What do you think?
Rate this book
Clues to the Cosmos
Amazing Stories behind the Greatest Discoveries in Physics
Set out on the ultimate detective story—the story of how we unravelled the great mysteries of nature through science.
From the microscopic world of an electron to the very limits of the universe, scientists have collected the clues left all around us in nature, and constructed a story that best fits all of the evidence. And what a story it is! A tale of explosive beginnings in the big bang, the strange warping of space and time, black holes, quantum uncertainties and elusive particles. How did we come to understand this grand story?
This book explains the science and the scientific process that led to the biggest discoveries in physics. Like all great detective stories, it involves careful investigation, surprising discoveries, interesting characters, twists and turns, leaps of imagination and rewarding outcomes.
Set out on the ultimate detective story—the story of how we unravelled the great mysteries of nature through science.
From the microscopic world of an electron to the very limits of the universe, scientists have collected the clues left all around us in nature, and constructed a story that best fits all of the evidence. And what a story it is! A tale of explosive beginnings in the big bang, the strange warping of space and time, black holes, quantum uncertainties and elusive particles. How did we come to understand this grand story?
This book explains the science and the scientific process that led to the biggest discoveries in physics. Like all great detective stories, it involves careful investigation, surprising discoveries, interesting characters, twists and turns, leaps of imagination and rewarding outcomes.
228 pages, Paperback
Published December 22, 2019
9 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 23, 2020
Shohini Ghose that was the word I catch when I saw this books detail. I googled about her and came to know she is a TEDx speaker. Then I went through the blurb of the book and I came to know that this book is an effort to explain facts of the universe in simple language, something that a normal person can understand, something which is full of both the equations and theories. So I had high hopes when I received this book. Unfortunately due to lock down the book review was delayed and I am really sorry for the delay. Unlike normal fiction where my expectation from the book was to entertain me or lighten my mood, from this book, I was expecting more information that I can understand or grab faster. I am from a science background and I have been introduced many of these theories during the studies, I always wanted an easy explanation of the concepts so that if someone, who is not from a science background, asks me about them then I can explain it with ease.
The content of the book is divided into eight chapters. Each chapter covers the aspects of the proper methodology. The author has started with early beliefs about the existence of the universe. And how those beliefs were broken down by different theories with different methodologies with different measurement tools how everything unravels to your mankind. It explains how a various scientist has explored these facts and brought us the modern day's knowledge to us. If you want to read these points from the scientific view you will find a book on each of these topics and a lot of theorems but when it comes to getting crux in layman language then this is the book. The author has taken chronological order of various inventions and facts. She has also shared many hidden faces behind these discoveries whose recognition is still due or recognized after years of the invention.
Those who are reading this book, take my advice and give time to read this book. Don't rush towards the end. If you like to write down facts then take a marker and keep noting points after each chapter as there are many things to note down. The author has used plain English to reach the maximum audience. Still, the topic related scientific discussions so maybe many souls find it difficult to digest, not due to complexity but due to the nature of readers.
I will give 4.5 out of 5 to this book.
The content of the book is divided into eight chapters. Each chapter covers the aspects of the proper methodology. The author has started with early beliefs about the existence of the universe. And how those beliefs were broken down by different theories with different methodologies with different measurement tools how everything unravels to your mankind. It explains how a various scientist has explored these facts and brought us the modern day's knowledge to us. If you want to read these points from the scientific view you will find a book on each of these topics and a lot of theorems but when it comes to getting crux in layman language then this is the book. The author has taken chronological order of various inventions and facts. She has also shared many hidden faces behind these discoveries whose recognition is still due or recognized after years of the invention.
Those who are reading this book, take my advice and give time to read this book. Don't rush towards the end. If you like to write down facts then take a marker and keep noting points after each chapter as there are many things to note down. The author has used plain English to reach the maximum audience. Still, the topic related scientific discussions so maybe many souls find it difficult to digest, not due to complexity but due to the nature of readers.
I will give 4.5 out of 5 to this book.
