Synopsis
This text takes the reader on a journey which explores the limits of scientific knowledge, some of the gaps, and some of the discoveries yet to be made. The author, Peter Landsberg, discusses complex ideas to question the validity of the models used to define physical reality. He uses examples from everyday life to ask: what is energy, and why is the periodic table arranged in such a way? He examines theories of entropy, chaos, quantum theory and cosmology for completeness. Readers are then challenged to re-assess their beliefs in unarguable truths presented by mathematical theorems and the more philosophical issues of theology and happiness. Using careful reference to historical figures such as Mendeleev and Newton, thought-provoking illustrations, backed up by lucid narratives, this text aims to encourage the reader to reconsider scientific beliefs in a new light.
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Review
"I heartily recommend this book. For those familiar with the subjects treated, it is good bedtime reading. For the interested nonspecialist, it offers an understanding of what physics is all about. This book is not only illuminating but also entertaining. It is embellished throughout by illustrations, examples of; correspondence between scientists, and anecdotes. Each Chapter is given a hero: Pascal, Rumford, Mendeleev, Boltzmann, Darwin, Planck, Einstein, Eddington. These serve to show how important a love of science for its own sake is to genuine progress in understanding. . . If you have not been waiting for this book, you should have been, and if you have not read it yet, you should." Am. J Phys. 68 (10), October 2000. American Journal of Physics "I recommend the volume strongly for technical professionals at all levels." Jag J Singh, NASA Langley Research Center, Virginia "I recommend it as a well written treatise of the state of modern physics." B C Sanders, Macquarie University "Landsberg makes a persuasive case that cosmological theories are models and should be treated as such, and he shows that very interesting questions and issues do emerge when we juxtapose the various cosmological models as live possibilities." Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 33" . . . those already knowledgeable in physics will enjoy a sparkly treatment of many things that they already know, and may be able to learn some things that they did not know before." Hasok Chang in Studies in History and Philsophy of Modern Physics, 33 "This book has remarkable breadth, dealing with physics as a human activity of wide interest and summarizing much of what we know about physics and its broaderimplications . . . Landsberg's exploartion of the limits of scientific knowledge, written for a general audience, is interesting. He points to the gaps in our knowledge and asks what we can learn from them." William E Evenson, Brigham Young University, History of Physics Newsletter, Volume VIII, No. 3 "Landsberg is a charismatic Professor Emeritus at Southampton University in the UK, and has an impressive command of the subjects presented in his book. Through prose, anecdotes, and imaginative illustrations his personality shines through and adds to the text a lively cadence. Seeking Ultimates is filled with anecdotes that serve to enlighten while at the same time providing a sense of perspective to those responsible for shaping the course of modern physics. Landsberg's approach will be illuminating for the scientist aswell, and for that reason strongly this book is highly recommended to the technical community as a whole." R.Scheps; Progress in Quantum Electronics 28 (2004) 247-248 tily recommend this book. For those familiar with the subjects treated, it is good bedtime reading. For the interested nonspecialist, it offers an understanding of what physics is all about. This book is not only illuminating but also entertaining. It is embellished throughout by illustrations, examples of; correspondence between scientists, and anecdotes. Each Chapter is given a hero: Pascal, Rumford, Mendeleev, Boltzmann, Darwin, Planck, Einstein, Eddington. These serve to show how important a love of science for its own sake is to genuine progress in understanding. . . If you have not been waiting for this book, you should have been, and if you have not read it yet, you should." Am. J Phys. 68 (10), October 2000. American Journal of Physics "I recommend the volume strongly for technical professionals at all levels." Jag J Singh, NASA Langley Research Center, Virginia "I recommend it as a well written treatise of the state of modern physics." B C Sanders, Macquarie University "Landsberg makes a persuasive case that cosmological theories are models and should be treated as such, and he shows that very interesting questions and issues do emerge when we juxtapose the various cosmological models as live possibilities." Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 33" . . . those already knowledgeable in physics will enjoy a sparkly treatment of many things that they already know, and may be able to learn some things that they did not know before." Hasok Chang in Studies in History and Philsophy of Modern Physics, 33 "This book has remarkable breadth, dealing with physics as a human activity of wide interest and summarizing much of what we know about physics and its broader implications . . . Landsberg's exploartion of the limits of scientific knowledge, written for a general audience, is interesting. He points to the gaps in our knowledge and asks what we can learn from them." William E Evenson, Brigham Young University, History of Physics Newsletter, Volume VIII, No. 3 "Landsberg is a charismatic Professor Emeritus at Southampton University in the UK, and has an impressive command of the subjects presented in his book. Through prose, anecdotes, and imaginative illustrations his personality shines through and adds to the text a lively cadence. Seeking Ultimates is filled with anecdotes that serve to enlighten while at the same time providing a sense of perspective to thoseresponsible for shaping the course of modern physics. Landsberg's approach will be illuminating for the scientist aswell, and for that reason strongly this book is highly recommended to the technical community as a whole." R.Scheps; Progress in Quantum Electronics 28 (2004) 247-248
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