Rating: 
Summary: Displays some very interesting theories
Review: If you're a person that loves to rationalize every detail, this book is definitely for you. In my opinion, it was somewhat depressing due to the fact that the author proved that so many things fetured in star wars could never happen. It was also interesting, though, especially about the droids and midi-chlorians (paperback edition). I'm only a freshman and high school, and I understood everything perfectly. It was nice that the author explained what equation meant what and so on. I basically rated this book only three stars because, if you're not a science lover, there are some lulls that become really boring. Overall, this was a very interesting book.
Rating: 
Summary: 'The force' is not a farce.
Review: Let me start out by saying that I could hardly put this book down. Once I started, each chapter made me starve for the next. The book, as the title suggests, offers a scientific look with amazing theories and explanations to some of the concepts in the movie, "Star Wars." For example, one may ponder the existence of aliens and the ability to travel at light speed--or even faster! Well, this book provides a thorough look at these questions giving an opportunity for some very accomplished scientists in such fields as physics and statistics to share their views and offer a hypothesis. I especially enjoyed the chapter on 'The Force.' Here I found it incredibly interesting. For there is not only a physical scientific look at this phenomenon but also a parapsychological view, fusing physics, psychology, metaphysics and even quantum mechanics together. In conclusion, this book is an asset to anyone who has pondered the many what ifs... in life. A great read as well as a perfect look at the blending of "Star Wars" with science, the human experience and the human mind. Great Work.
Rating: 
Summary: Accurate but BORING!
Review: Other than the chapter on the Driods, this book is not worth your time. Better to read Kip Thorne. How the author could have taken such interesting subjects and made them some uninteresting is somewhat amazing. Don't read this!
Rating: 
Summary: Feels like a guilty pleasure, but enjoyable and thoughtful
Review: Reading each chapter of "The Science of Star Wars" made me feel like I was indulging in a guilty pleasure, which is odd, since this is an informative look at science through the prism of the Star Wars movies. The author has different chapters on planets, lifeforms, spaceships and weapons, droids, and the Force. Each chapter looks at the subject as depicted in the various movies, and then speculates on how likely the subject is scientifically. She has an open-mind; even when the subject seems to be scientifically inaccurate, she writes diplomatically that it seems unexplained, or needs some explanation beyond our understanding. For the most part, she is a good writer. However, the book is sprinkled with repeated lame jokes about wishing bad things unto Imperial stormtroopers. It's kind of funny the first time, but after that, it becomes silly. Also, the section discussing the Force delves into a heavy dose of quantum mechanics. There are no equations or diagrams, but it is an extended discussion, albeit at a layperson's level. Finally, the paperback version contains an update based on "The Phantom Menace."
Rating:
Summary: Feels like a guilty pleasure, but enjoyable and thoughtful
Review: Reading each chapter of "The Science of Star Wars" made me feel like I was indulging in a guilty pleasure, which is odd, since this is an informative look at science through the prism of the Star Wars movies. The author has different chapters on planets, lifeforms, spaceships and weapons, droids, and the Force. Each chapter looks at the subject as depicted in the various movies, and then speculates on how likely the subject is scientifically. She has an open-mind; even when the subject seems to be scientifically inaccurate, she writes diplomatically that it seems unexplained, or needs some explanation beyond our understanding. For the most part, she is a good writer. However, the book is sprinkled with repeated lame jokes about wishing bad things unto Imperial stormtroopers. It's kind of funny the first time, but after that, it becomes silly. Also, the section discussing the Force delves into a heavy dose of quantum mechanics. There are no equations or diagrams, but it is an extended discussion, albeit at a layperson's level. Finally, the paperback version contains an update based on "The Phantom Menace."
Rating:
Summary: Interesting Yet a little confusing
Review: SOme of the sections in this book were easy to understand and interesting, others were confusing, and some was kinda stupid. The planet section isn't the best, but it sort of builds it all up. The alien section was good,and I understood it. The droids was possibly the best part. The starship and weapons part was fascinating, but I didn't get all of the faster than light stuff. Of course, I'm not even in high school yet. Explaining the force was kind of stupid. It isn't real, it wasn't mean't to be real, and it defies all science.
Rating:
Summary: Stop rationalizing!
Review: The world of Star Wars is a very interesting one, but there is no reason to show how one theory or another agrees with everything George Lucas created. Lucas did not look to science for his ships, weapons, aliens, or The Force, and science is not "trying to catch up with Star Wars," as the author posits. The science of the book is very interesting and well-written, but the subject matter is not one that requires a scientific explanation.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting, well put together, yet limited.
Review: This book is an examination of the scientific factors that drive the Star Wars movies. While the author did her homework on the 4 movies and really knows her science, the book has a tendancy to draw conclusions from JUST the 4 movies. Several points the text tries to explain have already been explained in the other Star Wars comics, novels, and sourcebooks. And while a few references are made to the Star Wars Encyclopedia, other details that would clear up some questions posed by this book aren't in the movies but in the afore mentioned works. While the book does go a long way towards explaining the movies it seems to focus more on the advances of simply OUR planet than the advances in the Star Wars galaxy. This, however is no reason not to read this book. It is well researched and I learned a lot from it. All in all worth it for the casual reader who has only seen the movies but for the die hard Star Wars fans like me (geeks in other words;)) it seems a bit empty. But that does not diminish the quality and readability of the book.
Rating:
Summary: The single most fascinating book I have ever read.
Review: This book is the probably the book that will drive me to my final career choice of either robotics or astrophysics. Over two days of reading it, I am almost done reading its 250 pages. I strongly recommend it to anybody who can read decently. It is not written at an astrophysicist's reading level -- I am a high school freshman and I understood it. Dr. Cavelos makes wonderful analogies that have driven me to understand the workings of gravity and wormholes -- concepts that in the past have always gone right past me. It should be required reading in physical science classes.
Rating:
Summary: A great starting point!
Review: This book is written in a readable way that touches on many of the major topics brought up by physics. I think it is a great starting point for those of us that wan't to leap into physics. Being thirteen I have to give her credit for making the book understandable, quantum mechanics is pretty hard to explain and it takes someone who knows what she's talking about to do so. It has brought me to the point where my mind begins to understand things, and starts asking questions! It has furthered my desire to be an astrophysicist and is quite a good book!
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