March 18, 2020
Physics ! The name itself was enough to scare me when I was in school. I mean seriously, so much of stuff to remember, so much of calculations and that too, with theory that has to be remembered like a parrot. So despite of the fact that the principles were hell interesting, I wasn't as fluent with the subject as others. But as it happens, years after the school days past, the subjects I had avoided comes back now to me as something I want to ponder upon and read about. Be it history, tales of civilizations, politics or yes, physics. So, there, when I got this copy of book - Clues to the Cosmos by Shohini Ghose (a simple google got me mouth agape how this lady is multi talented !) I was in for an adventure. Which surely it is.
Why not? As the subject itself has many mysteries, histories and surprises in store for us. Wonder what would PT Usha's run has to do with some principles of precise measurements, or what if I tell you that there was no apple that fell on head of that famous physicist ! And as Shohini rightly puts in-we all know the final outcome of all these suspense stories - the principles of physics. But what is the story, who were background actors who all made that possible? All these together makes the tales much interesting despite the fact that the subject does not seem so!
The writing style makes heavy dose of information go down your throat in a simple and interesting way. The way each chapter starts with a personal note and progresses step by step with even the little contribution to the big discoveries is worth keep your eyes on the pages. I never thought this would be a ride with so much knowledge to be gained. Talking about the book - printing quality is excellent, so is the binding. Cover page is absolutely stunning (making sure it will catch a few eyes, while you show off what you are reading - at least I do that always). Jaico has done beautiful job.
A very deserving break I got from my 'fictional' world - reading something so enriching. Clues to the Cosmos is going to take place next to Sapiens, on my bookshelf.
Why not? As the subject itself has many mysteries, histories and surprises in store for us. Wonder what would PT Usha's run has to do with some principles of precise measurements, or what if I tell you that there was no apple that fell on head of that famous physicist ! And as Shohini rightly puts in-we all know the final outcome of all these suspense stories - the principles of physics. But what is the story, who were background actors who all made that possible? All these together makes the tales much interesting despite the fact that the subject does not seem so!
The writing style makes heavy dose of information go down your throat in a simple and interesting way. The way each chapter starts with a personal note and progresses step by step with even the little contribution to the big discoveries is worth keep your eyes on the pages. I never thought this would be a ride with so much knowledge to be gained. Talking about the book - printing quality is excellent, so is the binding. Cover page is absolutely stunning (making sure it will catch a few eyes, while you show off what you are reading - at least I do that always). Jaico has done beautiful job.
A very deserving break I got from my 'fictional' world - reading something so enriching. Clues to the Cosmos is going to take place next to Sapiens, on my bookshelf.
October 20, 2020
The majesty of the universe that we belong to is trapped in obscure equations and numbers which eludes even those who have devoted their lives to it. But clouded by this obscurity is an elegant simplicity which makes the pursuit of science thrilling. Shohini Ghose, a brilliant physicist herself, has succeeded in revealing the heart of this thriller with amazing clarity. I feel that it is a mark of her deep understanding of the subject that she was able to write about the physics of the universe in a whole book without a single equation or a graph.
The book deals with some of the major discoveries in physics and the scientists behind them. She touches upon gravity, dark energy, particle physics, relativity and everything else we have heard about in the movies and news without ever knowing what they truly meant. It was fascinating to know that at the time of birth of these theories, the scientists had the same doubts and difficulty in understanding them just as we did. Physics has evolved into its current state through countless debates and ingenious experiments that proved or disproved the various theories. Even the best of the scientists made mistakes.
Ghose has also succeeded in giving a voice to those women scientists whose contributions, even though significant, were largely unacknowledged by history. She also reveals the instances where beginners were able to refute even the most established scientists in the field and has remarked with a humbling insight that " Nature does not care who unravels her secrets".
What has physics to do with Kama Sutra? What do Lego Pieces and Particle Physics have in common? How are socks connected to reality? There are such interesting tidbits scattered over the book through which she introduces the topic, with such simple examples that helps the reader to comprehend the science.
