Reviewed by Steve Canipe
Director, Science, Mathematics & Instructional Design Technology
From this book's title, you might expect a discourse on the world of physics and the more traditional aspects of science. But that's not what you get. The beginning of the book is a philosophical exploration of how important physics and physical processes are in the world. As one reads further, the world of the physicist becomes clearer.
If you are looking for the philosophical aspect of physics and a somewhat esoteric discourse, this is the book for you. The preface tells the reader that there will be little use of mathematics to explain reality of the physical world and the author keeps that promise. While this might be seen as good, it leaves open the aspects that might have attracted the reader to this book in the beginning The later chapters are more in tune with the title's promise, especially the chapters on time, relativity, and quantum theory. So if you get past the initial philosophy, you will find some good explanations of physics to enjoy.
In a general, this is an interesting treatise that might be best used in a college–level philosophy of science course or study that needs some science to count as a science credit. It would have minimal use in any in–depth study of the science of physics, but can help paint a picture of where this valuable way of understanding the natural world might fit in the larger scheme.
Review posted on 5/22/2012
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