The Equations: Icons of Knowledge
An intriguing little book...founded on a quarrel with what the author calls the 'fashionable dogma' of not including equations in science books intended for general readers. 'The veto is like asking somebody to explain art without showing pictures,' Bais argues. And he's right. His book is worth a look for anyone feeling brave enough to journey into the language of physical science on its own ground: the terra firma of mathematics.--Anthony Doerr (Boston Globe2006-01-15)The author writes clearly and incisively about the physical ideas...Most books of this genre take it as axiomatic that they must avoid equations. Bais embraces them, building his book around the equations of physics and using them as the vehicle for describing the counter-intuitive world of relativity theory, quantum mechanics, and string theory.--David M. Bressoud (Mathematical Association of America)Let me say at once that I learnt a great deal from the author's broad-brush approach...The physics is very readable, with connections between different parts of the subject made well. And because the book is so short, the reader has a real chance to see "the big picture"...There is no doubt thatThe Equationsis a bold and original book. And, in my view, imagination of this kind will be needed in the future if maths and science education is to avoid sliding gradually into lightweight stuff about what Newton ate for breakfast.--David Acheson (Times Higher Education Supplement2006-03-10)In addition to its pedagogical value, Bais's book presents these icons of our physical world in all their beauty. It is very good to be reminded of this.--Malcolm Longair (Nature2006-03-23)