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Black Holes: A Traveler's Guide
BLACK HOLES A TRAVELER'S GUIDE
Clifford Pickover's inventive and entertaining excursion beyond the curves of space and time.
"I've enjoyed Clifford Pickover's earlier books . . . now he has ventured into the exploration of black holes. All would-be tourists are strongly advised to read his traveler's guide." -Arthur C. Clarke.
"Many books have been written about black holes, but none surpass this one in arousing emotions of awe and wonder towards the mysterious structure of the universe." -Martin Gardner.
"Bucky Fuller thought big. Arthur C. Clarke thinks big, but Cliff Pickover outdoes them both." -Wired.
"The book is fun, zany, in-your-face, and refreshingly addictive." -Times Higher Education Supplement.
Clifford Pickover's inventive and entertaining excursion beyond the curves of space and time.
"I've enjoyed Clifford Pickover's earlier books . . . now he has ventured into the exploration of black holes. All would-be tourists are strongly advised to read his traveler's guide." -Arthur C. Clarke.
"Many books have been written about black holes, but none surpass this one in arousing emotions of awe and wonder towards the mysterious structure of the universe." -Martin Gardner.
"Bucky Fuller thought big. Arthur C. Clarke thinks big, but Cliff Pickover outdoes them both." -Wired.
"The book is fun, zany, in-your-face, and refreshingly addictive." -Times Higher Education Supplement.
232 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
4 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
About the author
Clifford A. Pickover
90 books233 followersClifford Alan Pickover is an American author, editor, and columnist in the fields of science, mathematics, science fiction, innovation, and creativity. For many years, he was employed at the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown, New York, where he was editor-in-chief of the IBM Journal of Research and Development. He has been granted more than 700 U.S. patents, is an elected Fellow for the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, and is author of more than 50 books, translated into more than a dozen languages.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 20, 2025
Σχετικά απογοητευτικό βιβλίο εκλαϊκευμένης επιστήμης.
Ο Pickover πατάει σε δύο βάρκες. Αφενός παίζει το χαρτί της εκλαϊκευσης αντιμετωπίζοντας τον αναγνώστη σαν περίπου ηλίθιο (ή νήπιο) που χρειάζεται μια γελοία απλοϊκή ιστορία (με τον Πλεξ τον Σκώληκα που έχει αδαμάντινο περίβλημα και... γήινη σύζυγο που είναι κουκλάρα) για κρατηθεί και αφετέρου ρίχνοντάς του κατακέφαλα εξισώσεις που σε όσους δεν ασχολήθηκαν με τα μαθηματικά μετά το λύκειο μάλλον προκαλούν δυσφορία. Ναι, δεν είναι εξισώσεις του τύπου χ+ψ=ζ.
Τα όποια ενδιαφέροντα στοιχεία έχει το βιβλίο να δώσει, πνίγονται είτε μέσα στην τραγική αφέλεια της κακοδοσμένης "πλοκής" είτε στη στρυφνόητητα των μαθηματικών και των στεγνών ορισμών.
Στο δε τέλος, χαλαρώνει η σύνδεση του περιεχομένου με τις μαύρες τρύπες (αν μη τι άλλο ξεχνάει και τον σκώληκα που μας ταλαιπώρησε), μέχρι που το χάνει εντελώς και έχει μέχρι και σχολιασμό παραθεμάτων από προγενέστερα βιβλία του.
Αν θέλετε να μάθετε κάτι για το σύμπαν μας και ειδικά τις μαύρες τρύπες, καλύτερα να επιλέξετε κάποιο άλλο βιβλίο.
Ο Pickover πατάει σε δύο βάρκες. Αφενός παίζει το χαρτί της εκλαϊκευσης αντιμετωπίζοντας τον αναγνώστη σαν περίπου ηλίθιο (ή νήπιο) που χρειάζεται μια γελοία απλοϊκή ιστορία (με τον Πλεξ τον Σκώληκα που έχει αδαμάντινο περίβλημα και... γήινη σύζυγο που είναι κουκλάρα) για κρατηθεί και αφετέρου ρίχνοντάς του κατακέφαλα εξισώσεις που σε όσους δεν ασχολήθηκαν με τα μαθηματικά μετά το λύκειο μάλλον προκαλούν δυσφορία. Ναι, δεν είναι εξισώσεις του τύπου χ+ψ=ζ.
