Rating: 
Summary: Excellent essay collxn by an outstanding scientist-write
Review: ...---
Rating: "A/A+" -- another excellent essay collection by an
outstanding scientist-writer._The Sun, the Genome, and the Internet_ covers scientific
revolutions, technology & social justice, and the exploration &
colonization of space: familiar Dyson topics all, and delivered with
his usual grace. The three items in the title are Dyson's hope for
generating wealth in the world's poor villages: the sun for cheap
solar power, the Net to end rural isolation, and genetic engineering
for better crop plants. For example, he presents the hope of
engineering "trees that convert sunlight to liquid fuel and deliver
the fuel directly ...to underground pipelines." A neat solution to
declining oil reserves, if it works. Dyson cheerfully admits his
record as a prophet is mixed, but "it is better to be wrong than to be
vague." Fresh and unexpected insights are a frequent pleasure in this
(and other) Dyson books. For instance, he describes his
mother and aunts, prosperous British matrons all, who, in the
interval between the World Wars, accomplished such things as
opening a birth-control clinic, managing a large hospital, winning
an Olympic medal, and pioneering aviation in Africa -- "it was
considered normal at the time for middle-class women to do
something spectacular." They were able to do this only with the
support of a large servant class. The introduction of labor-saving
appliances helped to emancipate the servants, but left middle-class
women less free than before, a general pattern, says Dyson: "the
burdens of equalization fall disproportionately on women." Dyson is a lifelong space enthusiast, though things haven't gone
that well lately for space fans: "we look at the bewildered
cosmonauts struggling to survive in the Mir space station.
Obviously they are not going anywhere except, if they are lucky,
down." But in the long term, prospects are brighter, and await
finding a cheap way up and out of the gravity well (another
enduring Dyson insight). He reports recent successful tests of
a laser-launcher and a "ram accelerator", the latter a proposed 750-
foot gas-gun -- and a direct descendent of Jules Verne's cannon-
launched spacecraft in "From the Earth to the Moon"(1865). As in
all cheap launch methods, the trick is to keep the fuel on the
ground, not in the spacecraft. With cheap spacefight, people will
spread out into the solar system and beyond. Why? "Because it is
there" -- some folks just have itchy feet. Others will belong to
unpopular religions, or be on the run, or... any of the countless
other things that have always motivated emigrants. Dyson, unusually for a theoretician, has always been more "tinker
than thinker". He cites Thomas Kuhn's classic _Structure of
Scientific Revolutions_ (1962, rev. ed. 1970) as an example of a fellow-physicist with the opposite bent, emphasizing ideas over
things. Of course, both are important; but some of Kuhn's followers
put forward the idea that science is about power struggles, not new
ideas. Dyson once upbraided Kuhn about this at a conference. Kuhn
reacted angrily: "One thing you have to understand. I am not a
Kuhnian!" Freeman Dyson is my favorite scientist-writer. I know of no one
else who combines his clarity of thought, graceful use of language,
big ideas expressed modestly, and sense of history. If you haven't yet
read Dyson, _The Sun, the Genome, and the Internet_ would be a
fine place to start. Highly recommended.
He is an emeritus professor
at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton University
and the author of many other books.
I would particularly recommend _Disturbing the Universe_ (1979)
and _Infinite in All Directions_ (1989), both among the very best
books ever written about science and its place in history, public
policy, and the exploration of space...
