Promotions - Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles 2024 -

Belot's preface suggests that this is a book about the philosophical implications of cosmological models whose spatial expansion is accelerating rather than slowing down, as one might expect ab initio. The history of thinking about the universe's expansion is rich. Einstein preferred a static universe and famously changed his field equations for general relativity to force a static universe as one possible solution. Other researchers favored models that expanded from a big bang, then slowed, and ultimately began contracting. Of course, this is not a purely philosophical problem; observations will ultimately determine what is correct. Once the reader gets beyond the preface the book surprises, because it is actually an introduction to the mathematics used to describe these cosmological models. The book features extensive discussions of the mathematics of de Sitter and anti-de Sitter space-times, which are the foundations for analyzing expanding space-times. Belot (philosophy, Univ. of Michigan) makes heavy use of space-time diagrams in a fashion that truly enhances the reader's understanding. Later, the book arrives at discussions of "no-hair" theorems, links to quantum mechanics, and Boltzmann brains. The references are extensive, and the book is accessible to advanced undergraduates and graduate students.Summing Up: Highly recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty; professionals.

Zee (Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, Univ. of California, Santa Barbara) is a gifted, prolific writer: 200 scientific publications, 5 physics books for the general public, 3 graduate physics textbooks, and 1 Chinese cookbook. As in his earlier On Gravity (CH, Oct'18, 56-0687), Zee seems to transcend expected boundaries in writing on a difficult subject. This book is certain to appeal to, instruct, and entertain at many levels: motivated lay readers, physics students (undergraduate and graduate), and professional physicists who lack familiarity with the topic will enjoy reading it. Zee's familiarity with quantum field theory, and field theory in general (including electromagnetism and gravity), is displayed brilliantly and humorously throughout the text. Zee starts with a review of classical physics, comparing Newton's formulation to using the Lagrangian and the principle of least action, adding a little bit of special relativity along the way. This, a kind of extreme action, becomes the jumping-off platform for the rest of the book. Zee's originality is shown, for example, in his explanation of virtual particles in part 5, chapter 1 ("Antimatter!") and his discussion of the derivation of an expanding universe in part 5, chapter 5 ("Gravity and Curved Spacetime"). Additionally, this reviewer finds the endnotes nothing short of priceless.Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers.

Halley (Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis) offers a general reader for any student of physics who wishes to have a general knowledge of and a historical perspective on time, which, along with space, is one of the key components of the physical universe. But the book is incomplete in a number of ways: Halley does not mention that space is the container of matter while time is the vehicle for change. In explaining the beginning and end of time, the author could have better distinguished between physical time, which had its beginning with the Big Bang, conceptual time, which can extend before the Big Bang and can continue even after the Heat Death (not mentioned in the book), and psychological time, which moves either slowly or fast for individual human beings, depending on their experiences. In discussing cyclic time the author refers to the ancient Greek view, and makes no reference to the alternative concept of yugas, or world eras, in ancient India. Despite these shortcomings, however, the book is a valuable addition to the available, interesting books on physics for nonmajors. The included topics are well organized and clearly presented. Even an interested general reader will find the book accessible and informative.Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates. General readers.

Physicist Martin (Univ. of Padua, Italy) presents histories of seven measures that form an unsung framework for modern science and commerce: the meter, second, kilogram, kelvin, ampere, mole, and candela. In addition to the evolution of these measures from local agreement and standardized physical artifact to unchangeable natural property, this slim volume manages to incorporate much of the history of science in general and the world beyond. No surprise to find a discussion of quantum physics here, but the French Revolution, Max Planck's plea to Hitler to spare his son Edwin's life, and Einstein's public denouncement of racial segregation are unexpected inclusions, as are discussions of Beethoven's musical tempo and the biblical parable of the talents. Martin also weaves in examples from everyday life, like snow globes, quartz watches, and wine tears. The result is much more than the title implies, and the reader will come away with a broader understanding of more than seven measures, though the science may seem too dense in spots for general readers. Even so, they will learn a lot. Most of the suggested additional readings are available in English. Recommended for history of science and general science collections, which most likely could use a boost on the topic of metrology.Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels.