Preview
  • A Sense of the Mysterious

  • Science and the Human Spirit
  • By: Alan Lightman
  • Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot
  • Length: 5 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (263 ratings)

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A Sense of the Mysterious

By: Alan Lightman
Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot
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Publisher's summary

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.
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What listeners say about A Sense of the Mysterious

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great

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

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A Unique Take on the Scientific Project

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.

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4 people found this helpful

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Somebody who thinks the same as I do

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.

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grrr-ate😎 just like tony tiger 🐅🐅

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

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4 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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I stuck it out.

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

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1 person found this helpful

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a glimmer of sanity and rational thougt

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!

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Exquisite

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.

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3 people found this helpful

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Enlightening and fascinating

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.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Not what I was hoping for

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

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1 person found this helpful