Physics and Technology for Future Presidents: An Introduction to the Essential Physics Every World Leader an Introduction to the Essential Physics Every World Leader Needs to Know Needs to Know

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Physics and Technology for Future Presidents: An Introduction to the Essential Physics Every World Leader an Introduction to the Essential Physics Every World Leader Needs to Know Needs to Know

3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 · rating details · 686 ratings · 173 reviews

"Physics and Technology for Future Presidents" contains the essential physics that students need in order to understand today's core science and technology issues, and to become the next generation of world leaders. From the physics of energy to climate change, and from spy technology to quantum computers, this is the only textbook to focus on the modern physics affecting...more "Physics and Technology for Future Presidents" contains the essential physics that students need in order to understand today's core science and technology issues, and to become the next generation of world leaders. From the physics of energy to climate change, and from spy technology to quantum computers, this is the only textbook to focus on the modern physics affecting the decisions of political leaders and CEOs and, consequently, the lives of every citizen. How practical are alternative energy sources? Can satellites really read license plates from space? What is the quantum physics behind iPods and supermarket scanners? And how much should we fear a terrorist nuke? This lively book empowers students possessing any level of scientific background with the tools they need to make informed decisions and to argue their views persuasively with anyone--expert or otherwise.

Based on Richard Muller's renowned course at Berkeley, the book explores critical physics topics: energy and power, atoms and heat, gravity and space, nuclei and radioactivity, chain reactions and atomic bombs, electricity and magnetism, waves, light, invisible light, climate change, quantum physics, and relativity. Muller engages readers through many intriguing examples, helpful facts to remember, a fun-to-read text, and an emphasis on real-world problems rather than mathematical computation. He includes chapter summaries, essay and discussion questions, Internet research topics, and handy tips for instructors to make the classroom experience more rewarding.

Accessible and entertaining, "Physics and Technology for Future Presidents" gives students the scientific fluency they need to become well-rounded leaders in a world driven by science and technology.

Professors: A supplementary Instructor's Manual is available for this book. It is restricted to teachers using the text in courses. For information on how to obtain a copy, refer to: http: //press.princeton.edu/class_use/solutio...

Leading universities that have adopted this book include: Harvard Purdue Rice University University of Chicago Sarah Lawrence College Notre Dame Wellesley Wesleyan University of Colorado Northwestern Washington University in St. Louis University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign Fordham University of Miami George Washington University(less)

Hardcover, 532 pages

Published April 13th 2010 by Princeton University Press (first published December 31st 2006)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 1,552)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Dec 05, 2011 Chris rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Leaving aside the counsel to a potential president conceit which wears out its welcome remarkably early in this egress into scientific realism from a sober and commonsensical physics professor, Muller provides a healthy splash of Chill the fuck out and take another bite of this here Clue Burger, y'all a bunch of Chicken Little motherfuckers. The sky ain't necessarily falling, and there's no need to be crying your pretty little eyes out that it is, chump change water over a bunch of thickly and p...more

like 3 likes · see review

Feb 21, 2010 Todd rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: future and past presidents

At lunch with a friend last week I complained that science is generally considered to be a suitable pursuit for children or child-like adults, from Sid The Science Kid to the manic Bill Nye The Science Guy to the impish Richard Feynman.

It's as if American society believes that curiosity about science is merely a phase we go through as we grow up, like playing with Legos. Sure there are some adults who still do it, but it is considered vaguely unseemly. (Meanwhile the over 50% of Americans who be...more At lunch with a friend last week I complained that science is generally considered to be a suitable pursuit for children or child-like adults, from Sid The Science Kid to the manic Bill Nye The Science Guy to the impish Richard Feynman.

It's as if American society believes that curiosity about science is merely a phase we go through as we grow up, like playing with Legos. Sure there are some adults who still do it, but it is considered vaguely unseemly. (Meanwhile the over 50% of Americans who believe in angels and the roughly 6% who believe the moon landings were faked live their lives unimpeded.)

Then I came across this book, which objectively and simply explains the physics behind some very adult topics like terrorism, nuclear war, and global warming. It begins with a wrenching explanation of the physics behind the 9/11 attacks and how gasoline packs more energy per pound than even TNT.

The probable effects of a dirty bomb attack on a major city is analyzed and shown to be relatively minimal. Sure, there will be a slightly increased rate of cancer due to increased radiation, but it the radiation is calculated to be roughly the same that residents of Denver are naturally exposed to. So if we evacuate the area around a dirty bomb attack, shouldn't we also evacuate Denver?

