Description:
Written by Hungarian scientist and engineer Károly Simonyi, translated and updated, this classic and comprehensive history of physics combines a wide-ranging, in-depth account of the science of physics with an insightful interpretation of the cultural context, and is beautifully illustrated.
Review Quotes:
The book offers a total history of a discipline ... Simonyi ... largely succeeds in fostering the public understanding of a science in its broad historical context. ... In the middle of the book the reader is treated with a sumptuous set of color plates attempting to give an overview of developments in physics interacting with the cultures of the successive periods. ... its richly illustrated chapters and sections can be enjoyed independently, absorbed and savored slowly, by little doses of the magnificent history of our discipline.
--Amand A. Lucas, Il Nuovo Saggiatore (bulletin of the Italian Physical Society)
Simonyi bridges the gap between science and the humanities by presenting the history of physics in the context of the personalities and the culture in which the discoveries were made. The volume is lavishly illustrated with everything from pictures and drawings to facsimiles of pages from seminal research papers. ... This is an extremely valuable reference for history of science and philosophy library collections. Highly recommended.
--C.G. Wood, CHOICE, July 2012
... lavishly illustrated, beautifully executed, with a tremendous number of quotations and unabashed use of equations. The author -- who unquestionably has an uncommon talent for illustrating and organizing his ideas -- made a tremendous effort to convey his extensive knowledge to potential readers. ... My difficulty is of course in being able to adequately relate the worth of the treasure that the book is in a short review. I doubt that even a long review could give the book its due. ... There is so much to be found in this book that make using it at all levels, from elementary school to university, interesting, indeed exciting. ... I am convinced that those who read the book will enjoy the experience and end up with a cherished possession.
--Alex Bogomolny, MAA Reviews, June 2012
A Cultural History of Physics takes the reader on an immensely detailed and thoughtful tour. A Cultural History of Physics meticulously explains the specifics of its many examples, and it's packed cover to cover with charts, graphs, and diagrams illustrating key physics discoveries and how they revolutionized the world. A working knowledge of algebra or basic calculus will aid the reader in fully understanding specific examples, but the broader picture of human history transformed by science is thoroughly accessible to lay readers. Highly recommended, especially for college and public library science shelves.
--Library Bookwatch, April 2012