A look at the history of ideas as a marriage of music and science. Levenson (Ice Time, not reviewed) chronicles the human quest for order in the world, from the idealism of Pythagoras to contemporary computer programs for musical composition and performance. Pythagoras is credited with the discovery of the harmonic series, the basis for the musical scale, which, writ large, suggested a music of the spheres—the eternal, unchanging perfection of the universe. And so for a millennium, during the Church's iron rule, the dominant music was Gregorian chant and ``science'' was considered ``revealed knowledge''—something more spiritual than material. But musical horizons were broadening; notation and polyphony and duration were invented, and instruments grew in sophistication. The measurement of time, the invention of clocks and other mechanical devices, laid the groundwork for the experimental science of the Renaissance. Levenson pairs developments in music and in musical instruments with the development of science and scientific instruments like the microscope and telescope. The music/science metaphor continues with parallel chapters of latter-day developments, concluding with such striking inventions as genetically engineered mice that, lacking their own immune systems, accept fetal human immune cells and are now used to study AIDS. He concludes with a history of synthesizers and computer-aided compositions such as those played by Yo Yo Ma on an electronic cello. Ultimately, his point is that art and science come together as acts of human creativity that satisfy aesthetic demands. In so doing, science strives for beauty while recognizing that its truth is ever evolving, substituting a truth for the truth. Levenson occasionally dwells too long on the details of instrument-making and could well have indicated other parallels to illustrate his theme—the history of painting and sculpture, for example. Still, his theme and variations are very well orchestrated and worth hearing.
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1994
ISBN: 0-671-78730-6
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1994
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An intriguing meditation on the nature of the universe and our attempts to understand it that should appeal to both...
Italian theoretical physicist Rovelli (General Relativity: The Most Beautiful of Theories, 2015, etc.) shares his thoughts on the broader scientific and philosophical implications of the great revolution that has taken place over the past century.
These seven lessons, which first appeared as articles in the Sunday supplement of the Italian newspaper Sole 24 Ore, are addressed to readers with little knowledge of physics. In less than 100 pages, the author, who teaches physics in both France and the United States, cogently covers the great accomplishments of the past and the open questions still baffling physicists today. In the first lesson, he focuses on Einstein's theory of general relativity. He describes Einstein's recognition that gravity "is not diffused through space [but] is that space itself" as "a stroke of pure genius." In the second lesson, Rovelli deals with the puzzling features of quantum physics that challenge our picture of reality. In the remaining sections, the author introduces the constant fluctuations of atoms, the granular nature of space, and more. "It is hardly surprising that there are more things in heaven and earth, dear reader, than have been dreamed of in our philosophy—or in our physics,” he writes. Rovelli also discusses the issues raised in loop quantum gravity, a theory that he co-developed. These issues lead to his extraordinary claim that the passage of time is not fundamental but rather derived from the granular nature of space. The author suggests that there have been two separate pathways throughout human history: mythology and the accumulation of knowledge through observation. He believes that scientists today share the same curiosity about nature exhibited by early man.
An intriguing meditation on the nature of the universe and our attempts to understand it that should appeal to both scientists and general readers.Pub Date: March 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-399-18441-3
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Riverhead
Review Posted Online: Dec. 7, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A magnificent account of a central reality of our times, incorporating deep scientific expertise, broad political and social knowledge, and ethical insight, and Idled with beautifully written biographical sketches of the men and women who created nuclear physics. Rhodes describes in detail the great scientific achievements that led up to the invention of the atomic bomb. Everything of importance is examined, from the discovery of the atomic nucleus and of nuclear fission to the emergence of quantum physics, the invention of the mass-spectroscope and of the cyclotron, the creation of such man-made elements as plutonium and tritium, and implementation of the nuclear chain reaction in uranium. Even more important, Rhodes shows how these achievements were thrust into the arms of the state, which culminated in the unfolding of the nuclear arms race. Often brilliantly, he records the rise of fascism and of anti-Semitism, and the intensification of nationalist ambitions. He traces the outbreak of WW II, which provoked a hysterical rivalry among nations to devise the bomb. This book contains a grim description of Japanese resistance, and of the horrible psychological numbing that caused an unparalleled tolerance for human suffering and destruction. Rhodes depicts the Faustian scale of the Manhattan Project. His account of the dropping of the bomb itself, and of the awful firebombing that prepared its way, is unforgettable. Although Rhodes' gallery of names and events is sometimes dizzying, his scientific discussions often daunting, he has written a book of great drama and sweep. A superb accomplishment.
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 1986
ISBN: 0684813785
Page Count: 932
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 28, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 1986
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