this book. That is too bad because the subjects Dr. Silk puts before us are inherently fascinating--black holes, the fate of the universe, et.al.--and he knows his stuff. Additionally, the proliferation of books on the subject show there is an interest out there. Dr. Silk's effort, however, will not likely help many people along the path to understanding unless they are already most of the way there.
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24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
He Shares the Sense of Awe We All Have, May 18, 2006
The best thing about this book is the sense of awe that Dr. Silk brings to his explanation of the cosmos. I do not see how anyone can look at the truly amazing discoveries, pictures, and happenings that have been announced in recent years without standing in awe. And this awe comes through on virtually every page. Combine this with the clear writing style, no math, and you have quite a book. Another aspect of the book that comes through strongly is just how completely Einstein's General Theory of Relativity underlies our present understanding of the cosmos. Today ninety years later the experimental physicists and cosmologists are still discovering proof of various aspects of Einstein's theory. In this book these discoveries are discussed, and where needed credit to Einstein is given. Quite often with such books as these, I'd really like to meet with the author over a pint of beer and ask him a few questions. There are a few points like string theory, branes, speed of the effect of gravity where it seems that the most recent theories and experiments are raising questions on the cut and fast answers that Dr. Silk gives. These points are minor when compared to the overall excellence of the book but remember that our understanding of the cosmos is constantly changing. Every discovery brings more questions.
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