For me the bonus in reading this book was the section on global warming. I admit to not paying close attention to this topic, and I also admit that being deeply skeptical about the way both sides of the issue present their case. It turns out Dr. Muller is with me on the skeptical part.

He lays out the (few) known facts and the (many) cherry picked facts and anecdotes about global warming that are designed to appeal to emotion rather than reason. While reading this section, I realized that Dr. Muller is slyly including lessons on the scientific method as well as the ethics of science. This is worth the price of the book alone.

The important lesson of this book is that we could being making better decisions as a society simply by acknowledging the parts of reality that are completely objective and not up for debate. So it turns out that science is good for something more than just invoking a sense of wonder.
(less)

like 4 likes · see review

Jan 13, 2009 Trina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: nonfiction

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the current issues of global warming, energy or terrorism. It outlines the reality of the science and its impact on these issues in the public realm. I found it very informative and helpful to be able to follow these issues and determine what my stand is and what course I feel our country ought to take. It also helps to not be easily misled by varying reports.

like 2 likes · see review

Jul 25, 2008 Warren rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone

Recommended to Warren by: read about it in a magazine

This book is hands-down the most important book anyone can read this year. If I had the money, I would buy a copy for every person I know: it's that good. The book discusses the science behind topics that would be critical to any presidency: terrorism, the fuel situation, nuclear bombs and other related topics, global warming, alternative energy... and more.
What I really like about the book is that it's politics-free. Liberals and conservatives alike stand to learn a lot about themselves and the...more

like 3 likes · see review

Jul 04, 2010 Arminius rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: science

The Physics for Future Presidents

It is a fascinating book using science to explain and sometimes solve today’s major problems. Estimating future types of terrorist attacks can be calculated by knowing how destructive each potential weapon is. The surprising answer is that gasoline not “smart” nuclear bombs are their weapon of choice.
Do you want to know how to bring down oil prices? The answer is to make oil from coal. Coal is our countries most abundant natural resource. The reason why we do not...more

like 4 likes · see review

Feb 05, 2010 Bruce Vines rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I feel by this book, in the area of natural law, the way I do about "Rich Dad,.." for finance. It discusses the physics that I believe EVERYONE should understand in today's world. It's a non-mathematical presentation of the physics that's applicable to our (the world's) current situation. One of the problems I have with people, in general, in our society (and the world for that matter) is that we're ruled by our prejudices (emotions) rather than our reason. I sincerely do NOT believe that God sc...more

like 1 like · see review

Sep 11, 2008 Taylor rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone

Recommended to Taylor by: Barnes and Noble

This is an absolute must read, or must listen to. You can get his physics for non scientists podcast also (Dr. Muller teaches at Cal-Berkeley). For those who don't love physics or math, a couple of notes, there are about 2 equations in the whole book (he puts the rest in the appendix) and it is a fun and enjoyable read. It is also the most even handed discussion of the science behind terrorism, energy (including a long section about nuclear), and space exploration that I have read. The best sect...more

like 1 like · see review

Mar 02, 2009 Kit rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Physics for Future Presidents was originally a class taught by the author at UC Berkeley. Students voted it the best class on campus. Then it became a series of podcasts, and now it's this book, which is extremely readable, very interesting, and ought to be required reading for everyone in the US, future presidents included.

The book covers the physics of subjects like terrorism, nuclear weapons, nuclear energy, energy policy, and global warming. The genius of this approach is that it cuts throug...more

like · see review

Feb 09, 2009 Manzoid rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Uses the minor gimmick of briefing "future presidents" (aka his students) on various public policy topics, from a physicist's perspective, to give a rational, reality-based underpinning to policy decisions. Actually it could just have well been called "Physics for Current Citizens". Pretty interesting and informative survey.

Factoids from the book:
* Chocolate chip cookies have far more energy than TNT (about 5x).
* Food is enormously energy-rich: For the same weight, gasoline delivers only 1.4x th...more

like · see review

Jan 22, 2009 Wesley rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Richards Mullers book manages to achieve a very complicated feat. It manages to be a textbook without seeming like a textbook. What I mean by this is that it provides all the information that you could ever want and find in a textbook, but at the same time, it also presents all the information in such a way that it makes the reader think that, "This can't possibly be a textbook."

