Reviews from Amazon

Cosmology : The Science of the Universe

This is a substantial book with 26 chapters thus giving a comprehensive introduction to the science of cosmology. However the reader needn't be intimidated, as each of the chapters can be read on its own if desired, and the book mostly uses only simple mathematics. There is plenty of historical material and philosophical discussion - readers with questions like 'does the universe have a centre or an edge' will find help in this book. Each chapter ends with sections entitled 'Reflections', 'Projects', 'Further reading' and 'Sources', and so the reader is certainly encouraged to think about and helped to delve deeper into the subject.

The fact that the chapters are largely independent shouldn't lead the reader into the trap of not looking at the book as a whole. It is an important contribution to the philosophy of cosmology, as it pulls together ideas from plenty of sources.

The book does adopt what I call the Stretchy Space view, which I'm not keen on. Also the chapter on horizons seemed a bit muddled, but this might just be that one diagram (21.7) was wrongly placed. The important thing is that there is a wide ranging discussion of topics, which enables the reader to recognise controversial areas.

Amazon.com info

Hardcover 578 pages
ISBN: 052166148X
Salesrank: 276040
Weight:2.8 lbs

Published: 2000 Cambridge University Press

Amazon price $68.00

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Amazon.co.uk info

Hardcover 578 pages
ISBN: 052166148X
Salesrank: 42108
Weight:2.8 lbs

Published: 2000 Cambridge University Press

Amazon price £37.62

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Amazon.ca info

Hardcover 578 pages
ISBN: 052166148X
Salesrank: 330213
Weight:2.8 lbs

Published: 2000 Cambridge University Press

Amazon price CDN$ 90.72

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Product Description
Cosmology: The Science of the Universe is a broad introduction to the science of modern cosmology, with emphasis on its historical origins. The first edition of this best-selling book received worldwide acclaim for its lucid style and wide-ranging exploration of the universe. This eagerly awaited second edition updates and greatly extends the first with seven new chapters that explore early scientific cosmology, Cartesian and Newtonian world systems, cosmology after Newton and before Einstein, special relativity, observational cosmology, inflation and creation of the universe. All chapters conclude with a section entitled Reflections containing provocative topics that will foster lively debate. The new Projects section, also at the end of each chapter, raises questions and issues to challenge the reader.

Product Description

Cosmology: The Science of the Universe is a broad introduction to the science of modern cosmology, with emphasis on its historical origins. The first edition of this best-selling book received worldwide acclaim for its lucid style and wide-ranging exploration of the universe. This eagerly awaited second edition updates and greatly extends the first with seven new chapters that explore early scientific cosmology, Cartesian and Newtonian world systems, cosmology after Newton and before Einstein, special relativity, observational cosmology, inflation and creation of the universe. All chapters conclude with a section entitled Reflections containing provocative topics that will foster lively debate. The new Projects section, also at the end of each chapter, raises questions and issues to challenge the reader.

Nicely done. Not for beginners! ****
Cosmology: The Science of the Universe Harrison has written a book that tries to explain Cosmology with an intermediate level of mathematical complexity. It is well to have some prior exposure to the conceptual material on a more intuitive basis before getting hung up on the technical details. A feel for differential calculus is a real plus for the reader, as well. All this said, you'll feel as if your getting some real "meat on the bones" as you work you way through. Very good for the committed enthusiast.

Nicely done. Not for beginners! ****

Cosmology: The Science of the Universe
Harrison has written a book that tries to explain Cosmology with an intermediate level of mathematical complexity. It is well to have some prior exposure to the conceptual material on a more intuitive basis before getting hung up on the technical details. A feel for differential calculus is a real plus for the reader, as well. All this said, you'll feel as if your getting some real "meat on the bones" as you work you way through. Very good for the committed enthusiast.

Cosmology: The Science of the Universe *****
This was a very good book to read on the subject that covered a wide range of topics on Cosmology, based on other comments it may not cover latest knowledge in the field; but as an interested reader I found it to be very informative. The book is a very good introduction to the subject. There are some mathematical concepts introduced and proper understanding may require one to have had college calculus and physics courses, but it is not necessary.

Cosmology: The Science of the Universe *****

This was a very good book to read on the subject that covered a wide range of topics on Cosmology, based on other comments it may not cover latest knowledge in the field; but as an interested reader I found it to be very informative. The book is a very good introduction to the subject. There are some mathematical concepts introduced and proper understanding may require one to have had college calculus and physics courses, but it is not necessary.

