Physics for Future Presidents
By Richard A Muller
Review by Oliver K (Physics)
Imagine you鈥檝e just been elected as the leader of a country鈥� what do you think you need to know? Economics? Law? Negotiation? How about Physics? It underlies the workings of the entire universe, and without a knowledge of Physics, it鈥檚 impossible to fully understand subjects that define the world, from fixing global warming to the risks of nuclear power to preventing terrorism.
Physics for Future Presidents uses this as a basis to explain the Physics that鈥檚 behind the news, explaining to you what鈥檚 really going on (so you don鈥檛 need aspirations of being Prime Minister for it to be relevant to you!). The book takes you through subjects from terrorism to space exploration, and explains the facts behind the media鈥檚 exaggerations 鈥� after reading it, you鈥檒l be able to understand what鈥檚 actually going on. You鈥檒l find out, for example, why a terrorist with a nuclear bomb isn鈥檛 as scary as you might have thought, and how preventing global warming may just be possible.
It was recommended to me by my science teacher, and ever since reading it in Year 10, I鈥檝e found that I understand what鈥檚 going on in the news a lot better, and I can now back up my opinions with scientific facts. It鈥檚 a bit different to 鈥渢raditional鈥� Physics books, in that it doesn鈥檛 set out to teach you all the complex laws of the universe. But by explaining the Physics behind the headlines, you find you learn an awful lot, with the added benefit of everything you learn being relevant to daily life, making it all really interesting.
It鈥檚 an easy read, with no complex maths or technical language, but you鈥檒l end up feeling way more knowledgeable about a wide range of Physics. Its author, Richard A. Muller, has advised the US Government, so he knows what he鈥檚 talking about, but he does it in a way that鈥檚 really interesting and enjoyable, whatever your level of knowledge.
If you鈥檙e thinking of doing Physics, any other science, or are just interested the news, I think you鈥檒l find Physics for Future Presidents聽a fascinating read!
Physics for Future Presidents by Richard A Muller
ISBN-10: 0393337111
ISBN-13: 9780393337112
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