Review by Choice Review
This book is about particle physics with a particular emphasis on the Higgs boson. The discovery of the Higgs particle in 2012 provided the last piece of evidence needed to confirm the Standard Model of particle physics. Though there have been several popular books about particle physics and the 50-year search for the Higgs boson, this book stands out for its clear and engaging style. Author Van Vulpen (Univ. of Amsterdam) is a member of the ATLAS experiment at CERN, where the Higgs was discovered, and the translation is by the award-winning translator David McKay. The book begins with a description of the experimental tools of particle physics, then explains how more than a century of research culminated in the current understanding as represented in the Standard Model. The final chapter describes current research on what is known as Beyond Standard Model (BSM) physics, discussing dark energy, dark matter, and the possibility of extra dimensions. This is an outstanding book for college-level readers interested in science, containing a nice mix of history, theory, experiment, the workings of scientific discovery, and possible future discoveries. This reviewer recommends the book to both faculty and students and to any college library. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates. Faculty and professionals. General readers. --Michael C. Ogilvie, Washington University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
