A Sense of the Mysterious Audiobook By Alan Lightman cover art

A Sense of the Mysterious

Science and the Human Spirit

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A Sense of the Mysterious

By: Alan Lightman
Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot
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About this listen

From the best-selling author of Einstein's Dreams comes this lyrical and insightful collection of science writing that delves into the mysteries of the scientific process - physics, astronomy, mathematics - and exposes its beauty and intrigue.

In these brilliant essays, Lightman explores the emotional life of science, the power of imagination, the creative moment, and the alternate ways in which scientists and humanists think about the world. Along the way, he provides in-depth portraits of some of the great geniuses of our time, including Albert Einstein, Richard Feynman, Edward Teller, and astronomer Vera Rubin. Thoughtful, beautifully written, and wonderfully original, A Sense of the Mysterious confirms Alan Lightman's unique position at the crossroads of science and art.

©2018 Alan Lightman (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
History History & Philosophy Philosophy Physics Science String Theory
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Lightman brings a Liberal Arts perspective to the scientist’s experience. He establishes his street cred early on to explain his initial attraction to the mysteries science probes and follows up with tales of some of the most fascinating figures of the Twentieth Century. These stories bring their motivations and accomplishments to life and convince the reader that the stereotypical view of scientific pursuits as dull number-crunching fit only for nerds who can’t make the football team is nonsense.

He finishes with some insights into Technological Society’s future that we should all think about. All in all an interesting Four Star read.

A Unique Take on the Scientific Project

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we are surrounded by mystery everyday. most people have no idea how much mystery is out there. sometimes books like this allow me to get a good night's sleep. Avon even when a lot of things are bugging me.
wiz

grrr-ate😎 just like tony tiger 🐅🐅

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Insightful view on the scientists that allowed us to live in the world we live in today!

great

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Good parts and boring stretches. It is worth it if you don't pay extra. I wouldn't waste a credit though.

I stuck it out.

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One would not tend to look to physicist regarding philosophy, yet this is some of the best life advice from theoretical physicists that you will likely ever hear!

a glimmer of sanity and rational thougt

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The stories and experiences related in this book seemed perfectly aligned with several things I've been thinking about lately. it's reflective, it's memorable, it covers historical figures in the sciences and personal experiences of the author. and they are all profound and beautiful and humbling and thought-provoking.

Somebody who thinks the same as I do

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Alan Lightman reminds me, with each book of his that I read, he is undoubtedly my favorite author. This is a work of art, integrating (beautifully) the relationship between humanity, science, the reader, and the author.

Exquisite

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Memoirish and thought provoking. I learned interesting points of view throughout the history of science. The narrator was great. He pronounced foreign words and names accurately according to the native language.

Enlightening and fascinating

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I thought this book would live up to the title a bit more, but there didn’t feel like there was much of a story. It’s pretty much just a bunch of anecdotes slammed together onto one book. And felt very disorganized and scattered, was hard to follow

Not what I was hoping for

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