The book is a witty account of the clues all around us regarding the greatest mysteries of the universe. Understanding the chronology of the discoveries, their evolution as well as the scientists behind them helps in appreciating their significance. As a post graduate in Physics, I enjoyed this book very much. It has given me a bird's eye view and a bottom line to many of the theories I had struggled to understand in my college days. There are parts which are difficult to grasp and demands multiple reads, but still, it has helped in communicating the essence of the physics behind each of the complicated theories. Anyone with the minimum high school knowledge of science along with a genuine interest in physics will thoroughly enjoy and benefit from this book.
The book deals with some of the major discoveries in physics and the scientists behind them. She touches upon gravity, dark energy, particle physics, relativity and everything else we have heard about in the movies and news without ever knowing what they truly meant. It was fascinating to know that at the time of birth of these theories, the scientists had the same doubts and difficulty in understanding them just as we did. Physics has evolved into its current state through countless debates and ingenious experiments that proved or disproved the various theories. Even the best of the scientists made mistakes.
Ghose has also succeeded in giving a voice to those women scientists whose contributions, even though significant, were largely unacknowledged by history. She also reveals the instances where beginners were able to refute even the most established scientists in the field and has remarked with a humbling insight that " Nature does not care who unravels her secrets".
What has physics to do with Kama Sutra? What do Lego Pieces and Particle Physics have in common? How are socks connected to reality? There are such interesting tidbits scattered over the book through which she introduces the topic, with such simple examples that helps the reader to comprehend the science.
The book is a witty account of the clues all around us regarding the greatest mysteries of the universe. Understanding the chronology of the discoveries, their evolution as well as the scientists behind them helps in appreciating their significance. As a post graduate in Physics, I enjoyed this book very much. It has given me a bird's eye view and a bottom line to many of the theories I had struggled to understand in my college days. There are parts which are difficult to grasp and demands multiple reads, but still, it has helped in communicating the essence of the physics behind each of the complicated theories. Anyone with the minimum high school knowledge of science along with a genuine interest in physics will thoroughly enjoy and benefit from this book.
December 24, 2021
The book deals with some of the major discoveries in physics like gravity,dark energy,particle physics,relativity and the scientists behind them. What has physics to do with Kama Sutra ? What do Lego pieces and Particle physics have in common? How are socks connected to reality ? There are similar interesting tidbits scattered over the book with simple yet astounding examples and facts.The author has also succeeded in giving a voice to those women scientists whose contributions,even though significant,were largely unacknowledged by history.
The book wittily marks that every aspect of physics has evolved into its current state through countless debates and ingenious experiments that proved or disproved the various theories,how with their piqued curiosity and insatiable hunger for power over everything around,humans will continue to discover,explore and manipulate the universe,ignorant of the fact that the universe will always be a step ahead of us.
The book wittily marks that every aspect of physics has evolved into its current state through countless debates and ingenious experiments that proved or disproved the various theories,how with their piqued curiosity and insatiable hunger for power over everything around,humans will continue to discover,explore and manipulate the universe,ignorant of the fact that the universe will always be a step ahead of us.
March 20, 2020
The book is a collection of scientific stories and part memoirs of the author written in simple language. Beginning from questioning our origins, the book ends ‘In Search of The Future’.
It shares interesting anecdotes about the discoveries and is an innovative way to get young children and especially girls to get interested in physics. However, the book can also be enjoyed by adults and would be a good addition in the field of liberal science.
It shares interesting anecdotes about the discoveries and is an innovative way to get young children and especially girls to get interested in physics. However, the book can also be enjoyed by adults and would be a good addition in the field of liberal science.
October 26, 2020
I wanted to read something like this..... Each and every chapter of this book just awes the reader in all aspects. The narration and the elegant way of viewing knowledge makes This book nothing less than one of the best cosmic book
And what that really matters is i learned and saw the journey of great inventions and discoveries.
And what that really matters is i learned and saw the journey of great inventions and discoveries.
May 30, 2020
Beautifully written.
May 26, 2021
Amazingly well written. Fabulous effort at making science interesting. It's not a science book in the sense it does not discuss science theories. This book is more about the stories behind various scientific discoveries and inventions and how one discovery paved the way for the next scientist to come up with the next set of discoveries.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews