The Unexpected Vista: A Physicist's View of Nature

by James S. Trefil

Examines twelve carefully chosen questions to clarify modern physicists' view of the world, from cosmos to subatomic particles, and to show how every natural phenomenon can be explained in terms of one or more general principles

209 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1983

About the author

James S. Trefil (born 9/10/1938) is an American physicist (Ph.D. in Physics at Stanford University in 1966) and author of more than thirty books. Much of his published work focuses on science for the general audience. Dr. Trefil has previously served as Professor of Physics at the University of Virginia and he now teaches as Robinson Professor of Physics at George Mason University. Among Trefil's books is Are We Unique?, an argument for human uniqueness in which he questions the comparisons between human intelligence and artificial intelligence. Trefil also regularly gives presentations to judges and public officials about the intersections between science and the law.

Reviews

[Josh]

Great read-able and understandable -- yet satisfyingly detailed -- explanations of physical phenomena such as quantum mechanics, why the sky is blue, why soap bubbles and oil slicks have that rainbow sheen, how a refrigerator works, etc.