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The Whole Shebang: A State of the Universe(s) Report (Paperback)

by Timothy Ferris (Author) "THIS BOOK will summarize what we know about the cosmos and how we know it, and will speculate about the directions cosmology may take in..." (more)

4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)

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Product details

Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Phoenix; New edition edition (2 Nov 1998)
Language English
ISBN-10: 0753804751
ISBN-13: 978-0753804759
Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 13 x 2.6 cm

Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)

Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 264,094 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

Who among us hasn't, at one time or another, lain flat on a grassy slope and stared up at the passing clouds, wondering where the sky begins and ends? Timothy Ferris, professor emeritus of journalism at the University of California, Berkeley, has written an entire book on just that subject. There was a time when cosmology was the poor stepsister to other, more glamorous sciences; then, clothed in new astronomical data (much of it obtained from the Hubble Space Telescope) and taken to their bosoms by particle physicists, the study of the cosmos has attained giddying new heights of popularity and respect. In The Whole Shebang, Ferris describes this transformation in entertaining and lucid style, beginning with the Big Bang theory and winding up with the author's own "Contrarian Theological Afterward."

In between, Ferris explicates the shape of space, black holes, the origin of the elements and the evolution of galaxies and stars. As if encapsulating the cosmos weren't enough, he plunges cheerfully into an account of quantum physics and its relationship to the study of the universe. The subtitle of The Whole Shebang is A State-of-the-Universe(s) Report, and indeed, one of the intriguing theories presented in this book is that our universe is but one of many, each with physical laws and the potential for life. The Whole Shebang is a book that even those of us who hated science in school will love.

Product Description

A brilliant and accessibly written report on the current state of cosmology, from parallel universes to life on Mars. Cosmology has seized front page headlines remarkable regularly over the last 5 years, and the Whole Shebang provides an excellent background to the news stories, as well as to the ideas of leading scientists. The book takes the reader through all thecentral issues of the field, and the wide variety of breakthroughs of recent years: the inflationary universe immediately subsequent to the big bang, the discovery and significance of large scale galactic structure, the evolution of the universe and the many-worlds hypothesis of parallel universes.

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THIS BOOK will summarize what we know about the cosmos and how we know it, and will speculate about the directions cosmology may take in the future. Read the first page

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Customer Reviews

11 Reviews

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4 star:		(4)
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2 star:		(1)
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4.0 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, 11 Jul 2000

By	nick@kclweb.com (Poole Dorset) - See all my reviews

This book is wonderful. It sets out to explain how cosmologists think the universe is the way it is based on current understandings, but it doesn't assume the reader has an astrophysics degree. This is important stuff, which should not be just for the few with the ability to think sideways and solve complex calculations before breakfast; and so it is. Timothy Ferris guides us through the thought processes (and sometimes historical politics) that have led the human race to reach its current position clearly and with good humour. We can get a feeling for the universe and a real understanding of our place in it. Again Fantastic!

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5.0 out of 5 stars Did a god do it?, 25 Sep 2005

By	Stephen A. Haines (Ottawa, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Whole Shebang: A State-of-the-Universe(s) Report (Paperback)

Having been introduced to Ferris through his photographic essay 'Galaxies' and 'The Red Limit', The Whole Shebang was welcome new work. It proved to be fine work, indeed. Ferris has a fine knack for science writing, and cosmology must be the most challenging task of all. After all, he's dealing with the universe.

Beginning with a brief history of thought on cosmology, he moves into the research of light's properties. This foundation is central to our understanding of why the universe is the result of a single massive explosion from which space-time evolved to today's cosmological limits. It was Darwin who provided the framework within which we've arrived at that awareness. By offering natural selection as evolution's process, he focussed thinking about the time needed for life's mechanisms to work. From extending the history of life, it was only logical to revise the age of the universe.

Ferris captures the history of expanding cosmology with lucid explanations of the reseachers and their findings. Providing background summaries of the people contributing to cosmology, he positions each within the astrophyics community. Performing the observer's role with finesse, he notes flaws, but leaves judgments to each scientist's peers. He guides us through the ideas, proofs and results of study effortlessly. The reading may sometimes be slow, but Ferris' thorough presentation leaves the reader rich with information. His lively prose eliminates tedium, even with such a vast and complex topic.

This book wouldn't be complete without addressing the ultimate question. Human cultures, confronted with the mysterious canopy 'above' us', for ages assigned some 'higher being' responsibility for manufacturing all those stars and things. He presents the very human problem that the more we learn of the cosmos, the more mysterious it becomes. Isn't it logical that a deity must be responsible for it all. By reviewing the research that has gone into understanding natural laws, uncovered at such expense of time and energy, he reviews the various opinions addressing how it all came to be in a 'Theological Afterward'. This section is so well done that a reader might well start with it before reading the opening chapter. In the end Ferris puts the problem simply: 'the fact that something seems mysterious does not mean that God did it. We would clearly be better off if we left God out of cosmology altogether'. It's a succinct, logical conclusion to a superb presentation. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

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4.0 out of 5 stars Compelling reading, 31 Jul 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Whole Shebang: A State-of-the-Universe(s) Report (Paperback)

With precious little background in either Newtonian physics, or quantum theory I found Ferris' work compelling reading. As part of the great unwashed I have often marvelled at the night sky and wondered "what is going on out there". Likewise the intricacies of sub-atomic stucture stir me to wonder. Ferris, I believe, is a good place to start yet I sense that more rigorous reading and thinking lies ahead. While still reading the book I came across an article in the Toronto Star, indicating that researchers in both Japan and Sudbury Ontario, in underground labs, have discovered that neutrinos have mass. Ferris offers his opinion that neutrinos will be found not to have mass. How quickly our body of knowledge changes. I groaned, however, to see that Ferris wanted to tackle the existence of God question. He begs the question "what God". As I suspected Ferris approached the God question from the rationalist school of Western Christianity.Theology and philosophy are not his arena and his work would have been complete without it.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The best summary of where science is stranded again
A very interesting and eloquently written book, nearly an easy read, The Whole Shebang gives the layman a clear picture of what seems to be the current state of scientific... Read more

Published on 10 April 1999

4.0 out of 5 stars Science For The Layman - A Somewhat Successful Book
Scientists who write books continually struggle with the problem of how to make complex scientific subjects intelligible to the layman. Read more

Published on 9 Mar 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent overview of cosmology for the lay person
Tim Ferris is an excellent writer who uses analogies to explain a variety of concepts in physics and cosmology. Read more

Published on 6 Jan 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars Most comprehensive review of the Universe- Excellent
An excellent treatment of an obviously complex subject. Tim Ferris makes the universe "understandable" to the common man. Highly recommended reading.

Published on 14 Sep 1998

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
This book examines many issues, but gives few explanations, even about the most important concepts, and as you go on reading you are left with fewer and fewer explanations. Read more

Published on 7 Sep 1998

2.0 out of 5 stars Strong writing, but weak science
Ferris is a tremendously popular science writer, which is not surprising, as he's a wonderfully skilled and entertaining writer. Read more

Published on 24 Aug 1998

4.0 out of 5 stars Not a bad book.
Cosmology is a fascinating subject and Timothy Ferris is a decent writer. If you like this book then also read "The Inflationary Universe" and "The Bible... Read more

Published on 23 Aug 1998

4.0 out of 5 stars The Whole Shebang Lives Up to it's Title.
While this book is 400 pages long, it somewhat simplifies everything that's going on in the universe. Read more

Published on 12 Jul 1998

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