Τα όποια ενδιαφέροντα στοιχεία έχει το βιβλίο να δώσει, πνίγονται είτε μέσα στην τραγική αφέλεια της κακοδοσμένης "πλοκής" είτε στη στρυφνόητητα των μαθηματικών και των στεγνών ορισμών.
Στο δε τέλος, χαλαρώνει η σύνδεση του περιεχομένου με τις μαύρες τρύπες (αν μη τι άλλο ξεχνάει και τον σκώληκα που μας ταλαιπώρησε), μέχρι που το χάνει εντελώς και έχει μέχρι και σχολιασμό παραθεμάτων από προγενέστερα βιβλία του.
Αν θέλετε να μάθετε κάτι για το σύμπαν μας και ειδικά τις μαύρες τρύπες, καλύτερα να επιλέξετε κάποιο άλλο βιβλίο.
May 14, 2011
A weak book on black holes. The author attempts to make it an enjoyable read by placing you, the reader, as captain of a spaceship and writing dialogue between you and his alien first officer. Despite the promising premise, the book is poorly executed. The dialogue is cookie-cutter and tiresome for it revolves around just plugging numbers into algebraic equations. I felt this book does little to explain the science behind the equations. Instead, it gives you an equation, fiddles with the numbers in the equation, and discusses the results of fiddling with numbers. If you find that interesting (as some do), then you might like this book. But in my opinion, discussing phenomena like orbiting a black hole is more interesting if done in a narrative way. This is a book about phenomenology, and not a very interesting one.
The text includes computer programs that you can type for yourself and run, but for the most part they do not perform interesting functions... unless you call "plug and chug" in a basic algebraic formula "interesting". The computer programs suffer from the same problems as the rest of the book; it is not interesting to read about plugging numbers into equations.
With so many other books on black holes out there, I highly recommend skipping this one. If you want a readable book on black holes, try "Death By Black Hole" by Tyson. For a book that actually explains the science behind the equations, try "Black Holes and Time Warps" by Thorne. For a book that includes equations and is a very readable but also a very real introduction to relativity and black holes, try "Exploring Black Holes" by Taylor. For a wider array of extreme astronomical events including black holes, try "Cosmic Catastrophes" by Wheeler or "Death From the Skies" by Plait. There are so many options in this genre, and any of them would be better than this one.
The text includes computer programs that you can type for yourself and run, but for the most part they do not perform interesting functions... unless you call "plug and chug" in a basic algebraic formula "interesting". The computer programs suffer from the same problems as the rest of the book; it is not interesting to read about plugging numbers into equations.
With so many other books on black holes out there, I highly recommend skipping this one. If you want a readable book on black holes, try "Death By Black Hole" by Tyson. For a book that actually explains the science behind the equations, try "Black Holes and Time Warps" by Thorne. For a book that includes equations and is a very readable but also a very real introduction to relativity and black holes, try "Exploring Black Holes" by Taylor. For a wider array of extreme astronomical events including black holes, try "Cosmic Catastrophes" by Wheeler or "Death From the Skies" by Plait. There are so many options in this genre, and any of them would be better than this one.
March 5, 2014
I decided to read this book because I love reading about space and mysteries. This book goes on the 'A book that teaches you about another history in time'. The character that I found the most interesting was Mr.Plex because he was a professor of space and black holes and also he tells us a lot about space. My most favorite and interesting quote I found in this book is "I love black holes" because it shows how passionate he is for space and especially black holes. From this book I learned that how in space time goes fast because of no gravity!
November 6, 2020
Δεν απευθύνεται σε ειδικούς, αλλά ούτε είναι εκλαϊκευμένη αστροφυσική εκτός αν θεωρούμε εκλαΐκευση την ανοησία του να συζητάμε με ένα σκώληκα Πλεξ που έχει αδαμάντινο περίβλημα, ή να ξετρυπώνω laptop κάτω από ένα μαξιλάρι ή πίσω από έναν κάκτο...
Σε αντίθεση με παρόμοια έργα του Γραμματικάκη, πάντοτε ασχολείται με μαθηματικούς τύπους και υπολογισμούς που για τον μέσο αναγνώστη δεν έχουν καμιά σημασία...
Συμπερασματικά αποφύγετε να το διαβάσετε και απορώ για την υψηλή βαθμολογία που έχει σε αυτόν τον ιστότοπο.
"Εάν η μάζα ενός άστρου είναι ίση με την ηλιακή ή και μικρότερη, τότε η άπωση των ηλεκτρονίων εμποδίζει την ολοκληρωτική βαρυτική του κατάρρευση, και οδηγεί στη ευσταθή κατάσταση ενός αστρικού κουφαριού που αποκαλείται λευκός νάνος και έχει ακτίνα μερικών χιλιάδων χιλιομέτρων. Εάν η μάζα ενός άστρου είναι περίπου 1,5 φορά μεγαλύτερη από τη μάζα του ήλιου τότε με την κατάρρευση σχηματίζεται ένας αστέρας νετρονίων με διάμετρο περίπου 16 χιλιομέτρων. Εάν η μάζα ενός άστρου είναι ακόμα μεγαλύτερη, τότε με την κατάρρευση σχηματίζεται μια μαύρη τρύπα."
"Σε μια μαύρη τρύπα ο περιφερειακός ορίζοντας γεγονότων, η απειροελάχιστη μοναδικότητα που είναι το κέντρο της και επιπλέον δεν υπάρχει τρόπος να γνωρίζουμε τι συμβαίνει στο εσωτερικό του ορίζοντα."
"Η ύλη αναγκάζει το χώρο να καμπυλώνεται. Ο χώρος επιβάλει στην ύλη πως θα κινείται."
"Η κβαντική βαρύτητα διαχωρίζει το χώρο από το χρόνο, μετά καταργεί το χρόνο ως έννοια και καταστρέφει την σαφή υπόσταση του χώρου. Στο εσωτερικό της μοναδικότητας χρόνος δεν υφίσταται και ο χώρος μετατρέπεται σε έναν αφρό πιθανοτήτων που αναβράζει, δηλαδή η γεωμετρία και η τοπολογία του χώρου αποκτούν πιθανοθεωρητικό χαρακτήρα. Επίσης πιστεύουμε ότι η κβαντική βαρύτητα καθορίζει επίσης τις πιθανότητες γέννησης 'νέων συμπάντων' από τη μοναδικότητα - δηλαδή, νέων περιοχών του χωροχρόνου."
Σε αντίθεση με παρόμοια έργα του Γραμματικάκη, πάντοτε ασχολείται με μαθηματικούς τύπους και υπολογισμούς που για τον μέσο αναγνώστη δεν έχουν καμιά σημασία...
Συμπερασματικά αποφύγετε να το διαβάσετε και απορώ για την υψηλή βαθμολογία που έχει σε αυτόν τον ιστότοπο.
"Εάν η μάζα ενός άστρου είναι ίση με την ηλιακή ή και μικρότερη, τότε η άπωση των ηλεκτρονίων εμποδίζει την ολοκληρωτική βαρυτική του κατάρρευση, και οδηγεί στη ευσταθή κατάσταση ενός αστρικού κουφαριού που αποκαλείται λευκός νάνος και έχει ακτίνα μερικών χιλιάδων χιλιομέτρων. Εάν η μάζα ενός άστρου είναι περίπου 1,5 φορά μεγαλύτερη από τη μάζα του ήλιου τότε με την κατάρρευση σχηματίζεται ένας αστέρας νετρονίων με διάμετρο περίπου 16 χιλιομέτρων. Εάν η μάζα ενός άστρου είναι ακόμα μεγαλύτερη, τότε με την κατάρρευση σχηματίζεται μια μαύρη τρύπα."
"Σε μια μαύρη τρύπα ο περιφερειακός ορίζοντας γεγονότων, η απειροελάχιστη μοναδικότητα που είναι το κέντρο της και επιπλέον δεν υπάρχει τρόπος να γνωρίζουμε τι συμβαίνει στο εσωτερικό του ορίζοντα."
"Η ύλη αναγκάζει το χώρο να καμπυλώνεται. Ο χώρος επιβάλει στην ύλη πως θα κινείται."
