I'm looking for a specific book - and failing miserably

[iBozz]

I hope this is the right section of the forum, but I am looking for a book featured several months ago on the BA RSS feed. I've tried Googling, Amazon and other potential sources of information but, no doubt due to poor IT skills, found nothing.

The book was by a [female?] writer and was about Quantum Physics/Mechanics - explained in a "simple" and/or "light-hearted" way. (S)he has also written other books.

The book I am specifically chasing is not [yet?] published in the UK, although others by the same author are, and my local bookshop thus stopped trying to get me a copy and deleted their record. I, in turn and a tad foolishly, also deleted my information and relied on them.

Result? Frustration beyond belief!

if anyone can help me identify the writer and/or any of their book titles so that I may again start trying to get a copy then I would be most grateful.


Memo to self: do not throw away vital information until I am sure I won't need it again!

[Cougar]

The book was by a [female?] writer and was about Quantum Physics/Mechanics - explained in a "simple" and/or "light-hearted" way. (S)he has also written other books.

The book I am specifically chasing is not [yet?] published in the UK, although others by the same author are, and my local bookshop thus stopped trying to get me a copy and deleted their record. I, in turn and a tad foolishly, also deleted my information and relied on them.

Result? Frustration beyond belief!

if anyone can help me identify the writer and/or any of their book titles so that I may again start trying to get a copy then I would be most grateful.

Hmm. Not much to go on. If the author is indeed female, that really narrows things down, though the couple of women authors I know about don't really fit your other descriptions.

There's How The Universe Got Its Spots, Diary of a finite time in a finite space [2002] by Janna Levin

Then there's The Mystery of the Missing Antimatter [2007] -- Helen Quinn & Yossi Nir

Even if one of these isn't the book you're looking for, I HIGHLY recommend them both.

[John Jaksich]

I empathize with your plight --I searched through my personal library ---and came up little--but if it is any consolation you might try

the following author---Marcia Bartusiak---

she is an award winning author and also performed research ---the science authors who have a good research background --normally write "very good" science books


here is a partial list of her books:

Though the Universe Darkly, Einstein's Unfinished Symphony, Thursday's Universe, Archives of the Universe


I have a copy of Archives of the Universe---it is done very well!

[slang]

I did my own searching through the recent history of the BA blog, and all I could find that might be what you meant is a plug for a book by Sean Carroll.

[John Jaksich]

I did my own searching through the recent history of the BA blog, and all I could find that might be what you meant is a plug for a book by Sean Carroll.

I believe that the Sean Carroll of which you speak of is from Cal Tech---and is male---here is a link



http://preposterousuniverse.com/

[slang]

I believe that the Sean Carroll of which you speak of is from Cal Tech---and is male---

Sure, but OP wasn't sure if the author was female, at least, that's how I interpret that question mark. And since Carol is a female name, it might have been what made OP seem to remember that it might have been a female author. Maybe iBozz will clear it up when he returns. (S)he hasn't been back since the 16th, so I'll try shooting him/her a PM.

[iBozz]

Thanks, for all the help - and apologies for not getting back sooner.

So far, no-one has stimulated my little grey cell into thinking "That's it!".

But I'll follow the suggestions anyway.

However, I wonder if the author is Jennifer Ouellette? I have come across her book "Black Bodies and Quantum Cats" and, although that isn't the book for which I am looking, the name rings a very small bell.

More of a tinkle than a carillon, but nevertheless a bell!

Has she published a new(?) book over the pond in the New World that was perhaps mentioned on the BA RSS feed sometime around the end of August or early September?

[iBozz]

btw, apologies for my tardiness - lots of "reasons" but no excuses!

In the words of virtually all of my long-suffering school teachers: Must try harder! :whistle:

[John Jaksich]

Sure, but OP wasn't sure if the author was female, at least, that's how I interpret that question mark. And since Carol is a female name, it might have been what made OP seem to remember that it might have been a female author. Maybe iBozz will clear it up when he returns. (S)he hasn't been back since the 16th, so I'll try shooting him/her a PM.



Thanks for the heads up---I will continue my personal search---if I can help---

[John Jaksich]

Thanks, for all the help - and apologies for not getting back sooner.

So far, no-one has stimulated my little grey cell into thinking "That's it!".

But I'll follow the suggestions anyway.

However, I wonder if the author is Jennifer Ouellette? I have come across her book "Black Bodies and Quantum Cats" and, although that isn't the book for which I am looking for, the name rings a very small bell.

More of a tinkle than a carillon, but nevertheless a bell!

Has she published a new(?) book over the pond in the New World that was perhaps mentioned on the BA RSS feed sometime around the end of August or early September?


Hello iBozz--

Here is a link to her Amazon---websitehttp://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Ouellette/e/B001IR1BV6/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0



The ironic thing about it; she is the spouse of Sean Carroll---of which I previously mentioned?

[Gillianren]

And since Carol is a female name, it might have been what made OP seem to remember that it might have been a female author.

Come to that, there's an ethnomusicologist named Sean Williams, and she's a lovely woman.

[iBozz]

The Calculus Diaries! That's it - I think.

The summary looks familiar, the publishing date looks about right for my BA RSS theory of late August and, unlike last time I looked, it is now available on Amazon.co.uk.

The reviews on amazon.com don't look over enthusiastic but I take comfort from the [currently] latest review which starts: Americans don't get a very good education in math and science.

You might thnk that, I couldn't possibly comment! :lol:

By the way, it's maths and not math! :whistle:

[slang]

The Calculus Diaries! That's it - I think.

Here's Phil's article: Diary of dangerous curves (http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2010/08/31/diary-of-dangerous-curves/)

[iBozz]

There are much better reviews under Phil's article, slang, than on Amazon.

Obviously BA readers are a much more erudite and discerning audience!

Thanks for the help, one and all. :clap:

[Gillianren]

By the way, it's maths and not math! :whistle:

Not in the US, it isn't.

[Solfe]

Dancing Wu Wi Masters is an interesting read if you can't find your book.
http://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Wu-Li-Masters-Overview/dp/055326382X
It is a dated and a tad off beat, but still pretty good.

[AndreasJ]

Dancing Wu Wi Masters is an interesting read if you can't find your book.
http://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Wu-Li-Masters-Overview/dp/055326382X
It is a dated and a tad off beat, but still pretty good.

FWIW, I found it unreadable.

[iBozz]

Being an iBozz of Very Little Brain, I'll stick to the Calculus book at present and tackle the others when I have learnt to read without moving my lips and running my finger along the words! :confused:

I don't want to drown before I've learnt to walk! :lol:

[Solfe]

FWIW, I found it unreadable.

I really liked it. What was most objectionable? I ask because the author switched to what I would describe as new age topics, which I actual find to be neat in concept, but in practice is unreadable. My wife reads them and describes them too me and it is rather interesting, but I just can't get past page three in any of these types of books.

[AndreasJ]

I really liked it. What was most objectionable? I ask because the author switched to what I would describe as new age topics, which I actual find to be neat in concept, but in practice is unreadable. My wife reads them and describes them too me and it is rather interesting, but I just can't get past page three in any of these types of books.

I don't remember the details - it's ages since I tried to read it - but basically the new age stuff and the vagueness. Lots of insinuations that modern physics lines up with (allegedly) ancient wisdom with no accompanying demonstration.

[Messier Tidy Upper]

Also an Australian SF novelist Sean Williams who is male and perhaps most famous for the Star Wars novel : The Force Unleashed.

See : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Williams_(author) & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Force_Unleashed

Racking my brain to try and think of the book you're meaning but no luck so far.

EDIT : Ah, looks like you've found it - that's not one I'd heard of, let alone, read before.