The Second Creation: Makers of the Revolution in Twentieth-Century Physics Reprint Edition

by Robert P Crease (Author), Charles C Mann (Author)

11 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0813521770

ISBN-10: 0813521777

Why is ISBN important?

Have one to sell? Sell on Amazon

Added to

Unable to add item to List. Please try again.

Share <Embed>

Condition: Used - Good

In Stock. Sold by lbp books, Fulfilled by Amazon

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.

24 Used from $4.47

FREE Shipping

Turn on 1-Click ordering

Only 2 left in stock (more on the way).

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Want it Friday, Aug. 11? Order within and choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details

26 New from $34.39

FREE Shipping.

Turn on 1-Click ordering

Ship to:

Select a shipping address:

More Buying Choices

26 New from $34.39 24 Used from $4.47

50 used & new from $4.47

See All Buying Options

Free%20Two-Day%20Shipping%20for%20College%20Students%20with%20Amazon%20Student

The Second Creation is a dramatic--and human--chronicle of scientific investigators at the last frontier of knowledge. Robert Crease and Charles Mann take the reader on a fascinating journey in search of "unification" (a description of how matter behaves that can apply equally to everything) with brilliant scientists such as Niels Bohr, Max Planck, Albert Einstein, Erwin Schrödinger, Richard Feynman, Murray Gell-Mann, Sheldon Glashow, Steven Weinberg, and many others. They provide the definitive and highly entertaining story of the development of modern physics, and the human story of the physicists who set out to find the "theory of everything."

The Second Creation tells the story of some of the most talented and idiosyncratic people in the world--many times in their own words. Crease and Mann conducted hundreds of interviews to capture the thinking and the personalities as well as the science. The authors make this complex subject matter clear and absorbing.

The Second Creation: Makers of the Revolution in Twentieth-Century Physics

$34.40 FREE Shipping. Only 2 left in stock (more on the way). Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Frequently bought together

Total price: $45.51

One of these items ships sooner than the other. Show details

Buy the selected items together

This item:The Second Creation: Makers of the Revolution in Twentieth-Century Physics by Robert P Crease Paperback $34.40
Only 1 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
FREE Shipping. Details
The Age of Entanglement: When Quantum Physics Was Reborn by Louisa Gilder Paperback $11.11
Only 14 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details

Customers who bought this item also bought

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

This shopping feature will continue to load items. In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading.

Louisa Gilder

68

Paperback
$11.11
Frank Close

41

Paperback
$15.67
Leonard Susskind

122

Paperback
$12.41
Steven Weinberg

83

Paperback
$11.23
Robert Oerter

51

Paperback
$12.23
Charles C. Mann

1,122

Paperback
$9.35

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A perfect model of "free enterprise" at work is the competitive-cooperative pursuit of knowledge about nature's fundamental particles by our century's physicists. Columbia University science historian Crease and Technology Illustrated editor Mann here trace virtually the entire story of what is today known as particle physics from Einstein's 1905 theory suggesting matter was both particles and waves, while at the same time Rutherford made his first proposals about the nature of the atom, through Bohr, Dirac, Schrodingersp?/have no way to check, so leave it.gs and others who developed quantum theory and quantum mechanics. These authors describe the heated arguments, debates, conferences and world-wide exchanges that took physicists, especially in the 1970s, to the discoveries of quarks, mesons, gluons and other such breakthroughs. Today, decades after Einstein's failure, Unification theories tying together the four fundamental forcesthe fourth, gravity, remains elusive, howeverare formulated almost daily. This is a demanding book, and gripping in an epochal sense.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

This is the latest effort at a popular treatment of the "Grand Unified Theory" contemporary theoretical physicists are aiming to achieve. It presents a human-interest-style history of quantum electrodynamics and the ensuing elementary particle theory, enlivened by brief sketches of many of the key participants. As a whole, it is an entertaining volume, but some of the judgments and interpretations are questionable. Also, the complex mathematics of modern physics is entirely omitted, and a novice is likely to end his reading with some notion of the historical background but without a coherent understanding of the current "standard model" in elementary particle theory. Recommended, with reservations, for academic and public libraries. Jack W. Weigel, Univ. of Michigan Lib., Ann Arbor
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product details

