Interactions: A Journey Through the Mind of A Particle Physicist and the Matter of This World [Paperback]

Ben Bova (Author), Dr. Sheldon Glashow (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0446389463 | ISBN-13: 978-0446389464 | Publication Date: October 27, 2011

The average reader is introduced to the incredible world of subatomic physics: a world of gamma rays, neutrinos, positrons and Z-bosons.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Glashow won the Nobel Prize in 1979 along with Abdus Salam and Steve Weinberg for his seminal work in unifying the electro-magnetic and the weak nuclear forces, a major step toward today's more ambitious Grand Unified Theories. In this engaging scientific autobiography, he takes readers on a tour of the realms of subnuclear physics introducing us to the important concepts in particle physics and to most of the major figures in the esoteric world of theoretical physics, including Niels Bohr and Murray Gell-Mann. Occasionally, Glashow is too anxious to let readers know that he is a regular guy with a one-time fondness for speedy cars, fast women and copious quantities of good food. On the whole, however, the memoir is a fine example of science writing and will reward readers with a clearer grasp of modern physics. Illustrations not seen by PW.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Two narratives are intertwined in this book: one is a brief history of particle physics; the other, a memoir of Glashow's life and career as a theoretical physicist. The review of particle physics is anecdotal and subjective, but it gives a lively, credible view of developments from the vantage point of a major participant. The personal memoir is awkwardly written and interspersed with many brief, disconnected comments and anecdotes. It is further marred by extreme overemphasis on the Nobel prize (Glashow shared the 1979 physics prize). The resulting potpourri is not a fully satisfactory introduction to particle physics and is disappointing as an autobiography. Jack W. Weigel, Univ. of Michigan Lib., Ann Arbor
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (October 27, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446389463
• ISBN-13: 978-0446389464
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,506,505 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful, fun, must-read for inquisitive minds., September 12, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Washington, D.C.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Interactions: A Journey Through the Mind of a Particle Physicist and the Matter of This World (Hardcover)

Dr. Glashow presents in a logical progression the seminal ideas of twentieth century physics. He spices up this tantalizing but often dry material with a saucy seasoning of his personal life history, showing that Einstein was not the only scientist who did his best thinking in cafes and sailboats. The resulting story details the life of a modern crusader, less decadent than Petronius's Satyricon, less fanciful than Voltaire's Candide, but a heck of a lot more fun than learning these ideas by getting your own PhD in physics at Harvard.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars what it is like to be a physicist, December 14, 2003

By 

Roedy Green (Victoria, BC, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Interactions: A Journey Through the Mind of A Particle Physicist and the Matter of This World (Paperback)

This is only secondarily a book about particle physics. It offers only a little handwaving on the physics, much the way Glashow many have explained what he was doing to his mother.
It is about the people and politics of being a particle physicist.
One of the most interesting chapters is an extremely detailed account of what it was like to win a Nobel prize. He even shows you the menus of the various banquets.