FROM EROS TO GAIA by Freeman Dyson (PDF)

Description

Readers of Freeman Dyson’s previous books, Disturbing the Universe, Weapons and Hope, and Infinite in All Directions, have discovered for themselves what Dyson reveals here: that he was a writer long before he became a distinguished scientist. The aim of this new book, as Dyson says, is to open windows, to let the experts inside the temple of science see out, and to let the ordinary citizens outside see in.” In this process an immensely broad range of ideas, people, contemporary history, and discoveries of many sorts pass in review. Beginning with a piece of writing he did as a child and ending with recent work, he goes from Eros, the god or youthful passion, to Gaia, the fertile life-giving mother-planet Earth. The pilgrimage is a good metaphor for the life of a writer. This book is full of discoveries. In the company of one of the most lucid minds of our time, one approaches great men and problems central to our common existence. Always there is warmth, kindness, high intelligence and humor. Dyson is intimate with both science and man. Whether he is dealing with the problems of physics or politics, whether he is engrossed in astronomy or literature, whether he is concentrating on an African village of space science, Dyson’s view is always “infinite in all directions,” always following the path of diversity, always keeping his eye on the wonder of our earth and the health and happiness of its inhabitants.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐Being a physicist, especially a mathematical physicist, is the ultimate training for reducing problems to their essences. Couple this with broad interests, a great desire to do good, and a wide circle of famous and interesting friends, then you get a lifetime of successfully addressing an incredible variety of monumental and seemingly intractable problems: getting bombers safely back from missions; interplanetary travel; science education; global warming; SETI; and most famously, arms control. A lifetime of reminiscences and stories about heroes: Oppenheimer, Kennan, and all the great physicists of the mid- to late-20th century – Einstein, Bethe, Yang, Schwinger, and most of all, Feynman. FEtG is a collection of reviews, chapters, essays, keynotes, forwards, and dedications. All of course written in Dyson’s distinct and unmistakable style. Never a sentence out of place. Never a doubt what he means. This leads to a little redundancy, but always worth it for the resulting clarity. There are many observations and arguments about scientific research. Mix of large and small projects. Mix of mainstream and quirky projects. The impact of politics, its necessity and its negative consequences. And there is his peerless self-observation, especially in the frailty of memory. This comes out in one of the most moving chapters, a history of his interactions with Feynman. With only minimal new connecting text to give context, it is entirely abstracts from letters and so dates within a few days of the events. Is it dated? Only a little. If it were to be re-released I would only remove one or two essays, on the future of Astronomy research and seen from the 1960s. The truly great essay is the last: The Face of Gaia. A near death experience has brought on clarity. There is much moving in the few pages. But my favorite part is a simple prosaic observation that explains so much interpersonal drama. Not to mention current political hostility. Humans necessarily have loyalties at six different “levels”: self, family, tribe, culture, species, planet. These must conflict.

⭐Well written. An anthology of articles on arms control, climate change, physics and manned space travel. There are also pieces on scientists and arms control experts Dyson met.

⭐This book is essentially Freeman Dyson’s autobiography. He lived through very interesting times (WW II), and interacted with fascinating people. He gives you an alternate look at what happened during this important period.

⭐Good deal.

⭐I’ve long been an admirer of Freeman Dyson, even had lunch with him once a few years ago, and have read a few of his other books in the past. This relatively recent collection of essays includes things written all through his life, and provides a wonderful perspective on Dyson as a person, and his amazing view of the world. From a short story written as a child (the “Eros” part) to an account of an almost spiritual experience associated with a mugging in Washington DC, from Dyson’s insights into bureaucratic mismanagement (the practical “plan A” vs. the prestigious “plan B” – guess what wins) to a collection of letters home about his good friend Dick Feynman, reading these pieces is illuminating and envigorating.

⭐Physicist and philosopher Freeman Dyson writes about science, scientists, politics, arms control, nature and humanity. Includes book reviews, biographical sketches, obituaries, book introductions, and more.Some of the pieces would be best enjoyed by physicists and scientists; most are very accessible. A few are incredibly profound.–Stefan Jones

⭐Arrived in good condition.

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