A seedy book by a Nobel laureate (I guess I couldn't have avoided this) over which readers often violently divide. The reasons are as follows: for physicists, Weinberg expounds good, but (to them) already known physics (quantum mechanics, chunks of cosmology) overladen with amateurish musings on philosophy and metaphysics (even aesthetics). For lay(wo)men (no pun intended) the book is sometimes heavy going (lots of names, abstract concepts, frequently scholastic dilemmas). On the strong side: I would highly recommend this work to the interested amateur as a historical tour through the elementary particles physics (bits of cosmology added). During this voyage, a reader will become well acquanited with virtually all that matters in contemporary high energy physics. Although not a basic read, it is completely non-mathematical. Just- it requires persistence to absorb and "digest" a multitude of interrelated concepts in this historical narrative on the unfoldment of modern physicist's "worldview". On the weak side: Weinberg's frequent forays into philosophy, theology and politics are not too rewarding, or enlightening (except as an intriguing exposure of modern scientistic mind). Nevertheless: this absorbing story of 20th century physical ideas and controversies leaves one with a good feeling: " That's how modern physics was made and how it casts spell over its inammoratos".

Cogent objective & informative glimpse towards "Final Laws"

This is a review of both the printed book & the fabulous book on tape. I discovered that the narrated unabridged (7 cassettes) book on tape is available after I read the printed book cover to cover. I quickly bought a copy & have since listened it more times than I can recall! The narrator's voice is pleasant to listen to. His voice come across clear, brisk & very articulate. The whole wonderful experience keeps my attention riveted & gratefully takes my mind off the infamous Southern California traffic during my hours long commute each day. There's always something different & interesting that captivates my attention each time I experience this great book. Keep in mind that I'm a veritable compulsive-obsessive autodidactic with a fanatical drive to understand physical reality at the most fundamental level - call me a PRE (Physical Reality Explorer). I don't have a formal "higher" education or the mathematical tools to speak the technical language - but, like I said, I'm a fanatical layman who's bent on understanding what the hell is REALLY going on "out there" - or "in there" as the case may be...
Well, back to the book! You don't really need a deep understanding of mathematics or even an understanding of Quantum Physics to "get" what this book has to offer. Shoot, for that matter, maybe having an "empty cup" would make the experience of this book all the better! So, what's in the book? Glad you asked! Here's a brief table of contents with a few (parenthetical) comments:
·Preface
·Prologue
·On a Piece of Chalk (great introduction to some basic principles in Atomic Theory)
·Two Cheers for Reductionism ("...I am not an uncompromising reductionist, I'm a compromising reductionist!")
·Quantum Mechanics & Its Discontents
·Tales of Theory & Experiment (this has a nice history & synopsis of QED)
·Beautiful Theories
·Against Philosophy
·Twentieth Century Blues
·The Shape of a Final Theory
·Facing Finality
·What About God? (he admits that he's not a qualified Theologian here)
·Down in Ellis County
·Afterword (this might be titled something else like "...A Year Later...")
The book on tape doesn't have the Preface or the Afterword, but don't let that stop you from getting a copy 'cause you won't miss anything really important in those sections.

I liked Weinberg's description of the way the chain of questions "Why?" have arrows of explanation ever convergent towards ubiquitous laws of fundamental physics. It seems analogous to Faraday's lines of force in the fields he described. I see a metaphor here where the "field" of the "arrows of explanation" points in the direction of propagation towards answers to questions about the most fundamental aspects of physical reality. Weinberg's cutting logic & objective appraisal is cogently brought to bear on deep questions such as:
What roles do quantum theories & symmetry principles in physics play in the search for a Final Theory?
Why does each explanation of the way nature works point to other, deeper explanations?
What implications will a final theory have for our philosophy & religious faith?
What would be the role of God in a universe governed by such a theory?
Why are the best theories not only logical but beautiful?
What do physicists mean by a final theory?
What sort of things might such a theory say?
How could we tell it is indeed final?
How close are we to one?

