[.ca] Complete Idiot Guide Theories Universe (ISBN 0028642422)

This book covers everything! (and covers it well):
I'm a highschool student (I'm currently taking my first physics course) and I've really gotten into string theory and quantum mechanics...... I've TRIED reading all of these books by Steven Hawking and such, AND GOTTEN VERY VERY CONFUSED. This book totally brought me out of my confusion.... it's got such great explanations of everything! It may not be very detailed compared to "A Brief History of Time" but atleast I can actually understand it. Besides the string theory etc. stuff, I found the philosophy and theology very enlightening. This book brings everything together.

Religion Bashing Gets Tiresome!:
I really wish science authors would stick to science topics and stop bashing religion at every turn of the page. Okay, Gary, we get the message! You find religious doctrine repulsive. That's fine! But when I purchase a book entitled "Theories of the Universe," I expect to read about theories of the universe and not be insulted for my personal religious beliefs. Gary Moring seems to get "hung up" on Biblical concepts (and fails to inform the reader that some sacred religious writings knew certain "scientific facts" about the earth and the heavens before the advent of serious scientific invesigations). His presentations of the theories of the universe are very good, and I thoroughly enjoyed the way he presented the material. I gave the book only three stars out of five, however, precisely because of his religion bashing. It's okay to give a historical perspective on sixteenth and seventeeth century scientists, and to espouse how their religious views influenced their science; but, to belittle them and make light of their beliefs only demonstrates the author's intolerance of religion. I wonder what views Gary Moring would have espoused had he been born in the sixteenth century? I might remind the author that a not small number of scientists (some of the biggest names in science) who contributed the most toward scientific discoveries over the past three hundred years were very religious people. I truly tire of picking up a science book only to find more "religion" buried within its pages. And Gary Moring doesn't end his religious assaults with the first few chapters... it continues 'til the end of the book. In my opinion, the only thing it succeeds in accomplishing is turning off the reader to the author. If I can't trust the author to write about the topic emblazoned on the cover of the book, then I'm not going to spend my dollars on other books written by the same author. Case in point: I just discovered a title that caught my attention as a science reader. "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Einstein." Another book by Gary Moring. I am reluctant to purchase it because I now know of the author's penchant for attacking religion.

Gary Moring has done it again!:
Following the success of his "Guide to Understanding Einstein", Gary Moring has demystified the myriad of universal constructs for us laypeople. He has a unique way of explaining and expanding all those concepts in physics that made your brain hurt the first time. His wit and wisdom is refreshing in tomes of this sort! A must read for all who seek to understand cosmology - and enjoy it in the process!

An unusual mixture of topics:
This is a strange and unique book--very seldom does one encounter a book that discusses quantum theory and tarot cards with (apparently) equal seriousness! I mainly bought it for the material on quantum theory , and here the author does a fine job by presenting many analogies, most that I hadn't seen before, which were quite helpful. But perhaps due to what the author would classify as my Western, linear thinking, the plethora of material on non-Western and/or non-scientific approaches to "Theories of the Universe", left me generally cold. Though interesting at times, there was ultimately too much of this material for my taste. Readers with a different world view from mine will no doubt react differently. I will be keeping the book for its excellent material on quantum theory.

A great overview of Cosmology!!:
The study of cosmology often falls only into the realm of science, but in this refreshing approach to the topic, the author provides the reader with an incredible array of different points of view. You not only get quantum mechanics and string theory, but also religious, philosophical and historical prespectives too. How it all started, where it's going and how it may all end are looked at from several avenues, giving the reader an insight into the broad area of topics that are all a part of cosmology. From ancient Mesopotamia to hidden dimensions and from alchemy to particle accelerators, this insightful book on cosmology introduced me to whole new level of thinking about my place in the universe. I highly recommend this fascinating look into the cosmos.