Breezy read, with some humorous quotes. Good overall review though a little heavy on the possibility of changing constants.

For an excellent sequel to this read "Deciphering the Cosmic Number: The Strange Friendship of Wolfgang Pauli and Carl Jung," by Arthur I. Miller

For an update read "Constants of Nature from the Dynamics of Time" and "Pythagorean Geometry and Fundamental Constants." (

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Michael.Sherbon | May 20, 2009 |

Good fundamental physics. Deep and absorbing, like almost every Barrow work.

fpagan | Dec 22, 2006 |

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Epigraph

Dedication

To Carol

First words

Some things never change. (Preface)

Change is a challenge.

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Wikipedia in English (11)

Dimensionless physical constant

Eddington number

Fine-structure constant

Proton-to-electron mass ratio

Spacetime

Variable speed of light

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Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0375422218, Hardcover)

A major contribution to our understanding of the basic laws of the universe -- from the author of The Book of Nothing.

The constants of nature are the fundamental laws of physics that apply throughout the universe: gravity, velocity of light, electromagnetism and quantum mechanics. They encode the deepest secrets of the universe, and express at once our greatest knowledge and our greatest ignorance about the cosmos.

Their existence has taught us the profound truth that nature abounds with unseen regularities. Yet while we have become skilled at measuring the values of these constants, our frustrating inability to explain or predict their values shows how much we have still to learn about inner workings of the universe.

What is the ultimate status of these constants of nature? Are they truly constant? And are there other universes where they are different?

John D. Barrow, one of our foremost mathematicians and cosmologists, discusses the latest thinking about these and many more dramatic issues in this accessible and thought-provoking book.

(retrieved from Amazon Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:58:05 -0400)

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