Book Review: Biggest Ideas in the Universe

I was recently asked to review a copy renowned John’s Hopkins faculty, physicist-author Sean Carroll’s new book, the first in a series, called The Biggest Ideas in the Universe. It was an honor to be contacted, and I’ll say right off that #BiggestIdeas is an enormous and extremely interesting project. Carroll writes easily, with the skill of someone who's taught his fair share of undergrads, and he knows how to communicate complicated ideas.

In the book’s introduction, Carroll details his project here as nothing less than making the vast majority of non-physicists party conversant on not just sci-comm buzzwords like blackholes and string theory, but to be able to competently discuss the difference between #classicalmechanics and Newtonian mechanics. He doesn’t ask us to solve equations and answer problems, but he doesn’t shy away from equations and explaining what the variables mean, in fact–that is exactly what he wants to explain the most! Carroll provides practical examples and writes in clear language. The text is direct and to the point, aimed at the “Biggest Ideas in the Universe”, but Carroll’s dry wit still echoes on every page.

Not many folks attempt to sell a textbook as a Trade Non-fiction, and this cross-over special must have been in contract negotiations for a time, but it’s a gutsy endeavor overall. Now wait! I know you’re thinking, I just wanted a little jaunt around the cosmos, to hear your theory on everything, I don’t need a three-credit course on the entirety of physics. But a couple of things. First, physics relates to everyone. Throw a ball across the room, play a videogame which mimics literally anything in life, determine the length of a long trip. And sure, you might say, I can do all of those things without knowing anything about physics–but Sean Carroll says, “Wouldn’t it be nice if you did?” “Haven’t you ever wondered how?”

If that’s you, this book is for you. Maybe you were considering a science major but practical life considerations took the reins. Maybe you started on a science trajectory but you ended up in finance. But you’re curious, and you spend the time asking why things work like they do.

Ultimately, you might ask me, well do you understand the equations better now? Minus the practice problems? Yes and no. Some of them track better for certain now, but like many buildings, if a building is started on a cracked foundation, it will only get so tall before it becomes a danger. And unlike a physics class, if Carroll glosses over something in the text that you just need a bit more time on, you can’t raise your hand. But, it’s a lot easier to find the answer now even if you need the extra help, and $19.95 beats college tuition prices any day.

Bottomline, I will have this book for a long time, and I will use it.

PS: The footnotes in this text are highly entertaining! For example, did you know Sean Carroll's provided background science for Marvel films?