The book to understand the everyday physical world...
921597
Beyond the very speculative and unreachable theories like the  String Theory  and the  Quantum Gravity Theory , there is the  everyday physical world  which is still full of mysteries but accessible. Professor Jearl Walker is our guide to understand those mysteries and feeling smarter.

The only weak  I've found is that the book is lacking of enough illustrations and diagrams.

Thanks Professor Walker to help us understand the world around us.
3652980
How many lay people have marveled at the incredible discoveries and implications of quantum physics in the last several years, but hoped for a comprehensive explanation in one book? I'm sure I'm not the only one. I have to read this book to find out just what Dr. and Master Sha and Dr. Rulin have found that is beyond the current state of quantum physics and points to a Grand Unification Theory to explain the most fundamental forces at work in the universe, as well as the most profound aspects of creation. The authors have explained the basic ideas in an online interview, including the notion of Soul as a wave function. But I need the book to see for myself! Besides, it's my birthday soon AND I WANT IT!!! I have just read the autobiographical book about Master Sha by William Gladstone (a Harvard trained Medical Anthropoligist) and have recommended it to several friends. So fellow Sagittarians, I encourage you to consider this book. Tell a friend or relative that it makes a great birthday present.
99313
I jumped into this book after completing a few months reading Buddhist philosophy and entheogen experience books.  Since reading this book my interests in the quantum universe and the implications of its connectedness has consumed me.  I set-out some time ago on a quest to find God in the universe - not based entirely on faith - and this book has given me all kinds of new and exciting insights.  There is a lot of information that science may be "catching on" to a new holistic view of the universe.  Also, the different beliefs on what will happen in 2012 are surprisingly understandable.

The author is undoubtedly qualified and captivating.  He has an extensive and well-rounded background on numerous subjects; from the metaphysical to the staunchest scientific doctrines.  He has a worldly knowledge of religions and can infer their relationships to the unified universe.

Fascinating findings on DNA and Near Death Experiences discussed in the book made a lot of sense and also bible passages are scattered about and make more sense when considering the "new physics."

Since reading this book I have been ordering and reading books like crazy from the extensive bibliography section. Honestly, I walked around in a daze after reading this book with new found insights that made me feel more "in-tune" with the world around us - numb to the petty things that normally consume us.

I've always thought that if there is an ultimate ethereal library; by design, we wouldn't be allowed to "check-out" all of the knowledge on the shelves.  I think John Jay Harper has access to the restricted sections.
3492579
Never got a chance to write a review for this amazing book in Amazon. Better late than never. It was the one of the books that motivated me to learn and appreciate quantum mechanics and to write my own book which I hope to publish. This is a gem .It has a profound effect on me. As a result I read books by Lisa Randall, Hawking , Mlodinow, Greene and Sean Carroll etc. I have even had emails from some of these famous authors. The book simplifies the concepts of Dirac and Feynman`s approach to Quantum Field Theory while capturing and maintaining your interest.  The book will examine everything from entanglement to wormholes.  Thank you Andrew. I had tried beginner books before but none like this. It opened up a new world for me. It will for others ,
4677808
I loved this book. I started with a chapter on the weird things, because of some other topic I was interested in, and was amazed on how well developed the ideas were, I think it was chapter 3. It's a must-read for everyone who wants to empower his/her mind and way of thinking. It's easy to understand, not too philosophical or scientific. each argument is accompanies by several everyday life examples that's easy to understand if you read with real interest. I then decided to read the whole book and does not regret it at all.
4632281
Greene has brought me up-to-date as well as enhancing my understanding of the space-time relationship and quantum mechanics!  From the tiniest particle to the unimaginably distant stars, I have become awed with the wonder of our universe. Don't miss this one.  It is physics made easy.
3746371
This book is simply amazing!  It goes from spoon bending to high levels of awareness description; it is like cake for the curious minds!

This book sort of answers few questions about the mystery of life, however it created more questions than it answered...
Life after death, sure!  What's after our spiritual life?

There are few things I didn't like about the book, it talks too much about physics, and there are too many foot notes.  However, it seems like any metaphysic books describe complex physics concepts/experiences to say that the current science is off as it tries to stitch all sciences theory into one.

On another note, this book motivated me to buy the Gateway Series from the MTI
(The Monroe Institute), which I received last night... Pretty cool stuff!!! (While trying to achieve the focus level 10, I caught myself snoring, while I was totally aware of all my surroundings!!!  Cool!)

The content of the book is also consistent with some other books I read about life after death...

Good exploration!
3521756
Although calculus has been around for hundreds of years, still few outside of students, mathematicians and physicists really know what it is or what it does.  At last, as we peer backward in time, Oscar E. Fernandez reveals its hidden secrets in our daily lives.  He does this with dazzling analogies drawn from discussions within delightful chapter titles.  From parabolic arcs to why blood vessels branch off at certain angles in his new book, Everyday Calculus.

We are invited to understand nature through the myriad expressions mathematics provides.  The principals, however, we are all familiar with, such as rates of change, the nature of the derivative, and continuity are impregnated in everything we see and do.  They are the master plan of nature.  And most familiar, the area under the curve, better known as Riemann sums.  And if you work this all backwards, you get the antiderivative, better known as the definite integral, the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.

In all, its a delightful read.  It will make you laugh and capture your imagination in this man-made, logical structure that can predict the future.  How?  It makes use of recurring functions, patterns and logical patterns that carpet our depth of understanding, both in scientific pursuits as well as worldly renditions of what is all around us.  It is a unique time for us as humans to be so privileged so as to witness the development of this very human, man-made language that has supported our conjecture and help build on tomorrow.

With a simple illustration of how Induction Powers the world, Fernandez demonstrates in very readable terms how our understanding and nature tames the wild, electrical beast that makes our world run.  Mathematics is the cornerstone of every technological foundation and rendition of scientific nurturance.  I applaud the efforts Fernandez for taking this bold step to clarify the logical position of mathematical concepts

In Touch Limits in ways most of us thought only mathematicians and physicists would comprehend.  Now, Fernandez makes such elusive concepts clear with vivid illustrations.  Its only a matter of time before the populous at large will feel as comfortable discussing mathematical concepts as they discuss Einsteins relatively theory today.  We are hence moving in the right direction.

Everyday Calculus is a triumph in the pursuit of the lofty goal of comprehending the world.  Fernandez has touched upon a sensitive nerve, not just because mathematics makes most people cringe, but because the subject has allowed the passage of great things from some of the greatest minds ever to wander within the twentieth century.

Oscar Fernandez is as bold as Alfred S. Posementier in his quest to deliver mathematical thinking as natures gift to the thinking person.  In years past, the chorus of theorems has remained unsung until a few brave souls have taken to the pen and ascribed the edict of logic and charisma wrapped together in a neat, logical and coherent package, just as Euclid would have dreamed so.  As children of the greatest mathematical thought, remain in the humble crowds.
1713857
_The Elegant Universe_ is the most illuminating popular physics book I've ever read.  For years I've struggled (episodically, I grant you) with understanding special relativity, but after reading the first 50 pages of Brian Greene's book, I think I finally have it.  His crystal-clear use of language and his enlightening illustrations make it hard for the reader _not_ to "get it."  Why does time slow down and space become foreshortened as velocity increases?  For the same reason that we get wood from trees: Because.  It's baked in the cake of our four-dimensional reality.  I'm only a third of the way through his book, but I'm already sorry it's going to end.
765477
For me, "The Elegant Universe" is the book that started it all. Greene has such a smooth way of easing the novice into the complexities of string theory, the reader feels almost acquainted by the time the science is introduced. Never boring or tedious, Greene deftly guides us through the basics of relativity, explains the importance of frames of reference, and eases us into the almost magical world of gravity and timespace.
Like Einstein, Greene presents the science through simple visuals - balls and bicycles, funny cars and cartoon spaceships. The reader will never feel as though he sits in a classroom with a boring professor droning away the afternoon. Instead, Greene describes the physics in a real world way and in doing so, prepares even the most casual student for the truly strange world of strings.
String theory appears to be the road to a unified theory, the long sought Theory of Everything that will unite relativity and quantum mechanics. Along the way is a wonderous world of possibilities, with extra dimensions, parallel worlds, and all the while, tiny strings vibrating the symphony of the universe.
I read this book with a zeal normally reserved for action novels. Each night was a new lesson and a new glimpse at a different part of the universe. Greene's gift is a clear and friendly writing style that makes this heavy science accessible to those of us without a string of initials at the end of our name.
Many physicists came before Greene and others have followed suit. But for me, "The Elegant Universe" is the book that opened my eyes to the mind blowing world of strings and the possibilities they present. And I've been hooked on string theory since. I recommend this book to anyone who has ever looked at a sky full of stars and wondered what it's all about.
Mark LaFlamme, author of "The Pink Room"
12821
This book is the updated version of the international bestseller, so any praise on my part will surely be redundant. As such, I will just summarize what you get with this book: a fascinating intro to major physics theories (including Newton's, Einstein's general relativity, and quantum theories), and a brief overview of cosmological mysteries (including big bang and black holes). As anyone even vaguely familiar with Hawking knows, he's got a knack at making even the most abstract ideas sound remarkably simple and interesting. This book is accessible to anyone, regardless of your academic background (you will understand most of it even if you've never taken a single physics course). If you ever wondered about the physical world around you or the universe at large, you will not find a better introduction anywhere; if however, you're already well read in the subject, head straight to the more in-depth look at essentially the same concepts and more found in Greene's 'Elegant Universe.'
2124886
I've read over 150 popular science books over the past couple decades, from Timothy Ferris to Murray Gell-Mann, all the recent Nobelists, and most everybody in between.  Scientists, science writers... it's a long list.  **Trespassing on Einstein's Lawn** is entirely unique among them, but not only for the occasional use of expletives in appropriate situations!  It's the story of a journey, a very real journey... in learning about the world and universe around us.  And Amanda takes the reader along with her, cracking us up with her reactions to her learnings and her encounters with many of the popular names in theoretical physics today.  She's not short on covering current physics and cosmology, either.  Maybe because I can particularly identify with her journey, to a degree anyway, but this book is one of the best.
3297835
I love physics but am a novice. Understanding quantum concepts is something I strive for because they are so foreign and unintuitive. I am familiar with the "buzz" words of quantum theory, but it is only after reading Michael Raymer's book that I feel like I have a deeper conceptual understanding. He provides excellent examples to illustrate core principles. The book is clearly written and organized, making it accessible to even first timers! Highly recommended.
1323513
I've read The Holographic Universe often, and have gained new insights into the nature of consciousness and reality from its riches every time.  I consider it to be author Michael Talbot's most important work, as well as one of the best books ever written on the subject of so-called paranormal phenomena.

Talbot's fascination for finding scientific explanations for psychic and paranormal activity began when he noticed objects moving inexplicably around him, regardless where he lived.  He would sometimes awaken to find socks draped on his houseplants, and occasionally found objects in his apartment that he knew for a fact had been hundreds of miles away.  His real-life experiences with such shifts in reality combined with his training in physics led him to explore possible reasons for these and other mysterious happenings.

Talbot begins his book with an excellent introduction to physicist David Bohm's concept of the holographic model of the universe, and combines the physics model with Karl Pribram's work on the holographic model of the brain.  The result is a marvelous description of a non-local, interconnected and alive universe that moves in response to our every thought and feeling.

I am very impressed with the clarity with which Talbot presents the concept of a holographic universe and how various paranormal phenomena can be explained within that model.  Talbot's discussion is comprehensive, fascinating, clear, and packed with relevant and intriguing stories of paranormal phenomena.  Out of body experiences (OBEs), near death experiences (NDEs), auric readings, psychokinesis, acupuncture, X-ray vision, healing, and psychic readings are all described and considered for placement into the holographic model.

Talbot presents a wealth of relevant research studies and scientific theories from David Bohm, Helmut Schmidt, Marilyn Schlitz, Robert Monroe, Charles Tart, Larry Dossey, Paul Davies, PMH Atwater, Ian Stevenson, Fred Alan Wolf, Harold Puthoff, Russell Targ, Lyall Watson, Stanislav Grof, and many others.
4139291
I've had the pleasure of being a part of two lectures by Dr. Verne Rockcastle in the last year and his approach to learning -- which is all about concept development and conceptual change -- is astounding.  He takes the fundamental everyday concepts of nature and develops activities that help build strong and ACCURATE conceptual understanding.  Even at an Ivy League institution like Cornell were I am currently an Undergraduate, Dr. Rockcastle's simple and elementary school geared actitives helped my peers and me discover that even we were conceptually ignorant about things we encounter every day.  Mirrors, light, electricity, chemistry are all a little different now after learning the real science behind them.  This book is full of the activities that I've done in class with Dr. Rockcastle, plus many more, and most of them are very simple and involve nothing but ingredients you can find around your home.  Masking tape, a luggage rack, a ball of twine, flashlight cells (one cell is NOT a battery, so Dr. Rockcastle teaches us), and birthday candles. Elementary school science teachers should, if nothing else, pick up this book to find out the kinds of concepts that they may unwittingly be incorrectly teaching today's young people.  And they might also be surprised at the kind of complex concepts -- concepts that we adults have trouble understanding -- kids will be able to understand and apply in daily life after these activities.  I highly recommend this book to anyone -- even high school science teachers -- because of the simplicity of activities and complexity of the ideas.  If I had done some of these activities in high school physics and college chemistry, I would be in a much different place in terms of my science abilities!
1845414
This is the first book I've come across that successfully weaves together the interactive relationship between the principles of quantum physics and the metaphysical techniques that are used to create the life we want. The author shows, scientifically, how and why these metaphysical techniques work (including what can be the problem if they don't work and what to do about it).  Further good news is that we don't really have to perfectly understand quantum physics to be successful at applying metaphysics.

If you are interested in sound, practical techniques to apply to your life, I highly recommend this book!
2745887
This book is easy to read, but electrifying.  I read it when I was twelve, and it changed my life forever.  I cannot imagine what kind of person I'd be if I had not read this book.

Of all the books I've read with technical basis, intending to introduce the reader to scientific or mathematical theory - this is among the most entertaining and important I've ever read.

The information in it may be too commonplace for some scientists or mathematicians, but I'd heartily recommend it to the ordinary person who's curious about the world around them!

(& To the scientists and mathematicians I'd still say ... just give a whirl.) :)