In southern California, nearly a half century ago, a small band of researchers -- equipped with a new 200-inch telescope and a faith born of scientific optimism -- embarked on the greatest intellectual adventure in the history of humankind: the search for the origin and fate of the universe. Their quest would eventually engulf all of physics and astronomy, leading not only to the discovery of quasars, black holes, and shadow matter but also to fame, controversy, and Nobel Prizes. Lonely Hearts of the Cosmos tells the story of the men and women who have taken eternity on their shoulders and stormed nature in search of answers to the deepest questions we know to ask.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Browse the best books of summer including blockbusters, beach reads, and editors' picks in our Summer Reading Store. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Unexpected discoveries, seething rivalries and inspired guesswork are all in a day's work for modern cosmologists, several of whom are profiled here. "Overbye's personal narrative makes complex realms of conflicting theory and observation accessible to the layperson," said PW. Photos.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
Modern cosmology--the science of superstrings, wormholes, and Grand Unifications Theories--has been popularized in such recent books as Stephen Hawking's semitechnical A Brief History of Time ( LJ 4/15/88) and David Darling's fanciful Deep Time ( LJ 5/15/89). Overbye, the editor of Discover magazine, focuses on the people who contributed to contemporary theories of the universe. Through interviews and personal anecdotes, Overbye presents an insider's view of the lives, works, and personalities of such legendary figures as Hawking; John Wheeler, the "father of the black hole"; and Alan Guth, architect of the "inflationary universe" concept. This approach depicts science as a human process and, in a sense, brings cosmology with all of its rarefied concepts "down to earth." For more formal biographical and technical information on the work of a greater number of leading cosmologists, see Alan Lightman and Roberta Brawer's Origins: The Lives and Worlds of Modern Cosmologists ( LJ 6/1/90).
- Gregg Sapp, Mon tana State Univ. Lib., Bozeman
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
- Gregg Sapp, Mon tana State Univ. Lib., Bozeman
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By John Rummel
Format:Paperback
A history of cosmology, somewhat dated now, that is structured around biographies of some of the major players. Allan Sandage, Stephen Hawking, Alan Guth, Beatrice Tinsley, James Peebles, Marc Aaronson, etc. I have to tip my hand and say that this is one of my favorite books about astronomy and cosmology. Maybe I like the biographical aspect, or the fact that Overbye is just a great storyteller, and this is one great story. You gain an inside track into the transition of power between Hubble and Sandage. I don't think I really understood the inflation theory until I read Overbye's presentation (better even than Guth's book "The Inflationary Universe). If you like to read biographies of astronomers, this book will be right up your alley. If you like to read about cosmology and astrophysics, you may be distracted by Overbye's approach, but you'll still find the book worthwhile.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the only book I have read where, halfway through, I said, "God, don't let me die suddenly before I finish this book!" The book is so beautifully written, especially the first half. Although I think the Big Bang Theory and Guth's sealing-wax fix to that theory are sadly erroneous, this book gives a dramatic impulse to the story of the develpment of Big Bang cosmology, from Hubble to Sandage. The story as the author presents it is exciting, like a race, and you will not want to put it down. I was concerned by another review, however, that there were inaccuracies in the book. As a layman, I could not detect these, if present. All I know is, whew! What a book! Hats off to Dennis Overbye.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Avid Reader
Format:Paperback
Lonely Hearts of the Cosmos is the greatest book every written about the search for ultimate answers about the universe. But the science is secondary to the gallery of scientists who are revealed in all their pettiness, persistence and ultimately greatness. The story of Allan Sandage - from boyhood dreamer to discoverer of mysteries - could be a book in itself. This is a book of almost poetic prose - a real page-turner that I couldn't set down. Get it today
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lonely hearts, great history
Lonely hearts of the Cosmos is a fantastic source of history of the astronomers of the 20th century. One of the main stars is Sandage. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Romadave
3.0 out of 5 stars
A dispiriting view of the scientific enterprise - struggle, rivalries,...
A strongly personality-focused story-line, by a highly respected science journalist, about some of the clashes and rivalries that have beset 20th Century extragalactic astronomy. Read more
Published on January 21, 2011 by R. A. Lang
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fine book. But I have a question.
I enjoyed Overbye's book very much when it first came out. But I noticed a mistake, and I wonder if it has been corrected in later editions. Read more
Published on April 23, 2010 by Martin Chandler
4.0 out of 5 stars
Yearning and its antecedents
The mathematician, Roger Penrose, whose lectures on singularities launched Stephen Hawking toward Black Holes and the birth/death of our universe also collaborated with artist M.C. Read more
Published on November 19, 2007 by Cecil Bothwell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Introduction to Cosmology
Author Dennis Overbye studied physics at MIT and for years has been Deputy Science Editor of the New York Times. Read more
Published on September 4, 2006 by The Spinozanator
5.0 out of 5 stars
A History of Physical Cosmology
In Overbye's "Lonely Hearts" the reader will find a contemporary history of one of the most exciting fields of science in the 20th century. Read more
Published on May 29, 2006 by Chad Davies
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wish I read in school...
This is one of the best books on physics I have read. Not only doees the author Dennis Overbye present the information about the fascinating personalities in astrophysics,... Read more
Published on December 5, 2005 by tizart
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a swell book!
Okay, I KNOW I'm a little biased, being an astronogrl and all, but this book is an AMAZING read! It reads like a novel, and yet contains so many interesting astronomy,... Read more
Published on January 29, 2004 by Ethernaught
3.0 out of 5 stars
Scientific novel.
A story about the human beings behind the scientific discoveries: their dirty tricks, resentments, subversive attacks; in one word, their not so scientific behaviour in their... Read more
Published on October 15, 2002 by Luc REYNAERT
5.0 out of 5 stars
Spectacular!
This book was used in my high-school cosmology class and made a wonderful textbook because it is so much more readable than a traditional textbook (more humorous! Read more
Published on May 18, 2001 by D. Friedland
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 18
books:
See all 18 books this book cites
68
books
cite this book:
See all 68 books citing this book
- The Realm of the Nebulae (The Silliman Memorial Lectures Series) by Edwin Hubble on page 5, and page 34
- The First Three Minutes: A Modern View Of The Origin Of The Universe by Steven Weinberg on page 119, and page 225
- A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking on page 253, and Back Matter
- The Early Universe (Frontiers in Physics) by Edward Kolb in Back Matter
- Voyage To The Great Attractor by Alan Dressler in Back Matter
See all 18 books this book cites
- The End Of Science: Facing The Limits Of Knowledge In The Twilight Of The Scientific Age by John Horgan on 5 pages
- The Hidden Face of God by Richard Elliott Friedman in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
- A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson on page 12, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Bye Bye Big Bang: Hello Reality by William C. Mitchell on page 97, page 248, and Back Matter
- A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson on page 12, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
See all 68 books citing this book
Books on Related Topics
(learn more)
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Listmania!
|
|
