Light Years
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Brian Clegg is fascinated by light, and his sense of wonder comes across clearly in the engagingly written Light Years. He takes us on a tour of the human exploration of light, from early Chinese and Greek philosophers through Arabic and medieval European investigations to the most recent scientific breakthroughs, pausing on the way to admire how artists such as Turner and Manet incorporated ideas about light into their work. Light has many crucial functions: sunlight is the source of all life on Earth; the speed of light is fundamental to Einstein's theory of special relativity; a constant exchange of photons within atoms helps keep matter stable. It's a fascinating subject, and Clegg clearly explains the evolving theories of the nature of light, covering the work of dozens of scientists. In a series of refreshingly lively short biographies, he animates their varied lives and places their research into historical context, as light's complex nature was gradually revealed and some of its power harnessed. From photography to lasers, light has opened up vast realms of technical possibilities--from fibre optic communications to holographic storage of data. Recent research activity has seen light slowed down almost to a standstill, while others have even pushed light beams faster than Einstein's absolute-maximum speed limit of 300,000 kilometres per second. It seems certain that light will play a major part in the technologies of the 21st century, and this book may well whet the reader's appetite to learn more. --Elizabeth Sourbut
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
Reviews for previous editions:
'Extraordinary, humorous, interesting, awesome' - NewScientist
'Immensely likeable' - Guardian
'A fascinating book on a fascinating subject' - Sir Patrick Moore CBE
'Illuminates and entertains' - Sir Clive Sinclair
'Extraordinary, humorous, interesting, awesome' - NewScientist
'Immensely likeable' - Guardian
'A fascinating book on a fascinating subject' - Sir Patrick Moore CBE
'Illuminates and entertains' - Sir Clive Sinclair
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
Imagine this. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Imagine this. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Written in an easy, flowing style, Mr.Clegg's book is full of interesting and apposite facts about light and the people who gave us the basis of our current understanding. A master storyteller, he does not pontificate or try to blind the reader with science, rather, he opens our eyes to the possibilities afforded by that science - describing it all in layman's terms, but definitely not patronising or 'dumbing-down'.
The first chapter is a taster of the future potential of experimentation with light, outlining some tremendous possibilities. Then we are treated to an overview of the perception of light by the ancients, whose theories were taken as gospel during the Dark Ages and only began to be questioned in the Middle Ages - but even then heresy loomed large for anyone trying to usurp the accepted 'facts'.
Continuing, potted biographies of the greats of science; Bacon, Davinci, Galileo, Descartes, Newton et al, give us a clearer picture of the problems that the new wave of scientists faced.
Then we get into the meat of the problem - what is light made of? (which is still not fully answered). Fascinating insights into recent and modern theory and fact leaves one's mind boggling, trying to contain the concepts, speeds and distances involved.
Immensely readable, I encourage anyone with even a passing interest in light, science or history to read this book - they will be rewarded by a new persective of the world. ****
As further reading, I also recommend 'Unweaving the Rainbow' by Richard Dawkins.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Light Years takes you through the history of the study of light and the scientific, philosophical, artistic, and even ontological issues it addresses. This is not a boring, academic account, but a truely interesting and horizon widening book. As someone with an interest in light, but by no means any scientific knowledge of it, I recommend Light Years to anyone who wants to know more about the stuff that surrounds us all.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Many best-selling popular science writers would do well to study Brian Clegg's style. He understands his subject, is very effective in communicating what he knows, and he shares his obvious enthusiasm with the readers. I found his book entertaining from start to finish. You don't have to have any previous interest in light, or even in science, to find this excellent book an informative and jolly good read.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Light Years: The Extraordinary Story of Mankind's Fascinatio
Reading this popular science book has been a very enjoyable experience. The combination of facts about light and information about the historical setting of those involved in... Read more
Published on 28 Feb 2005 by "pieter_toor"
LOW WATTAGE ILLUMINATION
.
In our book stores there has been has a dramatic increase in shelf space dedicated to pop-science books in the last few years. Read more
Published on 22 Jan 2002 by hurburgh@access1.com.au
An inspiring and creative review of light
Brian's creative style has given this book a historical and contempory feel. Its enjoyable to read, informative and very though provoking. The best book I have read this year.
Published on 9 Oct 2001 by Stewart Desson
An easy review of the history of light and how it see today
I have read many books on the nature of matter, from Feynman's The Strange Theory of Light and Matter to Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being (does that count?). Read more
Published on 20 July 2001 by graham@dagr.demon.co.uk
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