The Dancing Wu Li Masters: An Overview of the New Physics

Rating:
Summary: average
Review: "The Dancing Wu Li Masters" for the aims this book was obviously going for, I gave it a rating of 3 stars..it was average at best.

the authors attempt to bridge a gap between eastern philosophy and new age physics was a poor example of both subjects imo. his understanding of buddhism, taoism and eastern philosophy ingeneral is almost nill. but overall the theroies and such of QM were good examples of how QM was born and where it may be going.

i dont reccomend this book to anyone who is trying to understand eastern philosophy or eastern religion for that matter ie buddhism, taoism etc

but that also isnt why i bought this book, i bought it to learn about QM and i did, but there are better books on the subject, and the authors aims were not even met by his own standards as its obvious from reading the book!

he starts the book leading the reader to believe he/she will learn about wu li masters..eastern philosophy and its similarties to QM etc but really all you can derive from this book is general theory and history of QM, some of the procedures used by QM physicists and a bit a little tiny bit about eastern philosophy

the bottom line is when your finished with this book you really wont know what the hell a wu li master is, you wont really know much of the similarities between QM and eastern philosophy(unless your a student of eastern philosophy-religion) and you really wont know what the author means when he says time and again, how to dance as a wu li master

Rating:
Summary: A very clear explanation of physics for the layman
Review:

Unfortunately, the first book by Gary Zukav that I read was 'Seat of the Soul.' That was a mistake. I was disappointed because he offered no background, or justification, or source for his ideas. he simply laid them out pedantically, as fait accompli.

This book is much better. I can see why it achieved critical acclaim. It is a clear attempt to explain physics to the layman in terms that he will understand. It still has some faults, but generally he does an excellent job.

Well, maybe not faults--just misplaced emphasis. For example, he goes on at great length explaining the connection between wavelength and frequency and amplitude, charting them and talking them to death, although they are very simple, easy to understand concepts. He does the same thing with three-dimensional coordinates. But, when he comes to difficult material to grasp, he often slides into incomprehensible language, for example:

"In a quantum mechanical experiment, the observed system, traveling undisturbed between the region of preparation and the region of measurement, develops according to the Schrodinger wave equation. During this time, all of the allowed things that could happen to it unfold as a developing wave function. However, as soon as it interacts with a measuring device (the observing system), one of those possibilities actualizes and the rest cease to exist. The quantum leap is from a multifaceted potentiality to a single actuality." (Page 75).

Pretty turgid prose. What he is talking about is the firing of a photon through a shield with two slits in it, at a wall where the hits were registered. Much of the book could have been written in far simpler terminology, while approximating the activity discussed in more intelligible terms for the layman.

However, that said, Zukav does a good job of explaining some very difficult material. Probably the scientists whom he ran the manuscript by contributed to the confusion by insisting on language more precise than was needed in order to get the ideas across.

He does manage to express the mysteries uncovered by high-energy physicists, and the tendency of quantum mechanics, more and more, to resemble statements made hundreds of years ago by the Eastern mystics.

I recommend this book, and have no difficulty assigning it five stars.

Joseph Pierre,
Author of The Road to Damascus: Our Journey Through Eternity

Rating:
Summary: Flow Like a River, Understand Relativity Like an Physicist
Review: Do you want to understand all the mysteries of the universe? Hoping to discover the essence of existence? Well, if you desire to do anything along these lines, there are certainly worse ways to start than through reading The Dancing Wu Li Masters: An Overview of the New Physics by Gary Zukav.

This information-packed book represents the pinnacle of popular science achievement, as it provides a gentle guide for the average reader through the intellectual minefield of modern physics from quantum mechanics to relativity. Rather than bogging down the reader with dozens of equations and complicated graphs, Zukav chooses to demonstrate the concepts of new-age physics through metaphors, diagrams, and an explanation of the thought processes that led to such startling theories as the Theory of General Relativity and Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle. Sure, Zukav may explain the experiments that confirm the viability of a theory, but he doesn't force you to sift through the data; instead, writes in plain English while including lots of easily-followed, pretty pictures. Particularly for a high school student without too much exposure to physics, this style provides an excellent overview of the most interesting, cutting-edge ideas in science.
Zukav's subject-matter couldn't be more interesting: using the backdrop of Eastern philosophies to better link physical concepts to ideas more compatible to the human mindset, he breezes through Newtonian physics, quantum mechanics, and both theories of relativity in just a little over 300 pages. Zukav also admirably presents the problem of the irreconcilability of quantum mechanics with relativity, which bothered Einstein to his dying days. While none of these concepts is dealt with entirely thoroughly (it is a short book), the book is an enjoyable and easily understandable introduction to one of the most difficult fields mankind has to offer

At the same time, Zukav's book is not perfect. For one thing, the book is rather dated; he doesn't even deal with String Theory, which was by and large developed after the publication of this book. At the same time, the absence of String Theory may be advantageous to the reader who knows little about physics, since the five separate String Theories are both difficult to understand and incredibly theoretical (that is, no physicist has been able to design an experiment that actually produces data to prove String Theory, which means that the concept is rather ephemeral and hard to describe in a concrete way; for more on this, see http://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0311047). Further, the whole Zen thing seems a little excessive. Sure, Eastern philosophies are generally conducive to modern physics in that Eastern philosophers have always realized that sometimes the human mind can't comprehend everything at once, but the fact is that people reading this book probably aren't doing so to learn about "Wu Li" ("The Way"); they're reading it to learn about "New Physics."

Despite these minor deficiencies, though, this book does a good job of explaining very difficult concepts to a "normal" reader. There was a time when only the very top physicists in the world understood Einstein's theories of relativity, but books like The Dancing Wu Li Masters have helped rectify this problem by making complicated physics accessible to the general public.

Rating:
Summary: Flow Like a River, Understand Relativity Like an Physicist
Review: Do you want to understand all the mysteries of the universe? Hoping to discover the essence of existence? Well, if you desire to do anything along these lines, there are certainly worse ways to start than through reading The Dancing Wu Li Masters: An Overview of the New Physics by Gary Zukav.

This information-packed book represents the pinnacle of popular science achievement, as it provides a gentle guide for the average reader through the intellectual minefield of modern physics from quantum mechanics to relativity. Rather than bogging down the reader with dozens of equations and complicated graphs, Zukav chooses to demonstrate the concepts of new-age physics through metaphors, diagrams, and an explanation of the thought processes that led to such startling theories as the Theory of General Relativity and Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle. Sure, Zukav may explain the experiments that confirm the viability of a theory, but he doesn't force you to sift through the data; instead, writes in plain English while including lots of easily-followed, pretty pictures. Particularly for a high school student without too much exposure to physics, this style provides an excellent overview of the most interesting, cutting-edge ideas in science.
Zukav's subject-matter couldn't be more interesting: using the backdrop of Eastern philosophies to better link physical concepts to ideas more compatible to the human mindset, he breezes through Newtonian physics, quantum mechanics, and both theories of relativity in just a little over 300 pages. Zukav also admirably presents the problem of the irreconcilability of quantum mechanics with relativity, which bothered Einstein to his dying days. While none of these concepts is dealt with entirely thoroughly (it is a short book), the book is an enjoyable and easily understandable introduction to one of the most difficult fields mankind has to offer

At the same time, Zukav's book is not perfect. For one thing, the book is rather dated; he doesn't even deal with String Theory, which was by and large developed after the publication of this book. At the same time, the absence of String Theory may be advantageous to the reader who knows little about physics, since the five separate String Theories are both difficult to understand and incredibly theoretical (that is, no physicist has been able to design an experiment that actually produces data to prove String Theory, which means that the concept is rather ephemeral and hard to describe in a concrete way; for more on this, see http://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0311047). Further, the whole Zen thing seems a little excessive. Sure, Eastern philosophies are generally conducive to modern physics in that Eastern philosophers have always realized that sometimes the human mind can't comprehend everything at once, but the fact is that people reading this book probably aren't doing so to learn about "Wu Li" ("The Way"); they're reading it to learn about "New Physics."

Despite these minor deficiencies, though, this book does a good job of explaining very difficult concepts to a "normal" reader. There was a time when only the very top physicists in the world understood Einstein's theories of relativity, but books like The Dancing Wu Li Masters have helped rectify this problem by making complicated physics accessible to the general public.

Rating:
Summary: Highly Informative, Slightly Boring
Review: DON'T get me wrong. I enjoy non-fictional works. Knowledge is power, and this book is certainly one to obtain it. However, I think the author could have used simpler terms, lesser vague allusions, and sometimes, just an organization and presentation of all the facts associated with why a particular theory is construed to mean such and such. I say all of this perhaps because I expected a lot more from Gary Zukav in this book. If I was to think that any Joe Schmoe wrote this, I'd give it 6 stars. The matter is excellent. Nowhere else where you find such a profound understanding, minus the math, of new physics, or quantum physics. The mere concept of the book, the dancing wu li masters, is awesome. Every chapter is the first chapter. Everything is disclosed at a time when the student might begin to wonder about it. And the fact that the book is twenty years old does NOT hinder from the enjoyment of it. This is the book to read to understand what you are, on a technical basis, what everything is, and how it is all one. Excellent tying in of eastern philosophy ideas to quantum physics, even though the book wasn't intended for that purpose alone. :) Get it! It'll broaden your horizons like you hadn't thought possible.

