Thomas Levenson is a professor at MIT and head of its science writing program. He is the author of several books, including Einstein in Berlin and Newton and the Counterfeiter: The Unknown Detective Career of the World's Greatest Scientist. He has also made ten feature-length documentaries (including a two-hour Nova program on Einstein) for which he has won numerous awards.
"Delightful . . . a charming tale about an all-but-forgotten
episode in science history."--The Wall Street Journal "Engaging . .
. At heart, this is a story about how science advances, one insight
at a time. But the immediacy, almost romance, of [Thomas]
Levenson's writing makes it almost novelistic."--The Washington
Post
"Captures the drama of the tireless search for this celestial
object."--Science
"Levenson's narrative is a well-structured, fast-paced example of
exemplary science writing. A scintillating popular account of the
interplay between mathematical physics and astronomical
observations."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "The Hunt for
Vulcan is a short, beautifully produced book that tells a
cautionary tale. . . . Levenson is a breezy writer who renders
complex ideas in down-to-earth language . . . and colorfully
illustrates the limits of scientific theory as it faces new data
and even more persuasive theories."--The Boston Globe
"Thomas Levenson wonderfully tells the story of Vulcan. . . .
Looping through science history from Isaac Newton onwards, Levenson
elegantly reveals the evolutionary nature of scientific thought,
and the marvel of the revolution that Einstein wrought."--Nature
"An essential read . . . a compelling story that successfully
portrays how science deals with ambiguity . . . The Hunt for Vulcan
succeeds spectacularly at displaying the intricate, confusing, and
sometimes quirky way science progresses."--Ars Technica "This
delightful and enlightening drama tells the story of the hunt for a
planet that did not exist and how Einstein resolved the mystery
with the most beautiful theory in the history of science. The Hunt
for Vulcan is an inspiring tale about the quest for discovery and
the challenges and joys of understanding our universe."--Walter
Isaacson
"The Hunt for Vulcan is equal to the best science writing I've read
anywhere, by any author. Beautifully composed, rich in historical
context, deeply researched, it is, above all, great storytelling.
Levenson gives a true picture of the scientific enterprise, with
all its good and bad guesses, wishful thinking, passion, human ego,
and desire to know and understand this strange and magnificent
cosmos we find ourselves in."--Alan Lightman, author of The
Accidental Universe
"The forgotten story of Vulcan could no longer remain untold. Tom
Levenson tells us where it came from, how it vanished, and why its
spirit lurks today. Along the way, we learn more than a bit of just
how science works--when it succeeds as well as when it
fails."--Neil deGrasse Tyson "Thomas Levenson's brilliance as a
writer is in setting the evolution of scientific ideas into their
appropriate historical contexts, allowing us to see their wider
implications. In this engaging, informative book, laced with lovely
anecdotes, Levenson elegantly teaches us about both the laws of
physics and the less law-abiding ways in which physics advances
occur."--Lisa Randall, professor of physics, Harvard University,
and author of Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs
"The Hunt for Vulcan is science writing at its best. As Levenson
unravels the history, the drama, and, yes, the physics behind the
now-forgotten Vulcan, he also shows how science actually advances
in our world and, in the process, reveals how none of our
endeavors--even our most empirical--are immune to our penchant for
self-deception. This book is not just learned, passionate, and
witty--it is profoundly wise."--Junot Diaz "Thomas Levenson tells
the tale of Newton, Einstein, and the missing planet Vulcan with
verve, showing how observations and calculations clashed in a
battle that decided the fate of the universe."--Sean Carroll,
author of The Particle at the End of the Universe
"Scorched and blackened by the fires of the Sun, Vulcan is the
innermost planet that never was. Thomas Levenson illuminates the
untold story of a world concocted to explain a planetary anomaly
whose existence heralded a shocking new picture of space and time.
Packed with colorful anecdotes, this is a vivid, well-paced,
thoroughly enjoyable tale of human delusion and ultimate scientific
triumph."--Marcus Chown, author of Quantum Theory Cannot Hurt
You
"Levenson deftly draws readers into a quest that shows how
scientists think and argue, as well as how science advances: one
discovery at a time."--Publishers Weekly
Delightful . . . a charming tale about an all-but-forgotten episode
in science history. The Wall Street Journal
Engaging . . . At heart, this is a story about how science
advances, one insight at a time. But the immediacy, almost romance,
of [Thomas] Levenson s writing makes it almost novelistic. The
Washington Post
Captures the drama of the tireless search for this celestial
object. Science
Levenson s narrative is a well-structured, fast-paced example of
exemplary science writing. A scintillating popular account of the
interplay between mathematical physics and astronomical
observations. Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
The Hunt for Vulcan is a short, beautifully produced book that
tells a cautionary tale. . . . Levenson is a breezy writer who
renders complex ideas in down-to-earth language . . . and
colorfully illustrates the limits of scientific theory as it faces
new data and even more persuasive theories. The Boston Globe
Thomas Levenson wonderfully tells the story of Vulcan. . . .
