RaveThe Wall Street JournalMr. Wilczek presents an approachable introduction to modern physics, taking pains to address readers who are curious about, but unfamiliar with, our current understanding of the universe. He aspires to convey the central findings of cosmology and quantum mechanics, among much else, as simply and accurately as possible. The narrative is, at times, remarkably personal. As always, Mr. Wilczek’s prose pulses with enthusiasm for its subject. But Fundamentals is somehow more intimate, an exercise that \'began as an exposition but grew into a contemplation.\' Writing it, he notes, \'changed my perception of the world\' ...To understand atoms, or astronomy, it is necessary to construct new models for understanding reality. In this sense, the intellect must be re-born, and the mind must begin anew. But Mr. Wilczek’s call for rebirth involves another sense, one closer to a spiritual awakening.
Joseph Henrich
RaveThe Wall Street Journal... fascinating ... an example of \'big history\' at its best. It draws on a wide variety of data ...to posit a provocative explanation for major historical developments. It also takes an interdisciplinary approach to its subject, making use of evolutionary studies in culture, religion and psychology. And Mr. Henrich’s writing is admirably clear. It is worth pointing out that his thesis, first advanced in an academic journal two years ago and updated since, is still being vetted by the scientific community. One can’t help thinking that Mr. Henrich will welcome any challenges that may arise from his—surely highly literate—readership.
Daniel Walker Howe
RaveThe Claremont Review of BooksWhat Hath God Wrought examines the United States from 1815 to 1848, weaving the young nation\'s chiliasm and calculation into a seamless narrative. For Howe...it is the crowning achievement of a lifetime devoted to studying the era ... Howe surveys the entirety of the American experience, drawing in equal measure from political, diplomatic, and military history on the one hand and, social, economic, and cultural history on the other. Never does he lose sight of the country\'s underlying unease: a people that loudly proclaimed the Enlightenment and yet trembled at the approaching millennium ... Howe is an engaging writer, whose lively prose bursts with telling anecdotes ... For now, those who wish to understand the world of William Miller and Samuel Morse can hardly do better than to read and consider What Hath God Wrought—and marvel at what Howe hath wrought.
