Review by Choice Review
Popularization of technical science is not easy: many try, but few succeed. Vishveshwara's is among the more successful presentations of a most sophisticated, important, and beautiful theory of 20th-century physics--Einstein's general relativity and its most fascinating corollary, the existence of black holes. Many have heard of black holes, but few have any inkling of their theoretical basis. In this highly original-in-format work, physicist Vishveshwara (Indian Institute of Astrophysics) unravels black hole intricacies in an engagingly interesting way, as conversations in a pub between a theoretical physicist and a non-initiate friend. As the story evolves--from purchase of a magical bathtub to the birth of a star in Cygnus--readers get snippets of science history with sumptuous references to literature and poetry. All this is in an informal style and with humor, but the matters discussed are always weighty. There are phrases in German and Italian too, as if to reflect the internationalism of science, and some neat relevant drawings to clarify concepts. The author is reminiscent of scientists of an earlier era who were widely versed in languages and literature as much as in their own technical fields. A book to inform, enrich, and entertain every science-educated reader. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through professionals. V. V. Raman emeritus, Rochester Institute of Technology
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
