The Fermi Solution: Essays on Science

by Hans Christian Von Baeyer

The author of Taming the Atom presents seventeen thought-provoking essays about science and scientists, discussing such subjects as particle physics, modern theories about crystals with impossible structures, and Fermi's work. 15,000 first printing. $15,000 ad/promo.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Physics

172 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1993

Reviews

[Chris Duval]

While this was fluidly written and moderately informative, I cannot recommend it. It is marred by Neoliberal cant (in the title essay); sneering distain (in 'Creatures of the Deep'; and the uncritical repetition of a sexist put-down in 'The Inverse Problem').

[Alex Mayer-Sanchez]

Good essays. Explain modern physics discoveries, their background, and provide analogous physics and or every day analogies in general terms. Wish they were more technical and included equations/figures/graphics/illustrations to help convey ideas. Rosalind Franklin slander was a bit sus…

[The_J]

Strong collection of Science Essays.

[Chris]

best essays were on quasicrystals, monopoles, and bosons but the author had some crazy things to say about rosalind franklin

[David]

“Prudent physicists –those who want to avoid false leads and dead ends– operate according to a long-standing principle: Never start a lengthy calculation until you know the range of values within which the answer is likely to fall (and, equally important, the range within the answer is
unlikely to fall).”
Hans Christian van Baeyer,
The Fermi Solution

[German Chaparro]

Muy buen material de recopilacion de ensayos sobre el desarrollo de las teorias fisicas. Sin embargo, en ciertos momentos pierde objetividad y divaga sobre la filosofia del asunto (para eso estan los matematicos). No importa, igual lo disfrute mucho.

[Michael Frazier]

Despite my vast interest in most things science, I found myself struggling to wrap my head around some of the more complex concepts and experiments. Superconductors, splitting the atom, and how cats fall on their feet (almost) every time. Interesting read for sure and quick, too.

[Shu]

"The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. The opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth."
--- Niels Bohr

[Gus]

A collection of great stand-alone essay about science/physics and its history.

[Dave Hutcheson]

A must read in a world moving so fast, this method with allow you to see further and farther faster with enough accuracy to keep moving forward. For those who use a compass instead of a map.

[James]

Re-reading for first time since 1994. Still very inspiring for a theoretical physicist. Would like to know how each topic has developed in the last 20 years.