The Road to Reality, some 1000 pages long, aims to provide a comprehensive account of our present understanding of the physical universe, and the essentials of its underlying mathematical theory. No particular mathematical knowledge on the part of the reader is assumed - the early chapters providing the essential mathematical background for the physical theories described in the remainder of the book. The aim is to convey something of an overall understanding - a feeling for the deep beauty and philosophical connotations ...
Read More
The Road to Reality, some 1000 pages long, aims to provide a comprehensive account of our present understanding of the physical universe, and the essentials of its underlying mathematical theory. No particular mathematical knowledge on the part of the reader is assumed - the early chapters providing the essential mathematical background for the physical theories described in the remainder of the book. The aim is to convey something of an overall understanding - a feeling for the deep beauty and philosophical connotations of the subject, as well as of its intricate logical interconnections. Clearly, a work of this nature is challenging, but there is enough descriptive material to carry the less mathematically inclined reader through, as well as some 450-500, mostly hand-drawn, figures. The book provides a feeling for all the key issues and deep current controversies, and counters the common complaint that cutting-edge science is fundamentally inaccessible. The topics covered in this book include: the roles of different kinds of numbers and of geometry in physics; the ideas - and magic - of calculus and of modern geometry; notions of infinity; the physics and mathematics of relativity theory; the foundations and controversies of quantum mechanics; the standard model of particle physics; cosmology; the big bang; black holes; the profound challenge of the second law of thermodynamics; string and M theory; loop quantum gravity; twistors; fashions in science; and new directions.
Read Less
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Collectable-Very Good Condition in Very Good jacket. 9780224044479. Signed by Author. ~~Signed by Roger Penrose to bookplate on fly-leaf~~VG/VG-1st print 1st UK ed 2004 Jonathan Cape hardback, unclipped DJ. A little wear and creasing to jacket edges, minor age-spots to page edges, light usage only, VG and unmarked throughout. Scarce. Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: 1-2 kilos. Category: Science & Technology; Signed by Author. ISBN: 0224044478. ISBN/EAN: 9780224044479. The photos provided are of our own book, further photos may be arranged upon request. Inventory No: 092140.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. This book is in good condition but will show signs of previous ownership. Please expect some creasing to the spine and/or minor damage to the cover. Grubby book may have mild dirt or some staining, mostly on the edges of pages. Aged book. Tanned pages and age spots, however, this will not interfere with reading.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
pp. xxviii, 1094. Thick 8vo. Black and white diagrams. Gilt lettering to spine. Light shelfwear, slight residue to rear flap of dustjacket; very good+ in very good+ dustjacket.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
pp. xxviii, 1094. 8vo. Bound in black cloth with gilt lettering to spine. Black and white illustrations. Lightest shelfwear; very good+ in price-clipped, very good dustjacket with crease to spine.