The Ascent of Science
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- $33.99
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- $33.99
Publisher Description
From the revolutionary discoveries of Galileo and Newton to the mind-bending theories of Einstein and Heisenberg, from plate tectonics to particle physics, from the origin of life to universal entropy, and from biology to cosmology, here is a sweeping, readable, and dynamic account of the whole of Western science.
In the approachable manner and method of Stephen Jay Gould and Carl Sagan, the late Brian L. Silver translates our most important, and often most obscure, scientific developments into a vernacular that is not only accessible and illuminating but also enjoyable. Silver makes his comprehensive case with much clarity and insight; his book aptly locates science as the apex of human reason, and reason as our best path to the truth. For all readers curious about--or else perhaps intimidated by--what Silver calls "the scientific campaign up to now" in his Preface, The Ascent of Science will be fresh, vivid, and fascinating reading.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Where does heat come from? What is light? Did life start on Earth? Can physical phenomena be accurately measured? We may not think often about these questions, but for readers who do, Silver, professor of physical chemistry at the Israel Institute of Technology, is a reliable guide. Silver does more than explain scientific achievements with wit and grace: For him, science is fun. In this spirit, he leads a whirlwind tour through wondrous worlds of molecular biology, animal evolution, quantum mechanics, and relativity. The first half of the book is largely devoted to the rise of classical physics and subsequent "Cracks in Newton's Pedestal." After a discussion of chaos that leads to a section on biology, he continues his narrative with quantum theory and, finally, relativity. No matter how heady the subject, Silver stands undaunted in his belief that there is no topic too complex to explain to a determined lay reader, l'homme moyen sensuel, or HMS, as Silver calls him. Finally, one must applaud Silver's bravery in pointing out that even scientists approach their trade with a modicum of faith. Not all scientific conclusions, especially in the field of quantum mechanics, jibe with common sense; it is common for theories initially to appear to explain the facts satisfactorily, but later to be proven wrong. Science involves a lot of guesswork: theories can just as often obscure as elucidate nature's inner workings. For Silver, however, this is the wonder of science and reason for its ascent. Like the living creatures that cover the earth, science, too, evolves.
