Lake Views: This World and the Universe

Description

Steven Weinberg - Lake Views [2010] P2P Custom Partial Compilation v 1.0 [UL] After "Facing Up: Science and Its Cultural Adversaries", covering the period 1987-2000, this is the second compilation of Steven Weinberg's general essays, covering the period 2000-2008. Since the book exists in electronic format, but is not available on P2P venues, this custom compilation will have to do for now. The following chapters are missing as the source essays were not found: 07. On Missile Defense 08. The Growing Nuclear Danger 12. What Price Glory [08 and 12 published also as NYRB Book, under the title "Glory and Terror: The Growing Nuclear Danger"; equally unavailable] 14. The Wrong Stuff 23. Science or Spacemen Chapter 25, "Without God", available as original audio only. For most chapters, the Preambles (and one Afterword) written for the book are also available. For the following chapters the Preamble is missing: 18. Einstein's Mistake 20. Against the Boycott 22. To the Postdocs 23. Science or Spacemen 25. Without God *** From the Publisher: Just as Henry David Thoreau “traveled a great deal in Concord,” Nobel Prize–winning physicist Steven Weinberg sees much of the world from the window of his study overlooking Lake Austin. In Lake Views Weinberg, considered by many to be the preeminent theoretical physicist alive today, continues the wide-ranging reflections that have also earned him a reputation as, in the words of New York Times reporter James Glanz, “a powerful writer of prose that can illuminate—and sting.” This collection presents Weinberg’s views on topics ranging from problems of cosmology to assorted world issues—military, political, and religious. Even as he moves beyond the bounds of science, each essay reflects his experience as a theoretical physicist. And as in the celebrated Facing Up, the essays express a viewpoint that is rationalist, reductionist, realist, and secular. A new introduction precedes each essay, explaining how it came to be written and bringing it up to date where necessary. As an essayist, Weinberg insists on seeing things as they are, without despair and with good humor. Sure to provoke his readers—postmodern cultural critics, enthusiasts for manned space flight or missile defense, economic conservatives, sociologists of science, anti-Zionists, and religious zealots—this book nonetheless offers the pleasure of a sustained encounter with one of the most interesting scientific minds of our time.