The book itself describes many different issues that pertain to modern day physics. My personal favorite is the chapte...more

like · see review

Mar 30, 2012 Jo Green rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audible, non-fiction, science

This was great, it was not so much over my head. It was a practical book, it explained about the difference in dirty bombs and why so much gasoline was so powerful, liquid gasoline is equal to TONS of TNT, it explained is simple scientific terms how the molecules vibrate creating more energy causing the other molecules to vibrate and gasoline is just about the most powerful explosive around because it ignites in the air- or something like that. He said if the president got a call about a dirty b...more

like · see review

Feb 11, 2012 Bas Kreuger rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Highly recommended! A scientist who writes understandable language for the general public is special, but one who can make you understand difficult subjects in a few lines is even better.
This book should be a "must read" for politicians, ministers (specially defence, economic affairs and of the interior and naturally our MP Balkenende too!), but journalists would also be a good target audience.

With Mullers facts in your head, you'll be able to evaluate opinions by (badly informed) politicians, a...more

like · see review

Jul 02, 2010 John rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The conceit of this book is, obviously, that it's addressed to whoever would win the Obama-McCain race: here are the bits of physics you need to understand if you're going to make the right decisions on terrorism, energy, nukes (both weapons and reactors), space and global warming. There's plenty of good stuff here as well as lots of fascinating facts that I'm sure I'll find myself tossing oh-so-casually into dinner-party conversations. The text is extremely readable, bouncing along at an exhila...more The conceit of this book is, obviously, that it's addressed to whoever would win the Obama-McCain race: here are the bits of physics you need to understand if you're going to make the right decisions on terrorism, energy, nukes (both weapons and reactors), space and global warming. There's plenty of good stuff here as well as lots of fascinating facts that I'm sure I'll find myself tossing oh-so-casually into dinner-party conversations. The text is extremely readable, bouncing along at an exhilarating pace. But there are also some silly mistakes:

In the Manhattan Project, the scientists initially estimated that the amount needed for a critical mass was about 440 pounds. [. . .:] With a tamper, instead of leaking out, the neutrons are reflected back in, so the critical mass needed for an explosion dropped by about a factor four, down to only 33 pounds. (p129)

I've tried and I've tried and I've tried to make sense of that "factor of four" calculation, but I still can't get no satisfaction. The "440 pounds" is clearly a euphemism for 200kg, and I assume "33 pounds" is, in plain English, 15kg . . . but even looking at these somewhat easier-to-work-with numbers, hoping for some sort of four-related relationship between them, I can't imagine what he was talking about. Similarly here:

In 1974, the average refrigerator size in the United States had a volume of 18 cubic feet, and the energy it used was 1800 kilowatt-hours per year. That's 130 kilowatt-hours for each cubic foot. (p315)

If I divide 1800 by 18, I get 100, not 130. I've checked my calculation every which way, and I still think I'm right on this.

I have other concerns. In the long chapter on global warming, Muller adopts the position of being, not a climate change denier, but a denier of the need for draconian action . . . and he claims to produce the physics to support this. He obviously has a beef about Al Gore and the movie An Inconvenient Truth, because he loses no opportunity to carp at them, even in instances where quite clearly Gore's "error" was that the science he presented, while perfectly correct as of 2004, has since been amended. Perhaps Gore once farted in front of Muller's wife, or something. Even so, I was prepared to be educated on the subject, but then . . . well, what's this?

On page 283 we have a couple of diagrams credited to "Pielke & Landsea"? On p294 there's an approving mention of a correction to the climatologists' physics from Steve McIntyre and Ross McKitrick? The diagrams seem plausible and the correction to the physics may be fine for all I know, but nowhere is there a mention of the fact that Pielke, McIntyre and McKitrick are extremely controversial figures in the climate debate, being champions of the AGW-denialist movement. I for one would trust nothing emanating from any of these three until I had it confirmed in triplicate by independent authorities, and even then I'd be dubious. Yet Muller, who must have known that to much of his audience the names will mean nothing, fails to alert his readers to the fact that the arguments being produced in general on AGW by Pielke, McIntyre and McKitrick (and, again for all I know, Landsea) are, to euphemize, not universally accepted.

Similarly, on pp104-105 Muller discusses the estimated death toll from long-term cancers in the wake of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, and tells us that the IAEA/UN best estimate for this number is 4000. I was surprised the figure was so low, since I was sure I'd heard of higher ones, but who was I to argue with the IAEA/UN? It was only by chance, in casual e-conversation with a friend a couple of days later, that I discovered there have been several estimates of this death toll, and the IAEA/UN one is controversial. Many of the other estimates, quick research revealed, have reliability problems of their own -- I mean, I love Greenpeace and have given them money, but they're an advocacy group and everyone knows you take with a pinch of salt the statistics produced by advocacy groups -- and it's quite possible the IAEA/UN estimate may be the best; but, for the sake of honesty, Muller should have indicated the existence of these other, far more pessimistic estimates.

