Physics for Future Presidents: The Science Behind the Headlines | 
 enlarge | Author: Richard A. Muller
Publisher: W. W. Norton
Category: Book
List Price: $26.95
Buy New: $16.00
You Save: $10.95 (41%)
New (48) Used (9) from $16.00
Rating:  21 reviews
Sales Rank: 3244
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 354
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6 x 1.5
ISBN: 0393066274
Dewey Decimal Number: 530
EAN: 9780393066272
ASIN: 0393066274
Publication Date: August 4, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: Gift quality. No marks no defects PERFECT condition NO APO/FPO shipments. Free upgrade to expedited shipping when you order any two or more books! Ships from DC. ***Amazon recommends Media Mail. We encourage selection of expedited mail- media mail takes up to 21 days to arrive even though we pack and deliver all orders to the post office the same day or next morning.***
| |
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Learn the science behind the headlines—the tools of terrorists, the dangers of nuclear power, and the reality of global warming.
We live in complicated, dangerous times. They are also hyper-technical times. As citizens who will elect future presidents of the most powerful and influential country in the world, we need to know—truly understand, not just rely on television's talking heads—if Iran's nascent nuclear capability is a genuine threat to the West, if biochemical weapons are likely to be developed by terrorists, if there are viable alternatives to fossil fuels that should be nurtured and supported by the government, if nuclear power should be encouraged, and if global warming is actually happening. This book is written in everyday, nontechnical language on the science behind the concerns that our nation faces in the immediate future. Even active readers of serious journalism will be surprised by the lessons that the book contains. It is "must-have" information for all presidents—and citizens—of the twenty-first century. 50 illustrations.
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 16 more reviews...
 Clear and Objective November 19, 2008
This book is not for the casual reader, but it is a must-read for those who pride themselves on being well informed in any one of the five important issues discussed in this book: Terrorism, Energy, Nukes, Space, and Global Warming. The author has ordered the subject matter according to what he believes are the most pressing issues that will confront the new President. While passionate about the subject material, the author is refreshingly detached in reaching his conclusions, as a physicist should be.
When I recommend this book to my better-informed friends, the most frequent question I get back is, "What does he say about Global Warming?" Those who are looking for pithy sound bites will be disappointed. Those who fear a boring professorial-type lecture will be pleasantly surprised. Dr. Muller presents well thought-out rationales for each section, and his delivery has been refined in the classroom by teaching non-physics students at the University of California, Berkley.
I appreciate Dr. Muller's respect for his readers (and future Presidents.) He does not try to impose a hidden agenda upon us. Dr. Muller clearly states his premises and the physics of his findings flows nicely from them
Here is a sketch of my views, as a physicist, on what the reader can expect.
Terrorism: Dr. Muller discusses the high energy content in the jet fuel carried by each hijacked airplane that hit the towers of the World Trade Center on 9/11. He later describes the likely limitations of a terrorist's dirty bomb. He reminds us that Jose Padilla, an American with extensive al-Qaeda training, proposed to build a dirty bomb. Padilla was directed instead to blow up two apartment buildings using natural gas.
Energy: Dr. Muller hits us with a number of "surprises," such as, gasoline delivers 15 times the energy of an equal weight of TNT; coal is 20 times cheaper than gasoline for the same energy; a square mile of sunlight at midday receives a gigawatt of power. He points out that gasoline holds 100 times more energy, pound for pound, than the high quality expensive batteries in cell phones. (Hence, although he owns a hybrid car himself, he is skeptical about the future of all-electric cars until batteries or fuel cells can be greatly improved.)
Nukes: Here he includes both nuclear weapons and nuclear power. After explaining how to estimate the dangers of exposing many people to radioactivity, he discusses the difficulty of building nuclear weapons. He describes how to build safe nuclear reactors, such as Pebble Bed reactors.
