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Physics and Technology for Future Presidents

An Introduction to the Essential Physics Every World Leader Needs to Know
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Physics and Technology for Future Presidents by Richard A. Muller explores essential concepts in physics and technology, presenting them in a way that is accessible and engaging for readers without a scientific background. The book empowers leaders and decision-makers with the scientific understanding needed to address critical issues such as energy, nuclear power, and global warming, providing insightful context for informed decision-making in modern society.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you have an interest in understanding the science that underpins today's most pressing global issues. It offers clear explanations of complex physics and technology topics, making them accessible to anyone curious about how our world functions, especially in context with what future leaders should know.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

How practical are alternative energy sources? Can satellites really read license plates from space? And how much should we fear a terrorist nuke? This book empowers students possessing any level of scientific background with the tools they need to make informed decisions and to argue their views persuasively with anyone - expert or otherwise.

Modern science and technology have the power to shape the world we live in, for good or for evil. Muller, himself a brilliant, creative scientist, has distilled the most important scientific principles that define our choices, and has presented them clearly and objectively. To make wise decisions, not only future presidents, but future business and community leaders, and thoughtful citizens generally, need the information in this book. -- Frank Wilczek, Nobel Prize--winning physicist Richard Muller has written an amazing and very entertaining book, not only for future presidents but for just about everyone else. It's written in a nonmathematical style, but includes tidbits that will amaze even working physicists. This is a great book that should be read by everyone. -- David Goodstein, California Institute of Technology Anyone who aspires to be president (of any enlightened organization)--or for that matter, anyone who would like to be led by an informed president--should read this book. Extraterrestrials would surely be amazed that the citizens of the most powerful country on earth routinely elect presidents who proudly profess to know nothing about science and technology. We can only dream that one day presidential debates will include a quiz based on this book. -- A. Zee, author of "Fearful Symmetry" Clear, inviting, and humorous, this is the first nonquantitative book I've seen that covers all the topics of physics. The introduction of current social and political issues is excellent. Students will want to read this book from cover to cover. It could increase scientific literacy significantly. -- Mark Oreglia, University of Chicago Physics and Technology for Future Presidents provides a new answer to an old problem: how to teach physics to nontechnical students. Richard Muller does not 'dumb down' the technical aspects of physics; he skips them altogether and focuses on physics results rather than methods. Fun to read and accessible to general readers, this book presents a lot of interesting physics facts. -- Vadim Kaplunovsky, University of Texas, Austin

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Physics and Technology for Future Presidents contains the essential physics that students need in order to understand today's core science and technology issues and to become the next generation of world leaders.

From the physics of energy to climate change, and from spy technology to quantum computers, this is the only textbook to focus on the modern physics affecting the decisions of political leaders and CEOs and, consequently, the lives of every citizen.

How practical are alternative energy sources? Can satellites really read license plates from space? What is the quantum physics behind iPods and supermarket scanners? And how much should we fear a terrorist nuke?

This lively book empowers students possessing any level of scientific background with the tools they need to make informed decisions and to argue their views persuasively with anyoneβ€”expert or otherwise.

Based on Richard Muller’s renowned course at Berkeley, the book explores critical physics topics: energy and power, atoms and heat, gravity and space, nuclei and radioactivity, chain reactions and atomic bombs, electricity and magnetism, waves, light, invisible light, climate change, quantum physics, and relativity.

Muller engages readers through many intriguing examples, helpful facts to remember, a fun-to-read text, and an emphasis on real-world problems rather than mathematical computation. He includes chapter summaries, essay and discussion questions, Internet research topics, and handy tips for instructors to make the classroom experience more rewarding.

Accessible and entertaining, Physics and Technology for Future Presidents gives students the scientific fluency they need to become well-rounded leaders in a world driven by science and technology.

Professors: A supplementary Instructor's Manual is available for this book. It is restricted to teachers using the text in courses. For information on how to obtain a copy, refer to: Instructor's Manual Information

Leading universities that have adopted this book include:

  • Harvard
  • Purdue
  • Rice University
  • University of Chicago
  • Sarah Lawrence College
  • Notre Dame
  • Wellesley
  • Wesleyan
  • University of Colorado
  • Northwestern
  • Washington University in St. Louis
  • University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
  • Fordham
  • University of Miami
  • George Washington University

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Physics and Technology for Future Presidents by Richard A. Muller is praised for effectively conveying a vast amount of information in an entertaining and educational manner. The book is noted for its accessibility to non-scientists, focusing on concepts rather than complex mathematics while thoroughly covering topics like radioactivity and climate change. It is commended for being an excellent resource for those outside the scientific community, while still offering valuable insights for scientists.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780691135045

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 02 May 2010

Country: United States

Imprint: Princeton University Press

Illustration: 130 color illus. 15 tables.

Audience: Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Width: 178.0mm

Height: 254.0mm

Weight: 1701g

Pages: 536

About the Author

Richard A. Muller is professor of physics at the University of California, Berkeley, and a past winner of the MacArthur Fellowship. He is the author of Nemesis (Weidenfeld & Nicholson) and Physics for Future Presidents (Norton).

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