Rate this book

Why Does E=mc²? (And Why Should We Care?) (2009)

by Brian Cox(Favorite Author)

3.96 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

0306817586 (ISBN13: 9780306817588)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

Da Capo Press

review 1: Written with the radical assumption that the greatest physical theories can be understood by the layman, the book covers special and general relativity, and quickly breezes through some of the interesting recent developments in quantum mechanics. It concludes with a refreshing rejection of the "cult of personality" surrounding Einstein and other prominent scientists. Einstein did not have "supernatural intelligence"; his genius lay in taking relativity and electromagnetic theory seriously.
review 2: As someone with a deep interest in all things science and space, but with no formal education beyond the basics, I have to say that this book impressed me. The authors make an admirable effort to portray modern physics and how it has evolved in a way that was both... more accessible and enjoyable to read, and in my opinion are largely successful in this endeavor. The book covers many theories and scientific principles, dealing with topics such as waveforms, fields, Einstein's General and Special Theory of Relativity, Gravity, time dilation, the projects at CERN, and many others. These topics are by no means easy to wrap your head around, but the authors manage to explain them, even if only simplistically, through metaphors and descriptions from our own every day experiences. For example, readers are gently introduced to Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity with the analogy that to someone on Earth looking up at the progress of a plane, they can say that over a 2 minute period, the plane has moved 20 miles. However, to someone on the plane who gets up from his chair to go the toilet, when he walks back to his chair 2 minutes later, it is still in the same place that he left it - he does not have to walk for an extra amount of time to 'catch up' to it. Movement (and as we discover later, time) is relative to each observer.I don't have my book to hand to ensure the above example is 'as-is-written' in the book - I'm working from memory - but hopefully it does Einstein's theory justice for a basic explanation, and at the very least demonstrates that through reading this book, I, an average-joe person, has at least learned a basic grasp of one of the most important theories in physics today. This is not to say that everything within the book was always so easily described. There were a couple of times where I had to re-read certain parts, particularly when it starts to dissect the mathmatics behind E=mc2. But then, you're reading about physics - a topic that is considered complex and difficult, and something that even physicists themselves don't understand at times! Cox explains each aspect multiple times in as simple a manner as is possible. Approach this book with an open mind and you will find an enjoyable little gem of knowledge. Overall this book provides the best introduction to Einstein's theorem of E=mc2, as well as some of the founding principles of physics itself, that I have so far come across. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about modern physics and this famous equation as a first introduction, whether you have a scientific background or simply want to learn something new. less

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