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Cosmology’s Century: An Inside History of Our Modern Understanding of the Universe
From Nobel Prize-winning physicist P. J. E. Peebles, the story of cosmology from Einstein to today.
Modern cosmology began a century ago with Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity and his notion of a homogenous, philosophically satisfying cosmos. Cosmology's Century is the story of how generations of scientists built on these thoughts and many new measurements to arrive at a well-tested physical theory of the structure and evolution of our expanding universe.
In this landmark book, one of the world's most esteemed theoretical cosmologists offers an unparalleled personal perspective on how the field developed. P. J. E. Peebles was at the forefront of many of the greatest discoveries of the past century, making fundamental contributions to our understanding of the presence of helium and microwave radiation from the hot big bang, the measures of the distribution and motion of ordinary matter, and the new kind of dark matter that allows us to make sense of these results. Taking readers from the field's beginnings, Peebles describes how scientists working in independent directions found themselves converging on a theory of cosmic evolution interesting enough to warrant the rigorous testing it passes so well. He explores the major advances--some inspired by remarkable insights or perhaps just lucky guesses--as well as the wrong turns taken and the roads not explored. He shares recollections from major players in this story and provides a rare, inside look at how natural science is really done.
A monumental work, Cosmology's Century also emphasizes where the present theory is incomplete, suggesting exciting directions for continuing research.
Modern cosmology began a century ago with Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity and his notion of a homogenous, philosophically satisfying cosmos. Cosmology's Century is the story of how generations of scientists built on these thoughts and many new measurements to arrive at a well-tested physical theory of the structure and evolution of our expanding universe.
In this landmark book, one of the world's most esteemed theoretical cosmologists offers an unparalleled personal perspective on how the field developed. P. J. E. Peebles was at the forefront of many of the greatest discoveries of the past century, making fundamental contributions to our understanding of the presence of helium and microwave radiation from the hot big bang, the measures of the distribution and motion of ordinary matter, and the new kind of dark matter that allows us to make sense of these results. Taking readers from the field's beginnings, Peebles describes how scientists working in independent directions found themselves converging on a theory of cosmic evolution interesting enough to warrant the rigorous testing it passes so well. He explores the major advances--some inspired by remarkable insights or perhaps just lucky guesses--as well as the wrong turns taken and the roads not explored. He shares recollections from major players in this story and provides a rare, inside look at how natural science is really done.
A monumental work, Cosmology's Century also emphasizes where the present theory is incomplete, suggesting exciting directions for continuing research.
440 pages, Hardcover
First published June 2, 2020
23 people are currently reading
458 people want to read
About the author
P.J.E. Peebles
9 books14 followersalso Phillip James Edwin Peebles, P. James E. Peebles
Phillip James Edwin Peebles was born in Winnipeg, Canada, Province of Manitoba, on April 25, 1935. Living in the tiny town of St. Vital and graduating in a high school class of 12, his interests in science were not tapped until his college days. Although planning to study engineering at the University of Manitoba, he encountered four inspirational physics professors who sparked a career in physics. He received his BS degree from the University in 1958 and moved next to Princeton University, intending to study particle physics.
Instead he became the only student of his influential mentor, Robert Dicke, to enter into theoretical physics. Under Dicke's influence Peebles gradually moved from studies of gravity to astronomy and from astronomy to cosmology. Dicke also planted the original seed that inspired Peebles to look for the presence of background radiation in the universe. In 1965, as a result of Peebles' post doctoral research, he and Dicke boldly predicted the existence of cosmic background radiation. In 1966 he began work on the theoretical calculations that would make cosmological studies an important topic for physicists. His book Physical Cosmology (1971) established the framework for a series of challenging new theoretical proposals that helped shape the field of cosmological studies. In 1984 Peebles was named Albert Einstein Professor of Science at Princeton University.
Peebles has written many influential and provocative articles in addition to his important books. His contributions have been recognized with honorary degrees from the University of Toronto, University of Chicago, McMaster University, University of Manitoba, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and the Université Catholique de Louvain. He has also received important awards, including the Eddington Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society (1981) and the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society (1998).
Prof. Peebles and his wife, Alison, live in Princeton, New Jersey, where they share an interest in gardening and in exploring nature. Although he plans to retire from his faculty position at Princeton in the near future, he does not plan to discontinue his life long pursuit of understanding the nature of the
Phillip James Edwin Peebles was born in Winnipeg, Canada, Province of Manitoba, on April 25, 1935. Living in the tiny town of St. Vital and graduating in a high school class of 12, his interests in science were not tapped until his college days. Although planning to study engineering at the University of Manitoba, he encountered four inspirational physics professors who sparked a career in physics. He received his BS degree from the University in 1958 and moved next to Princeton University, intending to study particle physics.
Instead he became the only student of his influential mentor, Robert Dicke, to enter into theoretical physics. Under Dicke's influence Peebles gradually moved from studies of gravity to astronomy and from astronomy to cosmology. Dicke also planted the original seed that inspired Peebles to look for the presence of background radiation in the universe. In 1965, as a result of Peebles' post doctoral research, he and Dicke boldly predicted the existence of cosmic background radiation. In 1966 he began work on the theoretical calculations that would make cosmological studies an important topic for physicists. His book Physical Cosmology (1971) established the framework for a series of challenging new theoretical proposals that helped shape the field of cosmological studies. In 1984 Peebles was named Albert Einstein Professor of Science at Princeton University.
Peebles has written many influential and provocative articles in addition to his important books. His contributions have been recognized with honorary degrees from the University of Toronto, University of Chicago, McMaster University, University of Manitoba, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and the Université Catholique de Louvain. He has also received important awards, including the Eddington Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society (1981) and the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society (1998).
Prof. Peebles and his wife, Alison, live in Princeton, New Jersey, where they share an interest in gardening and in exploring nature. Although he plans to retire from his faculty position at Princeton in the near future, he does not plan to discontinue his life long pursuit of understanding the nature of the
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 3, 2020
This is certainly a book that lives up to its title in that you are given a physicist's perspective on the developments behind our latest understanding of cosmology. However, this is also a massively technical book that - though I'm certain they would want the layperson to read - has far too much technical information to be read evenly if you are not familiar with the math behind much of this. While certain authors in this field always readily encourage you to skip the technical detail if you're not familiar, if you do that here, you miss well over half of the book. Thus I would only recommend to those with some sort of physics and mathematical background, however this would be more appropriate for an undergraduate survey course on cosmology. In particular, I enjoyed his direct experiences with ΛCDM theory and the explanation given for this in the latter third of the book, detailing the end of 20th century revolution was well-supported by the contextual material presented before it. I'm not certain he needed to spend as much time in the age of Einstein as he did, but that's a minor criticism. Wonderful reading though highly technical.
May 1, 2023
If you’ve got the science chops, this is probably the best and most information-rich summary of how we arrived at the current understanding of the origin and evolution of our universe; a hot big bang leading to an accelerating universe dominated by dark energy and dark matter. It’s mindblowing to follow the historical arc (described by one of the most important players in this story) and consider how much we have learned in “cosmology’s century”, from general relativity to the 1998-2003 cosmological revolution.
The ideal reader of this book probably has taken at least some university level physics and astronomy courses. You can skim over some of the technical material, but if you don’t have some science background, you’ll be skipping most of the book.
For a popular science account, I’d recommend two excellent substitutes: Singh’s “Big Bang” for a wonderful exposition of the basics of the big bang story, and Schilling’s “The Elephant in the Universe” for many of the additional discoveries of the past few decades (dark matter, dark energy, origin of mass density fluctuations and evolution of mass structure). Those are useful supplements to “Cosmology’s Century” in any event, as they add colour and human interest stories that this very well-written but dry volume omits.
Hopefully there are more discoveries to be made in this story, and in another decade or so, we’ll need an update to fill us in on the findings from the Webb telescope, and lab-based detection for dark matter.
The ideal reader of this book probably has taken at least some university level physics and astronomy courses. You can skim over some of the technical material, but if you don’t have some science background, you’ll be skipping most of the book.
For a popular science account, I’d recommend two excellent substitutes: Singh’s “Big Bang” for a wonderful exposition of the basics of the big bang story, and Schilling’s “The Elephant in the Universe” for many of the additional discoveries of the past few decades (dark matter, dark energy, origin of mass density fluctuations and evolution of mass structure). Those are useful supplements to “Cosmology’s Century” in any event, as they add colour and human interest stories that this very well-written but dry volume omits.
Hopefully there are more discoveries to be made in this story, and in another decade or so, we’ll need an update to fill us in on the findings from the Webb telescope, and lab-based detection for dark matter.
July 3, 2022
As a review of the development of cosmology in the 20th century, it's pretty good and I expect to return to it from time to time as a reference.
My reservations are primarily with regard to what is supposed to be the intended audience, the demographic. I don't know who except for professional astronomers can be expected to follow along to the end. My general physics background and interest in observational astronomy were wildly insufficient and I feel a more technical title would have more accurately reflected the content. However, as a learning resource, it was still beneficial.
A closing note; the clarity of the presentation also varies a lot by chapter. Paradoxically the parts of the story where Peebles himself isn't actively a player in the narrative are usually more focused and streamlined.
My reservations are primarily with regard to what is supposed to be the intended audience, the demographic. I don't know who except for professional astronomers can be expected to follow along to the end. My general physics background and interest in observational astronomy were wildly insufficient and I feel a more technical title would have more accurately reflected the content. However, as a learning resource, it was still beneficial.
A closing note; the clarity of the presentation also varies a lot by chapter. Paradoxically the parts of the story where Peebles himself isn't actively a player in the narrative are usually more focused and streamlined.
November 24, 2021
KOSMOLOGIA, to nauka, która jak mało która rozbudza wyobraźnię. Mnie zawsze interesowało wszystko, co związane z Wszechświatem. Można powiedzieć, że na tym punkcie mam lekkiego fioła... więc gdy zobaczyłam, że Wydawnictwo Prószyński i S-ka wprowadzają na polski rynek pokaźną cegłę autorstwa P.J.L. Peebles'a (laureat Nagrody Nobla w dziedzinie fizyki) pt. STULECIE KOSMOLOGII, to wiedziałam, że chce!
Jest to kompendium najważniejszych odkryć na tym konkretnym polu nauki. Jest to trochę książka historyczna, a trochę zbiór praw rządzących naszą - jeszcze tak mało zrozumiałą - rzeczywistością. W PRZEDMOWIE ten znakomity fizyk przygotowuje nas na to, co dostaniemy w dalszej części książki. Cóż... nawet tej PRZEDMOWY nie czyta się łatwo i należy się jej skupienie, ale tak to już jest, gdy w grę wchodzi fizyka, astrofizyka, kosmologia.
Peebles wychodzi od podstaw, czyli od TEORII WZGLĘDNOŚCI EINSTEINA. Jest to zrozumiały i najlepszy z możliwych punkt wyjścia do opowiedzenia historii KOSMOLOGII. Od EINSTEINA może nie wszystko się zaczęło, ale na pewno wszystko się zmieniło.
We WPROWADZENIU fizyk pięknie prowadzi nas przez zagadnienia, które będzie omawiał dalej. Jest to zrozumiałe, ale także wymagające... a potem jest tylko bardziej i bardziej. Jednak oczywistym jest, że ci, którzy sięgają po takie pozycje, właśnie tego oczekują.
Czytałam wiele książek o tej, bądź zbliżonej tematyce i muszę przyznać, że STULECIE KOSMOLOGII wymaga od czytelnika więcej, niż jej podobne. Przykładowo książki Briana Greena ("Piękno Wszechświata", "Do końca czasu"), są przyjemne i stosunkowo łatwe w odbiorze, nawet sam Einstein w ISTOCIE TEORII WZGLĘDNOŚCI jest bardziej przystępny, ale Peebles robi coś jeszcze - on to wszystko łączy w jedną całość i stara się pokazać przekrój przez tę, przecież niesamowicie skomplikowaną, dziedzinę nauki.
Podobają mi się rozważania na temat JEDNORODNOŚCI WSZECHŚWIATA i sprytne argumenty ku wytrąceniu pałeczki z rąk samemu EINSTEINOWI. Duże zainteresowanie wzbudziła we mnie także już sama kontrowersja przy nazwie WIELKI WYBUCH (takich perełek mamy tu całe mnóstwo). Oczywiście ja nadal tę książkę czytam, bo to nie jest pozycja, którą pochłania się na raz. Ona domaga się czasu i ten czas ode mnie dostaje każdego dnia... po trochę.
Jakie zagadnienia jeszcze znajdziecie w tej cegle? Np. modele kosmologiczne (fantastyczna sprawa, choć tak naprawdę jeden model jest tylko prawdopodobny, drugi jest raczej dla wygodnych), promieniowanie tła, struktura kosmiczna, nieświecąca materia, ciemna materia, natura badań naukowych i wiele, wiele innych arcyciekawych informacji.
Uczciwie informuję, że podczas czytania muszę mieć otwarty internet, w którym szukam prostych wyjaśnień podanych wzorów. Tak! Wzory to moje przekleństwo i jestem zmuszona sięgać po zasoby internetu. Nie ma w tym nic złego, bo choć można przebrnąć przez tę książkę bez wystukiwania wzorów w google, to jednak ja jeśli już poświęcam dwustronnemu podrozdziałowi czas, to chcę go zrozumieć najlepiej jak to tylko możliwe, a autor jednak założył, że posiadam solidne podstawy... podczas gdy, choć cały czas sięgam po tego typu publikacje, cały czas jestem w tej kwestii kompletnym laikiem. Mnie to osobiście nie przeszkadza, bo właśnie to jest w tym najlepsze - to pragnienie zrozumienia i bycie na progu - przygotowując się do KOSMICZNEGO SKOKU.
Czy polecam? Cóż... dla zainteresowanych, jest to pozycja obowiązkowa i chluba na półce (oby również stała się chlubą w głowie). Pięknie wydana (uwielbiam wyklejkę i grzbiet) no i jak to arcydobrze brzmi STULECIE KOSMOLOGII! Właśnie wyprężam z dumy pierś... i wypuszczam powietrze... bo zdaję sobie sprawę, że przede mną wyboista droga, lecz ja zawsze wolałam drogi polne od autostrad.
dla fanów KOSMOLOGII - pozycja obowiązkowa
8/10
Wydawnictwo Prószyński i S-ka
Jest to kompendium najważniejszych odkryć na tym konkretnym polu nauki. Jest to trochę książka historyczna, a trochę zbiór praw rządzących naszą - jeszcze tak mało zrozumiałą - rzeczywistością. W PRZEDMOWIE ten znakomity fizyk przygotowuje nas na to, co dostaniemy w dalszej części książki. Cóż... nawet tej PRZEDMOWY nie czyta się łatwo i należy się jej skupienie, ale tak to już jest, gdy w grę wchodzi fizyka, astrofizyka, kosmologia.
Peebles wychodzi od podstaw, czyli od TEORII WZGLĘDNOŚCI EINSTEINA. Jest to zrozumiały i najlepszy z możliwych punkt wyjścia do opowiedzenia historii KOSMOLOGII. Od EINSTEINA może nie wszystko się zaczęło, ale na pewno wszystko się zmieniło.
We WPROWADZENIU fizyk pięknie prowadzi nas przez zagadnienia, które będzie omawiał dalej. Jest to zrozumiałe, ale także wymagające... a potem jest tylko bardziej i bardziej. Jednak oczywistym jest, że ci, którzy sięgają po takie pozycje, właśnie tego oczekują.
Czytałam wiele książek o tej, bądź zbliżonej tematyce i muszę przyznać, że STULECIE KOSMOLOGII wymaga od czytelnika więcej, niż jej podobne. Przykładowo książki Briana Greena ("Piękno Wszechświata", "Do końca czasu"), są przyjemne i stosunkowo łatwe w odbiorze, nawet sam Einstein w ISTOCIE TEORII WZGLĘDNOŚCI jest bardziej przystępny, ale Peebles robi coś jeszcze - on to wszystko łączy w jedną całość i stara się pokazać przekrój przez tę, przecież niesamowicie skomplikowaną, dziedzinę nauki.
