Particle Physics for Non-Physicists: A Tour of the Microcosmos

By: Steven Pollock, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Steven Pollock

Would you like to know how the universe works? Scientists have been asking that question for a long time and have found that many of the answers can be found in the study of particle physics, the field that focuses on those impossibly tiny particles with unbelievably strange names - the hadrons and leptons, baryons and mesons, muons and gluons - so mystifying to the rest of us.

And now, in a fascinating and accessible series of 24 lectures, you can take the mystery out of the remarkable field that in only 100 years has unlocked the secrets of the basic forces of nature.

Professor Pollock will make you familiar with the fundamental particles that make up all matter, from the tiniest microbe to the sun and stars. And you'll also learn the "rules of the game" - the forces that drive those particles and the ways in which they interact - that underlie the workings of the universe.

The lectures have been designed to be enriching for everyone, regardless of scientific background or mathematical ability. Virtually all you'll need as you enter this fascinating world are your curiosity, common sense, and, as Professor Pollock notes, "an open mind for the occasional quantum weirdness." As you move through the lectures, you'll also gain a knowledge of how those particles fit into perhaps the greatest scientific theory of all time: the Standard Model of particle physics; a grasp of key terms like "gauge symmetry," "quantum chromodynamics," and "unified quantum field Theory;" and an appreciation of how particle physics fits in with other branches of physics - including cosmology and quantum mechanics - to create our overall understanding of nature.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2003 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2003 The Great Courses

One of the best tours I've ever taken

I grabbed this audiobook without knowing what to expect. I've now listen to it for the 3rd time.

It is without a doubt one of the best audiobooks I've listen to. The narrator is an excellent storyteller, the concepts presented are precise, indepth and easy for a non-physicist (like myself) to grasp.

On a side note, one thing that really helped me remember all the concepts presented here was a visual table of the fundamental particles.

An Excellent Course

Professor Pollock is highly approachable, and very charming. He takes what should be very strange things, but quickly has you diving in. At no point did I feel he rushed, or assumed too much of the listener. It was a masterful bit of teaching. This is the best “book” on Audible I’ve ever listened to.

Not elite, but pretty damn good for the layman who enjoys the topic

He does an above average job with a fascinating subject. They weren't the best lectures ever but if you like particle physics as a layman you will be completely fascinated. The details were not over the top and he didn't sound patronizing or condescending one bit, which was refreshing. I could sense he really intrinsically bought into the goal of educating the layman for the sake of knowledge. I will definitely be back for more great courses media.

A great history to the formation of the field particle physics.

Steve is well spoken and provide engaging stories that walk you through the evolution of the field of particle physics.

Interesting, understandable & exciting

I learned so much! Highly recommended! Steven Pollack’s presentation was very pleasant and enthusiastic. The course unifies much of my existing knowledge from high school and college.