As you can see, this book shares a curiosity with the audience. We get keen insight into Weinberg's working philosophy when he describes himself as a "rough & ready realist" & a "compromising reductionist" while he subtly & carefully defends his right to DO physics without being bothered by those fluffy, subjective, & interpretive philosophies which, you get the distinct impression, he'd like to just go away & leave him alone...
Finally, I am compelled to urge you to look at two other works by Weinberg which are actually the same material, just different media. These are a pair of lectures presented by Steven Weinberg & the late great Richard Feynman in the 1986 Memorial Lectures given in honor of the great P.A.M. Dirac. I bought the video, "Towards the Final Laws of Physics: The 1986 Dirac Memorial Lecture" and, to my great joy, found a coupled experience of Weinberg giving a slightly more technical & narrowly focused lecture in VHS video format. The title of the printed book (transcribed from the video taped lectures) is, "Elementary Particles & the Laws of Physics: The 1986 Dirac Memorial Lectures". These two media really compliment "Dreams of a Final Theory".

Bottom line on "Dreams": accessible, cogent, succinct & beautifully written.

...

It is really a perfect book. I enjoyed what Weinberg stated about elementary particle physics, reductionism and partly philosophy.

In the case of philosophy, I think it's philosophers who are to be blamed not the whole method of intellectual reasoning without emperical evidence.

I think his discussion on God is affected by western culture. He knows about religion as a christian. He'd better study more profoundly some other religions, what God is meant by in them, etc.

I own but have not read Sex Laws and Cyberspace in its entirety. This is because the book is poorly written and hard to read.

The book deals with cogent questions about types of pornography and legal problems in the theory and practice of censoring it.

However, it appears Wallace and Mangan aimed at length instead of lucidity in each paragraph and chapter. Reading page after page of their rambling narrative is simply too much.

I believe that the book enstilled frightening thoughts in my mind of the dangers available on the Internet. A must read book before you let your child use the information superhighway.

I guess you never learned to spell "enjoyable" in law school, though?

This book is a necessary tool in getting to the notch of the cases in Casner's book. It is brief, clear, and is a very instrumental integrative reading. That doesn't mean that one can forget the main book, which gives more flavor to the subject. However, it makes Real Property readable, enjoiable, and informative to the bones.

When you first pick up the book, you feel exhilirated that you, too will be learning all about Civil Procedure. The case in the introduction is fun, but it is all down hill from there. The cases are important cases, but the editing took out parts of the opinions that should be there so you can understand the rest of the opinion (I could mention Erie, but nobody understands that on a good day either...). It is a necessary evil that we mut struggle through in our attempts at world domination...I mean our attempts to become lawyers...

This is the book to buy if you're looking for a thorough legal guide to domain names. Perhaps too thorough and legal-technical for the non-legal type; you won't find much technical or marketing help in this book.

Written by three attorneys in the United Kingdom, this 287-page book touches on all legal aspects of domain name registrations, trademark issues, sales and transactions and dispute resolution. Although provided with a heavily European flavor, the book will surely prove useful to anyone wanting to brush up on domain name legalese and case law throughout the world.

Applicable to any domain holder, the book does suggest registering your domain name as a trademark in as many classifications as possible in as many countries as possible, to avoid any future headaches. In addition, I was made aware of the "Madrid Agreement" whereby trademark applications are shared across 40 countries, simplifying the application process for any domain holder.

The book does attempt to address domain appraisal methods and secondary markets, however lackluster. The authors would have been better sticking to their business of legalese, as that is where this book shines.

I'm sorry. I really needed some help in learning to be the best mother-in-law I could be, so I bought the book. But I found no help in it. It is repetitive beyond belief, full of fluff and filler (although there was one rather good joke), and what advice there was tended to be of the "take a firm line, but be flexible" sort. I'm sure there is good advice out there,but this book -- sad to say -- didn't offer it.

check out www.yorkshireripper.co.uk/moleseed One must read this book in the context that it was written to cover up police corruption and for no other reason than to deflect investigation of the evidence by naming a known paedophile as the killer simply to close the case.