Rating:
Summary: A quantum joyride!
Review: I did not have the problems that the last two or three reviewers had. The part of the book that mentions the Dancing Wu Lei Masters was an analogy. I happen to like analogies and I understood completely why he used it. I also have a very open mind. Think of everything in this book as a theory, as a possiblity, as a chance and an excuse to stretch your imagination. The author, in my opinion has a way with words and breadth of vision which to my mind is a formula for some pretty exiciting writing. He is able to make associations that actually make sense (to me anyway). I found his descriptions easy to understand and I had no trouble with the prose. You know I wish I could read a physics book and learn about physics but then there's the math thing...and is it me or are those books incredibly dry? To all the scientist that read these reviews...of course this book isn't going to appeal to you....you know the math!! Some of us aren't blessed with that ability or the inclination. I am grateful to the writer of this book. I found it riveting, enjoyable and incredibly facinating. The analogies made it fun and everyone knows the best teachers make their subject enjoyable and interesting. This author has definately done that for me. If you have trouble with abstract concepts and/or are offended by the integration of science and philosophy you may not want to waste your money and perhaps go to a college bookstore instead.

Rating:
Summary: Danger Ahead
Review: I read this book when it was new, and found it entertaining. I didn't think much more about it after that. Then I came upon a reference to it in one of Gardner's books concerning bad science. Looking back at it knowing so much more now, I agree, it's borderline nonsence. E.g. electrons don't "think" about making a choice about which way to go; they enter into superposition.

Rating:
Summary: Danger Ahead
Review: I read this book when it was new, and found it entertaining. I didn't think much more about it after that. Then I came upon a reference to it in one of Gardner's books concerning bad science. Looking back at it knowing so much more now, I agree, it's borderline nonsence. E.g. electrons don't "think" about making a choice about which way to go; they enter into superposition.

Rating:
Summary: Taught me what a Prof. couldn't...
Review: Let me start simply, by saying this book is no Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, even though a title-reviewer mentions ZMM in passing. It is, however, a discussion of quantum physics that you could have with a knowledgeable friend who lacks a pen and paper (well, perhaps an envelope and a pencil for some sketches).

This book isn't the "definitive" discussion of QPhysics in simplistic terms, but it does do a nice job of introducing how QPhysics came to be from Plank to Einstein through Feynman... [Others have mentioned Feynman's "QED", which I haven't read but plan to.]

What this book did for me was to solidify QM/Qphys after being taught by 3 Physics professors at one of the top universities in the country, as well as an electronics-materials prof. who couldn't seem to explain a single thing about Schrodinger's equation. And, for a book that's kept me reading it, that's quite a bit to say about it.

I kept saying, "Ah! Well, why didn't those sillies [Prof's] ever tell us that?!"

Agreeing with others here, I will admit at times it's slightly difficult to keep the whole particle/wave thing separate. If one stops to think about the book while reading it, it's not difficult in the least.

It also helped me to solidify a thought that's begun for me in past readings... that on the edge of knowledge, all of us are putting faith in our ideas. Science is closer to philosophy than most will admit.

This book, I agree, does not touch much on Eastern philosophies in the least. For that, I suggest reading Alan Watt's "Way of Zen", or perhaps the somewhat silly at times Benjamin Hoff's "Tao of Pooh" and "Te of Piglet", 3 classics for starters. [While you're at it, pick up Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig if you haven't yet - it's not really only about motorcycles.]

Rating:
Summary: A really good physics book without equations.
Review: Taking a subject like Quantum Mechanics and explaining what it is all about is a difficult task. The author has achieved that difficult task without the use of equations and symbols. When I first started reading the book my initial impression was that it was going to be a whole bunch of philosophical mumbo jumbo. By the time I finished reading it (it took me a couple of months), I was very much impressed with Gary Zukav's ability to cover all the major aspects of quantum mechanics and in covering the contributions of the physicists behind quantum theory in an easy to understand language without having to resort to equations and symbols. My only gripe about the book is that every chapter is numbered as chapter 1 in order to make some point about Chinese philosophers. Many people are used to keeping track of which chapter they have read or are reading by remembering chapter numbers. But using a bookmark solved that problem for me.