Physics for the Rest of Us : Ten Basic Ideas of 20th Century Physics

by Roger S. Jones

There is practically no area of contemporary life that has not been transformed by the breathtaking insights and everyday applications of twentieth-century physics—from the technologies many of us take for granted to our deepest beliefs about the universe itself. Physics for the Rest of Us brings to life for the curious nonphysicist reader ten key ideas of modern physics and explores their far-reaching influence on our lives and thought. Roger S. Jones explains major concepts—such as Einstein’s special and general theories of relativity, quantum theory, and the structure of the atomic nucleus—and traces the profound ways in which these ideas have affected our spiritual, psychological, ethical, and aesthetic worldviews. With lively intelligence, he also addresses such profound questions What light does science shed on the meaning of human existence? Are scientific theories independent of the men and women who conceive them? Are religion and science related or, ultimately, in conflict?

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Physics

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Tim]

The title is a bit misleading, as this is basically a full-on modern Physics course, without the math. I'd still highly recommend it to anyone interested in the subject; just know that it is not the lightest reading you've done. :-) I aced the core Physics track at WPI with ease based in large part by the theoretical foundation acquired reading this book (and, of course, all the math I took beforehand).

[Thomas Cole]

An excellent read for layman physicist. This book provides the base required for higher level physics books.

[Randy]

Filling in some blanks in my knowledge of physics.

[Jake Davis]

Finished this book the day before I begin my "Physics Education" this fall semester. Wanted a summer read that felt intellectually stimulating and this surely was it.

Really enjoyed the prose and organization of the chapters, each had a clear topic to develop. It felt like I had a personal tutor with excellent knowledge of a great subject.

Physics is a human conception, and this book widened my eyes to the scientific idolatry that is tantamount to religious dogma in today's society. What we believe is an extension of the inculcated laws of "what is". This was also my introduction to relativity and curved space-time.

If anything, this book enriched my idea that everything is energy.

To sum the premise of what I learned: "Science plays a central role in the human desire and need to rationalize and make sense of existence" (319).

[Elijah Hornback]

Definitely a great book for connecting how science has shaped cultural consciousness and vice versa for all of human history.

The writing is good for the most part.

[Eric Walters]

Weak ending

[Nik Kane]

A quite good basic popular physics primer interspersed with thoroughly inappropriate metaphysical anti-science screeds. Thoroughly mystifying.

[Haley]

I enjoyed the entire thing, the meat chapter is my favorite