Space: Dr. Muller's believes that science should be the central goal of government space programs. Consequently, he advocates robotics rather than manned space travel. He uses a number of examples to illustrate rocket propulsion, orbits, spy satellites, stealth bombers, meteorite impacts, etc.
Global Warming: This is the most balanced and competent treatment of climate change that I have found. After a chapter on climate history, Dr. Muller discusses the Greenhouse Effect. The evidence brings him to the conclusion that most of the buildup of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere is manmade. He then classifies the various kinds of distortions and exaggerations that have plagued this subject over the last decade. Next, he focuses on what he sees as the real task: reducing carbon dioxide. After a discussion of "Non-solutions," he addresses solutions. The centerpiece is a concept that he calls "Comfortable Conservation," by which he means better ways to accomplish a task that is less polluting and often cheaper. Florescent light bulbs are an example.
General-interest and science libraries will find it a welcome addition November 17, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Presidents learning about the latest terrorist threats often have to have a foundation of scientific knowledge and health savvy to assess the potential destructive capacities and dangers of various devices: PHYSICS FOR FUTURE PRESIDENTS teaches this foundation, providing a lively, non-technical primer of information for any who would select the right leader to handle such problems. It comes from a top educator and physics researcher and covers the physics of all types of terrorist weapons. Both general-interest and science libraries will find it a welcome addition.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
Excellent October 30, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is the best general audience technical book I have read in a long time. Every chapter is interesting and highly informational. I would put some of the chapters in the category of required reading. We are taken in, many times, by to many myths. The author is very well balanced.
 Physics Reflections? October 15, 2008
0 out of 20 found this review helpful
Against better judgement and without reading the book, I am judging it by its cover. It is my understanding that this author has written the book for those students needing a grasp of physics with no or little prior science background. To any potential buyers, PLEASE NOTE: some overpaid idiot that designed the cover for this book obviosly failed the physics course. See the Presidential Seal in the foreground? Good. Now see the reflection of it in the chrome looking center element of the symbolic atomic structure? If at this point, you have noticed that it is not a true reflection, then you are already heads and tails above the guy that made $500 a day editing the image with Photoshop. Chances are good enough that you don't need the book to survive and that the publishers have a hard time toasting bread.
 Physics for (Right Wing) Future Presidents October 9, 2008
8 out of 14 found this review helpful
After looking through the section on Energy I was optimistic about the book and bought it. I was a little nervous about the only testimonial (on the back cover) being from an active duty enlisted military person but I shrugged it off. After finishing the book I felt hoodwinked because the author, enticing us with some accessible physics, adds a significant payload of bad decision analysis and pro-nuclear, anti-gore, anti-progress, agenda. Here are some examples of each:
Bad decision analysis because he deals strictly in probabilities and gives almost no consideration to consequence if events occur. This is a classic error -- if an action increase probability by 0.01% that may sound small but if the outcome is bad enough then you should still avoid the action. Society as a whole, not a solitary physicist, should put a "cost" on that outcome -- if they decide a higher cost than the author it doesn't make them wrong.
Anti-gore elements appear with repeated references to Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth. For example, he refutes one graph of Al Gore's with one from the American Enterprise Institute that adjusts for "Inflation, Growth, Coast Living Patterns" -- something that is hard to do and not something that I would trust a pro-industry think tank to do for me. In general, one can get press by attacking Gore but it's a shameful way to do so.
His chapters on conservation are sound and valuable. His anti-progress views are not. Many economists believe that converting our economy to low-carbon would encourage the development and growth of major new industries for clean manufacturing technology. We could be the world leaders in that area and help export it the developing world. Understanding that "progressive" agenda is key to understanding and helping to unlock the potential of America today.
I'm giving the book three stars for some good physics and deducting two stars for overuse of simple minded economic and social arguments for the powerful corporate interests that have brought this country to the brink of ruin with the help of the current presidency informed all too well by captive scientists like Richard Mueller.
|
|
|