The laffaloud irony is that, elsewhere, he's really quite strong about people who cherry-pick their information . . .

All in all, then, having found a few instances where I did not feel Muller was dealing fairly with his readers, I became uncertain as to how much of the rest of his text I could trust. And that's a pity, because I very much enjoyed the actual process of reading the book.(less)

like 1 like · see review

May 31, 2010 Mike rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Basic, which is just what I was after. A couple of things are worth noting. He takes a very even-handed approach to global warming. He rightly believes the hysteria on any matter causes a strong overreaction that makes discussing the real merits of the issue very challenging. Another thing that's not really an explicit emphasis of the book that I appreciate is his willingness to differentiate his role as physicist and as citizen. He is very clear and open about when he steps out of physicist rol...more

like · see review

Aug 29, 2009 Bruce rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read it because it was recommended by James Fallows.

The conceit, what a future president should know about the physics of the problems she'll face to make the best decisions, works because it focuses the writing. Muller is a good writer so his explanation of the science behind the headlines is very easy to read and understand -- better than a lot of newspaper and general magazine science articles I've read.

The sections on climate change is the reason Fallows recommended the book because it ver...more

like · see review

Jun 13, 2009 Hilarie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What information does a president of the United States really need to know to make informed decisions about some of the most important issues we are facing as a nation and as a global community? Richard Muller believes that some of this knowledge should be an understanding of the basic principles of physics.

I loved the format of this book. Muller writes this book as though the reader was the next president of the United States. The book applies basic physics to a better understanding of five ke...more What information does a president of the United States really need to know to make informed decisions about some of the most important issues we are facing as a nation and as a global community? Richard Muller believes that some of this knowledge should be an understanding of the basic principles of physics.

I loved the format of this book. Muller writes this book as though the reader was the next president of the United States. The book applies basic physics to a better understanding of five key areas: terrorism, energy, nukes, space, and global warming. I found this book to be truly enlightening. Almost daily I am bombarded by news stories featuring the challenges we are facing in at least one of these areas. Muller presents the facts, in a fair and balanced manner (honestly, I really can't tell which political party he favors) , allowing the reader to draw their own conclusions.

For example, Muller explores why the greatest threats we face from terrorists are not "dirty bombs" or stolen nuclear weapons, and why solar powered cars are not really feasible, at least with our current technology. Personally, I was especially intrigued by the section on global warming, and I felt that this section alone would have justified the purchase price of the book. In each section he also presents a brief historical perspective with an emphasis on the physics involved in each situation. I was totally fascinated by his exploration of the facts surrounding the anthrax attacks which followed the 911 attacks.

Muller's writing style is pleasantly conversational, almost as though you were having a discussion with your own personal science advisor. He also strikes the right balance between simplifying the physics to the level of easy understanding without insulting the intelligence of the reader. I enjoyed this book so much that I lent the copy I borrowed from our local library to my husband, who promptly purchased a copy midway through reading the book. This was a great read, and one that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend, even to our current president.(less)

like 1 like · see review

Mar 16, 2011 Scarlett Sims rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bn-free, leisure, nook, political, real, science

I read this because of my interest in the intersection between science and politics. The author does a good job breaking down several major issues (Terrorism, Nuclear Energy, Global Warming, etc) and attempting to separate fact from highly-publicized fiction.

He uses physics(well--there are some equations in the notes but I might be more inclined to say descriptions of physical properties) to explain why a future president should be worried about some things and less worried about others.

I feel I...more

like · see review

Feb 19, 2013 Graham Velasco rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is very interesting in that it assumes the reader is to become a future president. It therefore is understood that the reader is not necessarily a physics expert and proceeds to describe topics from nukes to global warming in an easy-to-grasp way. It provides the reader with physics viewpoints on these subjects rather than the typical political or opinionated ones often prescribed by the media. It helps the reader to establish a point-of-view based in solid evidence rather than opinion...more

like · see review

Mar 30, 2009 Adam rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Future Presidents, Global Warming Geeks, Anyone with an interest in science, politics or both

Shelves: physics, current-events, non-fiction

What didn't I learn from this book!?

