Spectrums: Our Mind-Boggling Universe from Infinitesimal to Infinity

In Spectrums, David Blatner blends narrative and illustration to illuminate the variety of spectrums that affect our lives every day: numbers, size, light, sound, heat, and time.There is actually surprisingly little in the universe that we can feel, touch, see, hear, or possibly even comprehend. It's not an easy task to stretch the mind to encompass both billions of years and billionths of seconds; the distance to Jupiter and the size of a proton; the tiny waves of visible light and gargantuan but invisible gamma rays; or the freezing point of Helium and the heat generated by the blast of an atom bomb. But exploring these far-reaching spectrums gives us invaluable perspective on our small but not insignificant place in the universe. With easy-to-read, engaging, and insightful observations, and brilliant photographs and diagrams, Blatner helps us "grok"--to understand intuitively--the six primary spectrums, making our daily lives richer and more meaningful through greater appreciation of the bizarre and beautiful world in which we live.

About the Author :
David Blatner is internationally known for his popular science books The Joy of Pi , The Flying Book and, most recently, Spectrums, as well as for his award-winning books for graphic designers. He lectures worldwide on electronic publishing. More than half-a-million copies of his books are in print in fourteen languages. He lives with his family in Seattle. www.spectrums.com / @spectrumsbook

Review :
The Flying Book delivers, ranging from the deeply wonky, a revisionist discussion of the Bernoulli effect involving wing lift, to the nitty-gritty, such as why vacuum toilets are better than flush types. A good gift for a long flight. Fun facts for airline airplane geeks who, if possible, would ride in planes like dogs in pickups, with their heads out the window. Whimsically formatted, this little book is a treasure trove of facts, folklore, quotes, uses, puzzles, and even the first 1 million digits of pi.... The rich history of this ratio is never boring, as anecdotes and weird trivia pop up throughout. A beautifully designed, poetic little book about the ratio's history, nature and use. The book is a delightful testimonial to the elegance of math. Leavened with wit and colorful anecdotes, each section reveals a wealth of astonishing and quirky details about the world around us….Complete with illustrative charts, photos, and pithy quotes from celebrities as diverse as George Carlin and Max Planck, Blatner's work is one of those rare nonfiction gems that make learning about science eyeopening and fun.