Physics for Future Presidents: The Science Behind the Headlines

Abstract

PHYSICS FOR FUTURE PRESIDENTS: THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE HEADLINES. by Richard A. Muller Norton and Company, New York, 2008, 380 pp. ISBN: 978-0-393-33711 I agree with the author's premise that science is important in politics, and that politicians must know some science in order to be effective leaders in government. While the title of the book specifies physics, I see this concept as true for science in general; and the author freely admits that he sometimes discusses more than physics in this book. The author's goal is to cover "only the most essential facts and ideas, the key concepts that will help a president make better decisions", (p. 1 5) The author achieves this goal and brings about a better understanding of politically important science. If anyone who has read this book should become president or have any major role in deciding governmental policy, the world will be a better place as a result. Although the President of the United States and other high-level policy makers can obtain reliable scientific advice from the government's own scientists, the academic members of the National Academy of Science and American Association for the Advancement of Science, and other scientific experts willing to help, nothing can replace the decision maker's having personal knowledge when making important policy decisions. Physics for Future Presidents covers five major topics: terrorism, energy, nukes, space, and global warming. This book is written for the general reader, rather than for experts in physics. In order to appeal to and communicate with this general audience, the author skips over the mathematical underpinnings of this science and makes his points without deep scientific analysis. The author's advice to his readers: "Don't pause too long if you find something confusing. Learn it like a foreign language: dive in, swim through it, wallow in it, and - most of all - enjoy it." (p. 16) I liked all of the sections of this book, except the first one on terrorism. I felt this section was inadequately covered, although Muller does explain the complexity of this issue: "Most of the unknowns related to future terrorism are not physics questions. They have to do with the terrorist mind, the possible fears and reactions of our own people, probabilities, weighed risks and costs." (p. 62) The next four paragraphs provide highlights of why I enjoyed the other four major sections of the book. In the section on energy, MuI 1er' s strongest and most revealing descriptions are his explanations of the difference between energy and power. He clearly describes the many ways in which energy is generated and used. He goes on to explain the nature and cause (the low cost) of "our love affair with fossil fuels" (p. 15) and to analyze energy-generation alternatives such as coal, hydrogen, solar power, and wind power. His chapters on "Why we love oil" and "The end of oil" are revealing and informative. Overall, this section is the highlight of the book as it informs readers (all you potential future presidents) of the impact of energy on society and the scientific complexities of the energy issue. As he concludes, "countries go to war over energy" and "wasteful use of energy could destroy our ecology", (p. 15) The section on nukes is very thorough. Muller explains radioactivity, along with its dangers and myths. This section has a robust science theme along with a very interesting history about the beginnings of nuclear power and the Manhattan Project. …