Product Description

This is a book that sings about the beauty of the fundamental laws of nature. Clear, accurate descriptions for general science readers (no equations in sight!) are punctuated with original, scintillating verses. The reader is taken on a journey through the contemporary understanding of the building blocks of nature and their interactions — the current status of that age-old, intriguing quest. The central role of symmetry is explained in a manner suitable for general science readers, and its splendor is celebrated in verse. The book facilitates understanding of the background and significance of today's scientific discoveries in atomic, nuclear and particle physics. Many of the poems appear as interludes that reinforce the discussions as they amuse the reader, making this informative book a delight to read.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2294254 in Books
• Published on: 2003-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 312 pages

Review
...a delightful way of introducing readers who are interested in science to a contemporary understanding of some questions in nature... -- Jerome I Friedman, Nobel laureate, 2003

From the Publisher
Readership: General science readers, students in conceptual physics courses, and others interested in a non-mathematical, poetic presentation of particle physics.

About the Author
William B Rolnick, a former student of Robert Serber at Columbia University, has been a professor of physics at Wayne State University for more than three decades. During that time, he has done significant theoretical research and written an insightful and celebrated textbook on particle physics. A premier teacher at that university, he was awarded the highly prestigious President's Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1999, the only recipient from the College of Science in that year. Professor Rolnick is also a professionally trained operatic bass baritone; he is a soloist with The Metropolitan Singers, and has also given many solo recitals in the Detroit area. His understanding of song has been adapted to the creation of the poetic aspects of the present work.

Customer Reviews

A Masterpiece
I am not a scientist. It has been over 40 years since I took my last science class; highschool Biology. I certainly avoided taking any science classes in college, because I was more than afraid of the grade I would get. I have been rewarded for opening my mind and trying to read this book, because it is both artistic in style and interesting in content. I never felt I would be able to understand a subject as difficult as Physics, and I am not pretending to have understood this entire book. I am saying I understood most of it. The author has written poetry that not only helps to explain many of the concepts, but is joyfull and fun to read. He clearly expresses his own love for the subject through his style of writing. It is a book well worth reading.

A Mind Opener
Wow! What beauty and clarity too! Now I know the underlying ideas of particle physics and can appreciate their beauty. The delightful poetry fits so seamlessly with the explanations that I was completely charmed as I read and learned.

One of its kind!
It is a rare book that can communicate the beauty of physics to those not proficient in the mathematics behind the subject. But this book achieves that and goes even further. The author clearly takes great joy in particle physics and imparts this onto the reader. You cannot help but have fun reading this book as you are taken on a tour of special relativity, quantum mechanics and the standard model of particle physics.

For those who enjoy this book I'd also recommend The Quantum Quark by Andrew Watson.