"Η κβαντική βαρύτητα διαχωρίζει το χώρο από το χρόνο, μετά καταργεί το χρόνο ως έννοια και καταστρέφει την σαφή υπόσταση του χώρου. Στο εσωτερικό της μοναδικότητας χρόνος δεν υφίσταται και ο χώρος μετατρέπεται σε έναν αφρό πιθανοτήτων που αναβράζει, δηλαδή η γεωμετρία και η τοπολογία του χώρου αποκτούν πιθανοθεωρητικό χαρακτήρα. Επίσης πιστεύουμε ότι η κβαντική βαρύτητα καθορίζει επίσης τις πιθανότητες γέννησης 'νέων συμπάντων' από τη μοναδικότητα - δηλαδή, νέων περιοχών του χωροχρόνου."
April 23, 2018
Light reading. Geared toward the interested general population. A good read all the same.
November 10, 2013
Mixed.
Thank goodness Pickover had the guts to write a book about black holes and include some equations! The theory of black holes is inherently mathematical, so it is very welcome to read a book that tries to bridge the gap between a no-equation popularization versus full-on mathematical physics.
But you'll have to be patient, not only to work through the math, but to put up with flaws that editing should have fixed. On p. 56, Pickover offers two equations, and tries to help the reader feel comfortable with them, despite their apparent complexity. But, if you get out a pencil and simplify the algebra, each equation actually reduces to something much simpler. Unfortunately, the first equation reduces all the way to z = r. That can't be right, because the equation is supposed to describe a circle. In the end, I learned something by doing the math to root out the problem. I am half grateful, but half scornful.
Pickover mixes mathematical directness - actually showing equations - with behind-the-back "simplifications", such as changing to non-standard units. In another example, Pickover describes a rotating black hole as "lemon-shaped", then in the notes, he says the black hole isn't lemon-shaped, but he since couldn't think of a fruit that was hamburger-shaped, he just went with lemon (has he heard of grapefruit?). If you're not on your toes, the simplifications can confuse you more than the math itself.
Similarly, Pickover's gimmick to lighten up the presentation by featuring you as a space captain ordering about your underling is awkward to the point of grating, but at least he tried.
I'd have to say this book was not really ready to publish, but I am getting a lot out of it that I can't find in other books, despite the substantial flaws.
Cautiously recommended.
Thank goodness Pickover had the guts to write a book about black holes and include some equations! The theory of black holes is inherently mathematical, so it is very welcome to read a book that tries to bridge the gap between a no-equation popularization versus full-on mathematical physics.
But you'll have to be patient, not only to work through the math, but to put up with flaws that editing should have fixed. On p. 56, Pickover offers two equations, and tries to help the reader feel comfortable with them, despite their apparent complexity. But, if you get out a pencil and simplify the algebra, each equation actually reduces to something much simpler. Unfortunately, the first equation reduces all the way to z = r. That can't be right, because the equation is supposed to describe a circle. In the end, I learned something by doing the math to root out the problem. I am half grateful, but half scornful.
Pickover mixes mathematical directness - actually showing equations - with behind-the-back "simplifications", such as changing to non-standard units. In another example, Pickover describes a rotating black hole as "lemon-shaped", then in the notes, he says the black hole isn't lemon-shaped, but he since couldn't think of a fruit that was hamburger-shaped, he just went with lemon (has he heard of grapefruit?). If you're not on your toes, the simplifications can confuse you more than the math itself.
Similarly, Pickover's gimmick to lighten up the presentation by featuring you as a space captain ordering about your underling is awkward to the point of grating, but at least he tried.
I'd have to say this book was not really ready to publish, but I am getting a lot out of it that I can't find in other books, despite the substantial flaws.
Cautiously recommended.
June 1, 2015
In this book Pickover tries to go the middle ground technically in explaining black holes by bouncing between a simplistic science fiction format to the advanced formulas that describe their structure and behavior.
