BizCar - English Language Books: International supplier of books in the English language
|
|
|
| Dancing Wu Li Masters: An Overview of the New Physics | 
 enlarge | Author: Gary Zukav
Publisher: HarperOne
Category: Book
List Price: $15.00 (35.31 RON)
Buy New: $10.95 (25.78 RON)
You Save: $4.05 (9.53 RON) (27%)
Avg. Customer Rating:  114 reviews
Sales Rank: 16721
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 416
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.3 x 1.1
ISBN: 0060959681
Dewey Decimal Number: 181
EAN: 9780060959685
ASIN: 0060959681
Publication Date: August 1, 2001
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
|
| Customer Reviews:
 Physics for Dummies November 27, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Probably the best science book Ive ever read, and certainly no better way to explain quantum physics than this. Stripped of all the math related to it, you'll have fun with this one!!!!
understandable to normal people July 27, 2007
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Read this book a few years ago and just bought it recently for my wife so she could understand what I was talking about sometimes, and to tie in with other reading she is doing that mentions quantum physics. It explains the basic concepts in clear terms, making much more sense out of a VERY abstract field. If you want to understand what it is about, this is a good place to start.
 I have mixed feelings (former scientist review) March 31, 2007
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
I think the virtue of this book is that it challenges the established scientific paradigm that the universe is made of discrete particles. In other words, that matter is as solid as it seems and somehow energy is separate from matter. It also makes it clear that there are plenty of mysteries left to explore about the nature of the universe, even the physical universe. In addition, it stresses the interrelationships between things and what the implications might be with respect to different subject areas such as psychology.
While it's true Zukav doesn't explain the physics in depth, it does give a layman a sense of the physics is about, what it may mean and good food for thought about how this might relate to spirituality. The book is not a science text, it is a flight of imagination and a pretty good one. Much of the contents is highly speculative, but it is thought provoking and easy to follow.
If you are a scientist or a well-read layman in the area of physics, you might be disappointed. Also, if you have a deep knowledge of Eastern religion you might find it superficial and perhaps even a bit annoying. I think this books makes a sacrifice in terms of accuracy for depth and wonder. As such, it doesn't quite captivate either major audience. However, it is a useful starting point for many people into these often difficult to understand areas.
With respect to organization, I would agree that there is room for improvement. However, it not meant to be a textbook. I can give the author some wiggle room on this because in some ways, it is rather poetic and its value is to convey a sense of awe and wonder. In the regard, I think the author achieved his purpose, but sometimes at the expense of accuracy.
Splendid and readable account of QM March 27, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I'm not sure I'm entirely convinced by the author's point of view, but he certainly succeeds in giving you a better understanding of QM and the philosophical questions involved in it.
No Strings Attached February 23, 2007
15 out of 20 found this review helpful
This dated book simplifies the historical journey of discovery that became quantum physics. The author proposes interrelationships among: science/scientists, Jungian psychology, eastern mysticism, philosophy & logic, & languaging. Readers vary greatly, finding the physics (even w/o math): daunting, wonderfully enlightening, or boring, depending on the reader. The author simplifies physics mostly in layman's terms, but esoteric ideas are the nature of modern physics--outside the box. As a former physicist, I find his attempt quite admirable; as a former electronics engineer, I wish he'd addressed the error factor. As for accuracy, I cannot personally say, but Jack Sarfatti (whom I highly respect) stated that he'd created/reviewed the physics. Zukav's definitions of technician vs. physicist are relevant too--technicians may be challenged by the open-minded, brain-storming nature of physicists. Many (e.g. Bohm) approach (if not reach) Buddhist viewpoints. I've extensively studied Buddhism & agree with Zukav overall--indeed, he quotes Bohr, Stapp, et al in support of an interrelated universe--but some of his extrapolations are hyperbolic overstatements--reminding me of Gershom Scholem, the historian who popularized Kabbalah. Neither kabbalist nor mystic, his historical analysis was superb; his personal opinions weren't.
IMHO great value lies in exploding the either-or way people tend to view Reality (even in Buddhist philosophy!) which, per Zukav, Einstein, Heisenberg, et al, is only our View of actuality. Unreality has been defined as reifying former conclusions--i.e. forming a conclusion, forgetting it was only a conclusion, & taking it as the truth. This resembles psychological neuroses which are often a child's ways of coping with the world unconsciously continued into the present. Conclusions are analogies & all analogies are wrong--or they'd be identities. Thus, the periodic table, phyla of biology, concepts of waves & particles ...are all inherently incorrect--an error factor must be invoked. If so, the platypus won't upset the biologist & light won't upset the physicist. If water can be gas, liquid, or solid, why can't light be multi-stable? As Zukav states: p. 134: "We often discredit what we know when it contradicts what we have been taught is possible," p. 311: Henry Stapp "Everything we know about nature is in accord with the idea that the fundamental processes of nature lie outside space-time," & p. 313-4 fn: "According to Sarfatti's theory, the wave function of the photon pair is at a `higher level of reality' than the wave function of the separate photons...Every step up to a new level of reality is a step to a new order--that is the definition of a level of reality. of our multilevel hierarchical reality, i.e. the wave functions of events which are `separate' on one level of reality are correlated at the next level up: `separate events' at that level are, in turn, correlates at the next level up, & so on." This definitely parallels the four worlds of Kabbalah & reasonably correlates with the "kayas" (bodies or dimensions) of Tibetan Buddhism.
|
|
|
