An Old Man's Toy: Gravity at Work and Play in Einstein's Universe

by A. Zee

Discusses current theories about the role of gravity in the universe, and summarizes Einstein's contributions to modern understanding of its nature

Genres: Science, Physics

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellently written, captivating telling of the theories surrounding gravity as well as the history of modern physics. Don't let my short review send any message that this book is not one of the best explainers of this subject, written with enthusiasm and a lot of insight. Where would our non-fiction literature be today without physics department faculty?!

[Samuel Davis]

An old man’s toy gravity at work and play in albert einsteins universe by A. Zee explores the concept of gravity, from Isaac newton’s fascinating discovery to albert einsteins revolutionary theory of general relativity. A. Zee explained how newton saw gravity as a force of attraction between two objects, and how einstein reimagined it as the curvature of spacetime caused by mass and energy. This book also discusses the mysteries of modern physics, such as black holes, gravitational waves, and the challenges of uniting gravity with quantum mechanics. While diving into complex theories, A. Zee kept the subject relatable by showing how gravity impacts everyday life, from falling objects to satellite orbits.

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable and fairly easy read. Good scope not just limited to gravity, learned much. The old man's toy refers to simple device a friend gave him as a gift whose meaning became apparent to the famous physicist and with which he could demonstrate physical principle.

[Itai Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of print but thanks to amazon you can still find it.
Great way to learn about quantum mechanics if you're not entirely science-oriented. And well written (for a scientist).

[Garrett Mccutcheon · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read, with a few new ways of explaining physics concepts. However, this book is definitely starting to show signs of age.