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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
Several essay's by Alan Lightman, each one about our universe and the philosophy behind these theories. I enjoyed reading what Lightman had to say and found I have pondered these topics in much the same way. His writing has big ideas and he makes them accessible to anyone in a clear and understandable way. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.
I do wish that he had not ended this book with "The Disembodied Universe." Kind of a bummer from my perspective.
I do wish that he had not ended this book with "The Disembodied Universe." Kind of a bummer from my perspective.
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
The first two essays, The Accidental Universe and The Temporary Universe, are excellent. The third one absolutely sucks. I guess I'll keep reading even though I'm unhappy.
. . .
I've had quite enough of this garbage. Daniel Dennett wrote a response I find interesting:
https://www.salon.com/2011/10/09/when_atheists_fib_to_protect_god/
. . .
I skipped ahead a bit to see if it got better again and the end is a giant boomer rant about kids and their technology. Yikes.
. . .
I've had quite enough of this garbage. Daniel Dennett wrote a response I find interesting:
https://www.salon.com/2011/10/09/when_atheists_fib_to_protect_god/
. . .
I skipped ahead a bit to see if it got better again and the end is a giant boomer rant about kids and their technology. Yikes.
Wonderful essays. Beautiful writing, and really interesting explorations of what science is and its relationships with humanity.
Alan Lightman can write. The man just knows how to turn a scientific phrase. The book is a collection of essays on all the hot topics of "big physics" so I did not necessary learn anything new here but I sure did enjoy Lightman's style. This is one of those books that makes me feel bad for people who do not take the time or simply refuse to understand what's going on in the world scientifically. Go ahead, read Lightman and tell me that science is not THE shit. I dare you.
I read many of the other Goodreads reviews of The Accidental Universe and they range all over the map. If you are looking for a straight physics treatise, you will not be happy with this collection of related essays. If you are looking for the universe to affirm your belief in a specific God or even a God at all, you will probably not be happy with Lightman's book. If you want science to affirm your disbelief in a meaningful universe...still no. But, if like me, you think that there can be no better combination than a novelist and a physicist and you wonder, what does a person like that think about the larger philosophical questions, God, Humanism, beauty, art; in a manner which philosophical thoughts and current physics come very close to meeting, read Lightman's essays. Even if you weren't wondering, read it. Because here is a man, an artist a scientist who professes his atheism and science with doubts on the veracity of each and with a beautiful faith in humanity and art. I suppose that I loved it because I am so close to that state in which I find it highly unlikely that there is a God like the ones that we worship and yet find it untenable that there is not. This is not the philosophy of a professional theologian or philosopher and yet there is something so compelling here that it will be tossed around in my mind for years to come. I have a feeling that whatever your personal belief about the nature of the universe and its meaning, you will find a kindred spirit here if you read it openly.
So interesting. Favorite chapter is the symmetrical universe.
I have been biased towards Alan Lightman ever since the brilliantly incandescent Einstein's Dreams, so I snatched this off of the library shelf as soon as I saw it, despite the size of my stack already and the state of my to-read shelf. Of course, this is no Einstein's Dreams, but a collection of essays about the nature of the universe. Most of the theories and interpretations discussed were not new to me, so I found little about this book to be groundbreaking. But in general I enjoy Lightman's writing style, and enjoy thinking about these sorts of things, so it was a pleasant enough read.
I most enjoyed the essay "The Symmetrical Universe," which closes thusly: "Viewed in this way, it is nonsensical to ask why we find nature beautiful. Beauty and symmetry and minimum principles are not qualities we ascribe to the cosmos and then marvel at in their perfection. They are simply what is, just like the particular arrangement of atoms that make up our minds. We are not observers on the outside looking in. We are on the inside too." And also "The Disembodied Universe," which contained a lovely contextualized explanation of Foucault's pendulum, which I know I have read/learned about before, but somehow not grasped how radical and beautiful it was in its day. This last essay is also an interesting meditation on progress and technology and the ever-changing human condition.
Some small complaints, but overall a good read.
I most enjoyed the essay "The Symmetrical Universe," which closes thusly: "Viewed in this way, it is nonsensical to ask why we find nature beautiful. Beauty and symmetry and minimum principles are not qualities we ascribe to the cosmos and then marvel at in their perfection. They are simply what is, just like the particular arrangement of atoms that make up our minds. We are not observers on the outside looking in. We are on the inside too." And also "The Disembodied Universe," which contained a lovely contextualized explanation of Foucault's pendulum, which I know I have read/learned about before, but somehow not grasped how radical and beautiful it was in its day. This last essay is also an interesting meditation on progress and technology and the ever-changing human condition.
Some small complaints, but overall a good read.
I finally finished a book!!!!!! For the most part I enjoyed this little book; the author has a gift for explaining difficult concepts in a clear yet elegant manner. He falters a bit in the realm of opining on the supposed scourge of modern social technology, which is disappointing because in other areas he displays a wonderful gift for embracing grey areas and conflicts. Oh well, on to the next book!
These essays were very thought provoking and easy to understand. Sometimes astronomy and physics is too abstract for me to conceptualize but Alan Lightman does a good job of explaining the way of things and tying theories and ideas together. I especially enjoyed "the Accidental Universe" and "the Gargantuan Universe," which focus more on theories related to space. The other essays have a more spiritual or philosophical approach, which I enjoyed too, but not as much. All in all, an easy and fun read.