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[Jerry_L]

The Light at the Edge of the Universe Paperback

by Michael D. Lemonick (Author)

Will the universe expand forever? Or will it collapse in a Big Crunch within the next few billion years? If the Big Bang theory is correct in presenting the origins of the universe as a smooth fireball, how did the universe come to contain structures as large as the recently discovered "Great Wall" of galaxies, which stretches hundreds of millions of light years? Such are the compelling questions that face cosmologists today, and it is the excitement and wonder of their research that Michael Lemonick shares in this lively tour of the current state of astrophysics and cosmology.Here we visit observatories and universities where leading scientists describe how they envision the very early stages, the history, and the future of the universe.

Not the best book on the subject, and a bit dated, but I've had it on the shelf for about 15 years and wanted to finally get through it. I got some enjoyment and knowledge from it, though there's almost as much about the personalities and social lives of scientists as there is about their theories. Which is o.k., makes it a fairly breezy read for a science book.

I thought the following news was fascinating.

From io9 (link):

Over at Quanta Magazine, Natalie Wolchover has authored a stunning feature on the "amplituhedron" – a jewel-shaped, geometric object that could give scientists a new perspective on the quantum world, while "[challenging] the notion that space and time are fundamental constituents of nature."

Yes, that is fascinating!

[BillF]

Try this one:

Thanks for the recommendation, Bill, I've ordered a copy.

I never bought this because it seemed too like the memoirs of his flying career, "Gods of Tin" & "Burning the Days", both of which I enjoyed enormously. Perhaps that's what he's best at writing about.

Have just finished this:

OK, but somewhat precious, so The Hunters remains my favourite.

[Jazzmoose]

Just finished Vitals by Greg Bear. Probably the worst book I've read by him, which doesn't make it a bad book, if that makes sense.

[Jerry_L]

Physics and Philosophy: The Revolution in Modern Science Paperback

by Werner Heisenberg (Author)

[Jazzmoose]

Physics and Philosophy: The Revolution in Modern Science Paperback

by Werner Heisenberg (Author)

It sounds interesting, but I'm uncertain...

[ejp626]

Physics and Philosophy: The Revolution in Modern Science Paperback

by Werner Heisenberg (Author)

It sounds interesting, but I'm uncertain...

See I'm afraid that I would order it, and it would sit there in the box from Amazon. I wouldn't know whether I had already read it or not until I opened the ---

Ok, I'll stop there.

On a recent trip to Chicago, I read Jedediah Berry's The Manual of Detection. It starts with a lot of promise, but then by the end basically devolves into Inception-lite (even though it came out a year or so ahead of that movie). More than anything it reminds me of a mash-up of Dark City, Borges and Chesterton's The Man Who Was Thursday. Not a bad book, but just beware that you will probably feel a bit let down by the end.

[A Lark Ascending]

WWI novel (give away cover!) but centred on two Australian nurses. I've just reached the arrival at Gallipoli. Very impressive - I recall being overwhelmed by 'Confederates' thirty odd years back.

Finished it last night. Highly recommended. Second half moves to France. Very moving.

[A Lark Ascending]

Nash, Nevinson, Spencer, Gertler, Carrington.

Only just started but I'm fascinated by the depictions of the different experiences of these people in late Victorian London, let alone what is to follow.

Edited October 4, 2013 by A Lark Ascending

[mjazzg]

Nash, Nevinson, Spencer, Gertler, Carrington.

Only just started but I'm fascinated by the depictions of the different experiences of these people in late Victorian London, let alone what is to follow.

I didn't realise there was a book. It was/is a very good exhibition at Dulwich Picture Gallery where I obviously didn't visit the shop on the way out

[ejp626]

Nash, Nevinson, Spencer, Gertler, Carrington.

Only just started but I'm fascinated by the depictions of the different experiences of these people in late Victorian London, let alone what is to follow.

I didn't realise there was a book. It was/is a very good exhibition at Dulwich Picture Gallery where I obviously didn't visit the shop on the way out

That does sound interesting, though I don't think I'll make the exhibit

There are a bunch of decent books on the Group of 7, but this book is quite interesting for a much later, lesser-known Canadian group, the Painters 11.

(I tend to gravitate towards abstract art, so I was glad to read up on this group.)

Edited September 27, 2013 by ejp626

[paul secor]

J.D. Salinger: Raise High the Roof Beams, Carpenters and Seymour, an Introduction

[A Lark Ascending]

Nash, Nevinson, Spencer, Gertler, Carrington.

Only just started but I'm fascinated by the depictions of the different experiences of these people in late Victorian London, let alone what is to follow.

I didn't realise there was a book. It was/is a very good exhibition at Dulwich Picture Gallery where I obviously didn't visit the shop on the way out

Whereas I didn't know about the exhibition but have had my eye on the book for a while, since the series on British 20thC art on TV earlier in the year.

It seems the exhibition was (at least partly) a follow on from the book. The exhibition catalogue is also available:

[Jazzmoose]

First time reading this author. Kind of a Keith Laumer/Harry Harrison vibe, but not as good.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Got this some months ago, after seeing it had been issued here, but only started reading it this morning.

Hi de ho - the life of Cab Calloway - Alyn Shipton

One of my all-time favourites.

MG

[BruceH]

First time reading this author. Kind of a Keith Laumer/Harry Harrison vibe, but not as good.

"Not as good."----That makes me not want to read him.

[Jazzmoose]

First time reading this author. Kind of a Keith Laumer/Harry Harrison vibe, but not as good.

"Not as good."----That makes me not want to read him.

Yeah. Same here.

[B. Goren.]

[jazzbo]

[paul secor]

Edmund Crispin: The Moving Toyshop

[A Lark Ascending]

Finished this - thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact it reminded me of no end of things I was reading 40 odd years ago from that 1900-39 period - Huxley, Orwell, Maugham, Lawrence etc.

Though I found some of the arty primadonnaism of the individuals involved more than a little irritating at times. Boy could they scratch one another's eyes out.

I've now embarked on:

Edited October 4, 2013 by A Lark Ascending

[erwbol]

Bought Unspeakable and Marches On to complement Apes of Wrath which was hilarious with its commentary and glossary:

Evildoer Anyone who is not a frenna freem

Freeman moxy Mercas gif to the wurl

Yurpeen Union Another organisation of evildoers

Edited October 8, 2013 by erwbol

[paul secor]

Arnaldur Indridason: Jar City

[BillF]

Edited October 9, 2013 by BillF

[paul secor]

Saw the film that was made from this. It wasn't bad, but I imagine the novel is superior.

[BillF]

Saw the film that was made from this. It wasn't bad, but I imagine the novel is superior.

I've only just found out that there was a film. I've put it on my rental list with Lovefilm. As the beauty of the book lies largely in its verbal felicities, I won't be able to draw direct comparisons between novel and film. I'll watch the film for its own sake.