Critical Mass: How One Thing Leads to Another - Hardcover

Ball, Philip

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0374281254 ISBN 13: 9780374281250

Publisher: Farrar Straus & Giroux, 2004

Synopsis

The author chases down the idea of critical mass, focusing on the philosophy of Thomas Hobbes, Adam Smith, Immanuel Kant, Auguste Comte, and John Stuart Mill--all of whom applied science to the pursuit of good government. 15,000 first printing.

About this title

Review:

"Exquisitely produced and painstakingly researched... Ball writes patiently and eloquently.. Exciting... A rousing call-to-arms, and an elegant answer to the shallow tradition of British empiricism." (Independent)

"In his fascinating new book, Critical Mass, Philip Ball tells the story of this research in a comprehensive and often captivating way... Ball delves far beyond today's headlines... Impressively clear and breathtaking in scope... Substantial, impeccably researched and...persuasive. For anyone who would like to learn about the intellectual ferment at the surprising junction of physics and social science, Critical Mass is the place to start." (Nature)

"Lucid, accessible and engaging... Ball makes a persuasive, comprehensive case and it's a welcome antidote to popular individualistic thought." (Glasgow Herald)

"Critical Mass fizzes with ideas and insights" (The Guardian)

"more than a book, this in an intellectual curiosity" (Independent on Sunday)

From the Publisher:

A fascinating exploration of the age-old question: are there ‘laws of nature’ that guide human affairs? Is there anything inevitable about the ways humans behave and organize themselves? Have we complete freedom in creating our societies, or are we trapped by ‘human nature’?

About this edition

• Publisher: Farrar Straus & Giroux
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0374281254
• ISBN 13: 9780374281250
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 400