In the preface to his new book, science writer Munowitz (Principles of Chemistry
) declares that "one should not have to become a professional mathematician or physicist simply to appreciate what is arguably the greatest joy there is: the joy of knowing (just a little bit) how everything is put together." To that end, his "ruthlessly abridged" overview of the landscape of science offers "no formulas to memorize" but still manages to cover everything from basic Newtonian physics to advanced thermodynamics and quantum physics. Munowitz's skills as a writer and teacher are clear throughout, particularly when he tackles the thornier aspects of modern physics, but this is still far from an easy read (Munowitz's elaboration of general relativity is one of the clearest in print, but it's still tough going). At the same time, readers with a grounding in modern physics may find that the author's reworking of a science textbook by expanding on and recontextualizing the "standards"—much like a concert by a really good cover band—leaves them looking at familiar concepts in a refreshing new light. B&w illus. (Oct.)
