Book Reviews November 2011

The theory that would not die Sharon Bertsch McGrayne Yale University Press, 2011 ISBN: 9780300169690 Bayes rule is well known in computing circles, but for a long time it was rejected by many as being unaccectably subjective. In The theory that would not die: how Bayes' rule cracked the enigma code, hunted down Russian submarines, and emerged triumphant from two centuries of controversy Sharon Bertsch McGrayne tells its story. Continued..

Buy this book Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Amazon.ca

Decoding reality Vlatko Vedral Oxford University Press, 2010 ISBN: 9780199237692 In 1994 Vlatko Vedral came across the phrase 'Information is Physical', and it had a lasting effect on his life. In Decoding reality: the universe as quantum information he puts forward his thoughts on how information and especially ideas from thermodynamics, underlies all areas of science. Continued..

Buy this book Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Amazon.ca

The case for Pluto Alan Boyle Wiley, 2010 ISBN: 9780470505441 Many of us will have grown up learning that there were nine planets, but Pluto has never really fit in, and recently has lost its status as a planet. In The case for Pluto: how a little planet made a big difference Alan Boyle tells the story. Continued..

Buy this book Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Amazon.ca

The end of discovery Russell Stannard Oxford University Press, 2010 ISBN: 9780199585243 Having read Russell Stannard's latest book The End of Discovery: Are we approaching the boundaries of the knowable? , I would say that the answer to the question posed in the subtitle seems to be a definite NO. Continued..

Buy this book Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Amazon.ca