Introduction:
The study of physics explores how the universe works. There have been many great contributors to physics including, Einstein, Newton, Hawking, Hubble, Galileo, and Maxwell among countless others. In the second half of the twentieth century string theory was born. Current theoretical physicist and Henry Semat Professor of theoretical physics at the graduate center of the City University of NewYork Michio Kaku pioneered string theory. Dr. Kaku has taken his expert knowledge in the world of Physics and has published several books with many of them topping out as National Bestsellers. These books include Beyond Einstein, Parallel Worlds, and Physics of the Impossible. Along with his bestselling books, Professor Kaku has also appeared on many television shows including the History Channel’sThe Universe and the ScienceChannel’s Sci-Fi Science: Physics of theImpossible. One of the many different disciplines in physics lies Theoretical Physics. This field incorporates far out ideas, from time travel to force fields. In Dr. Kaku’s book Physics of the Impossible, he explores many of the ideas that are presently considered sci-fi, but could one day become fact. Dr Kaku’s intriguing book, Physics of the Impossible, brings alive Theoretical Physics to the everyday reader. The book covers interesting topics that will remind even the smallest fan of science fiction of the classic science fiction of the Star Wars Trilogy, original Star Trek or even newer shows, like the shelved Stargate series and Battlestar Galactica. Physics of the Impossible is a book every person will enjoy, while making your mind think of the endless possibilities of the impossible.
Pros:
One of the greatest features this book has to offer is Kaku’s writing style. He is able to write about some of the most complex ideas that our laws of physics indicate are “impossible” and illustrate how or when these notions could become reality. In addition to his writing style the organization of the book as a whole is extremely intriguing. Dr. Kaku breaks down the topics he covers into three distinct categories, which are broken down into Class I Impossibilities, Class II Impossibilities, and Class III Impossibilities. As the author delves into each impossibility, he gives excellent background information from past research undertaken by scientists, to current studies in the scientific world. An interesting topic in Class I category is the chapter on Extraterrestrials and UFOs. Dr.Kaku brings this chapter alive by relating UFOs and aliens to common science fiction entertainment such as the movie Independence Day starring Will Smith, to the classic science fiction novel War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells. Along with the entertainment connection from movies and novels to help drive home his thinking, Kaku brings in scientific theories and principles such as the Fermi Paradox (created by Roberto Fermi) and current missions, Kepler, for the search of extrasolar planets.
Cons:
Kaku’s book is well written, yet there are some areas that could have been improved to make the book stronger as a whole. As with any science book, illustrations make the ideas come alive, especially in astronomy. Physics of the Impossible lacks illustrations throughout the book. A book devoted to the physics of the impossible needs to have illustrations to help bring these fascinating ideas to life including force fields, starships and parallel universes. Illustrations would round out this book as a complete bestseller. Along with the illustrations missing from the book, another negative is the lack of depth on some of the most interesting topics in the book. This book is meant as an overview for the general reader of astronomy and physics but another negative aspect about the book is the lack of a further reading list to help give more insight on interesting physic topics in this book.
Conclusion:
Kaku is an expert physicist and author. He delivers again with Physics of the Impossible, yet his book is lacking in a few key areas. If you are interested in learning about the ideas that are beyond our current understanding of physics then this book is for you. If you are looking for a book that will prove the science fiction as fact then you will be disappointed. Dr. Kaku brings theoretical physics to people outside the scientific world. Though the book is great there are a few negative aspects, including the lack of illustrations, which would is essential when talking about ideas outside of our known physics. Overall, if you enjoy astronomy and physics, or you enjoy challenging yourself, then pick up Physics of the Impossible. Kaku brings the impossible to life and will leave you yearning for more.
Grade: B
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