Not too technical, not too brief, Extremely Interesting *****
Although my education is in physics, it is all but impossible to keep up with your own field of study, let alone with all the other areas. Hence it is nice to find a book like this once in a while that will cover what's going on in areas of interest outside your own specialty. So much of physics is buried so deep in mathematics that it is sometimes difficult to see the picture that the math is showing us. This book is the best I've seen that gives at least some discussion to the riddles that remain at the bottom of subjects like time, space, gravity, black holes, multi-dimensional -- the things that got most of us interested in physics in the first place. The overall treatment has to be considered elementary (no math) but quite broad in scope. At the end of each chapter are two sections called Reflections and Projects. Between the two, I was reminded of Einstein's famous 'thought experiments.' Here is discussion that takes you beyond the text, beyond the state of the art as it is now known. This book was first written in 1981. It went through a major upgrade in 2000 and a minor upgrade in 2005. As such it isn't absolutely up to date with the latest findings. For instance 'dark matter' is included, but 'dark energy' isn't. Then again anything that's printed in book form is going to be a bit out of date, by definition. Excellent reading material for the undergraduate just getting started or those of us who've been 'here' while this part of the science went 'there.'

Not too technical, not too brief, Extremely Interesting *****

Although my education is in physics, it is all but impossible to keep up with your own field of study, let alone with all the other areas. Hence it is nice to find a book like this once in a while that will cover what's going on in areas of interest outside your own specialty.

So much of physics is buried so deep in mathematics that it is sometimes difficult to see the picture that the math is showing us. This book is the best I've seen that gives at least some discussion to the riddles that remain at the bottom of subjects like time, space, gravity, black holes, multi-dimensional -- the things that got most of us interested in physics in the first place. The overall treatment has to be considered elementary (no math) but quite broad in scope.

At the end of each chapter are two sections called Reflections and Projects. Between the two, I was reminded of Einstein's famous 'thought experiments.' Here is discussion that takes you beyond the text, beyond the state of the art as it is now known.

This book was first written in 1981. It went through a major upgrade in 2000 and a minor upgrade in 2005. As such it isn't absolutely up to date with the latest findings. For instance 'dark matter' is included, but 'dark energy' isn't. Then again anything that's printed in book form is going to be a bit out of date, by definition.

Excellent reading material for the undergraduate just getting started or those of us who've been 'here' while this part of the science went 'there.'

Outstanding introduction to Cosmology *****
Cosmology, or the scientific study of the universe as whole, has in the past 25 years seen explosive growth and progress in unfolding the nature and history of our universe. Yet for many people, the findings of cosmology and the main theories lie hidden in impenetrable obscurity due to the highly technical mathematics involved. This is highly unfortunate, as it is arguable what we discover in the heavens is certainly as important as things we discover on the Earth. Harrison is both a veteran scientific cosmologist, and he also has an excellent knowledge of the humanities. Unfortunately this breed of scientist seems fairly rare nowadays, especially those who write for a large audience, though some do manage brilliantly to combine first rate science with a sound knowledge of the humanities (Peter Medewar, Richard Dawkins, John Barrow). This book is then not just simply an account of modern scientific cosmology but is also an account of how pictures of the universe imagined by various thinkers ranging from scientists to theologians to philosophers and poets, has changed through time, often in radical ways. Harrison argues there is no perfect one to one relationship between a picture of the universe we make and the Universe as it is in itself. Harrison adopts a rather Kantian position that we only know things as they appear to us, not as they are in themselves. Hence we only ever develop 'masks of the universe' which cover the true Universe itself, and all our attempts to understand the universe fall short of the reality. Interestingly he takes this argument somewhat further in another book and argues for 'learned ignorance' (a term he takes from Nicholas of Cusa) about our quest to comprehend the cosmos. Harrison then proceeds to look at both what astronomy and modern physics tell us about the nature of the physical universe, and also examines other pictures of the universe developed by philosophers, theologians, and poets. Harrison raises some fascinating points including the mysterious Olber's Paradox and the problem of the water bucket and inertia (a problem which troubled Einstein and Mach), the end and beginning of the universe, cosmic creation, and what the implications might be of finite and infinite universes. Overall this book is a fascinating and highly accessible introduction to cosmology and is a must read not just for interested scientists and students but also by philosophers, theologians, and others who are curious about what science tells us about our place in the scheme of things.

Outstanding introduction to Cosmology *****

Cosmology, or the scientific study of the universe as whole, has in the past 25 years seen explosive growth and progress in unfolding the nature and history of our universe. Yet for many people, the findings of cosmology and the main theories lie hidden in impenetrable obscurity due to the highly technical mathematics involved. This is highly unfortunate, as it is arguable what we discover in the heavens is certainly as important as things we discover on the Earth.

