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The Dancing Universe: From Creation Myths to the Big Bang (Understanding Science & Technology) Paperback – March 3, 2005

by Marcelo Gleiser (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 44 ratings
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Marcelo Gleiser refutes the notion that science and spirituality are irreconcilable. In The Dancing Universe, he traces mystical, philosophical, and scientific ideas about the cosmos through the past twenty-five centuries, from the ancient creation myths of numerous cultures to contemporary theories about an ever-expanding universe. He also explores the lives and ideas of history’s greatest scientists, including Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Newton, and Einstein. By exploring how scientists have unlocked the secrets of gravity, matter, time, and space, Gleiser offers fresh perspective on the debate between science and faith.
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  1. Print length
    352 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    University Press of New England
  4. Publication date
    March 3, 2005
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.9 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    158465466X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1584654667
  8. See all details
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4.4 out of 5 stars
44 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's language easy to understand and simple to follow. They appreciate the author's straightforward presentation of physics history in an interesting and passionate manner.

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LanguagePhysicist
3 customers mention "Language"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's language accessible and understandable. They appreciate the author's straightforward approach and honest discussion of scientific limitations.

"...of explaining with the needed extention and profoundness - in understandable terms and texts for the common interested people - physics and its..." Read more

"...who loves reading about Physics, but presented in a way that is easy to understand and helps to make some sense of understanding the various..." Read more

"What I most appreciate is the fact that the writer is honest about the fact that science does not have answers to everything, at least until now." Read more

3 customers mention "Physicist"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find the history of physics interesting and passionately presented. The book is recommended for anyone who loves reading about physics.

"...Gleiser provides a passionate history of science which makes it possible for a lay person to participate in the adventure of scientific understaning..." Read more

"I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves reading about Physics, but presented in a way that is easy to understand and helps to make..." Read more

"A very interesting history of physics..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Deserves a wide readership
    Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    It is one of the strangeness of modern culture that our live presumes the benefits of science, without being literate in science. Gleiser provides a passionate history of science which makes it possible for a lay person to participate in the adventure of scientific understaning. He places the story of science in the context of the human story, so that science is conceived of in a humanistic and even spiritual manner. It is an enjoyable read. Michael Tan Creti
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Flavio M F Guimaraes
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book from Marcelo Gleiser!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    Marcelo Gleiser has the rare gift of explaining with the needed extention and profoundness - in understandable terms and texts for the common interested people - physics and its interest to our lives.
    The texts are written in agreeable and simple manner, based on his large knowledge of the science, history, philosophy and myths.
    Highly recommended!
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Esther Nebenzahl
    4.0 out of 5 stars Religion and science tracking the same objectives
    Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2002
    Starting with ancient myths, going across the history of philosophical/physical science to our present day, Marcelo Gleiser demonstrates how there is a common language and purpose uniting human thought. There is no sense in maintaining a bi-polarity, a separation between spiritual and scientific inquiries. The quest for the Absolute Reality transcends the distinction between religion and science and each one serves as inspiration for the other. This becomes evident in the arena of the origins of the universe where there is a link between ancient myths and modern cosmology. Mysticism has been a source of inspiration for many scientists and the concept of a "cold, materialist" scientist is totally out of context.
    Marcelo Gleiser dedicates an extensive chapter on the Greeks, continues his journey into neo-Platonism during the Middle Ages, Copernican revolution, Galileo, Newton, all the way to present optics, thermodynamics, relativity and quantum mechanics. The closer he moves into contemporary science the more technical his language becomes, but overall it is quite an accessible reading which does not require substantial background in major scientific developments.
    For the author the beauty of science is that it brings us closer to nature; it would be a benefit to each and everyone if science were to be taught with a less emphasis on its cold, rational, "operative" objective. Gleiser also explains how we are slaves to our rational mechanisms (language fails to fully explain the quantum phenomena), how our finite brain attempts to reach the infinite and trascend our bipolar reality.
    Marcelo Gleiser draws a parallel between myths of creation and cosmological models for the origins of the universe, classifying them into temporal myths with the corresponding theories of the Big-bang or Lemaitre primordial atom, and "atemporal" myths and the corresponding models proposed by Bondi, Gold and Hoyle, or the "Phoenix Universe." He makes use of an informal narrative, with an outspoken enthusiasm, removing the aura circumscribing physics and physicits. In the process he sacrifices technicality for the benefit of a wider scope of readers.
    20 people found this helpful
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  • K. D. Oakley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very Accessible and Well-written!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves reading about Physics, but presented in a way that is easy to understand and helps to make some sense of understanding the various viewpoints of creation and life - and even the meaning of life.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • Andrea Maria derta
    5.0 out of 5 stars A very interesting history of physics
    Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    What I most appreciate is the fact that the writer is honest about the fact that science does not have answers to everything, at least until now.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Gee M
    5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Awesome and I truly loved this product!!!
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  • Carol. Noble
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Hobo Philosopher
    Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2012
    The Dancing Universe
    From Creation Myths to the Big Bang

    By Marcelo Gleiser

    Book Review

    By Richard Edward Noble

    Marcelo Gleiser is a scientist and a professor of Physics and astronomy at Dartmouth College. He also dabbles in theoretical Cosmology and speculative particle physics. He was born in Brazil and lives in New Hampshire.

    He is a great writer and "translator" of the scientific class and their "jargon."

    Professor Gleiser begins this work with a brief review of some ancient myths concerning the origins of this Universe. He divides these myths into "Creation Myths" and "No-Creation Myths."

    The Creation Myths imply a beginning to the Universe and lead the reader into the notions of God, theology, religion, mysticism etc.

    The No-Creation Myths are those that imply that the Universe always was and always will be in one shape, form or another - more Hindu or Buddhist or A-theistic than Judao-Christian.

    He then gets into Philosophy and the ancient Greeks. This is a prime area of interest to me and I always enjoy refreshing my memory in this area.

    This book is basically a synopsis of the evolution of what we call "science."

    We begin with the ancient myths, then proceed to the Greek and Roman philosophers as we explore the root thoughts on the possible answers as to how we have this universe around us. We explore all the early suggestions with professor Gleiser as our guide and interpreter.

    I have decided to use this book as my workbook on improving my knowledge of the evolution of cosmological thought.

    I have already started looking up each and every name brought forward by the professor and have been reading and researching more about each of them. The professor tells us briefly what each has to say and the value of their contribution. But this subject interests me and I would like to know more.

    I have now read and reviewed two books by Professor Gleiser "A Tear at the Edge of Creation" and this one. I have enjoyed both immensely.

    The author deals with and discusses religious and theological thoughts and its influences on this subject but make no mistake, this is a "secular" work and in no way a defense of any religious point of view.

    "How necessary is this separation between science and religion? Very. It serves as a protective device against subjectivism in the practice of science, insuring that it remains a common language in a very diverse community. The scientific discourse is, and should be, devoid of any theological content. Invoking religion to fill in the gaps of our scientific understanding today is, in my view, an anti-scientific attitude. If there are gaps in our knowledge (and there are plenty of them!) we should try to fill them with more science and not with theological speculation."

    He makes this distinction clear throughout the book.

    The book and the Professor should stimulate any reader in deeper thoughts.

    A few of my thoughts:
    1) It is becoming more and more clear to me how science is so easily spun back into religion and mysticism. Cosmology, for example, is so very speculative and hypothetical that the door to Voo-doo is left wide open.

    2) The science of light ... it is a big problem but very interesting area for more research on my part.

    3) Newton posited God and His invisible hand in the regulation of the Universe to solve his problem with motion and other discrepancies in his theory of gravity. God supposedly threw the initial stars and planets into the sky. Einstein has a similar problem trying to justify his theory's shortcomings - the cosmological constant. And now we have Hubble's Constant. All of which points out the hidden personal agenda of even the supposed objective scientists. Readers therefore must always be critical of whatever and whoever they are reading. Skepticism comes with the territory.

    4) I feel even Professor Gleiser may have his own deity and Cosmological constant permeating his blanket acceptance of the Big Bang Theory. I still haven't bought the idea.

    5) Unlike Stephen Hawking who stated that Philosophy is dead, professor Gleiser gives due credit to Philosophy and blends the Philosophers into his story. A much more realistic and historically accurate point of view in my opinion.

    6) Page 306: "Nothingness": "However what is meant by nothingness here, as well as in all other examples of quantum creation of the Universe that followed Tryon's inspiring idea must be understood in terms of "quantum mechanical nothingness" and not absolute nothingness as in complete emptiness." FINALLY someone addresses this issue. Bottom line the Universe did not and could not have started from "nothing" as defined philosophically. This has been driving me nuts for years. I have already ordered this author's other work. It has been a long time since I have been so involved in a book as to write in the margins. But I did with this one.

    The Dancing Universe (re: Ocillating Universe - expanding/contracting) is written for the non-scientist and I must repeat, the author does a wonderful job in this respect. Although much of science/math is above my head, this author is able to bring these lofty concepts and thoughts down to my level. He knows how to talk to the regular guy. He has a third book, The Prophet and the Astronomer - A Scientific Journey. It is on my list. This is a wonderful, wonderful book, for the science student and amateur, scientific explorer.

    The Hobo Philosopher, Richard Edward Noble is the author of: "That Old Gang of Mine."
    8 people found this helpful
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  • James Smith
    5.0 out of 5 stars A gift of satori, over and over...through and through. Your eyes will be opened time and time again.
    Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2017
    Marcelo's book, gifted to me a few years ago, is the best book for an overview of the development of the human mind in science available. To any person, anywhere, who wants the nity gritty and human spirit associated with life on earth itself and your life too. This is it.
    Read it.
    The descriptions are the clearest, simple and conceptually easy to grasp I've ever seen and...I've seen a lot.
    Thank you Dr. Gleiser
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Florinda Gilsanz Rodriguez
    5.0 out of 5 stars La visión científica en la evolución de la historia del hombre
    Reviewed in Spain on August 10, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Me lo recomendó mi nieta confinada en Río de janeiro
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars The dancing universe
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 17, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    The creation of universe has long attracted the attention of religions, ancient myths, and more recently science. The author discusses these in detail. He intentionally stops at standard Big Bang. Some of more recent theories such as inflation, multiverse, string theory landscape are not discussed.
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  • Jolu
    4.0 out of 5 stars INTERESANTE, EN PARTICULAR LA PRIMERA PARTE.
    Reviewed in Spain on May 16, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Considero que es una obra de interés pluridisciplinar, con una exposición clara e informativa sobre los mitos de la creación en las civilizaciones antiguas y sus analogías, a veces algo forzadas, con las ideas más actuales de la física. Eso es lo que más me ha gustado de la obra; lo más flojo, en mi opinión, es la exposición de las teorías actuales de la física, que considero algo incompleta y no demasiado ilustrativa, aunque en general lo expuesto es correcto. La valoración global de la obra es bastante positiva.
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