The Dancing Wu Li Masters : An Overview of the New Physics
Author: Gary Zukav
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ISBN: 1559276436
Publisher: Audio Renaissance (13 January, 2001)
Sales Rank: 295,097
Average Customer Rating: 3.96 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 4 out of 5
Good Overview of Quantum Physics
Although mathematically bent, this was my first exposure to quantum physics so I don't have anything to compare it to.Overall he seems to have presented the material well, although given the paradoxical and non-conceptual nature of quantum physics I'm not sure that any casual reader will be capable of grasping these concepts very well with just one read. In fact, the one point that seems clearest is that even the physicists themselves don't have it all figured out yet.
As for the Dancing Wu Li Masters metaphor, the periodic references to dancing seem contrived and the occasional references to eastern philosophy seem forced. He seems to imply that perhaps Buddhists have had this all figured out for thousands of years, but what I took away from it was that there's a reason religion and science are very seperate entities and they should probably be left that way for the forseeable future.
So, if you're looking for a somewhat challenging introduction to quantum physics, that's light on the math then this will be worth your time. If you're at all drawn to this book because of the tie-in with philosophy or religion you should look elsewhere.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Another liberal arts convert
Until last fall, I wasn't a science person at all. At college, I majored in English Lit, minored in Music and Philosophy and did my best to avoid anything slightly scientific.
But then one night last October when I couldn't sleep, I stayed up flipping channels and came across Brian Greene's Nova program THE ELEGANT UNIVERSE. I saw it was about Physics, and almost hit the clicker, but something about the presentation made me curious to watch a little more.
Within an hour, I was a new Physics convert. If you interested in language, art, and the disciplines of beauty, you can't help but be mesmerized by Quantum mechanics, string theory, and all of the cutting edge theories of physical world represented in Brian Greene's program.
The next time I was at a bookstore, I tried to pick up a copy of the book the NOVA show was based on, but they were sold out, so I scoured the Physics section and found a copy of Gary Zukav's THE DANCING WU-LI MASTERS, instead.
Written back in the late seventies, Zukav's book is one of the first popular mainstream explications of modern theoretical physics for the lay, non-science person, like myself. I found it fascinating, and for the most part very easy to follow.
Zukav writes in a clear and compelling manner about the wonderful mysteries of the universe. He covers the history of how theoretical Physics got to where it is today (or at least was in the late seventies). He explains Einstein's major contributions to science in a few easy to follow chapters, and then goes on to skillfully explain the inexplicable conundrums of quantum theory.
As Zukav describes probability theory, he makes a convincing case that modern Physics isn't that different from Zen Buddhism. He shows how the steel-and-concrete building blocks that make up our universe are actually a lot more fluid and suggetable than common sense would dictate.
This books really helps you recover any amazement and wonder you might have lost in the everyday world around you.
Check this book out if you think you're not a science person, and if you like it, also get Brian Greene's THE ELEGANT UNIVERSE. Theoretical Physics is pretty literally the stuff dreams are made of.
Rating: 4 out of 5
"Dancing in the Dark"
Gary Zukav writes a good book for the layman who wants to understand physics without the math. Under the guidance of Dr. Jack Sarfatti he is able to give most of us a basic understanding without feeling intimidated. It is well written and the best during the time he wrote it. Brian Greene's "The Elegant Universe" is the one to read now. Similar Products
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