Present at the Creation: The Story of CERN and the Large Hadron Collider Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The completion of repairs to CERN's new supercollider has resulted in a wealth of general science offerings devoted to the attempt to explain humanity's most expensive and complicated machine. It is quite clear that a number of publishers are hoping to ride an anticipated wave of publicity to great profit--if and when the Higgs boson is discovered. Having previously tackled several of the related books, I am pleased to say that this volume is one of Dr. Aczel's best efforts; it provides an excellent road map to the intricacies of the standard model--which I now understand a bit better than before--and provides both a more informative and more entertaining read than its competition. To be sure, this is no replacement for a text nor should anyone think of it in that light; rather, it is a story about discovery.
To even begin to intelligently discuss the science that makes the supercollider relevant requires massive amounts of backstory. The reader must be introduced to fantastically complex theoretical musings and, I think some editor somewhere has dictated that no equations may be used, although a few of them crept into the appendix. Here is where Dr. Aczel's effort is superior. His recital of the basic underlying scientific principles has all the hallmarks of a capable lecturer--other authors in this area focus almost entirely on their unique and valuable contributions to the science in such a way that makes an understanding of the whole picture somewhat difficult, but this more general work is better able to convey the sense of wonder and shared discovery that motivates scientists to keep digging deeper into nature's inner workings.
Now, I grant that perhaps having read several similar books my understanding was primed to better receive this volume; however, I believe that independently of the other offerings, this work does a better job of telling a story and teaching the science. It can always be done better and, frankly, much of it just makes my head spin. Yet because this book can take such an esoteric topic and leave you interested in learning more, the author is to be commended.
Highly Recommended

Click Here to see more reviews about: Present at the Creation: The Story of CERN and the Large Hadron Collider

Click here for more information about Present at the Creation: The Story of CERN and the Large Hadron Collider