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http://www.anatomy.usyd.edu.au/danny/book-reviews/h/Lighter_Gravity.html

     title: The Lighter Side of Gravity
        by: Jayant V. Narlikar
 publisher: Cambridge University Press 1996
  subjects: popular science, astronomy, physics
     other: 217 pages, 2nd edition, index, A$26.95

_The Lighter Side of Gravity_ is a popular introduction to the mysteries
of gravity.  Taking a historical approach, it begins with Aristotle and
Galileo and the basic concepts of mechanics and dynamics; it continues
with Ptolemy, Copernicus, Kepler, and the motion of the planets,
with Newton and the law of gravitation, and with Einstein, relativity,
and curved spacetime.  The concepts of escape velocities and potential
barriers are explained, along with the workings of fusion and stellar
nucleosynthesis.  Then come the more dramatic topics: tides and gravity
waves, gravitational collapse and black holes, and cosmology (big bangs,
grand unified theories, inflation, and dark matter) -- and Narlikar's
pet topics, white holes and quasi-steady-state cosmology.

_The Lighter Side of Gravity_ is a clear and readable account which
assumes no previous knowledge, but it doesn't shun equations or
real physics.  Instead it explains the necessary basic physics --
clearly and simply, but quite straightforwardly and without being the
least bit patronising (those with a physics background won't wince).
I would recommend _The Lighter Side of Gravity_ to anyone interested
in the subject, but especially to those learning, or interested in
learning, physics.  It should be useful in schools, where the coupling
with astronomy may motivate students otherwise unenthused by physics.

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Disclaimer: I requested and received a review copy of _The Lighter
Side of Gravity_ from Cambridge University Press, but I have no stake,
financial or otherwise, in its success.

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%T	The Lighter Side of Gravity
%A	Jayant V. Narlikar
%I	Cambridge University Press
%C	Cambridge
%D	1996
%O	paperback, 2nd edition, index
%G	ISBN 0-521-56565-0
%P	xii,217pp
%K	astronomy, physics, popular science

4 February 1998

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        Copyright (c) 1998 Danny Yee (danny@cs.usyd.edu.au)
        http://www.anatomy.usyd.edu.au/danny/book-reviews/
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