Einstein's Greatest Blunder?: The Cosmological Constant and Other Fudge Factors in the Physics of the Universe (Questions of Science) (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: nonbaryonic matter, time since the big bang, inflationary theory, Edwin Hubble, Great Attractor, Hubble Space Telescope (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

How can the universe be filled with stars older than itself, and where has all the 'missing matter' gone? Goldsmith provides an intriguing, fun examination of the key questions of astronomy, including many photos and strong surveys of science discoveries. -- Midwest Book Review --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

It is not until you are well into the middle of the book, enthralled by galaxies and looking forward to the mystery of the missing mass, that you realize that you have been absorbed and that everybody else has gone to bed. Here is a first-class work, one of the best accounts of the successes of intellectual curiosity and observation about the universe and of how much more there is to find out. Exciting stuff.
--Roy Herbert (New Scientist )

Donald Goldsmith is one of the world's great astronomy writers, and he shows why in his new book...The cosmological constant skewed Einstein's equations and prevented him from foreseeing one of the grandest discoveries ever: The cosmos is expanding. Goldsmith discusses this and many other cosmological topics in his typically wry style.
--Keay Davidson (San Francisco Examiner )

[Goldsmith's] first eight chapters, which are enough to make the book worthwhile, trace the development of astronomy from Copernicus to its modern form. The lucid text holds the readers' hand through four centuries of astronomy...Then Goldsmith delves into current conundrums in cosmology...Fascinating...Because of its lively account of the history and physics of astronomy, the book will stand as an engaging account of what astronomers do and how the universe works--as far as we know.
--Katherine M. Reynolds (Boston Book Review )

A witty and succinct work on the problems of modern cosmology...In a rapidly changing field, this book captures the excitement and uncertainty of the science. (Choice )

For those seeking to know more about what scientists today think about the universe and why they think it, this well-illustrated book is an excellent place to start.
--Robert W. Smith (Air & Space )

Goldsmith...tells us about the problems that cosmology is having thanks to the numerous discoveries made by the latest astronomical satellites...These contradictions usually find a fast reflection in the press and other broadcasting media, yet they are rarely treated in a coherent, precise way. Goldsmith not only makes us realise what appears to be not quite all right, but also he explains why and what could be, in some cases, the solution to the problem. Being an expert science writer, the author makes a wonderful job, while showing us everything we need to know about the question with great clarity. (The Space Book Board (Barcelona-based web site) )

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Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Harvard University Press (October 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0674242424
• ISBN-13: 978-0674242425
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,601,815 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Understanding the stars, March 10, 2002

By	Jamie McCafferty (Manchester, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This book is all about the stars, where they came from, how they got there, and how long they'll be there plus the methods scientists (astronomers) figured these things out. For anyone with a science-geared brain, this book is great. I'm currently taking physics at my high school, this book really helped me to understand the concepts and formulas in a "behind the scenes" way. The language used by the author is occasionally hard to understand but it's a book you have to read slowly in order to understand it all. The concepts that involve things from later discussed topics have references to the chapter they can be found in. It's a really in-depth and well-written book for anyone with an interest in astronomy or science in general. Some of the concepts discussed are the age of stars which can be determined according to their surface temperature and luminosity, the doppler effect which explains the motion of stars and planets due to the fact that wavelengths shorten when an observer or source moves toward the other and lengthen in the opposite way, the kind of star or star group and what the characteristics of each are, and the nature of gravity in space according to several astronomers and scientists like Newton, Einstein, Galileo, etc. The book also includes many pictures and diagrams to help the average reader understand the specific topics of each chapter.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Understanding the stars, March 10, 2002

By	Jamie McCafferty (Manchester, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This book is all about the stars, where they came from, how they got there, and how long they'll be there plus the methods scientists (astronomers) figured these things out. For anyone with a science-geared brain, this book is great. I'm currently taking physics at my high school, this book really helped me to understand the concepts and formulas in a "behind the scenes" way. The language used by the author is occasionally hard to understand but it's a book you have to read slowly in order to understand it all. The concepts that involve things from later discussed topics have references to the chapter they can be found in. It's a really in-depth and well-written book for anyone with an interest in astronomy or science in general. Some of the concepts discussed are the age of stars which can be determined according to their surface temperature and luminosity, the doppler effect which explains the motion of stars and planets due to the fact that wavelengths shorten when an observer or source moves toward the other and lengthen in the opposite way, the kind of star or star group and what the characteristics of each are, and the nature of gravity in space according to several astronomers and scientists like Newton, Einstein, Galileo, etc. The book also includes many pictures and diagrams to help the average reader understand the specific topics of each chapter.