Harrison is both a veteran scientific cosmologist, and he also has an excellent knowledge of the humanities. Unfortunately this breed of scientist seems fairly rare nowadays, especially those who write for a large audience, though some do manage brilliantly to combine first rate science with a sound knowledge of the humanities (Peter Medewar, Richard Dawkins, John Barrow). This book is then not just simply an account of modern scientific cosmology but is also an account of how pictures of the universe imagined by various thinkers ranging from scientists to theologians to philosophers and poets, has changed through time, often in radical ways.

Harrison argues there is no perfect one to one relationship between a picture of the universe we make and the Universe as it is in itself. Harrison adopts a rather Kantian position that we only know things as they appear to us, not as they are in themselves. Hence we only ever develop 'masks of the universe' which cover the true Universe itself, and all our attempts to understand the universe fall short of the reality. Interestingly he takes this argument somewhat further in another book and argues for 'learned ignorance' (a term he takes from Nicholas of Cusa) about our quest to comprehend the cosmos.

Harrison then proceeds to look at both what astronomy and modern physics tell us about the nature of the physical universe, and also examines other pictures of the universe developed by philosophers, theologians, and poets. Harrison raises some fascinating points including the mysterious Olber's Paradox and the problem of the water bucket and inertia (a problem which troubled Einstein and Mach), the end and beginning of the universe, cosmic creation, and what the implications might be of finite and infinite universes.

Overall this book is a fascinating and highly accessible introduction to cosmology and is a must read not just for interested scientists and students but also by philosophers, theologians, and others who are curious about what science tells us about our place in the scheme of things.

The best book to start your serious study of cosmology *****
I have been studying astronomy since 1970. If you know a great deal about stars, planets, the Milky Way, etc., you can still be very ignorant about General Relativity, the expansion of space, the cosmological constant, etc.. That was my situation in the 1980's. Then I found Dr. Harrison's book, the first edition. It was a revelation, and the second edition is even better. Dr. Harrison is an old school academic with a deep knowledge of the history, philosophy, and science of cosmology, and he communicates his knowledge very well. Master this book and you will know more cosmology than many working astronomers. If you want to travel farther, this is your stepping stone to more technical works. Highly recommended!

The best book to start your serious study of cosmology *****

I have been studying astronomy since 1970.

If you know a great deal about stars, planets, the Milky Way, etc., you can still be very ignorant about General Relativity, the expansion of space, the cosmological constant, etc.. That was my situation in the 1980's. Then I found Dr. Harrison's book, the first edition. It was a revelation, and the second edition is even better.

Dr. Harrison is an old school academic with a deep knowledge of the history, philosophy, and science of cosmology, and he communicates his knowledge very well. Master this book and you will know more cosmology than many working astronomers.

If you want to travel farther, this is your stepping stone to more technical works.

Highly recommended!

Best Cosmology *****
The first time I bought the next addition of any book. It explaines gravity and that makes it far better then any other book on this subject.

Best Cosmology *****

The first time I bought the next addition of any book. It explaines gravity and that makes it far better then any other book on this subject.

A stepping stone to real cosmology ***
This text represents a lower division stepping stone from pop cosmology (the first three minutes, cosmic questions, the inflationary universe) to scholary texts. Much insight can be gleaned from the author's imagination experiments. Still, the plethora of equations can mislead readers into thinking they have somehow mastered essentials. The author is far behind in his understanding of post 1980 observations and theory. Occasional mistakes in algebra can also be unsettling. Buy this book but soley in preparation for more serious texts and reviews.

A stepping stone to real cosmology ***

This text represents a lower division stepping stone from pop cosmology (the first three minutes, cosmic questions, the inflationary universe) to scholary texts. Much insight can be gleaned from the author's imagination experiments. Still, the plethora of equations can mislead readers into thinking they have somehow mastered essentials.
The author is far behind in his understanding of post 1980 observations and theory. Occasional mistakes in algebra can also be unsettling. Buy this book but soley in preparation for more serious texts and reviews.

The Very Best Book on Cosmology *****
Undoubtedly, "Cosmology, The Science of the Universe" by Edward Harrison is by far the best book on cosmology that I have ever read. Dr. Harrison did an outstanding job in presenting the physics of the universe. He does not shy away from presenting the mathematics necessary for a complete understanding of the physics involved in describing the universe (or universes as Dr. Harrison points out). The book contains hundreds of equations, diagrams, illustrations, tables, charts, descriptions and analogies so the reader (or student) can grasp a complete understanding of the physics. This book is a must for any student of astrophysics. I very much enjoyed reading and would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding the physics of the universe.