I'd go ahead and list everything that I did but to do so would be to simply paraphrase the wonderfully concise and informative Executive Summaries a the end of each chapter!

What a fantastic idea of Muller's that a future President must be aware of a number of basic, scientific principles that he can then use to help shape and guide his agenda. While he (admitedly so) gets a little personal with regards to the use of nuclear power in the States, for the most pa...more

like · see review

May 09, 2011 Ginny rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction

Pretty much everyone should read this, regardless of the presence or absence of designs on the highest office in the land. If you, you know, read the news or vote or anything like that, this book is for you. Not only is it incredibly helpful in contextualizing some of the science-related policy debates currently being waged, it's also just fascinating stuff (for example, the reason plutonium bombs are round and uranium bombs are cylindrical, or the fact that a square yard of sunlight delivers ab...more

like 2 likes · see review

Feb 17, 2009 wes Goertzen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

this was an easy, lazy read that my dad had me read over Christmas. About a third of it was interesting to me. Only a third because I am an engineer by training so the other 2/3 was either boring or "common" knowledge and so didn't push me. I think that lay ppl (science is sorta religious, right? With engineers not being real clergy but more like deacons) who like science and/or are interested in the politics of science (environment, nuclear, war, etc) will be interested.

The most intersting thin...more

like · see review

May 22, 2010 Xing rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Works very well as a cheat sheet for non-physicists who want an overview of the hot topics, from the perspective of a recognised expert. Facts that I memorised from this book came in very handy during conversations with a nuclear engineer friend.

Like all pop-sci books that distill complex principles down to digestible volumes for the sake of their busy, hard-pressed readers, the claims made are necessarily hard to assess, though they're definitely well-presented and sound balanced and carefully...more

like · see review

Nov 06, 2011 Greg rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As a physicist (well, astrophysicist), I give this book my full endorsement. This really should be required reading for all people. Politics has a very nasty way of turning science into, well, politics, but doing it in such a way as to leave the public skeptical of the aims and goals (not to mention results) of scientists. Dr. Muller presents a fairly unbiased analysis of many current issues and addresses everything with the mindset of a scientist - relying on quantitative information to draw lo...more

like · see review

Oct 17, 2010 Leilanadja rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A book regarding science applications and great reading for general review! Makes me want to go back to school and get that engineering physics degree......

like 1 like · see review

Jun 07, 2010 Stephany rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After reading this book, you'll be tempted to correct people you overhear, comment on a host of news articles with corrections, and go on a Facebook comment rampage on the Walls of less informed friends. Don't say I didn't warn you.

This book is so necessary right now, with cherry-picked data and outright propaganda trumping fact-based debate. Muller tells you "everything you know that just ain't so," which you might not even know until reading this book. To name just a few highlights, he explai...more

like · see review

Dec 27, 2012 Devero rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Richard Muller è un fisico.
Un fisico con un forte interesse nella sicurezza nazionale. In questo libro affronta alcuni argomenti che ritiene basilari per chiunque sia in comando ad una nazione guida come gli USA (ma è altrettanto valido per un leader Russo o Cinese). Non è esaustivo, e lo spiega nell'introduzione. Ma ciò che spiega DEVE essere compreso, almeno come conoscenza basilare, da un Presidente degli USA. Argomenti come il decadimento radioattivo, il come costruire una boma all'uranio, a...more

like · see review

May 15, 2012 Mike W rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: natural-science, economics

This is an excellent popular book on the science relevant for public policy. I enthusiastically recommend it. Unfortunately, debates about environmental issues like global warming are usually dominated by clowns to the left who are hostile to all industry and by jokers to the right who are mere apologists for industry. This book offers some hope for those searching for the rational middle ground that bases environmental and energy policy on reason and evidence rather than fanaticism and ideology...more This is an excellent popular book on the science relevant for public policy. I enthusiastically recommend it. Unfortunately, debates about environmental issues like global warming are usually dominated by clowns to the left who are hostile to all industry and by jokers to the right who are mere apologists for industry. This book offers some hope for those searching for the rational middle ground that bases environmental and energy policy on reason and evidence rather than fanaticism and ideology.

The author, Richard Muller, is an eminent physicist. But, for all his deep mathematical knowledge of the subject, he is able to explain the salient points clearly and simply. Muller manages to make the material intelligible to the layman without oversimplifying.