Rating:
Summary: Excellent essay collxn by an outstanding scientist-write
Review: ...---
Rating: "A/A+" -- another excellent essay collection by an
outstanding scientist-writer. _The Sun, the Genome, and the Internet_ covers scientific
revolutions, technology & social justice, and the exploration &
colonization of space: familiar Dyson topics all, and delivered with
his usual grace. The three items in the title are Dyson's hope for
generating wealth in the world's poor villages: the sun for cheap
solar power, the Net to end rural isolation, and genetic engineering
for better crop plants. For example, he presents the hope of
engineering "trees that convert sunlight to liquid fuel and deliver
the fuel directly ...to underground pipelines." A neat solution to
declining oil reserves, if it works. Dyson cheerfully admits his
record as a prophet is mixed, but "it is better to be wrong than to be
vague." Fresh and unexpected insights are a frequent pleasure in this
(and other) Dyson books. For instance, he describes his
mother and aunts, prosperous British matrons all, who, in the
interval between the World Wars, accomplished such things as
opening a birth-control clinic, managing a large hospital, winning
an Olympic medal, and pioneering aviation in Africa -- "it was
considered normal at the time for middle-class women to do
something spectacular." They were able to do this only with the
support of a large servant class. The introduction of labor-saving
appliances helped to emancipate the servants, but left middle-class
women less free than before, a general pattern, says Dyson: "the
burdens of equalization fall disproportionately on women." Dyson is a lifelong space enthusiast, though things haven't gone
that well lately for space fans: "we look at the bewildered
cosmonauts struggling to survive in the Mir space station.
Obviously they are not going anywhere except, if they are lucky,
down." But in the long term, prospects are brighter, and await
finding a cheap way up and out of the gravity well (another
enduring Dyson insight). He reports recent successful tests of
a laser-launcher and a "ram accelerator", the latter a proposed 750-
foot gas-gun -- and a direct descendent of Jules Verne's cannon-
launched spacecraft in "From the Earth to the Moon"(1865). As in
all cheap launch methods, the trick is to keep the fuel on the
ground, not in the spacecraft. With cheap spacefight, people will
spread out into the solar system and beyond. Why? "Because it is
there" -- some folks just have itchy feet. Others will belong to
unpopular religions, or be on the run, or... any of the countless
other things that have always motivated emigrants. Dyson, unusually for a theoretician, has always been more "tinker
than thinker". He cites Thomas Kuhn's classic _Structure of
Scientific Revolutions_ (1962, rev. ed. 1970) as an example of a fellow-physicist with the opposite bent, emphasizing ideas over
things. Of course, both are important; but some of Kuhn's followers
put forward the idea that science is about power struggles, not new
ideas. Dyson once upbraided Kuhn about this at a conference. Kuhn
reacted angrily: "One thing you have to understand. I am not a
Kuhnian!" Freeman Dyson is my favorite scientist-writer. I know of no one
else who combines his clarity of thought, graceful use of language,
big ideas expressed modestly, and sense of history. If you haven't yet
read Dyson, _The Sun, the Genome, and the Internet_ would be a
fine place to start. Highly recommended.
He is an emeritus professor
at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton University
and the author of many other books.
I would particularly recommend _Disturbing the Universe_ (1979)
and _Infinite in All Directions_ (1989), both among the very best
books ever written about science and its place in history, public
policy, and the exploration of space...
Rating:
Summary: Just the tonic
Review: Dyson's future is a utopia based on advanced technology, the benefits of which are equitably distributed to all. Whilst somewhat politically naive, the book is compelling, and leaves the reader hungry for more detail.
Rating: 
Summary: Guardedly Optimistic
Review: Freeman Dyson is concerned with social equity. And he believes that the elevation of the lowly, and the enhancement of everyone else, lies with the intelligent deployment certain new and even newer technology. Given this, he might have written one of two kinds of books, either a shaming screed from the left, hysterically and impractically excoriating us all for dreaming of sleeker cellphones when Bengali villagers don't even have smoke signals, or a pep talk from the right, proclaiming the Trinity of hard work, God, and the unfolding of God's plan for America, where gadgets to make life ever better just generate spontaneously-as mysterious in their origins as babies or businesses. But Freeman Dyson is neither of those kinds of guys, apparently. He's English, for one thing, and he's spent his working life in contact with many of the best technical minds in the world. Although he is a theoretical physicist by profession, and dwells among theoreticians at Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study, he still finds the practical skills, the technical know-how, and the gadgetry that make science go to be more significant than the theories, and more congenial. "Science for me is the practice of a skilled craft, closer to boilermaking than to philosophy." This book is quietly optimistic. It is neither a hair-shirt nor a recipe for success. It informs and entertains, and makes its case for solar energy, biotech, and the empowerment that the "internet" (he never does capitalize it!) can bring. In the course of this he brings you round to an engineering point of view, and demonstrates how technical know-how coupled with good will can do a hell of a lot more than just good will. But these remarks may make the book seem a bit linear. Actually, it is conversational in tone (as befits what was originally a series of talks), and elaborations and digressions into his personal and professional connections by one of the twentieth century's big scientific players simultaneously lighten this essay and lend it weight. And with all this, it is still a very short book. You will be able to read it this afternoon and still have plenty of time to go downstairs and invent something useful...