Paperback: 496 pages
Publisher: Rutgers University Press; Reprint edition (February 1, 1996)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0813521777
ISBN-13: 978-0813521770
Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.1 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 11 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #724,851 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #639 in Books > Science & Math > Physics > Quantum Theory
- #1426 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Professionals & Academics > Scientists
- #2019 in Books > Textbooks > Science & Mathematics > Physics

Would you like to tell us about a lower price?
If you are a seller for this product, would you like to suggest updates through seller support?

NO_CONTENT_IN_FEATURE

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars

5 star		82%
4 star		9%
3 star		9%
2 star		0%
1 star		0%

Write a customer review

See all verified purchase reviews

Top customer reviews

Absolutely one of the best books ever on this topic !

ByGeena Robertson November 25, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I read this book many years ago, when the first edition came out, in paperback. It left an indelible impression on my mind that stayed with me for many years, so much so that I went ahead and bought the Kindle edition as well recently.
If there is only one book that you are able to read on the subject of the History and Evolution of quantum theory then this should be that book.
It is engagingly and excitingly written, fast-pased, great subject coverage, at the same time evocative with memorable descriptions of seminal events, and all with a tremendous journalistic eye for detail.
It is never technical, at the same time it covers a vast period of time (most of the twentieth century) leaving the reader dazzled and breathless while at the same time being educative and instructive as well.
All of the famous names, locations, incidents etc are all present - Planck to Feynman to John Bell, Solvay conferences, Einstein's famous struggles with Quantum theory, all the controversies, events, philosophies, nobel laureates - nothing is left out.

You can't go wrong with this book - run to get it !

0Comment 4 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Here it is! The comprehensive history of particle physics you've been looking for!

ByJoshua L. Soldation February 20, 2008

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

While not for the feint of heart, this exceptionally well-researched tome (clocking-in at over 400 pages) is a must-have for anyone interested in the history of particle physics in the 20th century. Although a bit out-of-date, with virtually no coverage of String theory or competing proposals to merge relativity and quantum mechanics, it is nonetheless a comprehensive narrative up through the "completion" of the Standard Model.

Perhaps the book's greatest achievement is its ability to move back-and-forth between historical developments within the scientific community and the development of the science itself. With countless interviews and original source materials, Crease & Mann capture the excitement of scientific discovery while giving an excellent layman's overview of those discoveries.

This is a compelling read, and highly recommended to anyone interested in this fascinating field.

0Comment 6 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

The Second Creation: Makers of the Revolution in Twentieth-Century...

Byligardneron December 20, 2012

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This book is a classic. And the fact that I bought the 1986 edition makes no difference. This should be in every educated adult's library of twentieth century science books.

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Physics Can Be Fun!

ByCheryl A Hackworthon February 13, 2000

Format: Paperback

Given, I find the sciences interesting, but I never thought I would find myself endlessly turning pages of a physics book. The lives of these physicists was amazing and sometimes even more interesting than their discoveries. If you are at all interested in a "behind-the-scenes" look at post-Einsteinian physics, I would whole-heartedly recommend this book. I guarantee you'll be pleasently surprised. (Now if only there was a biology version of this book...)

11 comment 9 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Greatest adventure of the human race

