Book Review: Hidden in Plain Sight Offers Easy to Understand Physics

Physics isn’t the most popular book topic people gravitate towards when looking for a subject worthy of reading. Hidden in Plain Sight by Andrew Thomas provides a broad overview of modern physics. Even though the topics can be quite complex to lay readers this book has simplified the principles so that seemingly complex topics are covered parsimoniously.

Two theories have dominated physics for more than a century. General relativity and quantum mechanics have allowed scientists to explore the universe with satellites and has led to new momentum in the space race. The two theories have not been well connected in literature.

General relativity explains how objects relate to each other in space as well as the influence of gravitational forces on the movement of those objects. Quantum mechanics helped scientists develop the laser, computers, and other high processing products. It is possible to argue that general relativity is about big things while quantum mechanics looks at little things.

Quantum mechanics tells us how particles behave and how they influence each other on a miniscule scale. The problem is that in physics all particles and objects are relatively the same and should be following similar rules. Whether one is looking through a microscope or a telescope the same principles should be at work based upon the type of elements involved.

In Quantum mechanics everything in the universe is connected to everything else. They may seem like they are separate but that is not the case. Two particles may work together in unison in a system that develops its own unique attributes. Some objects may have distance between the elements but can still influence each other in a more complex arrangement.

As knowledge and research develops people become aware of how elements work together to create the whole. The book will work through concepts such as unification, universe, space, time,quantum reality, observation, rationale and what we can’t see. It provides an overview of the link between relativity and quantum mechanics by leading readers through present knowledge. 

Thomas, A. (2012) Hidden in Plain Sight: The simple link between relativity and quantum mechanics. [Kindle Edition].

Book Review: The Philosophy of Science A Very Short Introduction

The Philosophy of Science A Very Short Introduction by Samir Okasha discusses the very nature of science and what it means to engage in scientific thinking. The book will bring you through the definitions of science, scientific reasoning, realism and anti-realism, scientific revolutions and philosophical problems. It is solid reading for students and laypeople that desire to get a basic grasp of science.

Science started in the 1400 to 1700 with people like Copernicus who built a model of the universe and Aristotle who put forward ideas of physics, biology, astronomy and cosmology. Science is a way in which we think about the world (i.e. scientific mindset) and how we compare and contrast elements to come to conclusions of the world in which we live. 

A key component of science is a concept called falsifiable brought forward by Karl Popper. All theories and predictions must be falsifiable in the sense that experience can determine them wrong over time. Pseudo-science was described as theories of psychotherapy brought forward by Freud because anything the patient does can be explained away with no obvious observable proofs of latent functions. 

Consider the use of a theoretical model to predict that a certain event will occur. As time moves forward the event either happens or it doesn’t thereby making is verifiable. Theories that cannot be tested and shown to be false are also unlikely to be true. There must be criteria to lend support or take support away from the theory. If you can’t prove or disprove it then it isn’t a theory.

More pointedly the book discusses induction and deduction as methods of understanding concepts and coming to new conclusions. The example of deduction provided by the book is 1.) The French like wine, and 2.) Pierre is a Frenchman therefore it can be deducted that Pierre likes wine.  It doesn’t matter if the inferences actually make the conclusion true but that they can lead to the conclusion. 

Inductive reasoning is difficult to use in science but is commonly applied to everyday life. It is assumed that the sun rises in the East and sets in the West every day. Using inductive reasoning we can say that the sun will rise in the East tomorrow and set in the West. We are likely to be right but that doesn’t make it a truth while the observation isn’t necessarily proof that it will happen over and over. 

The book doesn’t move into this concept but it is possible to use deductive, inductive and probable abductive reasoning together to be more accurate. We may use deductive reasoning to go from the general down to the specific and then use inductive reasoning to rebuild the model outward in another place to see if it also holds true.  We can then use abductive reasoning to understand the likelihood of the conclusion holding true to the explanation in both examples. 

Either way you are likely to find the book interesting and provide a broad understanding of the basic principles of science. It is the type of book you should read if you have studied the sciences, plan on studying to a doctorate, or want to test something within your environment. The price on kindle is reasonable and retails for around $2.

Book Review: The Way of Science

The Way of Science-Finding Truth and Meaning in a Scientific Worldview by Dennis Trumble discusses trying to find meaning in today’s world through science. He delves into a number of concepts such as human nature, society, and religion. He appears to fight for two concepts such as knowing science and knowing truth. 

The book spends some time exploring scientific thinking and how important it is for people to understand science in their everyday lives. If people understood science they wouldn’t be subject to half the beliefs that society and religion passes onto them. They would understand truth in a different way and would have a better grasp of the world around them. 

He is an advocate of critical thinking. To him people who think critically can see the science behind life and can weigh and balance the multiple concepts to come to a truth. Truth is seeing situations as they are without the falsities of culture, religion, and misguided beliefs. To the author, it appears that critical thinking and science wipes away layers of misunderstanding. 

Science also makes our lives better by allowing us to make better choices. If we try and understand our world around us we are much more likely to make better choices for ourselves as well as other people. Science affords us the opportunity to continually redefine our thinking to a better end. 

There is some benefit in the book in terms of understanding science. Rightly or wrongly, the author does seem to promote the culture of science which is often antagonistic to religion. He does bring forward the idea that life and meaning are subjective. However, he doesn’t see religion as part of the truth that we all experience; another way of understanding the world. 

It would seem that each is an expression of understanding. Science looks for analytical and logical conclusions while religion seems to provide us with spiritual guidance. They are part of our lives and understanding both may just give us that truth the author seems to have a part. The book is worth the read and brings up some interesting points to ponder even if you disagree with particular arguments. 

Other Reviews: 

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/books/the-way-of-science-finding-truth-and-meaning-in-a-scientific-worldview-by-dennis-r-trumble/2008468.article

http://www.prometheusbooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2177

http://tulsabookreview.com/2013/10/the-way-of-science-finding-truth-and-meaning-in-a-scientific-worldview/