Any literate person should be familiar with the central ideas of modern science. In his sparkling new book, Peter Atkins introduces his choice of the ten great ideas of science. With wit, charm, patience, and astonishing insights, he leads the reader through the emergence of the concepts, and then presents them in a strikingly effective manner. At the same time, he works into his engaging narrative an illustration of the scientific method and shows how simple ideas can have enormous consequences. His choice of the ten great ...
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Any literate person should be familiar with the central ideas of modern science. In his sparkling new book, Peter Atkins introduces his choice of the ten great ideas of science. With wit, charm, patience, and astonishing insights, he leads the reader through the emergence of the concepts, and then presents them in a strikingly effective manner. At the same time, he works into his engaging narrative an illustration of the scientific method and shows how simple ideas can have enormous consequences. His choice of the ten great ideas are: * Evolution occurs by natural selection, in which the early attempts at explaining the origin of species is followed by an account of the modern approach and some of its unsolved problems. * Inheritance is encoded in DNA, in which the story of the emergence of an understanding of inheritance is followed through to the mapping of the human genome. * Energy is conserved, in which we see how the central concept of energy gradually dawned on scientists as they mastered the motion of particles and the concept of heat. * All change is the consequence of the purposeless collapse of energy and matter into disorder, in which the extraordinarily simple concept of entropy is used to account for events in the world. * Matter is atomic, in which we see how the concept of atoms emerged and how the different personalities of the elements arise from the structures of their atoms. * Symmetry limits, guides, and drives, in which we see how concepts related to beauty can be extended to understand the nature of fundamental particles and the forces that act between them. * Waves behave like particles and particles behave like waves, in which we see how old familiar ideas gave way to the extraordinary insights of quantum theory and transformed our perception of matter. * The universe is expanding, in which we see how a combination of astronomy and a knowledge of elementary particles accounts for the origin of the universe and its long term future. * Spacetime is curved by matter, in which we see the emergence of the theories of special and general relativity and come to understand the nature of space and time. * If arithmetic is consistent, then it is incomplete, in which we learn the origin of numbers and arithmetic, see how the philosophy of mathematics lets us understand the nature of this most cerebral of subjects, and are brought to the limits of its power. C.P. Snow once said 'not knowing the second law of thermodynamics is like never having read a work by Shakespeare'. This is an extraordinary, exciting book that not only will make you literate in science but give you deep enjoyment on the way.
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Very good. A copy that has been read, but remains in excellent condition. Pages are intact and are not marred by notes or highlighting, but may contain a neat previous owner name. The spine remains undamaged. An ex-library book and may have standard library stamps and/or stickers. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend Less.
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Fine Condition in Very Good jacket. Dust Jacket w/ minor tear. Quantity Available: 1. Category: Science & Technology; ISBN: 0198606648. ISBN/EAN: 9780198606642. Pictures of this item not already displayed here available upon request. Inventory No: 1420.
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Very Good in Very Good, Not Price Clipped jacket. Book Complete number line from 1 to 10; some edge wear to boards and dust jacket; otherwise a solid, clean copy with no marking or underlining; collectible condition; illustrated with black and white photographs, diagrams and maps.
Highly recommended because of the flowing language, understandable presentations and clear graphics not to mention the topics themselves. I hope those who enjoy learning from Peter will share their opinions with me as well.
Sincerely,
Michael Dean Lewis
Tom E
Jul 16, 2012
Stunningly good writing
The review by Publisher's Weekly 6-1-2003 is dead on right. Peter Atkins proves himself a brilliant teacher. His chapters are full of masterful examples, analogies and explanations, leavened with humor. This is the finest presentation of the most significant concepts of science I have ever read. This is not a "quick read". You will be challenged and encouraged to come to a real understanding of the parts of each of these ten ideas and then to integrate what you think you know into the whole. You will enjoy each challenge and gain a wonderful appreciation of Dr. Atkins as a mentor and friend: a truly great mind trying mightily to help the rest of us understand. I strongly recommend that you have at least one hardback copy as you will want to curl up in a favorite chair and read, re-read, compare ideas and simply disappear into this wonderful world.
