From Here to Infinity: Scientific Horizons

by Martin J. Rees

This is a pithy exploration of the place of science in the 21st century from one of the world's greatest scientists. The BBC Radio 4 Reith Lectures were given in 2010 by the Astronomer Royal, Professor Martin Rees. In this expanded version of the lectures (doubled in length with new material), Martin Rees shows how important science will be to the global economies of the 21st century, to solving some of our apparently intractable problems and to understanding the risks that the world faces. Science is often seen as difficult or obscure, but some great scientists (like the author) are so clear that we can all understand it and participate in the great debates that should concern us all whether they are about swine flu, global warming, oil running out, or even space travel. In four dazzling chapters (plus introduction and conclusion), Martin Rees shows the pleasures and importance of science, warns all of us (including governments intent on cutting funding) why we must take science deadly seriously and why it apart from everything else it is so satisfying - one of humankind's greatest achievements.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Physics

162 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Martin John Rees, Baron Rees of Ludlow, OM, PRS (born June 23, 1942 in York) is an English cosmologist and astrophysicist. He has been Astronomer Royal since 1995, and Master of Trinity College, Cambridge since 2004. He became President of the Royal Society on December 1, 2005.

Reviews

[Brendan]

Nothing wrong with this, but it's nothing you haven't already heard before really. ( Unless you're not listening )

[Amir]

از مارتین ریس، پیش‌تر، کتاب فوق‌العادهٔ «شش عدد» را خوانده بودم. کتاب حاضر که در واقع مجموعهٔ چند سخنرانی ریس است اگرچه به جذابیت کتاب پیشین نیست، اما اثر کوچک و خوش‌خوانی است که به گمانم همگان باید آن را بخوانند. همگان که می‌گویم یعنی همهٔ آنهایی که به زیست امروزین ما بر کرهٔ خاک اهمیت می‌دهند و نگران فردای آنند؛ یا کسانی که اهمیتی به این امروز و فردا نمی‌دهند،‌ اما شاید خواندن این کتاب به آنها نشان بدهد که چرا باید نگران مسایلی از این دست بود. ریس در این سخنرانی‌ها، با فرزانگی، به چشم‌اندازهای علم و آیندهٔ زمین نظر می‌کند و از نگرانی‌هایش می‌گوید.‏

[Eduardo Pereira bártolo]

Martin Rees takes a careful look at the political and scientific influences of bureaucratic and individual thinkers and the wisdom they might yield. He warns us about the pitfalls of science and technology if it falls into the wrong hands and whether we can survive the century.

His book is based on a series of BBC Reith Lectures, which were given in Britain in 2010. A member of the House of Lords and former president of the Royal Society, Martin Rees delivers an important message to the world. With a wide range of endorsements, including such distinguished thinkers as Stewart Brand and BBC Focus, Rees has assembled an urgent message for all of mankind.

His discussions are peppered with both optimism and pessimism. Science is a part of our culture, he contends. As such, the public eye has a responsibility to temper technological advances with common sense. He explores the vast number of ways this important message penetrates the media. He points out our vulnerability with the hand of a nurturing Nostradamus, placating our concerns with a warning. Every step the author takes releases a deeper sense of what's at stake. If you want to see how it all fits together, read the book.

[Nochris]

Martin gives a good big picture of the whole scientific research and academic world. His ideas about the role of scientists to the society is enthusiastic but also sensible. He both praised and criticised the scientific research circle objectively, presenting the reader balanced views on various issues.

[Ana Cruz]

É um livro cheio de truísmos que aborda apenas pela rama os quatros temas que se propõe a explorar.

[LUSITANA]

It’s not changing, it’s improving.

[Tauras]

"Christopher Wren, Robert Hooke, Samuel Pepys, and other 'ingenious and curious gentlemen' (as they described themselves met regularly. Their motto was to accept nothing on authority."

I have enjoyed this book, maybe because science interests me, or maybe because I just happened to agree to the thought process of the author. At points I disagreed, at other times I was just interested. Yet in most cases, these things were already heard in one form or another.

The thing I disliked the most was the political agenda the author was openly pushing. Luckily, it did not have that much of impact. Maybe because I don't know the named politicians that well? Or maybe because I just chose to ignore it.

In the end, I came to read the book for its scientific content. It was satisfactory and gave me some food for thought.

[Camilla]

Here is a book that had so much potential and fell just a bit flat, perhaps due to the fact that each chapter is a reworked lecture, meant to appeal to a listening audience. The book discusses topics that include the future and limits of science, the politics of science, and the global nature of science. Martin Rees, somewhat of a celebrity to the curious layman, admits in his introduction that none of the topics could be covered in depth due to the nature of the format. This is unfortunate, as he is engaging and informative, leaving me wanting more.

