space-time continuum

"Greetings. Assalaamu'alaikum, Wrwb. May Peace be Upon You. Welcome to my website."
This is my corner in the universe where I celebrate my life by sharing my experiences & thoughts on everything I care about, including trivia, jokes, & my love affair with Fred, my husband, my best friend.*c-line

My Favorite

1/17/11

Countdown: 5 nonfiction books I love the most!

No.5: Light Elements: Essays in Science from Gravity to Levity by Judith Stone.

This is perfect for people who love science, jokes, and writing. Sometimes science should be presented in funny way, so many people, especially kids will love it! :)

No.4: What Do You Care What Other People Think ? Further Adventures of a Curious Character by Richard P. Feynman

Physicists are just like any other human being. They also have love story to tell. I love the way Feynman shares his love story with his dying wife, and how she taught him "What do you care what other people think?".

Also interesting to know: how hilarious "Feynman vs Feminist" is, and how thing, which is actually based on a simple science fact, can be complicated by politics (in investigating the space shuttle Challenger's explosion).

No. 3: DREAMS OF A FINAL THEORY by Steven Weinberg

This book has a sentimental value for me. I first found this book in Physics Library of Riau Univ., when I was a student there. I love it so much I copied the whole book because I had no money and no way to buy the original copy (Now I own one, yay!)

This book describes the beauty of Physics; what are the characteristics of Physical theories that give us a sense of beauty. It inspired me to write article; "Fisika dan Puisi Cinta".

Reading this book made me believe I was on the right track; studying Physics, so I can understand the beauty of nature and life.

No. 2: The Quark and the Jaguar : Adventures in the Simple and Complex by Murray Gell-Mann

This book's definitely one of my top 2 favorites, but it's kinda hard to describe why I love it.

I first knew this book from the author himself, when I attended his lecture at Northwestern Univ. He mentioned this book because I brought a wrong book for him to sign. I'm glad he did.

This book lets me inside the mind of a Physicist who also love adventure, being surrounded by rain forest, encountering wild animals, observing the ruin of ancient civilization, culture and language.

The marriage of Physics and the living things, in his mind, scientifically and philosophically, gave birth to a study of Simplicity and Complexity. A mind-boogling subject, indeed... It gives me a new perspective of our nature and environment.

I love this book so much, it inspired my writing: "Kesederhanaan yg Indah"

And now, the number 1 of the list is... (drum roll please...):

The God Particle : If the Universe Is the Answer, What Is the Question?
By Leon Lederman, Dick Teresi

Unlike no.2, it's easy for me to tell the reason I love this book: It's so funnyyy, I'm gonna die LOL!!!

My favorite piece from this book is an imaginary conversation between Leon Lederman (the Laughing Director) and Democritus (the Laughing Philosopher). It's very funny and enlightening.

Quote (pg 32):
Lederman: But Plato hate your guts. Is it true he disliked your ideas so much that he wanted all your book burned?
Democritus: Yes, and that superstitious old goat nearly succeeded. And then that fire in Alexandria really cooked my reputation. That's why you so-called moderns are so ignorant of time manipulation. Now all I hear about is Newton, Einstein...

Also, this book will be much funnier, from the outside, if there is true freedom of expression in America, hehehe...

Quote (pg 22):
Why God Particle? One, the publisher wouldn't let us call it (the higgs boson) the GODDAMN Particle, though that might be a more appropriate title, given its villainous nature and the expense it is causing...