This Explains (Partially) EVERYTHING
This Explains Everything
John Brockman
Published by Perennial is a compilation of different articles written by various scientists, academicians and researchers having expertise in their areas. It is an attempt by the author to explain all major phenomena, especially related to science space human life in a single omnibus.
Now packing more than 125 articles in 400-page book is quite a task, both for the editor and the writer. On the one hand it gives benefit to the reader for getting knowledge, even if superficial, while on the other it devoids the depth of understanding for any topic discussed in the chapter.
Nonetheless, having gone through the book, I found few interesting chapters like "Frames of Reference" by Dimitar D. Sasselov who is professor of Astronomy in Harvard University. He points that the reference frame theory relies on 2 basic frames: one in which the flow is described as it moves through the space called an Eulerian frame and another called a Langrangian frame which moves twith the flow, strcthing and bending as it goes.
One interesting article is written by Elizabeth Dunn titled "Why We Feel Pressed for Time". She states that the perception that people are doing more work than previous generations is wrong as per data collected and studies done recently. As time is becoming worth more and more money, time is seen scarer. Scarcity and value are directly related hence, people feel pressed for time.
In Death is the Final Repayment, Arthur Schopenhauer while comparing life to finance writes
"Sleep is the interest we have to pay on the capital which is called in at death; and the higher the rate of interest and the more regularly it is paid, the further the date of redemption is postponed."
He adds that at birth you will recived loan in form of consciousness and light which will be repaid by death as final repayment.
There are articles by luminaries in their own fields like Matt Ridley, Jared Diamond, Stenislas DeHaene, Dawkins, Taleb whom I have personally read alot but the articles in the book do not render justice to these intellectual giants.
Now packing more than 125 articles in 400-page book is quite a task, both for the editor and the writer. On the one hand it gives benefit to the reader for getting knowledge, even if superficial, while on the other it devoids the depth of understanding for any topic discussed in the chapter.
Nonetheless, having gone through the book, I found few interesting chapters like "Frames of Reference" by Dimitar D. Sasselov who is professor of Astronomy in Harvard University. He points that the reference frame theory relies on 2 basic frames: one in which the flow is described as it moves through the space called an Eulerian frame and another called a Langrangian frame which moves twith the flow, strcthing and bending as it goes.
One interesting article is written by Elizabeth Dunn titled "Why We Feel Pressed for Time". She states that the perception that people are doing more work than previous generations is wrong as per data collected and studies done recently. As time is becoming worth more and more money, time is seen scarer. Scarcity and value are directly related hence, people feel pressed for time.
In Death is the Final Repayment, Arthur Schopenhauer while comparing life to finance writes
"Sleep is the interest we have to pay on the capital which is called in at death; and the higher the rate of interest and the more regularly it is paid, the further the date of redemption is postponed."
He adds that at birth you will recived loan in form of consciousness and light which will be repaid by death as final repayment.
There are articles by luminaries in their own fields like Matt Ridley, Jared Diamond, Stenislas DeHaene, Dawkins, Taleb whom I have personally read alot but the articles in the book do not render justice to these intellectual giants.
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