Astronomy
Book Review
The author, Simon Singh, has written a wonderful history of the Big Bang theory, starting from its very beginnings. He leads up to the important discoveries by starting at the early history of Astronomy with ancient cultures and the Scientific Revolution. With this information explained, Singh provides a firm foundation to embark on to the Big Bang Theory.
Singh informs the reader about the theories of the universe through history, like the discovery of the Doppler Effect and Hubble's Law, gradually leading into the development of the Big Bang Theory. He also injects some common scientific practices, beliefs, and methods. Additionally, he talks about the competing Steady-State Universe Theory, and how it has developed, to give a sense of the strengths of the Big Bang model and why it has triumphed. Afterwards, Singh explains how the theory has evolved and developed due to new discoveries.
The thing that I most liked about the book was its format and Singh's style of writing. Simon Singh included numerous items to enhance the reader's understanding of the topic. He included charts, after he talked about new discoveries in Astronomy throughout history, to compare the competing Big Band and Steady-State models to show how they stacked up with each other. Pictures and helpful diagrams enhanced the information. There was also two page "Summary Notes" (Written like handwriting to imitate written notes) that summed up all the important information of every chapter, and provided a quick reference to look back to. Singh included human feelings and motivations as well to really give a "life" to the important characters throughout history, making them seem more realistic and human than just names and accomplishments.
Overall, this book is a great introduction to the Big Bang model of the universe, and to the methods of science as well. The Further Reading list in the back of the book is also a great collection of books that will provide additional information to the reader.
Find more information about this book on:
(This is my first book review for this blog, and I am hoping to do more in the future.)
- Big Bang Theory : An Overview
Have you ever given a thought that how our Universe came into be? Our Universe was created in an extremely hot and dense state which expanded at a rapid state and then cooled and it is expanding even now today.The fact is interesting isn't it? When...
- Reading List
Some of what I have been reading recently:This article discusses proper motion, the movement of a star in the sky due to its movements in space or even due to the movements of the Sun itself. It uses Barnard's Star as an example, which is located...
- Some Hubble Space Telescope History
By Jarrod Roby The Hubble Space Telescope, named after Edwin Hubble, was built by NASA, and launched into space in 1990. At the time, astronomers the world over expected great discoveries to be made. With this magnificent telescope's help, we could...
- Most Earth Like Worlds Have Yet To Be Born.
According to a new theoretical study, Earth came early to the party in evolving universe. When our solar system was born 4.6 billion years ago, only 8 percent of the potentially habitable planets that will ever form in the universe existed, which means 92...
- Big Bang Theory-some Common Misconceptions
The most common misconception regarding big bang is: lot of people think that Big Bang is an enormous explosion that took place at the beginning of our universe, and is not true. Its actually was an expanding process that had begin around 13.7 million...
Astronomy
Big Bang: The Origin of the Universe by Simon Singh
Book ReviewThe author, Simon Singh, has written a wonderful history of the Big Bang theory, starting from its very beginnings. He leads up to the important discoveries by starting at the early history of Astronomy with ancient cultures and the Scientific Revolution. With this information explained, Singh provides a firm foundation to embark on to the Big Bang Theory.
Singh informs the reader about the theories of the universe through history, like the discovery of the Doppler Effect and Hubble's Law, gradually leading into the development of the Big Bang Theory. He also injects some common scientific practices, beliefs, and methods. Additionally, he talks about the competing Steady-State Universe Theory, and how it has developed, to give a sense of the strengths of the Big Bang model and why it has triumphed. Afterwards, Singh explains how the theory has evolved and developed due to new discoveries.
The thing that I most liked about the book was its format and Singh's style of writing. Simon Singh included numerous items to enhance the reader's understanding of the topic. He included charts, after he talked about new discoveries in Astronomy throughout history, to compare the competing Big Band and Steady-State models to show how they stacked up with each other. Pictures and helpful diagrams enhanced the information. There was also two page "Summary Notes" (Written like handwriting to imitate written notes) that summed up all the important information of every chapter, and provided a quick reference to look back to. Singh included human feelings and motivations as well to really give a "life" to the important characters throughout history, making them seem more realistic and human than just names and accomplishments.
Overall, this book is a great introduction to the Big Bang model of the universe, and to the methods of science as well. The Further Reading list in the back of the book is also a great collection of books that will provide additional information to the reader.
Find more information about this book on:
- Google Book Search
- Simon Singh's Website
- Big Bang: The Origin of the Universe (P.S.)
(This is my first book review for this blog, and I am hoping to do more in the future.)
- Big Bang Theory : An Overview
Have you ever given a thought that how our Universe came into be? Our Universe was created in an extremely hot and dense state which expanded at a rapid state and then cooled and it is expanding even now today.The fact is interesting isn't it? When...
- Reading List
Some of what I have been reading recently:This article discusses proper motion, the movement of a star in the sky due to its movements in space or even due to the movements of the Sun itself. It uses Barnard's Star as an example, which is located...
- Some Hubble Space Telescope History
By Jarrod Roby The Hubble Space Telescope, named after Edwin Hubble, was built by NASA, and launched into space in 1990. At the time, astronomers the world over expected great discoveries to be made. With this magnificent telescope's help, we could...
- Most Earth Like Worlds Have Yet To Be Born.
According to a new theoretical study, Earth came early to the party in evolving universe. When our solar system was born 4.6 billion years ago, only 8 percent of the potentially habitable planets that will ever form in the universe existed, which means 92...
- Big Bang Theory-some Common Misconceptions
The most common misconception regarding big bang is: lot of people think that Big Bang is an enormous explosion that took place at the beginning of our universe, and is not true. Its actually was an expanding process that had begin around 13.7 million...