The science fiction format features a creature called Mr. Plex that has a diamond exoskeleton and his human wife, Mrs. Plex. Mr. Plex is also the first officer of a space ship captained by the narrator. The three of them engage in adventures near black holes and describe the situation and the consequences of their actions. Sometimes interspersed and often separated from the adventures are the formulas that describe the black holes and what happens around them. To his credit and detriment, Pickover does not shy away from using the most advanced formulas. In general, a person would have to have the equivalent of a course in college level physics with a calculus prerequisite to understand all of them. Therefore, there is no question that the sales of the book were much less than they would have been if the formulas had generally left out. There are many illustrations and some computer code to illustrate the actions in an appendix.
I commend Pickover for including the formulas for black holes and doing a generally good job in explaining them. However, there is no way that this could be considered a popular book on black holes as the level of mathematics will overwhelm most people.
This review also appears on Amazon
The science fiction format features a creature called Mr. Plex that has a diamond exoskeleton and his human wife, Mrs. Plex. Mr. Plex is also the first officer of a space ship captained by the narrator. The three of them engage in adventures near black holes and describe the situation and the consequences of their actions. Sometimes interspersed and often separated from the adventures are the formulas that describe the black holes and what happens around them. To his credit and detriment, Pickover does not shy away from using the most advanced formulas. In general, a person would have to have the equivalent of a course in college level physics with a calculus prerequisite to understand all of them. Therefore, there is no question that the sales of the book were much less than they would have been if the formulas had generally left out. There are many illustrations and some computer code to illustrate the actions in an appendix.
I commend Pickover for including the formulas for black holes and doing a generally good job in explaining them. However, there is no way that this could be considered a popular book on black holes as the level of mathematics will overwhelm most people.
This review also appears on Amazon
December 30, 2014
I. Love. This. Book.
Black holes being one of my favorite cosmic phenomena aside, this was a fun read. There are two "characters" who narrate the phenomena of the black hole. The space ship captian and his diamond skinned co-pilot. Through the co-pilot you get to take a first person perspective on what you would witness and feel if you were to approach an aspect of the black hole, and then the captian explains the actual phenomena that is occuring. Well written, even humorous, engaging, I've read it more than once. There are actual astronomical/astrophysics equations in this book, as well as Basic code you can program to re-create the resulting figures and images in the book.
Black holes being one of my favorite cosmic phenomena aside, this was a fun read. There are two "characters" who narrate the phenomena of the black hole. The space ship captian and his diamond skinned co-pilot. Through the co-pilot you get to take a first person perspective on what you would witness and feel if you were to approach an aspect of the black hole, and then the captian explains the actual phenomena that is occuring. Well written, even humorous, engaging, I've read it more than once. There are actual astronomical/astrophysics equations in this book, as well as Basic code you can program to re-create the resulting figures and images in the book.
May 27, 2015
Nice information. Lots of easy to read chapters. Uses Science Fiction and fictional characters to tell a non-fictional truth about black holes. Interesting read. easy to read. I had to keep reminding myself that this book is based on truth quantum data but he uses to many fictional characters and fictional storylines to describe the true objective data of blackholes. A nice read for anybody who wishes to learn about black holes the easy and fun way.
July 25, 2011
A short concise little book that goes over the major features of black holes. If your a computer code geek (I am) then you'll love the fact that there are code samples for all the major math calculations included at the end. However, the best section of the book is the chapter called 'The Grand Internet Black-Hole Survey,' in which we get to hear the opinions of many leading scientists.
June 16, 2010
An excellent source guide for anyone interested in writing hard sci-fi or just a cosmological enthusiast! Easily understandable with formulas well explained as opposed to just dumped upon the page.
May 17, 2016
Buku ini cuba adalah sebuah kembara melalui lohong hitam & diceritakan dalam bentuk cereka.
Menarik untuk mereka yang dambakan sains & misteri.
Menarik untuk mereka yang dambakan sains & misteri.
April 29, 2017
Gives you a good idea of all the effects that could occur if one would travel to, around and inside a black hole. No, Mathew Mcconaghey (Did I spell that correctly?) does not make a cameo. The book is funny because of a comical science fiction story that is interwoven throughout. It doesn't take itself too seriously even though it comes replete with equations galore. There are also many computer program blueprints in the back to use for calculating many interesting features of a black hole under varying circumstances. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the astronomical and mathematical anomaly known as a black hole.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews