| Why Does E=mc2? |  | Authors: Brian Cox, Jeff Forshaw
Publisher: Da Capo
Category: Book
List Price: £8.99
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Rating:  34 reviews
Sales Rank: 348
Media: Paperback
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5 x 1
ISBN: 0306819112
EAN: 9780306819117
Publication Date: March 4, 2010
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Product Description
An explanation of Einstein's equation that explores the principles of physics through everyday life. It considers the real meaning behind the iconic sequence of symbols that make up Einstein's most famous equation.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 34
 A Basic Introduction to Relativity July 24, 2010
Philomath
A clearly presented and entertaining explanation of relativity theory and its consequences for the reasonably intelligent layman. Nothing beyond a most basic mathematical ability and knowledge of elementary physics is required to benefit from a thoughtful perusal of this little book. It deserves to be read more than once by those unfamiliar with the subject matter. Brian Cox and his co-writer present all the important ideas in the informative and entertaining manner demonstrated in the recent television programmes which have contributed to professor Cox's reputation as a science super-star.
Very accessible and enjoyable July 23, 2010
aky
This book is terrifically well written. It's a very easy read, especially considering the subject matter. The clever use of analogies makes difficult concepts quite accessible. In all cases, the descriptions of concepts are appropriate, clear and very useful.
I would strongly recommend this for anyone with an interest in physics whether they have a formal background in the subject or not. I think the authors have managed to find the right balance of including enough mathematics to explain ideas but have not overloaded the text with equations.
Perhaps the best complement I can pay this book is to say that I would rate it on a par with Brian Greene's 'The Elegant Universe' (The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory), it may even be better. I found that later sections of that book quite difficult to grasp; I find that's often the case with that type of book. The historical stuff is fine but the modern concepts can be more challenging. However this book was very accessible throughout. Also I had not read such a clear account of how E=mc2 follows from Special Relativity, most non-textbooks gloss over the justification and simply say that it follows as a consequence of special relativity.
In short, if you have any interest in the subject, this book is definitely worth a read.
A top book July 19, 2010
Chris
This is one of the best books ever written on the subject of special relativity. I have read a lot of books on this subject and I found this one to be very good. I don't think this is aimed at the total beginner (the maths in the book is no more complex then GCSE level) but the ideas behind the theories are difficult to understand if you do not have a brain for science. The book does contain diagrams which make the small amount of maths contained in the book easier to understand, but if you don't like maths you can just gloss over the mathematical derivations (if fact the authors even advise you to do so if you are not interested in seeing how it is done). I have read the actual papers written by Einstein on relativity (which are very hard going) but read alongside this book they begin to make perfect sense. What this book does do well is describe just how amazing physics can be and how important mathematics is in describing physics.
A top read for anyone with slightly more than a passing interest in physics
spellbinding July 16, 2010
Mr. R. W. Allfrey (Salisbury, England)
Certainly the best/most accessible book I've read on the subject, including anything by Dr Feynman, and a real pleasure from start to finish. It contains very little math, and what there is, is of little or no importance to the point of what he is saying (as he takes great pains to emphasise). In any case, if you don't quite follow how he gets from one step to another, then work through the math for yourself; it's really not that difficult.
So much better than many other book pertaining to be about one thing, only to have the text filled with far too much history. Cox gets it spot on, and I really started to get to grips with it after the second reading, which ALL great books deserve! Anyone who has written a review complaining about still not fully understanding what it is all about should be thankful that it was not comprehensible in one sitting...otherwise we would live in a truly ordinary universe with very little mystery to it, and one where physics would only be taught up to secondary school level.
A brilliant springboard to a whole other universe of interests...and such a nice man to boot!
Annoyed July 13, 2010
Mr. D. F. Poisson (UK)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
A truely challenging read, but nonetheless one which I can thank the authors for. As much as I have stuggled with the likes of Hawking and Green, as a relative (!) novice in basic relativity theory I feel as though I now have at least the rudiments with which to dig deeper. The five stars are undoubtedly deserved for the first couple of chapters alone in which the foundations of modern science are served up in a very easily swallowed pill.
But I'm left angry. Why does the book have to be tarnished with yet another rant about religion?
Now, I can understand why a weak-minded fundamentalist such as Dawkins would not bother to investigate the chasm between the politically-serving closed-mindedness and bullyings of organised, state-controlled "religions" on one side, and on the other the actual teachings of the enlightened men whose works have been (and always will be) usurped for self-advancing ladder-climbers. I say I can understand this lack of investigation because Dawkins is an emotive man who lets all his scientific principles of investigation and evidence-based conclusions go out the window when it comes to his ferocious and fundamentalist relgious views (I'm not sure I wouldn't even rather get preached at by some Jesus-soldier or a Mujahadin Jihadist...)
But for the brilliant, intelligent and deeply human Brian Cox to fall into the same trap... I guess it just makes me sad.
Sad that Science and millitant Atheism seem to now go unquestioningly together.
Sad that even Brian Cox, for whom I have tremedous admiration and respect hasn't yet come to the conclusion choosing between science and religion is like choosing between eating breakfast and wearing shoes. Surely, it's not rocket science that they are two completely different things? Ever tried measuring how heavy you are with a ruler? Science and Spiritual practices belong to two completely different realms within the (vast) Human experience.
Sad that even Brian Cox would choose to come up with the following phrase: "This rather provocative statement sounds superficially profound in the way that Zenlike utterences from fortune-tellers often do. In this case, however, it does turn out to be a great insight[...]" What exactly do Zen Buddhism and fortune-telling have to do with each other? I wonder how much respect Dr Cox could preserve for a computer programmer who wrote in his book: "...this sounds as pretentious as those quantum-physicky utterances of botanists, but in this case, it's actually useful."
I won't remove a star for this, no matter how annoying, because the rest of the book really is SO interesting. I guess that would be because (most of the time), the duo are talking about something they actually know (a hell of a lot!) about.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 34
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