The Lighter Side of Gravity

by Jayant V. Narlikar

'The Lighter Side of Gravity' is an introduction to all manifestations of gravity.

Genres: Physics, Science

194 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1982

About the author

Jayant Vishnu Narlikar was an Indian astrophysicist and emeritus professor at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA). His research was on alternative cosmology. Narlikar was also an author who wrote textbooks on cosmology, popular science books, and science fiction novels and short stories.

Reviews

[Manoj M · Rating 4 out of 5]

At 210 page count, this is a relatively short book by Dr. Jayant V. Narlikar. However its 'gravity' definitely increases as you cross the half way mark.

The book gently begins with the classical mechanics, shifts focus to gravity and takes you into the life cycle of stars. Brings you back on an 'earthly' topic of tides (which I enjoyed probably the most) and leads you into the strange word of black holes. By this time you are on chapter 7.

Beyond that it gets into some serious cosmology topics - which by the way seemed to me like that light which can never escape the black hole : ) By chapters 10 and 11 this book became too 'heavy'.

I wish the presentation of these topics had been bit gentler ... but I can imagine that that's really tough with things like 'big bang', 'dark matter' and 'quasi-steady-state cosmology' _/|\_

All in all - first seven chapters of the book are very much enjoyable! Beyond that ... you better be serious about cosmology.

[Geoffrey Irvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An apreciatively logical exploration of the physics of Newton, Einstein, Hubble and later cosmology. Interestingly the Author, along with Fred Hoyle is one of the principle advocates of a principle alternative to the big bang theory, the Quasi Steady State Universe, where there is the possibility of white holes being a creative mechanism for an ever expanding universe. Very even handed, interesting and written for the layperson; recommended.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

"each body has a tendency to go to some preferred position, and the observed motions in nature show bodies moving in order to get there."

[John P · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are some good solid basics in this work but it is quite dated and therefore useful perhaps as a historical reference.