Editorial Review

If Albert Einstein were alive, he would have a copy of Read more

Reviews (113)

There's Much More than Physics Here!
Penrose's is a name I remember from reading Scientific American and NYT Book Reviews in the late '60s, which is most of the reason why I bought the book despite having never done any serious study of physics, and having recently been mildly disappointed by Lisa Randall's "Warped Passages".Surely someone who has dedicated so many years to the subject and been so influential will have something interesting to say!And I've always been a sucker for doing hard work in name of fun.I'm glad I did."The Road to Reality" will have a permanent place on my bookshelf between Stephen Hawking's delightful "A Brief History of Time" and Saunders Mac Lane's "Mathematics: Form and Function".
Whoa!
I am finding this book extremely challenging.Mostly, the problem is the huge number of new concepts.I would strongly recommend this book for the young math, (hard)science, or, perhaps?, engineering student/20 something.If you have not encountered quantum mechanics or complex analysis before, this probably ain't the place to start.As most know, freshman calculus is mostly memorization and skill training akin to puzzle solving. It bears little in common with mathematical thought in the early 21st Century.This book plunges you into that thought stream as Penrose believes it applies to "reality".As someone who always wondered about the asides my textbook authors made when talking about path integrals, spin quantum numbers, or separable equations, I find this book illuminating - if only I were 20 or 30 years younger so the new concepts would sink in faster... Anyway, it is not for the layman - I'd say that if you're unfamiliar with the names Godel, Dirac, Cantor, Leibnitz, Heisenberg then you will probably find this book a huge travail.
Could have been much better.
The biggest problem with this book is its attempt to cater to several disparate audiences at once. If you happen to be an interested layman there are much better options.First of all you should know that this book, although it proports in the introduction to be self contained starting from the basics and moving up, will be impossible to read unless you have previous familiarity with the concepts in question.Many customers have said that they were happy just to get a "feel" for the "jist" of the topics he covers.Realistically, I don't see how that is possible: his chapters are that layman unfriendly.I have had a lot of Calculus and when I read his sections on Real and Complex Analysis I was shocked to discover that he treats them from a very advanced point of view all in the space of 30 pages.This is mind-blowing!Literally everything that follows the chapters on real and complex analysis will rely on the information contained in those chapters, and yet the discussion therein is, bar-none, the worst introduction to the ideas behind Calculus I have ever read.You couldn't ask for a more backwards introductory presentation of the principle ideas, and I don't know that there is a worse one in print.I feel sorry for all the people who have or will attempt to read this book and, as a result, further convince themsleves that the topics included must simply be beyond their natural mental capabilities.
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Subjects:  1. Astrophysics & Space Science    2. Cosmology    3. General    4. Mathematical Physics    5. Physical laws    6. Physics    7. Science    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Science / Astrophysics & Space Science   

Editorial Review

Stephen Hawking, one of the most brilliant theoretical physicists in history, wrote the modern classic Read more

Reviews (310)

A Masterpiece for the Patient
Stephen Hawking has crafted a masterpiece that requires only two qualities of the reader: patience and an open mind.For those willing to take the (often substantial) time required to digest the material and accept (or even challenge) it, a awe inspiring world awaits.This book is rightfully one of the best selling books of all time, and a must read for anyone who has any interest in the world around them.

I'm impressed
I must say my first reaction was to be surprised at how much better Hawking is at explaining modern physics than my college instructors were.Heisenberg's uncertainty principle was just an equation I learned.Hawking made it seem like common sense.
History of time
This book is a good history of time. My first real book on cosmology. Since then, there have many other discoveries in the field that make our understanding of things slightly difference. Still this is a really good first book at understanding cosmology. They're just a little too worried that readers won't understand it if they add something a little technical. It becomes a book good only for those who will never grasp anything more, or a first book for those who will graduate to more descriptive, technical books. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Astronomy - Universe    2. Astrophysics & Space Science    3. Cosmology    4. Cosmology (Astronomy)    5. Science    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Universe    8. Cosmology & the universe    9. Science / General    10. Time (chronology)   

Reviews (5)

Too difficult for the average reader
This book is a bit too professional for anyone who is just starting an astrophysics course.......the provided questions really screw up ur brain.....but if ur sure u have a good solid pure math and advanced physics backgroundthen go ahead and buy it otherwise check out other books.....

An introduction to modern astrophysics
The problems are very challanging, with out an instructor and a good foundation in pure math its nearly impossible for a self learner to solve the end-chapter questions from this book. Im currenlty stuck in many of these problems. If any one happens to have a complete solutions manual, I would give $250.00 for it.
Very difficult to teach from
After surveying available undergraduate texts in astrophysics and consulting colleagues, I settled on this as the best available despite qualms about its size and cost.My students are finding its size and sheer length overwhelming; we are forced to leave out so much material that they are questioning whether it's worth it.The system of units used (cgs) is becoming (if it is not already) obsolete in most areas of astrophysics.In every chapter there are references to material yet to be covered, requiring one to flip back and forth, often over hundreds of pages.Finally, with a 1996 publication date, much of the material is becoming dated (I know, a new edition will be even more expensive).Read more

Subjects:  1. Astronomy - General    2. Astrophysics    3. Astrophysics & Space Science    4. Physics    5. Science    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Astronomy, Space & Time    8. Science / Physics   

Reviews (15)

Fantastic resource
This was a required test for a rocket propulsion class, but it has become an invaluable resource for many classes.Purchased for at least 20% less than other outlets.

A Must-Have Textbook for every Aerospace Engineer
This is the single best book on rocket propulsion systems, covering both liquid and solid rocket engines, hybrid rocket systems, and a dedicated chapter on electric propulsion. The authors include excellent illustrations and graphs to enhance the text, and practical examples which help the reader to grasp the theory. After loaning a copy of this book for over two years from my library, i finally bought it! Definitely recommended to all engineers and scientists who want to expand into the area of rocket propulsion.

Beware of Typographical Errors
The readability of this book makes it a good investment for aspiring rocket engineers.Read more

Subjects:  1. Aeronautics & Astronautics    2. Astrophysics & Space Science    3. Aviation - General    4. Rocket Propulsion    5. Rocket engines    6. Science    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Technology & Industrial Arts    9. Aerodynamics    10. Aerospace & air transport industries    11. Aerospace & aviation technology    12. Engineering thermodynamics    13. Science / Astrophysics & Space Science   

Reviews (5)

The best book on graduate cosmology.
I am currently teaching graduate cosmology. Modern cosmology is an extraordinarily beautiful piece of physics that has allowed cosmologists to learn from observations fundamental facts about our universe. Graduate students want to understand this beautiful subject themselves.Dodelson's book is the one that delivers that understanding. Of the several graduate cosmology texts out there, this one is unquestionably the best.
Great text
I haven't used another cosmology text for comparison, but have been very pleased with this one.The text is everywhere clear, reasonably concise, and the author uses good judgment in determining which calculations to present as examples and which to reserve for practice, all of which make this a very easy text to read.My only reservations are that necessary assumptions and approximations do not always seem fully justified, and the reader is often asked to wait until later in the text for certain approximations to be justified, which at times disrupts the logical flow of the text.The text is also somewhat incomplete in the sense that Dodelson does not always start from first principles.In my case I considered this an advantage as it allowed for quicker reading and less overhead before important results are presented.The discussion of inflation was less complete than I had hoped, but sufficient to prepare me for the literature.

the BEST book on cosmology for the advanced student
Without question, Dodelson's book beats out a herd of books at the present redshift for the de rigeur text to be bandied about by grad students. I haven't looked back at Padmanabhan's Structure formation in awhile, but it was written before the COBE discoveries, and so it's a bit "old fashioned" now; there are a number of other books worth looking at, of course.
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Subjects:  1. Astronomy - Universe    2. Cosmology    3. Physics    4. Science    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Astrophysics    7. Cosmology & the universe    8. Science / Astronomy   

Reviews (20)

Universe Review
What an excellent book ! Full of up todate information (this is pre-Pluto's demotion), graphics and pictures.The book is divided up in to easy to read sections, not overly technical and covers everything from the history of astronomy, the solar system, deep space, NASA expeditions,a section on night sky charts and lots more.
The fundamental knowledge and more....
Universe gives you a fundamental knowledge on the subject of astronomy, this book gives you more than just a repedative walkthrough about the inner and the outer heavenly bodies. This book goes all the way, by making the vast astronomical sciences accesible for everyone intersested on the subject.
UNIVERSE
The binding is typical DK which is less substantial than other books in the price range, but the content is incredible.No need for any other book on the subject. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Astronomy (General)    2. Astronomy - General    3. Astronomy - Universe    4. Astrophysics & Space Science    5. Children's 9-12 - Science    6. Cosmology    7. Planets    8. Popular works    9. Reference    10. Science    11. Science/Mathematics    12. Science / Astrophysics & Space Science   

Reviews (2)

Most authoritative and rigorous treatment of ACS I've seen.
Provides the only text I have seen on quaternion math and its relation to more traditional attitude matrices and Euler dynamics. The presentation allows algorithm generation without too much fuss, and it is rigorous butnot to a fault. Definitely graduate level reference material for practicingACS engineers. I have found it indispensable.

*The* authoritative text on the subject
This book is intended for technical professionals, who want an exhaustive mathematical and geometric reference to the techniques of spacecraft attitude determination and attitude control.Read more

Subjects:  1. Applied    2. Astrophysics & Space Science    3. Engineering - Automotive    4. Science    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Technology & Industrial Arts    7. Space science    8. Technology / Engineering / Automotive   

Reviews (2)

Explorations
This book is very detailed and the CD-Rom has excellent pictures.The only downfall is that the mathmatical functions are not detailed enough for me.

up to date introduction
A very solid, and up to date discussion of modern astronomy. Well suited for undergraduate astronomy majors taking a first course. You get a coherent formulation of our best understanding of galaxy formation on a cosmological scale. And also how first and second generation stars appear and evolve. Then, within a stellar system, how planets can condense out of gas.
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Subjects:  1. Astronomy - General    2. Science    3. Science/Mathematics    4. Astrophysics    5. Science / Astronomy   

Subjects:  1. Astrophysics    2. Astrophysics & Space Science    3. Physics    4. Science    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Textbooks    7. Science / Physics   

Reviews (10)

FANTASTIC reading - simply ONE of a kind!
ABSOLUTELY GREAT book - no doubts, no reservations! I would strongly recommend it to ANYBODY, regardless of the background - it's a wonderful, fascinating reading. This book is VERY DIFFERENT from all other pop-physics books I ever read because it is simply INTERESTING to READ, like a good detective story. Vilenkin is an excellent writer, he writes in a literary language which is normally reserved for fiction. He does not give you all the answers immediately, so you are wondering what is coming next. He is also witty and illustrates his text with great cartoons.
Fasinating, if somewhat flawed....
If you can get past the fact that no one has ever found any real evidence for string theory, then the book's viewpoint on multi-universe ideas goes no where.If you go more by the Big Bang Theory (where there is plenty of evidence for), then the idea (which many belive is the case) is that we live in a closed universe where there is no direct connection between our universe and other universes (if they exist).Einstein's Theory of General Realivety does not disprove the idea of other universes, in fact it's likely other universes outside of our own do exist, but because we live in a closed universe, we may never find evidence to support the Multi-universes theory.Just like it is likely we will never know for sure, if the fourth dimension exists, we can speculate about it, and there may be a fourth dimension, which makes the other three dimensions of left/right, forward/backward, and up/down exist.But we can never experience it.

A very witty and clear book from a leading cosmologist
Alex Vilenkin is one of the popular authors who is also a real leader in his field. He is one of the main authors of eternal inflation and a co-author of a mathematical formula according to which the Universe spontaneously appears from "nothing". He has also worked on topics such as cosmic strings that are not covered in the book.
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Subjects:  1. Astronomy - Universe    2. Astrophysics    3. Astrophysics & Space Science    4. Cosmogony    5. Cosmography    6. Cosmology    7. Science    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Cosmology & the universe    10. Science / Astrophysics & Space Science   

Reviews (9)

Absolutely delightful reading!
Highly informative. A few aspects need to be updated, though. I'd buy a second edition without any hesitation.

A MUST READ!
I bought this book at the Kennedy Space Center Space Store and at first thought the cover and title looked sort of juvenile. However, once I started reading it I couldn't put it down! Mullane answers so many questions I didn't even think to ask and answered questions I had in my mind while touring NASA. This book enriched my NASA experience and I feel so much more knowledgeable about what astronauts experience. His writing style is as lighthearted and accessible as it is thorough. From explaining how astronauts have to work the toilet system on shuttles to how they are chosen to be an astronauts to facts about the Challenger tragedy, the simple question/answer format makes it fast reading and easy to go back and peruse. Published in 1997, I wish Mullane would update it and add more, but this is such a good introduction to the whole shuttle experience, I won't complain. In fact, this book has given me a better understanding of the current spacewalks on the space station and the Cassini spacecraft that just reached Saturn's orbit. I can easily see how this book could be very inspirational for a wanna-be or don't-yet-know-they-wanna-be astronaut, as well. Funny, informative, easy-to-read, candid, and detailed
People who read FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions, a common format to provide information on Usenet and the web) will find the style of this book familiar and accessible.And so, I think, will a lot of people.One of the best things about this book, besides the amount of ground it covers, is its suitability for a wide audience.Its simple language covering a wide range of subjects will appeal to everyone from children to adults, from people with a cursory interest in space travel to people obsessed with it.The book comes with recommendations from Neil Armstrong and James Lovell, as well as several less famous (but not necessarily less experienced) space professionals.Read more

Subjects:  1. Aeronautics & Astronautics    2. Astronautics    3. Astrophysics & Space Science    4. Miscellanea    5. Science    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Space Exploration    8. Technology    9. Science: General Issues    10. Space travel & exploration    11. Technology / Aeronautics & Astronautics   

Reviews (9)

the last word
I am new to apollo and I decided this book should be my way into it. It is a carefully crafted and sensitive piece of writing but its strength is not in the unearthly technicalities but in explaining the earthly politics - this was the biggiest and best pr stunt since the pyramids and is unlikely to be surpassed for hundreds of years.I personally enjoyed the description of the nasa contract management regime and the role of the driving force in the shape of a person, Joe Shea, in this case. This book has to be in the top ten along with the Bible, complete works of shakespeare etc, but if you want a shorter 'rocket-powered-read' and like to read about crazy technical stuff - Ben Rich's Skunkworks is in a class of its own. In fact some of the craziest Lockheed stuff must have been going on at the same time as apollo.
Best General Account of the Lunar Program
In my opinion, "Apollo" ist the best available book of the lunar program. It uses documents and interviews of the people who participated in the Apollo project. It provides some deep insides about the people who brought the spacecraft to the moon, like Bob Gilruth, Max Faget, Chris Kraft, Glynn Lunney and many many more.
The On-The-Ground History of Our Greatest Adventure
The perfect counterpart to Chaikin's book, and an indispensable history of the administrators and decision-makers who made the space program one of our nation's greatest successes. In this day when the word "bureaucrat" is intended as a slur and when government withdraws from the big scientific challenges, it can do us all good to remember the era when the bureaucrats were honest heroes and government dared to reach for the stars. Murray and Cox do justice to everyone from James Webb to the guys in the "trench" in Houston. An invaluable book for any serious Apollo enthusiast. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Astrophysics & Space Science    2. History / United States / 20th Century    3. Science    4. Science / History    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Apollo project    7. History    8. Manned space flight    9. Manned spacecraft    10. NASA programs    11. Space flight    12. United States - 20th Century   

Reviews (1)

Experts Define the State of the Art in Spacecraft Design
This book is on the design of spacecraft. In order to have the most up to date information available, each chapter is written by an expert in the particular field covered by that chapter. Looking at the brief introduction of the writers shows that most of them have been involved in the design of actual spacecraft for the John Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. These people have been actually working on the subjects they discuss.
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Subjects:  1. Aeronautics & Astronautics    2. Astronautical instruments    3. Astronautics    4. Astrophysics & Space Science    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Scientific Instruments    7. Systems engineering    8. Technology    9. Technology & Industrial Arts    10. Engineering & Technology | Mechanical Engineering    11. Technology / Aeronautics & Astronautics   

Reviews (5)

A problem with relativistic mechanics...
David Hestenes is a forerunner of the modern development of Clifford algebra. His current research activities can be followed in the site http://modelingnts.la.asu.edu/GC_R&D.html. Probably his most important book until now (written with Garret Sobczyk) was "Clifford Algebra to Geometric Calculus: A Unified Language for Mathematics and Physics" (Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1984) also available at Amazon.com. This book on the new foundations for classical mechanics (second edition) was written as an introduction to geometric algebra. The term "geometric algebra" was coined to stress that this formulation of Clifford algebra is a unified language for physics and mathematics; it is not a matrix algebra (as used in quantum mechanics in the disguised forms of Pauli and Dirac matrices) as it uses a new property, the contraction, which makes it different from other associative algebras. A recent book on geometric algebra is "Geometric Algebra for Physicists" by Chris Doran and Anthony Lasenby (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003) - see the site http://www.mrao.cam.ac.uk/~clifford/.
Doesn't stand on its own
While I found this a reasonably well-written text, I judge a book based upon how well it stands on its own - that is, can I read the book, work through the exercises, and acquire a grasp of the topic.While this is a much clearer and more accessible intro to geometric algebra than Hestene's "Clifford Algebra to Geometric Calculus", it is more the type of book which would accompany a class in GA, where the instructor fills-in the gaps, rather than a stand-alone text.The worked exercises are relatively few, and are typically of the nature:start with this, magic, more magic, resulting answer.It lacks sufficient explanation, is not self-contained, but this can be partially overcome with additional resources.

Great for physicists, okay for others
This is a great introduction to the Geometric (Clifford) Algebra.It'sfundamentally a physics textbook, however.Those readers whose only desireis to learn the Geometric Algebra might feel some frustration at having toseparate out the Geometric Algebra from the physics.Readers that preferlearning by exploring applications and examples will like this book; thosethat prefer explanations in the abstract will still enjoy many sections,but will have to make it through the more applied sections to get the fullstory.Read more

Subjects:  1. Astrophysics & Space Science    2. Physics    3. Science    4. Science/Mathematics    5. Classical mechanics    6. Mechanics    7. Science / Astrophysics & Space Science    8. Science / Mechanics   

Reviews (1)

Poor layout but good material
I own the first 2 volumes of this set that I had to get for a Graduate Astrophysics class.Read more

Subjects:  1. Astronomy - General    2. Astrophysics    3. Astrophysics & Space Science    4. General    5. Science    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Cosmology & the universe    8. Galaxies, clusters, intergalactic matter    9. Science / Astrophysics & Space Science   

Subjects:  1. Astronomy - General    2. Astronomy - Star Guides    3. Astrophysics & Space Science    4. Multiple stars    5. Observations    6. Science    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Science / Astronomy    9. Stars, interstellar matter   

Reviews (50)

Rekindles the early excitement of the Shuttle program
For whatever reason, most Shuttle astronauts have never gained the recognition that the Mercury/Gemini/Apollo astronauts did. We've come to see them as glorified airline pilots or even bus drivers, carrying earnest scientists into space to watch mice mate in zero gravity. Mike Mullane paints a very different picture of the 1980s Shuttle crews, proving that they were every bit the "fighter jock" competitors that their predecessors were. I for one find this refreshing and gratifying. His no-holds-barred assessments of some of his colleagues, like Sally Ride and John Young, will surprise some readers, even those who already know that the astronauts never were the faultless All-American Heroes that NASA tried to make us believe.
A great read!
Being a space cadet from way back I've read a lot of astronaut memoirs but this is the first one of which I'm aware that deals with the shuttle era.
A Fantastic Must Read
The book is an excellent read especially for those familiar with the space program or worked in the field.This especially applies to me as I was an instructor for the Apollo Astronauts and the Shuttle Astronauts from 1966 until 1992.Mike's book is the first book that has ever given any credit to the Training Team.In the past, I have never read anything that gives credit to the instructors that trained the Astronauts.Very seldom is credit ever given to the people that built the Apollo spacecraft or the Shuttle either.How many people can name the contractors?HmmmmmI give credit to Mike for being honest about the NASA management and expressing his feelings.Many of us were not able to do that because we were contractors and NASA was our customer.I found nothing disagreeable with his thoughts and feelings in this area.I especially liked his personal feelings about his family and the crew members.I could not put the book down.I said "YES" outloud many many times in agreement with his comments. It almost inspires me to write a book myself to add to his story.If you are interested in the space program you better read this book..........thanks Mike ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Air Forces    2. Astronauts    3. Astrophysics & Space Science    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. Manned Space Exploration    9. Military    10. Mullane, R. Mike    11. Scientists - General    12. Space Shuttle Program (U.S.)    13. United States    14. Biography & Autobiography / Science & Technology   

Reviews (3)

Afraid of Numbers? Then this space book is for you!
I first had the pleasure of using Mr. Damon's book, "Introduction to Space: the Science of Spaceflight," in my first few graduate classes. I was impressed by the coverage afforded in this book. Granted, this book was completely useless for technical graduate studies (I needed my 'number and equation fix') it has many uses for persons wanting to know about space without the calculations and involved physics.
Decent Introduction To Space
Thomas Damon's "Introduction to Space" is a good place to start for people who are generally unfamiliar with any of the basic principles of space flight. It is comprehensible any to interested person, and is generally geared toward a high school or early collegiate reader. The text is good at simplifying the math involved and in separating it from the text, making comprehension much easier for people who are not mathematically inclined.
Showcases all aspects of spaceflight
In a fully updated and revised third edition, Thomas Damon's Introduction To Space: The Science Of Spaceflight is an information packed compendium showcasing all aspects of spaceflight, including propulsion, orbits, high resolution images of Earth from space, satellites, debris in orbit, MIR, the International Space Station, space shuttles, working in space, exploration of the Solar System and beyond, disturbances in the space environment, and more. Profusely illustrated with color as well as black-and-what photography, charts, and graphs, Introduction To Space is an informative, superbly presented, and detailed history enhanced with both common units and metric unit descriptions of all quantities; a glossary; and an index. Highly recommended for school and community library space science and history collections. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Aeronautics & Astronautics    2. Astrophysics & Space Science    3. Science    4. Science/Mathematics    5. Space flight    6. Technology & Industrial Arts    7. Popular astronomy    8. Space travel & exploration