Empire of Light: A History of Discovery in Science and Art

by a Joseph Henry Press book, Sidney Perkowitz

In Empire of Light , Sidney Perkowitz combines the expertise of a physicist with the vision of an art connoisseur and the skill of an accomplished writer to offer a unique view of the most fundamental feature of the light. Empire of Light discusses the nature of light, how the eye sees, and how our understanding of these phenomena have emerged over the ages, including the role of light in the development of quantum physics. The author examines the making of electrical light and its integration into commerce, telecommunications, entertainment, medicine, warfare, and every other aspect of our daily lives. And he presents the role of light in the search for the beginning and the end of the universe, as astronomers with their instruments penetrate ever deeper into the sky. Visible light spans the spectrum between infrared and ultraviolet, but this book reaches across many other spectra as well?from the cave paintings at Lascaux to Mark Rothko's stark blocks of color in today's art museums, from Plato's speculation that the eye sends out rays to Ramon y Cajal's discovery that vision actually works in the opposite way, from Tycho Brahe's elegant antetelescope measurements of planet positions to the Hubble telescope's exquisite sensitivity to light from billions of light years away. What are the biological and neurological processes of perceiving visible light? How does a person typically scan a scene? Do you see red or blue the same way I do? What are our physiological reactions and emotional responses to light? Perkowitz explores these and many other fascinating questions, drawing together the experiences, achievements, and perspectives of a diverse cast of characters, including Galileo, Einstein, Newton, Van Gogh, and Edison. Empire of Light is written so that lay readers will readily grasp the scientific principles and science professionals will readily appreciate the human experience. It will impart new wonder to the daily experience of light in our world. Sidney Perkowitz is the Charles Howard Candler Professor of Physics at Emory University. His work has appeared in national publications such as The Sciences, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The American Prospect, and Technology Review.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science

248 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little self-indulgent at the beginning and a little repetitive at the end, Empire of Light is nonetheless a thoroughly enjoyable, densely informative, and surprisingly lucid exploration of the history—and potential future—of the science of light. Perkowitz has a knack for vivid analogy and, while I would've appreciated a few diagrams here and there, he rendered the complexities of quantum physics with nuance and verve.

I am curious how the intervening 20 years since this book's publication might have impacted physicists' knowledge of the universe and perhaps further developed some of the cutting-edge research into light's uses that Perkowitz described. For that matter, I wonder if a current treatise on the topic would be quite so European- and menfolk-centric. Perhaps the science of light really was overwhelmingly shaped by European men, but 20 years might offer historical and global insights as well as scientific developments.

[Robert Hudder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Going back to my shelves to clear out material. Good primer reminded me of what I had problems with and gaps in my general knowledge. It does well until the late 90s, and even for a bit later. I know that there has been some leaps in both technology and science, especially around dark matter.

So, unfortunately, even though I liked the read, it will go into the dust pile. It did point me in the right direction to get caught up though.

[Samantha Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic journey through the history of art and the study of light and why the study of light is important for scientific discovery and understanding.

[Tim Shores · Rating 5 out of 5]

there's nothing that introduces a thinking person to the mysteries of our universe like the science of light, and this book is the best starting point i could recommend.