ByR. Yuon November 9, 2009

Format: Paperback

The title refers to the quest for the Theory of Everything-the Grand Unification of Physics (the first, naturally, being the creation of the universe). After the astounding success of Maxwell's electromagnetic theory, which unified E&M with light; the culmination of the Laws of Thermodynamics, including Kinetic Theory, and the refinement of Newtonian Mechanics by Langrange and Hamilton, many thought at the end of the 19th century, that the work of physics was over.Everything in the universe can be understood. Then came the discovery of X-rays and radioactivity, ("Who ordered that!?!" (just kidding)), and the rest is history, which is remarkably summarized in this book.
The authors traveled throughout the world for five years and interviewed 100's of the major characters. There are many rarely heard of accounts of the failiings/insecurities/fears of 'God-like' figures(at least among physics enthusiasts).
Apparently, Bohr was convinced that the cornerstone of physics, conservation of energy, might not apply to radioactive decay; that Heisenberg initially failed his PhD exam; that Dirac was unsure what to make of the antimatter his equations predicted; that Fermi's seminal paper on beta decay was at first rejected due to"speculations that were too remote from physical reality."[1], and that Pauli, widely acclaimed as the 'conscience of physics' for his astute criticism of other's research ruined at least two careers, ridiculing Stueckelberg for his ideas on the pi-meson (later awarded Nobel to Yukawa), and his renormalization of QED (awarded Nobel to Tomonaga et al); and Kronig for his interpretation of electron spin (awarded Nobel to Goldsmit and Uhlenbeck). Oh well!
We read about the competive jealousies between Feynman and Schwinger on QED, Weinberg and Glashow on the electro-weak theory, Heisenberg and Schroedinger on the wave vs. matrix form, and many others . This is a must as a companion to a standard textbook, where you can feel the blood, sweat and tears behind the equations. Previously I felt that Segre's X-rays to Quarks was the best of this genre, but this easily tops it.
[1]Segre, Enrico Fermi, Physicist p.72

0Comment 3 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

No Comment

ByRobert H. Boyeron December 2, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

There is no rating here that fits my reaction. I bought this book as a gift to someone else so cannot really comment reliable on it.

0CommentWas this review helpful to you?YesNo

Customer images

See all customer images

Most recent customer reviews

A great physics-history book!

This book provides a great history of particle physics. I will caution that it is not a very light read, and the more physics you know, the more you will get out of this book.Read more

Published on July 31, 2009 by Todd Van Woerkom

a glorious book

Humans first drawings date to thirty thousand years ago even with Homo Erectus using fire for hundreds of thousands of years . . .Read more

Published on May 25, 2007 by flashgordon

Excellent history of particle physics

This book is an excellent choice if you are looking for an easy-to-read history of the development of particle physics in the twentieth century.Read more

Published on February 28, 2002 by John Fazio

This book has proved beyond any reasonable doubt that the telling of the story of 20th century fundamental physics is a task that should not be entrusted to physicists.Read more

Published on January 16, 2002 by Dr. C. G. Oakley

I think you'll want to read this.

I noticed this book in a store, picked it up, and almost couldn't put it down! It rewards the reader with insight on the current theoretical structure of physics, excellent...Read more

Published on January 23, 1998

Set up an Amazon Giveaway

Amazon Giveaway allows you to run promotional giveaways in order to create buzz, reward your audience, and attract new followers and customers. Learn more about Amazon Giveaway

This item: The Second Creation: Makers of the Revolution in Twentieth-Century Physics

Set up a giveaway

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

This shopping feature will continue to load items. In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading.

Richard P. Feynman

209

Paperback
$12.25
Charles C. Mann

1,122

Paperback
$9.35
Frank Close

41

Paperback
$15.67
Louisa Gilder

68

Paperback
$11.11
David Lindley

72

Paperback
$10.61
Robert Oerter

51

Paperback
$12.23

Pages with related products. See and discover other items: creation science

The Second Creation: Makers of the Revolution in Twentieth-Century Physics Reprint Edition

Sorry, there was a problem.

Sorry, there was a problem.

Buy used On clicking this link, a new layer will be open $25.05 On clicking this link, a new layer will be open

Turn on 1-Click ordering

Buy new On clicking this link, a new layer will be open $34.40 On clicking this link, a new layer will be open

Turn on 1-Click ordering

or

or

Frequently bought together

Customers who bought this item also bought

Sponsored products related to this item (What's this?)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

From Library Journal

Product details

Customer reviews

Top customer reviews

Customer images

Most recent customer reviews

Set up an Amazon Giveaway

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Buy used On clicking this link, a new layer will be open

$25.05 On clicking this link, a new layer will be open

Buy new On clicking this link, a new layer will be open

$34.40 On clicking this link, a new layer will be open