Music of the Spheres: The Material Universe From Atom to Quaser, Simply Explained

by Guy Murchie

Beginning with the solar system and reaching all the way to the dividing line between matter and non-matter, this popular-level account of our material universe explains with remarkable clarity a vast range of scientific understandings. It is an old book that was ahead of its time and should still be warmly welcomed by all readers who are curious about what exists beyond the stars.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Physics, Philosophy

225 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1967

About the author

Guy Murchie (Jr.) son of Ethel A. and Guy Murchie (Sr) was a Chicago Tribune photographer, staff artist and reporter, who had served as a war correspondent in England and Iceland from 1940 to 1942. He was briefly married to Barbara Cooney.

He was a flight instructor and a practising member of the Bahá'í Faith. His books included Men on the Horizon (1932), Song of the Sky (1954), Music of the Spheres (1961) and The Seven Mysteries of Life (1978). Murchie also illustrated his books with etchings and woodcuts of his own making. The American Museum of Natural History awarded him the John Burroughs Medal in 1956 for Song of the Sky.

Reviews

[Garrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really weird book. Not sure if I believe or understand it but everything suddenly can seem musical. Even a loaf of bread (moving from sliced back to unsliced).

[Mayberry Phillip · Rating 4 out of 5]

The information is a little out of date being as the book was written 60 years ago as of this writing, however much of the scientific theory is still relevant even with the scientific discoveries of today. Because the book is so antiquated , I feel as though there are some great ideas within that slip by unnoticed to unscrupulous aspiring scientists of today. It is actually a fairly inclusive modern take on the Music of the Spheres of the classical period however it has a tendency to included some radical metaphysical ideas without scientific basis, either for better or for worse. I would advise against using it as a text book and that it should be used primarily for inspiration for most readers.

[Brian Sollors · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun to read!! The first volume was definitely easier to digest than volume II. Vol II went a bit over my head. Murchie does a great job trying to make the concepts and theories in Vol II easier to understand for people like me who haven't a clue when it comes to physics and chemistry. Highly recommend if you find science at all interesting and fun!

[Greliche]

Great book!!!