Fantastic but Dated

Would you listen to Particle Physics for Non-Physicists: A Tour of the Microcosmos again? Why?

This is a wonderful lesson to the time it was recorded. At this point, eight or more years have passed and you need to listen to more recent works to get the updates since Professor Pollock narrated this. It is still a fantastic way to get from the beginning of particle physics to the time he gave this lecture. I found it extremely accessible and will likely listen through it again. Professor Pollock has inspired me to recent works such as "The Cosmic Cocktail: Three Parts Dark Matter" by Katherine Freese. I can't comment on that yet.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Particle Physics for Non-Physicists: A Tour of the Microcosmos?

Sorry, this isn't me. I liked the whole program.

What about Professor Steven Pollock’s performance did you like?

I could sense his passion. This is what Professor Pollock does. I'd rather learn from a practitioner than a bystander. He uses "we" often. You can feel it, or at least I could. I would love to have been in his lectures and chatted afterwards.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No, it gave me information I was interested in. I am not a Particle Physics student. I am a lifelong learner with a bent towards science. I really enjoyed his presentation of a fairly complex subject. If you are reading this, you likely are looking for what I was, so listen to the lecture.

Any additional comments?

Understand that he will talk about what's to come several years past. Plan for it and it is fine. Don't be frustrated that he talks about something coming in 2007. Just get an updated text to follow this. It is still a great history to the time it was recorded and well worth the investment in time (certainly more valuable than whatever you pay for the lectures).

57 people found this helpful

Demystifies particles

The choice is yours. You can let the popular media and the Mystics continue to tell you that particles physics is woo and mysticism or you can listen to this highly accessible lecture and realize what particle physics is all about and learn why neutrinos are so important, what c-p violation means, and what makes up the universe at the most fundamental level.

The lecturer doesn't tell you anything without first telling you the context and how we know what we know. I still don't understand what a photon really is or what exactly is meant by spin, but that's not the fault of the lecture. It's more that their real meaning is tied up with esoteric mathematics and the lecture stays away from the math.

42 people found this helpful

Excellent introduction for a non-physicists

I would recommend this to anybody who is interested in fundamental parts of our universe. Very clear presentation, easy to follow, and seems at least to me to cover the subject very well.

I have no interest to dwell into the mathematics of particle physics, and the aim of the series of lectures is indeed to deliver as comprehensive overview of particle physics to a listener just like me.

Very clear presentation, and I would like to listen to more material of this subject produced with such clarity and attention to delivery. Excellent!

26 people found this helpful

Great synopsis of particle physics!

As someone who graduated from an engineering physics program 12 years ago (and never did engineering or physics since), this has been a great philosophical non-mathematical overview (plus review and a recast of things I didn't properly learn) of a field I hope to get (back) into - even if as a hobbyist and promoter of all things science. Condensing hard maths such as what I remember (even at the undergraduate level) E&M, Quantum, Classical Mechanics, etc being into a detailed synopsis that is easy (-ish) to grasp takes a stroke of genius. I wish I had you as a professor in undergrad, for all my physics courses (mine were great researchers, but awful docents... probably why I delved into a different field in grad school and in my career after). Ya never know, I still dream about going back to grad school to focus on particle physics once my daughter goes off to college (I deviated away as it was tough staying focused as a single dad, as I was then). Anywhoo...... I'd love to see a part II to this book (i.e., advancements since the book came out, e.g., in findings from CERN). Thank you!

11 people found this helpful

My favorite Great Courses Lecture

Would you consider the audio edition of Particle Physics for Non-Physicists: A Tour of the Microcosmos to be better than the print version?

There is no print version.

Who was your favorite character and why?

It's a lecture. This question is weird. Steven Pollock?

Have you listened to any of Professor Steven Pollock’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I've listened to his lecture on Classical Physics. This one is much better. I think this is his area of expertise, though. So that makes sense.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Intense interest and desire for more and more detail. This should have a second and third version.

Any additional comments?

I love Pollock's presentation style. I love that he carefully organized these lectures. And, I love that he helps me to feel like I have a thorough understanding of the work being done at large colliders (well, mostly just the LHC now).

I've listened to this twice. I intend to listen a third time. It's absolutely fascinating. I loved learning about Quantum Chromodynamics and Quantum Electrodynamics.

9 people found this helpful

Now I know particle names

This is hard to rate, because I'm not sure how much of the difficulty of this topic is due to its complexity, and how much is due to my density. I feel like I learned a lot of physics nomenclature, and now I can impress my friends with terms like lepton and W boson and renormalisation... But I still don't really get what any of it is, fundamentally. I don't think electrons are tiny dots, but the lecturer described them that way. He also gave at least a whole lecture saying how good the standard model is, and that he can't imagine it being falsified, and believe me, it's just good, and the problems aren't a big deal, even though it can't it explain a few things, like, oh, say, gravity. I really liked Pollock's style though. He cares about the content and making sure that his audience understands him. This series is also dated (2003), so it doesn't include the results of the LHC tests and the Higgs field/boson.

7 people found this helpful

Excellent subject, great info, but outdated...

First of all, this is a great explanation of the standard model of particle physics, and even discusses time, relativity, and the electroweak force a bit. It's a great overview of how the particles and forces within the model were theorized and discovered, but it doesn't go in-depth enough about how they work in my opinion.
Also, the data is decently outdated, and that's made obvious by statements like "when they build the LHC at CERN they hope to find evidence of the Higgs boson" and "We're hoping to have experimental evidence confirming this by 2007". Overall this was definitely worth a listen since the model really hasn't changed much in the last decade, but I highly recommend you continue your education in this subject after this fun overview.

6 people found this helpful

Mostly Old Stuff

From what I could pick up, this is from 2007. For example, the instructor talks about the search for the Higgs boson and what he believes will be found. This is a light brushing of particle physics. If you've already done some study of this, it will be a repeat of what you already know. You'll also recognize some mistakes because his knowledge is somewhat old. If you've never read anything on particle physics and are curious, this is an ok introduction even though some of what you'll hear is either wrong or not up to date.

6 people found this helpful

fantastic science course!

I think a high score for story would be an insult really. it's a marvelously informative, and as of 9/30/15, is still mostly accurate.

great read. highly recommend.

5 people found this helpful

A book without pages is easier to read.

If you could sum up Particle Physics for Non-Physicists: A Tour of the Microcosmos in three words, what would they be?

Interesting, captivating, and informative. Thank you.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the fact it was audible and easy to turn on my laptop and plug in my ear-buds. I just listened and became informed about a subject of which I am interested.

What about Professor Steven Pollock’s performance did you like?

Steven Pollock seems to be very knowledgeable about the subject, "not to be sarcastic", but it was assuring to hear him talk about this subject. It did not seem like I was listening to a scripted reading.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I listened in 5 sittings.

Any additional comments?

Thank you. I am a scientific and mechanically inclined human being. This is the kind of information I like and use in life.

5 people found this helpful