A major topic of the book is climate change. Muller makes it clear that global warming is happening and that human beings are very likely to be significant contributors to that warming, through carbon emissions and the "greenhouse effect". But he concedes, as many environmentalists do not, that the best climate models are not very good and that scientists still do not understand clouds at all, so that they cannot be certain that human carbon emissions will be harmful, let alone catastrophic.

Muller also explains at some length the obstacles to many alternatives to carbon emitting fossil fuels. Contrary to leftist mythology, he tells the reader that there was no conspiracy to kill the electric car--that electricity just doesn't work as well in cars as gasoline. Gasoline has a lot of energy, more per unit volume than TNT, and vastly greater than a battery can carry. And so it would be an ideal fuel if not for the pollution it causes. As he puts it "Batteries simply do not store much energy--not when compared to gasoline. We love gasoline because it is so energetic!."

As for how to address climate change, Muller punctures some illusions. Unilateral actions by the United States or Europe will do little, perhaps delaying the warming by as little as 3 years. Coal is a particularly bad polluter, and the usual economic solution would be to tax it. "But," he warns, "doing that solely in the developed nations would not accomplish much, since the ultimate problem will be energy use by developing nations like India and China. As Muller points out, China has already surpassed the US in carbon emissions, and its emissions are growing rapidly. To fuel its growth, China is building about one very large coal plant per week. So only a global agreement that includes large developing nations could seriously mitigate the warming.

There is much more to this book than I can address in this review. It goes into some detail about many proposed alternatives to fossil fuels, like solar, wind and geothermal power. In the end the book expresses some optimism and proposes some solutions.

This is a refreshingly frank and informed book on public policy, free from partisan rancor. It would be a good thing for the country if everyone interested in policy would read this book carefully and with an open mind.(less)

like · see review

Sep 10, 2010 Sabrina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a really interesting read. I am not a scientist and there are so many things I didn't understand and subjects that get distorted when you hear about them in the media. I didn't understand nuclear energy, dirty bombs, global warming or clean energy technology. The author explains each of these in detail in a way that is understandable to the lay person. However, it is a book that sometimes reads like a textbook. You have to think through the physics that he presents so it takes some effo...more

like · see review

Jul 25, 2009 Jake rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: politics, non-fiction, science

This is one of several books I learned of by listening to NPR. It is based on a popular class the author teaches. And having now read the book, I'd love to take the class.

Dr. Muller tackles all of the hot button topics that utilize scientific inquiry: the environment, energy policy, space exploration, etc. His chief goal is to compile a handbook of rudimentary knowledge a President ought to have at his/her disposal when making policy decisions. Think about it. Should homeland security be governe...more

like · see review

Sep 03, 2012 John rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Besides the fact that you'll look like a jackass while reading this book (because of the title), it is a decent book. Also, this is the title of a class for Berkeley undergraduates...note there hasn't been a UC Berkeley graduate to become president yet, so Muller is hopeful. The space and terrorism chapters are useful and you learn quite a bit. The nuclear chapter was the most useful, discussions on waste, energy, and weaponry are guided well by details on half lifes, materials chemistry, etc. I...more

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 51 52 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (15)

More editions...

Genres

Science

78 users

Non Fiction

41 users

Science > Physics

19 users

Politics

11 users

Economics

2 users

Politics > Political Science

2 users

Science > Technology

2 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Richard A. Muller

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Richard A. Muller is professor of physics at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a past winner of the MacArthur Fellowship. His book Physics for Future Presidents is based on his renowned course for non-science students. He lives in Berkeley, California.

More about Richard A. Muller...

Books by Richard A. Muller

The Instant Physicist: An Illustrated Guide

Energy for Future Presidents: The Science Behind the Headlines

Physics and Technology for Future Presidents Physics and Technology for Future Presidents

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Physics for Futur...

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: Physics and Technology for Future Presidents: An Introduction to the Essential Physics Every World Leader an Introduction to the Essential Physics Every World Leader Needs to Know Needs to Know
avg rating	preview: Physics and Technology for Future Presidents: An Introduction to the Essential Physics Every World L Goodreads rating: 3.96 (686 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4219745-physics-and-technology-for-future-presidents?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348287484l/4219745.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4219745-physics-and-technology-for-future-presidents?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Physics and Technology for Future Presidents: An Introduction to the Essential Physics Every World Leader an Introduction to the Essential Physics Every World Leader Needs to Know Needs to Know by Richard A. Muller[/url]

Physics and Technology for Future Presidents: An Introduction to the Essential Physics Every World Leader an Introduction to the Essential Physics Every World Leader Needs to Know Needs to Know

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website