The chapters can be occasionally repetitive, again because of their beginnings as individual lectures. This isn't annoying, but it can be tiresome. More tiresome, though, is the slight sensationalism Rees employs, presumably to keep the attention of those attending the lectures. The subject material is interesting enough without hyping it, especially technology. To be fair, whatever is sensationalized is only slightly so, but that is still more than it needs to be. Rees can also be contradictory. In one chapter, he stated that although manned space exploration was unnecessary, as a human he wanted the opportunity to be open for those willing to take the involved risks. In the next chapter, he derided manned space flight, implying NASA would "squander its far larger [than a future European space program] budget on a manned program that is neither useful nor inspiring."

Another complaint I have is the lack of notes in the back. I realize these are lectures, but I would have liked to have seen where some of the research came from. Statistics usually were not cited in-text. However, summaries of studies were credited during the lecture. I find it comforting to know that I can Google a specific poll or study to find the statistics used in the book and make sure the author isn't leaving out crucial information or making undue assumptions, though I'm sure Rees would not.

I don't want to sound as though I didn't enjoy the book, though--I did. I already knew quite a bit of what was being said, but I was occasionally enlightened, and although I did not always agree with the author's ideas, I always found them to be sound and respectable, even interesting. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in science or politics, and especially to someone interested in both, keeping the faults I mentioned in mind. I think this book might be the one that encourages politicians to better understand science, and scientists to better understand politics. The points in that area of the book were especially well made, and palatable to both groups of people. While the other essays were interesting, the slight sensationalism detracted from the author's sensible, practical viewpoints--the real joy of the book.

[Mostafa]

3.3star
مارتین ریس اخترفیزیکدان و استاد دانشگاه کمبریج در این اثر که مجموعه چند از سخنرانی از او هست به مسائلی از جمله تهدید های آینده بشر، آینده علم و سایر موضوعات مرتبط مانند سیاست های آموزشی در آمریکا در مقایسه با انگلستان و کشورهای شرق آسیا می پردازد.
سبک نوشتاری جذاب و گیراست و در عین ساده بودن می توان برای مخاطب عام و دانشگاهی دلنشین و آموزنده باشد

[Emanuela]

Sono quattro relazioni che Rees ha presentato in vari contesti a scopo divulgativo sullo stato della scienza, da quella della pubblicazione, all'ecologia globale, alle possibilità della conoscenza futura, al ruolo della politica e della ricerca.
Gli argomenti sono per la maggior parte noti, sono espressi con un linguaggio accessibile senza entrare in dettagli troppo tecnici, ma rivelano aspetti molto interessanti e, spesso, inquietanti. L'autore, sulla base delle urgenze planetarie invita tutti, con adeguate argomentazioni e con accalorata fermezza, a prendere posizioni forti che non possono essere rimandate.

Un buon libro didattico che mi sentirei di consigliare anche agli adolescenti, di quelli che bisognerebbe leggere prima di entrare nei dettagli tecnici delle discipline scientifiche perché aiuta a farsi un'idea globale dei problemi che il nostro pianeta dovrà affrontare al più presto, per non entrare in una spirale irreversibile e distruttiva, ma anche a capire dove e come dovrà essere indirizzata la ricerca scientifica nell'immediato.

[Matt Heavner]

This was an enjoyable and thought provoking read. Perfect for an airplane trip -- I enjoyed the incorporation of multiple strands regarding science and society, the future of research, university, teaching, etc and then challenges of education and globalization. The astronomical perspective (both space, time, and exoplanets) was enjoyable.

[John Orman]

Cosmologist Rees is best known as an excellent science writer. For such a small book, quite a sampling of what we know and don't know about our universe. And also what we will probably never figure out (time travel to the past)!

Rees takes on the ideology and indignation that usually drives public debate about health care, climate, and space travel.

[Steven]

Great book. Rees touches on a number of important issues facing our world from the perspective of a scientist and politician. He highlights the challenges faced by the global community and fairly discusses many controversial issues. Definitely worth reading!

[Yusif Adel]

Science and politics all together,good book to give you a broad overview on some of the issues that influencing the decisions making around the world. However, I felt some time it is just flat and I wished it was shorter.

[Matthew Newton]

Somewhat bland at times, but interesting when Rees discusses topics in cosmology and physics. Less interesting when he moves on to more general topics.

[D.L. Morrese]

An excellent collection of reworked lectures on the nature of science for general readers.

[Kathy]

four lectures. the first one i liked best. nice to hear another voice

[Heather Larcombe]

Interesting ideas. Book is modified from speeches. I'm guessing that in speech format they would have been much more enjoyable, but they were worth reading, too.