How the Universe Got Its Spots: Diary of a Finite Time in a Finite Space

by Janna Levin

Book Overview

"Is the universe infinite or just really big? With this question, cosmologist Janna Levin announces the central theme of this book, which established her as one of the most direct, unorthodox, and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0691096570
• ISBN13: 9780691096575
• Release Date: March 2002
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 1.12 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

travelogue on science and cosmology more than hard descripitions

The author states that her concept for the book is a series of essays written to her mom, mostly about her work and the science. It is an interesting collection of essays that sums up the essence of cosmological topology (what shape is the universe, what shape did it have in earlier stages) for a layman audience. It lacks the complex mathematics behind the ideas and the proofs and spends a fair bit of time with her own tribulations in a shakey marriage and the processes of academic science, so if you want just the meat this isn't your book. I found it entertaining, interesting and an easy read.

Beyond Classification.

A glance at the table of contents reveals a list of scientific topics, so one might expect to have found a popular science book. Flipping through the illustrations uncovers an assembly of star maps and human silhouettes in kaleidoscopic patterns -- so perhaps a fantasy novel? Reading a page unveils a discussion of decrepit London apartments, a failed relationship, and the internal monologue of a 30-something suddenly feeling lost in her life, as in an autobiographical work. So which is it? In truth: all of the above. As a work of pop-sci, Levin's book uniquely contributes to the preexisting canon, in that it deals with the notion of finite universes. No other pop-sci book considers this fascinating proposal as seriously or extensively. At the same time, it also covers the pop-sci basics, introducing the ideas of relativity and quantum mechanics in prose easily comprehensible to any literate adult with no background in science. There are also brief digressions describing the uncanny personalities whose names are shared with the relevant physical theories. While nothing in the book is fictional, the possible universes explored could easily be mistaken as such. The twisted topologies Levin walks the reader though are tantamout to a scientific discussion of an MC Escher painting brought to life. But the story told alongside the physics is not one that takes place on a Klein bottle or Mobius strip. The book is structured as actual letters from the author to her mother, letters that were never sent. Levin shares with the reader intimate details of her personal life, revealing the circumstances under which academic life takes place. Her gift for elegant prose is unique among scientists, and she uses her engagingly artistic writing to give the lay reader insight into the way a physicist's perspective makes life and the universe a place of unfathomable beauty. Given that the vast majority of popular physics books potentially shelved next to this one essentially just repeat each other in both content and style, you'd be doing yourself a tremendous disservice choosing any of them over How the Universe Got Its Spots: Diary of a Finite Time in a Finite Space. [...]

One of the best of my recent reads

Recently upon being asked what kind of books I like I gave the very ineloquent answer of "books by smart people who can write well." A better answer may have been "books like How the Universe Got Its Spots." Janna Levin represents that rare mix I find so enjoyable to read. First off yes she is smart... very smart! One would have to be that smart to present such a full understanding of these topics of cosmology as she does. Secondly she does indeed write well. By this I do not just mean that she can string two sentences but that she really has an artist's perspective on the science that is her live. It is this approach that allows Levin to weave the stories of her personal and professional lives together so adeptly.

All of a sudden I realized how big our universe might be

The author is an astrophysicist and has all the right credentials in the scientific world to perpetrate her theories on the nature of the universe. However, she has targeted this book to a broader audience. Had I not seen her promote her book in a local bookstore I might not have had my interest piqued. Also, my book discussion book selected this as its monthly choice and I was determined to read it even though, at first glance, some of the scientific diagrams seemed impossible to me as I have no background whatsoever in this area. Wisely, though, the book is constructed as a diary of her personal life as well as explanations of her work in a letter format. She actually wrote these letters to her mother, and therefore I thought her descriptions would be simple. They weren't. However, by pushing myself to read every word, even though much of the theory was difficult, I made a discovery. All of a sudden I was introduced to concepts that I had never heard of before, no less understand. Although I'll never remember the details, I learned about Einstein and the theory of relativity, how the topology of the earth makes it a lot more complex than a perfect sphere and what the concept of "infinite" really means. And, most important, I realized just how big our universe must be and how we humans are just a tiny part of it. As this is probably the only book I will ever read about the world of physics, I must thank the author for taking me on a journey to new and unexpected places in the small universe that is my own personal mind. The book is not an easy read, but for anyone willing to explore new frontiers, I definitely recommend it.

A fascinating and original work

What is the ultimate nature of the universe? Is it finite or infinite? Does it have an edge or a boundary, or any definable shape? Janna Levin attempts to provide answers to these questions in this extraordinary and fascinating effort. The book's unusual style--written as a set of unsent letters to her mother--adds a kind of personal touch that, when combined with the author's free-flowing prose style (which makes shrewd use of metaphor, analogies, and alliteration) makes it a very reader-friendly experience. Adding to the book's intimate nature is Levin's frequent references to her often chaotic and sometimes lonely life as a scientist, especially when referring to the way her increasing knowledge has in some ways distanced her from those she loves. Her theories (which seem to have an equal number of critics and adherents) are largely based on an unusual combination of topology (her specialty) and cosmology into one elegant theory. She suggests that the universe is without an edge, staggeringly immense, but ultimately finite. But does it have a shape? Part of her theory hinges on the study of the study of the distribution of matter and the cosmic background radiation (the "echo" of the Big Bang) throughout the universe, a pattern that may eventually reveal the shape of the universe ( and may give us a greater sense of our place in it). Such a discovery could settle the debate over whether space-time curves back onto itself. If so, could hypothetical travelers move in a straight line through space and eventually come back to where they started? Perhaps topology holds the answer. In addition, Levin also discusses string theory, black holes, time warps, and numerous other theories past and present in her quest (and humankind's, as well) for an ultimate understanding of the universe. This is a well-written, comprehensible book, full of wonder and excitement about our efforts to understand the universe that is as friendly to the layperson as to the experienced. VERY highly recommended.See also: Kip Thorne's "Black Holes and Time Warps," Stephen Hawking's "A Brief History of Time" and "The Universe in a Nutshell," John Gribbin's "Unveiling the Edge of Time," and Tim Ferris' "The Whole Shebang."