Over 120 delightful pen-and-ink illustrations by the author add another dimension of good-natured charm to these wide-ranging explorations. A mind-expanding volume for the layman and the science-minded. "This is a layman's book as readable as a historical novel, but every chapter bears the solid impr... read more
The Great Physicists from Galileo to Einstein by George Gamow The distinguished scientist and author traces the development of physics from the age of the ancient Greeks to modern particle physics, offering fascinating biographical and historical data. 136 illustrations.
Thirty Years that Shook Physics: The Story of Quantum Theory by George Gamow Lucid, accessible introduction to the influential theory of energy and matter features careful explanations of Dirac's anti-particles, Bohr's model of the atom, and much more. Numerous drawings. 1966 edition.
Relativity Simply Explained by Martin Gardner One of the subject's clearest, most entertaining introductions offers lucid explanations of special and general theories of relativity, gravity, and spacetime, models of the universe, and more. 100 illustrations.
The Strange Story of the Quantum by Banesh Hoffmann Timeless exploration of the work of the great physicists of the early 20th century offers an accessible introduction to Pauli's exclusion principle, Schroedinger's wave equation, Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, more. 1959 edition.
From X-rays to Quarks: Modern Physicists and Their Discoveries by Emilio Segrč A Nobel Laureate offers impressions of the development of modern physics, emphasizing complex but less familiar personalities. Offers fascinating scientific background and compelling treatments of topics of current interest. 1980 edition.
Gravity by George Gamow A distinguished physicist and teacher takes reader-friendly look at three scientists whose work unlocked many of the mysteries behind the laws of physics: Galileo, Newton, and Einstein.
Concepts of Mass in Classical and Modern Physics by Max Jammer Rigorous, concise, and provocative monograph analyzes the ancient concept of mass, the neoplatonic concept of inertia, the modern concept of mass, mass and energy, and much more. 1964 edition.
Newton's Philosophy of Nature: Selections from His Writings by Sir Isaac Newton, H. S. Thayer A wide, accessible representation of the interests, problems, and philosophic issues that preoccupied the great 17th-century scientist, this collection is grouped according to methods, principles, and theological considerations. 1953 edition.
Playing with Infinity by Rózsa Péter Popular account ranges from counting to mathematical logic and covers many concepts related to infinity: graphic representation of functions; pairings, other combinations; prime numbers; logarithms, circular functions; more. 216 illustrations.
Sidelights on Relativity by Albert Einstein Two influential essays: "Ether and Relativity" (1920) discusses its subjects' related properties; "Geometry and Experience" (1921) describes Euclidean or other geometric systems in connection with the concept of a finite universe.
Numbers and Infinity: A Historical Account of Mathematical Concepts by Ernst Sondheimer, Alan Rogerson This fresh overview of numbers and infinity avoids tedium and controversy while maintaining historical accuracy and modern relevance. Perfect for undergraduate mathematics or science history courses. 1981 edition.
Game, Set and Math: Enigmas and Conundrums by Ian Stewart Twelve essays take a playful approach to mathematics, investigating the topology of a blanket, the odds of beating a superior tennis player, and how to distinguish between fact and fallacy.
100 Great Problems of Elementary Mathematics by Heinrich Dörrie Problems that beset Archimedes, Newton, Euler, Cauchy, Gauss, etc. Features squaring the circle, pi, similar problems. No advanced math is required. Includes 100 problems with proofs.
A Long Way from Euclid by Constance Reid Lively guide by a prominent historian focuses on the role of Euclid's Elements in subsequent mathematical developments. Elementary algebra and plane geometry are sole prerequisites. 80 drawings. 1963 edition.
Mathematical Physics: A Popular Introduction by Francis Bitter Reader-friendly guide offers illustrative examples of the rules of physical science and how they were formulated. Direct, nontechnical terms explain methods of fact gathering, analysis, and experimentation. 60 figures. 1963 edition.
Another Fine Math You've Got Me Into. . . by Ian Stewart Sixteen columns from the French edition of Scientific American feature oddball characters and wacky wordplay in a mathematical wonderland of puzzles and games that also imparts significant mathematical ideas. 1992 edition.
Chance, Luck, and Statistics by Horace C. Levinson In simple, non-technical language, this volume explores the fundamentals governing chance and applies them to sports, government, and business. "Clear and lively . . . remarkably accurate." — Scientific Monthly.
Clouds in a Glass of Beer: Simple Experiments in Atmospheric Physics by Craig F. Bohren Liberally sprinkled with humor, these lessons will fascinate beginning physics students and other readers with chapters titled "On a Clear Day You Can't See Forever" and "Physics on a Manure Heap."
Mathematical Fallacies and Paradoxes by Bryan Bunch Stimulating, thought-provoking analysis of the most interesting intellectual inconsistencies in mathematics, physics, and language, including being led astray by algebra (De Morgan's paradox). 1982 edition.
An Adventurer's Guide to Number Theory by Richard Friedberg This witty introduction to number theory deals with the properties of numbers and numbers as abstract concepts. Topics include primes, divisibility, quadratic forms, and related theorems.
The Development of Mathematics by E. T. Bell One of the 20th century's foremost scholars surveys the role of mathematics in civilization, describing the main principles, methods, and theories of mathematics from 4000 B.C. to 1945. 1945 edition.
Experiments in Topology by Stephen Barr Classic, lively explanation of one of the byways of mathematics. Klein bottles, Moebius strips, projective planes, map coloring, problem of the Koenigsberg bridges, much more, described with clarity and wit.
Lady Luck: The Theory of Probability by Warren Weaver This witty, nontechnical introduction to probability elucidates such concepts as permutations, independent events, mathematical expectation, the law of averages and more. No advanced math required. 49 drawings.
From Galileo to Newton by A. Rupert Hall Tracing the revolution in physics initiated by Galileo and culminating in Newton's achievements, this book surveys the work of Huygens, Leeuwenhoek, Boyle, Descartes, and others. 35 illustrations.
Product Description:
Over 120 delightful pen-and-ink illustrations by the author add another dimension of good-natured charm to these wide-ranging explorations. A mind-expanding volume for the layman and the science-minded. "This is a layman's book as readable as a historical novel, but every chapter bears the solid imprint of authoritative research." — San Francisco Chronicle.
By one of the leading physicists of the twentieth century, George Gamow's One, Two, Three…Infinity is one of the most memorable popular books on physics, mathematics, and science generally ever written, famous for having, directly or indirectly, launched the academic and/or scientific careers of many young people whose first real encounter with the wonders and mysteries of mathematics and science was through reading this book as a teenager. Untypically for popular science books, this one is enhanced by the author's own delightful sketches. Reviewers were enthusiastic when One, Two, Three…Infinity was published in 1947. In the Author's Own Words: "If and when all the laws governing physical phenomena are finally discovered, and all the empirical constants occurring in these laws are finally expressed through the four independent basic constants, we will be able to say that physical science has reached its end, that no excitement is left in further explorations, and that all that remains to a physicist is either tedious work on minor details or the self-educational study and adoration of the magnificence of the completed system. At that stage physical science will enter from the epoch of Columbus and Magellan into the epoch of the National Geographic Magazine!" — George Gamow Critical Acclaim for One, Two, Three…Infinity: "This skillful presentation is for the non-professional and professional scientist. It will broaden the knowledge of each and give the imagination wide play." — Chemistry and Engineering News
"A stimulating and provocative book for the science-minded layman." — Kirkus Reviews
"This is a layman's book as readable as a historical novel, but every chapter bears the solid imprint of authoritative research." — San Francisco Chronice
"George Gamow succeeds where others fail because of his remarkable ability to combine technical accuracy, choice of material, dignity of expression, and readability." — Saturday Review of Literature
This book was printed in the United States of America.
Dover books are made to last a lifetime. Our US book-manufacturing partners produce the highest quality books in the world and they create jobs for our fellow citizens. Manufacturing in the United States also ensures that our books are printed in an environmentally friendly fashion, on paper sourced from responsibly managed forests.