Rating:
Summary: WE, THE TOOL MAKERS...
Review: In these passionate "threshold" conferences, Dyson leans out on Tomorrow with the vision capacity of Verne and Wells, aware however to be just sketching one of the possible paths, among millions of others that the future may keep in store for us. The new triple intersection of revolutionary forces which, according to Dyson's model, will advance development has names known to everyone, and disputed by many: solar energy, genetic engineering, the global communication network. Their synergetic and flexible usage could engender the re-drawing of the social scenario of our planet, making resources now concentrated in a few countries flow towards depressed areas, and everywhere giving back life to the village economy. The gathering of energy from an equally distributed source, such as solar light, could in fact occur through arboreal cultivation genetically manipulated to this purpose, with affordable costs and without prejudice to eco-diversity. On looking at the near-future of the Earth, or on contemplating the not-too-far prospective of human settlements in space -- possibly even on the "hospitable" comets of the Kuiper Belt -- Dyson reminds us, arguing with the Kuhllian theoreticians of conceptual revolutions in science, that we are and will remain animals builders of tools. On this ingenious tool-making the great discoveries depend, from the telescope inaugurating the Modern Age, to the sophisticate instruments of molecular biology that sees nature compose a genome with the same intelligence by which Mozart composed a duo. A book, this one, that surely makes your mind travel further and farther into understanding the complexities of the Universe and our way of tackling with them: a David and Goliath struggle.
Rating:
Summary: An Intelligent Prediction of the 21st Century
Review: In this book Freeman Dyson contends that the driving force of scientific revolutions is more often new tools rather than new concepts. A tool-biased view of the history of physics was written by the experimental physicist Peter Galison, while a concept-biased analysis was made by the theoretical physicist Thomas Kuhn in his famous book. Being a theorist, though, Dyson considers that Galison's view of science more pleasing, and predicts that three new technologies -- solar energy, genetic engineering and the Internet -- will be the most important things in the twenty-first century. Dyson's books have always fascinated me by his wide-ranging intelligence, great insight, keen analysis and convincing arguments based on concrete examples. "The Sun, the Genome, the Internet" is not an exception. An additional agreeable character of his writing consists in the fact that he attaches importance to social justice realizable by technology. He expects that the gap between the rich and the poor would be narrowed by the ethical application of science. In the final chapters of the book, Dyson discusses the future of the society under the inexorable growth of techniques suggested by the two big surprises that happened in 1997. These surprises are the cloning of Dolly and the defeat of the world chess champion by the IBM chess-playing program Deep Blue. The first of the surprises makes Dyson think about "reprogenetics," which is a possible future technology offering the parent the opportunity to improve the quality of life of the child by removing bad genes and by inserting advantageous ones. We cannot read Dyson's discussion about this possibility without reminding ourselves of the science fiction "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley.
Rating: 
Summary: Accessible, Thought-Provoking
Review: The title is misleading - the essay that addresses "the Sun, the Genome and the Interent" is only a small part of this short book. I found it the most interesting, though, which is probably why it is thus titled. Dyson paints a future world in which villages are repopulated through solar power processed by bio-engineered trees (which will provide the fuel), and the Interent (which will provide the connection to the larger world). A very simple, elegant idea. He addresses other issues here, too - the role of ethics in science, how to get into space cheaply, and the coming changes due to biotech. The biotech portion was very compelling, with speculation that we will soon be re-enigneering the human race. I have read such predictions before but Dyson does a good, thoughtful job here, and examines the implications. All in all, a good, economical book of lectures which you will finish quickly.
Rating:
Summary: Insightful!
Review: Think of this book as an engaging evening with a rather authoritarian dreamer who happens to be a distinguished scientist. Based on a series of lectures delivered at the New York Public Library in the late 1990s, the book rambles through a variegated terrain of technology, history, ethics, philosophy and family pride. It is about thinking more than it is about ideas, about wondering more than it is about thinking. Jules Verne and H.G. Wells figure prominently in the bibliography, but so do serious historians of science. We [...] recommend this slender and elegantly written book for everyone with an interest in science and a sense of the marvelous.
Rating:
Summary: Another Dyson gem!
Review: This is yet another wonderful book written by the physicist / mathematician Freeman J. Dyson of Princeton university. In this book he discusses at length his views on scientific revolutions. He also articulates how his thoughts both overlap and differ from other authorities on the subject (such as Thomas Kuhn on MIT). Specifically, Dyson looks at the three things found in the title and how they influence scientific advancements. He elucidates the different approaches that astronomers use vs. biologists to find what they are "after." He also describes how biologists could learn a lot from their astronomer brethren. Dyson points out how the Internet has provided an excellent tool for science as it has "shrunk" the size of the Earth. The ways in which it has been able to speed up research protocals and methods have made an incredible impact on the world of science. Dyson also writes at length about the implications of discerning the properties of the entire human genome. He argues that it will not, as some have said, lead to a 2-tier society of those who can afford to genetically maniuplate their children, and those who cannot. This is a significant subject in this day and age of bio-technology. For if things go awry (which Dyson assures us they won't) we could end up with one group of people with the ability to pave the road for their children before they are even born; they could genetically arrange for them to be admitted to the best schools, get the best jobs and make the most $$$$. Meanwhile, the children of the "have nots" would become a sort of slave race to their "superiors." They would be restricted to only the most menial and lowest paying jobs & would be denied higher education by default. It would be somewhat akin to the societal situation found in the movie "Gattaca." However, Dyson vehemently suggests that there is reason for optimism concerning this rather horrifying concept. As is usual with Dyson books, this one is a must-read for those who have a love (or even a like) of science and the machinery of scientific revolutions. I would admonish everyone to read one of the greatest scientific minds of the 20th century; none other than Freeman Dyson.
Rating:
Summary: Another Dyson gem!
Review: This is yet another wonderful book written by the physicist / mathematician Freeman J. Dyson of Princeton university. In this book he discusses at length his views on scientific revolutions. He also articulates how his thoughts both overlap and differ from other authorities on the subject (such as Thomas Kuhn on MIT). Specifically, Dyson looks at the three things found in the title and how they influence scientific advancements. He elucidates the different approaches that astronomers use vs. biologists to find what they are "after." He also describes how biologists could learn a lot from their astronomer brethren. Dyson points out how the Internet has provided an excellent tool for science as it has "shrunk" the size of the Earth. The ways in which it has been able to speed up research protocals and methods have made an incredible impact on the world of science. Dyson also writes at length about the implications of discerning the properties of the entire human genome. He argues that it will not, as some have said, lead to a 2-tier society of those who can afford to genetically maniuplate their children, and those who cannot. This is a significant subject in this day and age of bio-technology. For if things go awry (which Dyson assures us they won't) we could end up with one group of people with the ability to pave the road for their children before they are even born; they could genetically arrange for them to be admitted to the best schools, get the best jobs and make the most $$$$. Meanwhile, the children of the "have nots" would become a sort of slave race to their "superiors." They would be restricted to only the most menial and lowest paying jobs & would be denied higher education by default. It would be somewhat akin to the societal situation found in the movie "Gattaca." However, Dyson vehemently suggests that there is reason for optimism concerning this rather horrifying concept. As is usual with Dyson books, this one is a must-read for those who have a love (or even a like) of science and the machinery of scientific revolutions. I would admonish everyone to read one of the greatest scientific minds of the 20th century; none other than Freeman Dyson.
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