The Very Best Book on Cosmology *****

Undoubtedly, "Cosmology, The Science of the Universe" by Edward Harrison is by far the best book on cosmology that I have ever read. Dr. Harrison did an outstanding job in presenting the physics of the universe. He does not shy away from presenting the mathematics necessary for a complete understanding of the physics involved in describing the universe (or universes as Dr. Harrison points out).

The book contains hundreds of equations, diagrams, illustrations, tables, charts, descriptions and analogies so the reader (or student) can grasp a complete understanding of the physics.

This book is a must for any student of astrophysics. I very much enjoyed reading and would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding the physics of the universe.

A serious but very accessible introduction to the field *****
Even though "Cosmology" is technically a textbook, it takes a rather different sort of approach from the usual such offering. This book makes the subject come alive with excitement by employing a unique style. Even though the book was designed for intro ivy-league students, there's more than enough here to challenge (and intrique) someone who's fully science/physics-literate. The book emphasizes basic principles and intelligently avoids the various fads which seem to plague cosmology at any given time (inflation, dark matter, excessive veneration of the latest observations made with the newest & sexiest technology, etc). It makes clear the important distinction between astronomy and cosmology. Harrison is both an expert in, and an aficionado of, the grand ideas about creation, so the hard science here is interspersed with relevant pieces of history, philosophy, and literature (i.e., the humanities) -- but not too much, rather just enough to give an appreciation for how great minds of all sorts have wrestled with these problems in one form or another for as long as we know. And Harrison has a way of boiling down the difficult concepts to their essentials, making an opaque subject transparent. Even though the scientific level is moderately high for a book aimed ostensibly at novices, there are no lengthy mathematical derivations or formulas of the sort that one might think would be necessary to convey, say, Einstein's general relativity or the intricacies of sub-atomic physics. Often taking an order-of-magnitude and geometrical approach, the book avoids long confusing digressions into trivialities and summarizes many of its important points in excellent diagrams. Harrison is great at bringing in just enough from some other branch of physics to help you grasp the topic at hand, so the development as you progress through the book is nearly perfect. He's also excellent at conveying the important conundrums, uncertainties, and many pitfalls in the field. The coverage is very balanced and complete, yet anything but shallow. Even though I was a grad student in astrophysics at Berkeley, I didn't learn cosmology from Joseph Silk there. Instead, I learned it after I left -- from this book (the 1st edition). Harrison is that good at making what can be a perplexing subject both interesting and understandable. I came away from it feeling I finally "got" cosmology, the grandest of all subjects. The only better book for the less serious lay person or someone who finds scientific material difficult would be his "Masks of the Universe" -- unfortunately now out-of-print, but well worth tracking down.

A serious but very accessible introduction to the field *****

Even though "Cosmology" is technically a textbook, it takes a rather different sort of approach from the usual such offering. This book makes the subject come alive with excitement by employing a unique style. Even though the book was designed for intro ivy-league students, there's more than enough here to challenge (and intrique) someone who's fully science/physics-literate. The book emphasizes basic principles and intelligently avoids the various fads which seem to plague cosmology at any given time (inflation, dark matter, excessive veneration of the latest observations made with the newest & sexiest technology, etc). It makes clear the important distinction between astronomy and cosmology.

Harrison is both an expert in, and an aficionado of, the grand ideas about creation, so the hard science here is interspersed with relevant pieces of history, philosophy, and literature (i.e., the humanities) -- but not too much, rather just enough to give an appreciation for how great minds of all sorts have wrestled with these problems in one form or another for as long as we know. And Harrison has a way of boiling down the difficult concepts to their essentials, making an opaque subject transparent.

Even though the scientific level is moderately high for a book aimed ostensibly at novices, there are no lengthy mathematical derivations or formulas of the sort that one might think would be necessary to convey, say, Einstein's general relativity or the intricacies of sub-atomic physics. Often taking an order-of-magnitude and geometrical approach, the book avoids long confusing digressions into trivialities and summarizes many of its important points in excellent diagrams. Harrison is great at bringing in just enough from some other branch of physics to help you grasp the topic at hand, so the development as you progress through the book is nearly perfect. He's also excellent at conveying the important conundrums, uncertainties, and many pitfalls in the field. The coverage is very balanced and complete, yet anything but shallow.

Even though I was a grad student in astrophysics at Berkeley, I didn't learn cosmology from Joseph Silk there. Instead, I learned it after I left -- from this book (the 1st edition). Harrison is that good at making what can be a perplexing subject both interesting and understandable. I came away from it feeling I finally "got" cosmology, the grandest of all subjects.

The only better book for the less serious lay person or someone who finds scientific material difficult would be his "Masks of the Universe" -- unfortunately now out-of-print, but well worth tracking down.