Book Review - The Black Hole at the Center of our Galaxy

I haven't seen any similar posts on this board but, since I love
reading, I thought I'd post reviews of Astronomically related books as
I finish them. I hope somebody finds them useful.


Title: The Black Hole at the Center of our Galaxy
Author: Fulvio Melia

Ratings:
Text: 4/5
Images/Figures: 5/5
Difficulty: College Physics is a must.
Overall: 4/5

Black holes have always interested me and when I read the review of
this book in S&T a few months ago, I decided to hunt it down. I
ALMOST didn't get it because it looked a bit on the thin side for the
price and it comes shrinkwrapped so you can't glance through it. It
was, however, on Black Holes so...

I'm glad I got it. The premise is proving that there is a black hole
in the center of the galaxy (something I already believed before
starting) and the book takes you step by step through proving it. It
walks you through the transparency of the galaxy to different
wavelengths of radiation with excellent images graphically showing
the differences, and procedes with a crash course in General
Relativity. There are a number of mini-history lessons included and
a lot of science. Other nearby galaxies rate special attention as
well, and all points are well illustrated. In fact, the captions for
the images are so well done that points that I missed in the text
often became clear while examining the image and pouring over the
caption.

The book has a wonderful discussion about how close we are to
actually imaging the event horizon of Sagitarius A*, what it will
take to get us there, and what we can expect to see. While
technical, it is loaded with examples and comparisions that I could
easily relate to.

This isn't a book for those that aren't at least somewhat technically
inclined. A basic understanding of Newtonian Physics is a must and
it certainly helps if you have at least been exposed to the concepts
of General Relativity at some point in your life. However, if
astrophysics and black holes interest you, this is a very enjoyable
book.

Clear, Dark Skies

Mark

Mark Smith wrote in message . ..
I haven't seen any similar posts on this board but, since I love
reading, I thought I'd post reviews of Astronomically related books as
I finish them. I hope somebody finds them useful.


Title: The Black Hole at the Center of our Galaxy
Author: Fulvio Melia

Ratings:
Text: 4/5
Images/Figures: 5/5
Difficulty: College Physics is a must.
Overall: 4/5

Black holes have always interested me and when I read the review of
this book in S&T a few months ago, I decided to hunt it down. I
ALMOST didn't get it because it looked a bit on the thin side for the
price and it comes shrinkwrapped so you can't glance through it. It
was, however, on Black Holes so...

I'm glad I got it. The premise is proving that there is a black hole
in the center of the galaxy (something I already believed before
starting) and the book takes you step by step through proving it. It
walks you through the transparency of the galaxy to different
wavelengths of radiation with excellent images graphically showing
the differences, and procedes with a crash course in General
Relativity. There are a number of mini-history lessons included and
a lot of science. Other nearby galaxies rate special attention as
well, and all points are well illustrated. In fact, the captions for
the images are so well done that points that I missed in the text
often became clear while examining the image and pouring over the
caption.

The book has a wonderful discussion about how close we are to
actually imaging the event horizon of Sagitarius A*, what it will
take to get us there, and what we can expect to see. While
technical, it is loaded with examples and comparisions that I could
easily relate to.

This isn't a book for those that aren't at least somewhat technically
inclined. A basic understanding of Newtonian Physics is a must and
it certainly helps if you have at least been exposed to the concepts
of General Relativity at some point in your life. However, if
astrophysics and black holes interest you, this is a very enjoyable
book.

Clear, Dark Skies

Mark

Thanks Mark. I read this book some time back & enjoyed it
considerably. The research about what's going on in the center of the
Milky Way is quite fascinating. It's one of those areas that I try to
keep abreast of. What I find quite interesting is the different
"structures" existing in different wave lengths. DR

"Mark Smith" wrote in message
...
I haven't seen any similar posts on this board but, since I love
reading, I thought I'd post reviews of Astronomically related books as
I finish them. I hope somebody finds them useful.


Title: The Black Hole at the Center of our Galaxy
Author: Fulvio Melia

Ratings:
Text: 4/5
Images/Figures: 5/5
Difficulty: College Physics is a must.
Overall: 4/5

Black holes have always interested me and when I read the review of
this book in S&T a few months ago, I decided to hunt it down. I
ALMOST didn't get it because it looked a bit on the thin side for the
price and it comes shrinkwrapped so you can't glance through it. It
was, however, on Black Holes so...


I have Astromart, two local book stores, and the Astronomy clubs
Rochestar Fest to collect books from. In the last two or three years I went
through and read just about every Astronomy beginners book out there and
some intermediate Astronomy books, two astronomy encyclopedia's, freshmen
year colage physics books, celestrial mechanics, and .... I probably have
about 70-80 books with only three or four being slightly over my head in the
math department (waiting a while before I read them). Each and every book
is a joy to read and each and every one I learn something new. Even when I
read about the same subject I continue to read just to get a different
perspective. I can't say any one book is better then any other when it
comes to teaching one self the way the universe works but I will say that
video helps a lot too. I found two companies that sell video and audio
lectures. and finnaly there's the lectures at the Astronomy club meetings!
I'm always up for hearing about a book I haven't got read and your review
sounds rather well done.

I'm wanting badly to learn Calculus so if you/anyone can recomend a book
to teach a guy in his late thirties... please speak up!
--
Michael A. Barlow

"Michael Barlow" wrote in message ...
"Mark Smith" wrote in message
...
I haven't seen any similar posts on this board but, since I love
reading, I thought I'd post reviews of Astronomically related books as
I finish them. I hope somebody finds them useful.


Title: The Black Hole at the Center of our Galaxy
Author: Fulvio Melia

Ratings:
Text: 4/5
Images/Figures: 5/5
Difficulty: College Physics is a must.
Overall: 4/5

Black holes have always interested me and when I read the review of
this book in S&T a few months ago, I decided to hunt it down. I
ALMOST didn't get it because it looked a bit on the thin side for the
price and it comes shrinkwrapped so you can't glance through it. It
was, however, on Black Holes so...


I have Astromart, two local book stores, and the Astronomy clubs
Rochestar Fest to collect books from. In the last two or three years I went
through and read just about every Astronomy beginners book out there and
some intermediate Astronomy books, two astronomy encyclopedia's, freshmen
year colage physics books, celestrial mechanics, and .... I probably have
about 70-80 books with only three or four being slightly over my head in the
math department (waiting a while before I read them). Each and every book
is a joy to read and each and every one I learn something new. Even when I
read about the same subject I continue to read just to get a different
perspective. I can't say any one book is better then any other when it
comes to teaching one self the way the universe works but I will say that
video helps a lot too. I found two companies that sell video and audio
lectures. and finnaly there's the lectures at the Astronomy club meetings!
I'm always up for hearing about a book I haven't got read and your review
sounds rather well done.

I'm wanting badly to learn Calculus so if you/anyone can recomend a book
to teach a guy in his late thirties... please speak up!

Mark, If you are already skilled in Geometry & Trig, you might
consider Quick Calculus by Daniel Kleppner. Otherwise, you might want
to go with Geometry & Trigonometry for Calculus by Peter Selby. Both
are part of A Self-Teaching Guide series, published by John Wiley &
Sons. Go to www.bookfinder.com to check out used prices. DR