Looping through science history from Isaac Newton onwards, Levenson
elegantly reveals the evolutionary nature of scientific thought,
and the marvel of the revolution that Einstein wrought. Nature
An essential read . . . a compelling story that successfully
portrays how science deals with ambiguity . . . The Hunt for Vulcan
succeeds spectacularly at displaying the intricate, confusing, and
sometimes quirky way science progresses. Ars Technica
This delightful and enlightening drama tells the story of the hunt
for a planet that did not exist and how Einstein resolved the
mystery with the most beautiful theory in the history of science.
The Hunt for Vulcan is an inspiring tale about the quest for
discovery and the challenges and joys of understanding our
universe. Walter Isaacson
The Hunt for Vulcan is equal to the best science writing I ve read
anywhere, by any author. Beautifully composed, rich in historical
context, deeply researched, it is, above all, great storytelling.
Levenson gives a true picture of the scientific enterprise, with
all its good and bad guesses, wishful thinking, passion, human ego,
and desire to know and understand this strange and magnificent
cosmos we find ourselves in. Alan Lightman, author of The
Accidental Universe
The forgotten story of Vulcan could no longer remain untold. Tom
Levenson tells us where it came from, how it vanished, and why its
spirit lurks today. Along the way, we learn more than a bit of just
how science works when it succeeds as well as when it fails. Neil
deGrasse Tyson
Thomas Levenson s brilliance as a writer is in setting the
evolution of scientific ideas into their appropriate historical
contexts, allowing us to see their wider implications. In this
engaging, informative book, laced with lovely anecdotes, Levenson
elegantly teaches us about both the laws of physics and the less
law-abiding ways in which physics advances occur. Lisa Randall,
professor of physics, Harvard University, andauthor of Dark Matter
and the Dinosaurs
The Hunt for Vulcan is science writing at its best. As Levenson
unravels the history, the drama, and, yes, the physics behind the
now-forgotten Vulcan, he also shows how science actually advances
in our world and, in the process, reveals how none of our endeavors
even our most empirical are immune to our penchant for
self-deception. This book is not just learned, passionate, and
witty it is profoundly wise. Junot Diaz
Thomas Levenson tells the tale of Newton, Einstein, and the missing
planet Vulcan with verve, showing how observations and calculations
clashed in a battle that decided the fate of the universe. Sean
Carroll, author of The Particle at the End of the Universe
Scorched and blackened by the fires of the Sun, Vulcan is the
innermost planet that never was. Thomas Levenson illuminates the
untold story of a world concocted to explain a planetary anomaly
whose existence heralded a shocking new picture of space and time.
Packed with colorful anecdotes, this is a vivid, well-paced,
thoroughly enjoyable tale of human delusion and ultimate scientific
triumph. Marcus Chown, author of Quantum Theory Cannot Hurt You
Levenson deftly draws readers into a quest that shows how
scientists think and argue, as well as how science advances: one
discovery at a time. Publishers Weekly"
Advance praise for "The Hunt for Vulcan"
""
This delightful and enlightening drama tells the story of the hunt
for a planet that did not exist and how Einstein resolved the
mystery with the most beautiful theory in the history of science.
"The Hunt for Vulcan "is an inspiring tale about the quest for
discovery and the challenges and joys of understanding our
universe. Walter Isaacson
"The Hunt for Vulcan" is equal to the best science writing I ve
read anywhere, by any author. Beautifully composed, rich in
historical context, deeply researched, it is, above all, great
storytelling. Levenson gives a true picture of the scientific
enterprise, with all its good and bad guesses, wishful thinking,
passion, human ego, and desire to know and understand this strange
and magnificent cosmos we find ourselves in. Alan Lightman, author
of "The Accidental Universe"
""
The forgotten story of Vulcan could no longer remain untold. Tom
Levenson tells us where it came from, how it vanished, and why its
spirit lurks today. Along the way, we learn more than a bit of just
how science works when it succeeds as well as when it fails. Neil
deGrasse Tyson
Thomas Levenson s brilliance as a writer is in setting the
evolution of scientific ideas into their appropriate historical
contexts, allowing us to see their wider implications. In this
engaging, informative book, laced with lovely anecdotes, Levenson
elegantly teaches us about both the laws of physics and the less
law-abiding ways in which physics advances occur. Lisa Randall,
professor of physics, Harvard University, andauthor of "Dark Matter
and the Dinosaurs"
""
"The Hunt for Vulcan" is science writing at its best. As Levenson
unravels the history, the drama, and, yes, the physics behind the
now-forgotten Vulcan, he also shows how science actually advances
in our world and, in the process, reveals how none of our endeavors
even our most empirical are immune to our penchant for
self-deception. This book is not just learned, passionate, and
witty it is profoundly wise. Junot Diaz
Thomas Levenson tells the tale of Newton, Einstein, and the missing
planet Vulcan with verve, showing how observations and calculations
clashed in a battle that decided the fate of the universe. Sean
Carroll, author of "The Particle at the End of the Universe"
""
Scorched and blackened by the fires of the Sun, Vulcan is the
innermost planet that never was. Thomas Levenson illuminates the
untold story of a world concocted to explain a planetary anomaly
whose existence heralded a shocking new picture of space and time.
Packed with colorful anecdotes, this is a vivid, well-paced,
thoroughly enjoyable tale of human delusion and ultimate scientific
triumph. Marcus Chown, author of "Quantum Theory Cannot Hurt You""
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