Lee Smolin's book is actually one of the first pop-physics books I ever read. It was part of what got me interested in cosmology and more theoretical physics in general. VERY good book. On the basic side, but it is more about the ideas, and it deals a lot with the politics of current theoretical physics, i.e. the fight between string theorists and everyone else. Once again, very good book.
I'll admit that I like those pop-science books, especially when I'm getting into some new ideas. I admire thinkers who can present complex ideas in fairly clear terms.
Whenever I make more of my usual mass purchases of books, I'll keep this one in mind. Another one also has my attention, namely, The Trouble With Physics: The Rise of String Theory, The Fall of a Science, and What Comes Next by Lee Smolin. In that one, he states that String Theory is more or less a dead end theory; it won't lead us anywhere productive. Perhaps Moffat is thinking along similar lines when it comes to our current understanding of gravity, especially when it comes to whatever dark matter and dark energy amount to. (Note that Smolin, as far as I can tell, takes it that String Theory doesn't even properly explain dark energy.) Maybe our ideas of dark matter and its supposed role as a genuine explanatory theory are mistaken after all. On a related side note, I'm interested in seeing what happens with CERN's particle accelerator. Will they find the Higgs boson? Then what?
In any event, I'm open to reading any book which is willing to not only question our best available theories, but also present a viable alternative theory. It thinks it's that latter half which has attracted so much attention to Moffat's MOG. Perhaps I should acquaint myself with this book, lest I be caught by a paradigm shift of monumental proportions!
Pleiades Rising
Otaku Idol (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 07/25/09 | Reply
@Kastom:
Hey, I just noticed: Where's the image!? External Image makes me sad.
Kastom
Otaku Princess | Posted 04/07/09 | Reply
@Pleiades Rising:
Lee Smolin's book is actually one of the first pop-physics books I ever read. It was part of what got me interested in cosmology and more theoretical physics in general. VERY good book. On the basic side, but it is more about the ideas, and it deals a lot with the politics of current theoretical physics, i.e. the fight between string theorists and everyone else. Once again, very good book.
I'd rather see in shades of gray.
Pleiades Rising
Otaku Idol (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 04/07/09 | Reply
I'll admit that I like those pop-science books, especially when I'm getting into some new ideas. I admire thinkers who can present complex ideas in fairly clear terms.
Whenever I make more of my usual mass purchases of books, I'll keep this one in mind. Another one also has my attention, namely, The Trouble With Physics: The Rise of String Theory, The Fall of a Science, and What Comes Next by Lee Smolin. In that one, he states that String Theory is more or less a dead end theory; it won't lead us anywhere productive. Perhaps Moffat is thinking along similar lines when it comes to our current understanding of gravity, especially when it comes to whatever dark matter and dark energy amount to. (Note that Smolin, as far as I can tell, takes it that String Theory doesn't even properly explain dark energy.) Maybe our ideas of dark matter and its supposed role as a genuine explanatory theory are mistaken after all. On a related side note, I'm interested in seeing what happens with CERN's particle accelerator. Will they find the Higgs boson? Then what?
In any event, I'm open to reading any book which is willing to not only question our best available theories, but also present a viable alternative theory. It thinks it's that latter half which has attracted so much attention to Moffat's MOG. Perhaps I should acquaint myself with this book, lest I be caught by a paradigm shift of monumental proportions!