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thebigz's Reviews (699)
I consider myself to have an above average grasp on cosmology, physics, etc, but most of this book went right over my head. The problem isn't so much with the content, bit that an idea is introduced once, an acronym given, then you are expected to know LBL, SCP, z, Omega, lambda, WIMP, MACHO, etc etc. This book is full of people, places and ideas that are quickly introduced then you are constantly peppered with them for the entire book.
Further, dark matter and dark energy are barely discussed - most of the book deals with hunting supernovae and using them as standard candles. As the title suggests, but I didn't take literally, this is about the process of searching for the secrets of the universe and goes deep into the difficulties of scheduling time on telescopes across the world and in space, then what it takes to compile data and distribute your findings. Don't expect to learn much about science, this is more about the scientific process. I thought I was getting a book about science, so I didn't enjoy it that much.
Further, dark matter and dark energy are barely discussed - most of the book deals with hunting supernovae and using them as standard candles. As the title suggests, but I didn't take literally, this is about the process of searching for the secrets of the universe and goes deep into the difficulties of scheduling time on telescopes across the world and in space, then what it takes to compile data and distribute your findings. Don't expect to learn much about science, this is more about the scientific process. I thought I was getting a book about science, so I didn't enjoy it that much.
As I've said before, I don't understand why people think these books are so great. 99% boring. I'll read second foundation only because I'm 5 books in now. I have the lowest of expectations.
I had given up on the frontiers saga after not enjoying the last few books.
This one was pretty good. It kept my attention the whole time and was not laced with profanity. I'm hoping the series keeps up with this quality
This one was pretty good. It kept my attention the whole time and was not laced with profanity. I'm hoping the series keeps up with this quality
9.5/10
I absolutely loved this book.
The author takes us along for the ride of Apollo 8, which I always thought of a cool mission, but just one more step until Apollo 11 went to the Moon. Here we learn that this may have been the most exciting and momentous Apollo mission, although I still favor Apollo 11.
My only small critique was the amount of time spent discussing the social strife of the late 60s, which played a part in Apollo 8, but I was reading this to learn about the mission, not necessarily the social and political climate. It was only one chapter, and others than that chapter I found myself salivating for more after every word.
If you like space travel, you'll love this book. If you have an adventurous spirit, you'll love this book, if adventure, exploration, space and discovery have no appeal to you, you will probably only mildly enjoy this book.
Happy 50 year anniversary of the launch tomorrow!
I absolutely loved this book.
The author takes us along for the ride of Apollo 8, which I always thought of a cool mission, but just one more step until Apollo 11 went to the Moon. Here we learn that this may have been the most exciting and momentous Apollo mission, although I still favor Apollo 11.
My only small critique was the amount of time spent discussing the social strife of the late 60s, which played a part in Apollo 8, but I was reading this to learn about the mission, not necessarily the social and political climate. It was only one chapter, and others than that chapter I found myself salivating for more after every word.
If you like space travel, you'll love this book. If you have an adventurous spirit, you'll love this book, if adventure, exploration, space and discovery have no appeal to you, you will probably only mildly enjoy this book.
Happy 50 year anniversary of the launch tomorrow!
There were some good and very interesting ideas presented in this book. The author is very knowledgeable in both science and religion.
It is worth a read simply for the ideas presented, I'm sure even the author would agree that not all ideas presented are correct, but I think it does a good job of how one day with more knowledge we can potentially reconcile science and religion very easily.
This is not light reading and the author goes very in depth, to the point that I had a hard time following along at places. I appreciate leaving no stone unturned, but a more concise discussion would be beneficial on my opinion. Maybe getting deeper in chapter notes, or a separate book altogether.
It is worth a read simply for the ideas presented, I'm sure even the author would agree that not all ideas presented are correct, but I think it does a good job of how one day with more knowledge we can potentially reconcile science and religion very easily.
This is not light reading and the author goes very in depth, to the point that I had a hard time following along at places. I appreciate leaving no stone unturned, but a more concise discussion would be beneficial on my opinion. Maybe getting deeper in chapter notes, or a separate book altogether.
This book helps serve as proof that Joseph Smith didn't write the Book of Mormon, simply because it is nowhere near what the Book of Mormon is.
I found lectures 1-5 to be pretty basic and simple (maybe they wouldn't be to someone not familiar with the theology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints), but 6 and 7 were excellent, with 6 being my favorite.
I found lectures 1-5 to be pretty basic and simple (maybe they wouldn't be to someone not familiar with the theology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints), but 6 and 7 were excellent, with 6 being my favorite.
6.5/10
The content was very good and shows what happened letting the Indians have a voice. We (Americans) did then wrong time and time again. It was hard to read about the land I love marginalizing an entire people - unfortunately we did that more than once in our history.
The writing wasn't great. This book jumps between tribes quickly without introducing them, as well as different chiefs and lands. If you don't have any prior knowledge of Indian history, it will be hard to follow along.
Overall it is very sad, but good to learn in detail the way the Indians were driven out of their lands. Good to know, but hard to read
The content was very good and shows what happened letting the Indians have a voice. We (Americans) did then wrong time and time again. It was hard to read about the land I love marginalizing an entire people - unfortunately we did that more than once in our history.
The writing wasn't great. This book jumps between tribes quickly without introducing them, as well as different chiefs and lands. If you don't have any prior knowledge of Indian history, it will be hard to follow along.
Overall it is very sad, but good to learn in detail the way the Indians were driven out of their lands. Good to know, but hard to read
4.5/10
I think this book was ahead of it's time as far as cosmological theory. There are some very interesting ideas about how other races on other worlds could have evolved and how life could spread it's influence throughout the galaxy.
Unfortunately this book shows it's age in 2 ways, neither of which I liked. First: older books tend to take way too long to say anything, as if the author was being paid per page written - this book is no exception. Why say something in one sentence if you can drag it out for a paragraph, or even better a whole page?
Second, back when this book was written we didn't know much about the cosmos and cosmology was still heavy on philosophy. This book is also very heavy on philosophy and phychology in a science fictional setting.
Overall there were some very interesting ideas presented, it's too bad you have to dig so deep to find the occasional nugget.
I think this book was ahead of it's time as far as cosmological theory. There are some very interesting ideas about how other races on other worlds could have evolved and how life could spread it's influence throughout the galaxy.
Unfortunately this book shows it's age in 2 ways, neither of which I liked. First: older books tend to take way too long to say anything, as if the author was being paid per page written - this book is no exception. Why say something in one sentence if you can drag it out for a paragraph, or even better a whole page?
Second, back when this book was written we didn't know much about the cosmos and cosmology was still heavy on philosophy. This book is also very heavy on philosophy and phychology in a science fictional setting.
Overall there were some very interesting ideas presented, it's too bad you have to dig so deep to find the occasional nugget.
This is a lot like Anne of Green gables, meaning you will probably feel the same about the two books - love or dislike.
Anne finds herself on the middle of plenty of capers again, and is faced with the problem of starting to grow up. I missed Matthew - he was my favorite character in the first one.
Anne finds herself on the middle of plenty of capers again, and is faced with the problem of starting to grow up. I missed Matthew - he was my favorite character in the first one.
While I found this book interesting, I probably would have enjoyed it more of I was entrepreneurial. I enjoyed reading about some of the big things that happened in salt lake, how they came to be and what Miller's motivation was.