Podobają mi się rozważania na temat JEDNORODNOŚCI WSZECHŚWIATA i sprytne argumenty ku wytrąceniu pałeczki z rąk samemu EINSTEINOWI. Duże zainteresowanie wzbudziła we mnie także już sama kontrowersja przy nazwie WIELKI WYBUCH (takich perełek mamy tu całe mnóstwo). Oczywiście ja nadal tę książkę czytam, bo to nie jest pozycja, którą pochłania się na raz. Ona domaga się czasu i ten czas ode mnie dostaje każdego dnia... po trochę.
Jakie zagadnienia jeszcze znajdziecie w tej cegle? Np. modele kosmologiczne (fantastyczna sprawa, choć tak naprawdę jeden model jest tylko prawdopodobny, drugi jest raczej dla wygodnych), promieniowanie tła, struktura kosmiczna, nieświecąca materia, ciemna materia, natura badań naukowych i wiele, wiele innych arcyciekawych informacji.
Uczciwie informuję, że podczas czytania muszę mieć otwarty internet, w którym szukam prostych wyjaśnień podanych wzorów. Tak! Wzory to moje przekleństwo i jestem zmuszona sięgać po zasoby internetu. Nie ma w tym nic złego, bo choć można przebrnąć przez tę książkę bez wystukiwania wzorów w google, to jednak ja jeśli już poświęcam dwustronnemu podrozdziałowi czas, to chcę go zrozumieć najlepiej jak to tylko możliwe, a autor jednak założył, że posiadam solidne podstawy... podczas gdy, choć cały czas sięgam po tego typu publikacje, cały czas jestem w tej kwestii kompletnym laikiem. Mnie to osobiście nie przeszkadza, bo właśnie to jest w tym najlepsze - to pragnienie zrozumienia i bycie na progu - przygotowując się do KOSMICZNEGO SKOKU.
Czy polecam? Cóż... dla zainteresowanych, jest to pozycja obowiązkowa i chluba na półce (oby również stała się chlubą w głowie). Pięknie wydana (uwielbiam wyklejkę i grzbiet) no i jak to arcydobrze brzmi STULECIE KOSMOLOGII! Właśnie wyprężam z dumy pierś... i wypuszczam powietrze... bo zdaję sobie sprawę, że przede mną wyboista droga, lecz ja zawsze wolałam drogi polne od autostrad.
dla fanów KOSMOLOGII - pozycja obowiązkowa
8/10
Wydawnictwo Prószyński i S-ka
February 22, 2025
“It is remarkable that we can say with some confidence what the universe was like far away and in the remote past. The well-tested theory grew out of starting ideas from a century ago, in a reasonably simple way… “ From Peebles’s introduction.
Cosmology, the study of the large structures of the universe, is only about a century old. It’s a surprisingly young science that really only got going in the years after WWII. When Einstein was publishing his theories of relativity we didn’t even know there were other galaxies beyond our own.
Peebles tells this history with great personal insight into the latter half of the history of this young and important science. It is a quite technical account (beware, mathematical formulas within!) but there is much here for non-specialists like me. This book fills an important gap between those plentiful introductory accounts written for the general reader and professional publications.
Cosmology, the study of the large structures of the universe, is only about a century old. It’s a surprisingly young science that really only got going in the years after WWII. When Einstein was publishing his theories of relativity we didn’t even know there were other galaxies beyond our own.
Peebles tells this history with great personal insight into the latter half of the history of this young and important science. It is a quite technical account (beware, mathematical formulas within!) but there is much here for non-specialists like me. This book fills an important gap between those plentiful introductory accounts written for the general reader and professional publications.
January 31, 2021
I could only grasp very few of the whole book >_< my bad
I think I'll try to re read again sometime soon and get better understanding
I love cosmology < 3
I think I'll try to re read again sometime soon and get better understanding
I love cosmology < 3
April 19, 2023
P.J.E Peebles does a really good job telling the story of physics as a whole in this book. From the study of black holes, to the luminaries of galaxies and stars, I can say from experience, this book is nice to read on a warm day outside on your balcony. Though The terminology could be a little confusing and difficult to understand to some, the encyclopedia sure helps a lot, since there are lots of different mathematical formulas that could be for a higher level of comprehension for physics lovers. Overall I would say this is a really good book, but could be challenging to understand at some points because of the complex discourse.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews