Physics for Future Presidents: The Science Behind the Headlines

by Richard A. Muller

Overview

A San Francisco Chronicle Bestseller

We live in complicated, dangerous times. Present and future presidents need to know if North Korea's nascent nuclear capability is a genuine threat to the West, if biochemical weapons are likely to be developed by terrorists, if there are viable alternatives to fossil fuels that should be nurtured and supported by the government, if private companies should be allowed to lead the way on space exploration, and what the actual facts are about the worsening threats from climate change. This is "must-have" information for all presidents—and citizens—of the twenty-first century.

Winner of the 2009 Northern California Book Award for General Nonfiction.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780393337112
Publisher:	Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.
Publication date:	09/21/2009
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	384
Sales rank:	285,792
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Richard A. Muller is professor of physics at the University of California, Berkeley, and the best-selling author of Physics for Future Presidents. For his outstanding work in experimental cosmology, he was awarded a 1982 MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, and also a share of the 2015 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics for the discovery of dark energy.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Should be required reading for all informed citizens, as well as Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John McCain." —-Publishers Weekly

Editorial Reviews

"A marvelously readable and level-headed explanation of basic science and how it relates to the issues."

New York Times - John Tierney

"An outstanding example of public communication of science."

Science - Kenneth R. Foster

"A triumph."

Boston Globe - Steve Weinberg

What should the president do if a "dirty" radioactive bomb were exploded in an American city? Should he or she support the construction of pebble-bed nuclear reactors to provide safe, clean energy? In this presidential primer, MacArthur fellow and UC-Berkeley physicist Muller ranges from terrorism to space exploration to global warming, offering basic information and countering myths. He says, for instance, that dirty bombs aren't as dangerous as people fear; if the radiation is diffused over a large area, the risk of death or of cancer is extremely low. In a survey of energy sources, Muller argues that much-hyped hydrogen and solar energy have a long way to go, whereas nuclear power and coal don't deserve the bad rap they receive. Regarding space exploration, Muller joins the ranks of scientists who maintain that it is better done by robots than by humans. Nuclear technology receives considerable attention, though information is repeated from one chapter to another, but an extensive, balanced section on global warming should be required reading for all informed citizens as well as Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain. 50 illus. (July)

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Publishers Weekly

"Should be required reading for all informed citizens, as well as Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John McCain." ---Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher