Disturbing The Universe (Sloan Foundation Science Series)

Too bad I didn't read this in 1979 when it was published. Window into physics, window into physicists, autobiographical, insights into Dyson the mathematical physicist and his friend Feynman the visually oriented physicist. Understandable insights into quantum physics. Items of interest for everyone. Not "ivory tower" professors!

There are many other reviews of this book and I cannot add much to them; but they are many years old and I want people to know that what Freeman Dyson has written for us has lost none of it's punch and relevancy over the years - it is as wonderful to read in 2010 as it ever was and perhaps even more so.I savored this book. Reading a chapter then putting it down for awhile. So much to think about. It was not what I expected and so much more than I could have imagined. I am so happy to have found it. While his history is amazing, his space travel fantasies interesting and thought provoking it turned out it was him, his family and especially his dreams, that led me into an otherworldly realm of wonder and delight. His mastery was in weaving them together. The ending left me with a feeling of great peace. And I thought, among all of his many other accomplishments, what a literary craftsman Mr. Dyson is for manipulating us in that way. A most pleasant manipulation and a real gift to the reader.

I always enjoy reading about scientists who openly admit that they do not have the answers to everything; that possibly there are things beyond our scope of knowing. A fascinating read about his experience in World War II and the post war years concerning the development of atomic weaponry and technology. I would have given this book five stars except at times, Dyson seems a little too self serving in his positions and politics; but hey, that's what makes him human. --- I highly recommend this book. A very good memoir as well as an insider's look at history.

A very interesting book by an insightful if somewhat strange man. I enjoyed hearing his thoughts on the wide range of topics he touched, but don't necessarily agree with all of his views and predictions. i suggest this to readers of a more philosophical bent, it isn't an action adventure book but has a lot of very interesting vignettes of Professor Dyson's life story.

My other reviews may suggest that I tend to be a Nabob of Negativity. In Dyson's case I must break with that tradition - a true masterpiece as a scientific memoir. I particularly note his frustrating experience as a young operations analyst for the RAF. Unlike our ground commanders who learned the lesson of WW1, the US & British Air Marshals callously squandered the lives of their largely teen-aged aircrews.Dyson was a great scientist AND a superb reporter of the scientific world. He also has the courage to tell truth and topple sacred cow or two.

This sounded interesting, but it was only after ordering it that I realized who Freeman Dyson was: the scientist who totally disgraced himself by accepting the Templeton Prize, which is a big pile of money given to scientists who are willing to go on the record as claiming there might be something to Christianity.I had read an account of this in Dawkins' THE GOD DELUSION but failed to remember the named of that fallen scientist. It's FREEMAN DYSON.

If you are already familiar with Freeman Dyson, this book will not deceive you. Well rooted in his stile, he brings original, personal points of view on matters that relate humans with the rest of the Universe.Easy, enjoyable reading

Well written, very interesting and understandable

This is classic book. Dyson is an Englishman who starts his life in operational research during WW2 moving on to America after the war. His sense of the morals of war and the issue of nuclear armament are reminders that science and politics should never be far apart. One chapter relating to nuclear terrorism and particularly the measures scientists took to eventually enlighten world governments to the potential risk is an essential 'refresher' for any scientist student interested in modern politics.

Superb, what a book.

What wonderful tour if the inside of history from an intelligent human science perspective. Beautifully written with refreshing humility.

Freeman Dyson studierte Mathematik in Cambridge (Großbritannien), nach dem zweiten Weltkrieg wandte er sich der Theoretischen Physik zu, ging 1947 nach Amerika und studierte bei Hans Bethe. Seit 1994 ist er emeritierter Professor für Physik am Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.Der vorliegende Band enthält die autobiographischen Erinnerungen des Autors, die er im Laufe von über 50 Jahren gesammelt hat; wie im Vorwort erwähnt, wurde seine 'Erinnerungsarbeit' durch zahlreiche Briefe unterstützt, die er im seinen Eltern schrieb, und die erhalten blieben.Die Geschichten umfassen ein weites Spektrum von Themen, beginnend mit der frühen Leidenschaft des Autors für die Mathematik, über seine Zeit in der Royal Air Force, als graduierter Student in Amerika, seine Begegnungen mit Robert Oppenheimer und Edward Teller. Dyson berichtet aber auch von seiner Faszination für die Raumfahrt – er arbeitete rund zwei Jahre an Ideen zu nuklear angetriebenen Raumschiffen; wieder andere Geschichten beschäftigen sich mit Aliens und der Besiedelung der Galaxie.Wissenschaftliche Bekanntheit erzielte Freeman Dyson zu erst durch seine Arbeiten zur Quanten Elektrodynamik (QED); also er an die Cornell Universität kam, hatte er das Glück, mit Hans Bethe und Richard Feynman zu arbeiten, zu einer Zeit, da die Dinge noch im Fluss waren, so erfuhr er von der Entwicklung von Feynman's Ideen aus erster Hand. In 'A Ride to Albuquerque' erzählte Dyson die Geschichte der wahrscheinlich einflussreichsten sechs Monate seines Leben; nach der Bekanntschaft mit Feynman's Theorie, lernte er auf einer Sommer Schule in Ann Arbor von Julian Schwinger dessen Variante der QED. Auf der langen Busfahrt zurück nach Princeton, erkannt er plötzlich, dass beide Theorien verwand sind.Silvan Schweber, der mit 'QED and the Men Who Made It' eine der besten Monographien zur Entstehungsgeschichte der QED geschrieben hat, schätzt Dysons Beitrag zu QED sehr hoch, da er aus der Kenntnis sowohl der Arbeiten von Schwinger als auch von Feynman , in der Lage war die Äquivalenz dieser so verschieden Ansätze zu verstehen; daraus entstand Dyson's berühmtes Paper 'The Radiation Theories of Tomonaga, Schwinger, and Feynman'. Immer wenn sich verschiedene Darstellung einer Theorie als äquivalent hinsichtlich ihrer physikalischen Konsequenzen erweisen, erhärtet das das Vertrauen in diese Theorie, und vertieft ihr wechselseites Verständnis.Das Buch gehört zweifelsohne zu den schönsten und interessantesten wissenschaftlichen Autobiographien.

La + tenera e limpida e profonda autobiografia di scienziato che abbia mai letto. Dove lo scienziato è superato dall'uomo figlio, padre e amico