Scan barcode
yates9's review
5.0
A very enjoyable book that dashes through the structure of our universe while trying all the time to explain how you get there by looking at simple everyday calculations.
I have read many similar books so not much new information but I really enjoyed the grounding of results into everyday measures. I would figure this book is perfect to convert skeptical conspiracists into some form of reason.
I have read many similar books so not much new information but I really enjoyed the grounding of results into everyday measures. I would figure this book is perfect to convert skeptical conspiracists into some form of reason.
sarahrosebooks's review against another edition
3.0
This book goes into the science behind what we know about the universe, and allows you to do the observations and calculations yourself to test this knowledge.
I think you need slightly more than just a basic understanding of physics and maths to understand this book. It is extremely difficult to grasp the theories, calculations and experiments described if you are, like me, someone who remembers a little from school, has watched science programs on TV, and has done a bit of reading at home but not a lot. I think I understood about 10% of what I read. My recommendation would be do not read this unless you have a good understanding of physics (and maths), or it will go over your head like a lot of it went over mine.
That being said, I enjoyed some of this, and it did give me a better understanding of the universe. It was just too much for me to thoroughly enjoy it because of how much I skim read and how much of what I read went straight over my head. There are a number of mathematical equations featured, which I also didn't understand. I did none of the maths, either, and though I have access to a telescope, I do not have the interest or inclination to go stargazing very frequently.
My rating is based on enjoyment rather than content - as I am not an expert in this subject, I don't feel qualified to rate the content. I picked this book up thinking it would be entry level stuff and it wasn't, so that is partly my fault. That is why I rated this as a three, a middle of the road rating, rather than anything lower or higher.
I think you need slightly more than just a basic understanding of physics and maths to understand this book. It is extremely difficult to grasp the theories, calculations and experiments described if you are, like me, someone who remembers a little from school, has watched science programs on TV, and has done a bit of reading at home but not a lot. I think I understood about 10% of what I read. My recommendation would be do not read this unless you have a good understanding of physics (and maths), or it will go over your head like a lot of it went over mine.
That being said, I enjoyed some of this, and it did give me a better understanding of the universe. It was just too much for me to thoroughly enjoy it because of how much I skim read and how much of what I read went straight over my head. There are a number of mathematical equations featured, which I also didn't understand. I did none of the maths, either, and though I have access to a telescope, I do not have the interest or inclination to go stargazing very frequently.
My rating is based on enjoyment rather than content - as I am not an expert in this subject, I don't feel qualified to rate the content. I picked this book up thinking it would be entry level stuff and it wasn't, so that is partly my fault. That is why I rated this as a three, a middle of the road rating, rather than anything lower or higher.