Physics for future presidents
by R. Muller · first published 2008
59% recommend35% neutral6% critical
Why HN recommends it
Overview of physics focused on why concepts matter in the modern world rather than the math; praised for building intuition about energy sources, risks, and everyday technical questions, suited to general readers.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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Check out "Physics for Future Presidents" by Richard Muller. It gives an overview of physics, emphasizing why the concepts are important in the modern world, rather than the math details. If she's interested in biology, you might consider…
on “Ask HN: What are some good general technical books for teenagers?” ↗…van has 3 times the area available to solar panels it's still a negligible amount of energy... By the way, the best book and/or course I've read for building intuition for these kinds of questions is "Physics for Future Presidents" by Richard Muller. He used to teach it as a course at CMU and I believe the lecture series is still available to watch or listen to online. Very worthwhile.
on “Hyundai launches car with a roof-based solar charging system” ↗Physics for Future Presidents by Richard A. Muller (major scientific ideas, not just physics...)
on “Ask HN: Best general-audience science books” ↗- "Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship" by Robert C. Martin - "Physics for Future Presidents" by Richard Muller Not really a book but I found the "MIT Guide to Lock Picking" an interesting read.
on “Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011” ↗Physics for Future Presidents is a great book - my wife gave her a copy last spring. I don't know if my daughter finished it but I know she said she found it interesting. We have the the math books you mentioned but I haven't heard…
on “Ask HN: What are some good general technical books for teenagers?” ↗…on the level of 9/11 will be significantly lower than the number of Americans that shoot each other to death per year. If you want to read about the likelihood of a nuclear attack by terrorists, read Physics for Future Presidents. It's very, very low.
on “Donald Trump Is Elected President” ↗I recently read 'Physics for Future Presidents', and recommend it. From the perspective of 'am I going to get cancer from cellular signals', the book leans very strongly to the no. According to the book, the average person has a 20% chance of getting…
on “Ask HN: iPad 3G Radiation” ↗Thanks. I will have to get 'The Rational Optimist'. Matt Ridley's book 'Nature via Nurture' impacted me a lot when it first came out. The online course 'Physics for Future Presidents' taught me a lot about how to evaluate energy sources. I would recommend it to anyone interested in learning the physics concepts behind many hotly debated areas, whom currently has little knowledge or…
on “Solar PV rapidly becoming the cheapest option to generate electricity” ↗Rich Muller is a smart guy. I was at the conference where he announced he had changed his mind about climate change, and why. FWIW, his book "Physics for Future Presidents" -- while not really about climate change -- is very good too.
on “Ask HN: What are some good sources of climate data to analyze?” ↗…working vehicle. That's just the most prominent example but I recall there were at least 3-4 other questionable claims he made with shaky justifications before I stopped listening. Still to the OP, the "Physics for future Presidents" lectures and/or book are probably the best place to start. Just take any controversial statements in it with a huge fucking grain of salt though.
on “Ask HN: How do I learn about energy?” ↗Physics for Future Presidents but Richard A. Muller
on “Ask HN: Best general-audience science books” ↗Can't read German. My source is Physics for Future Presidents by Richard Muller, a physics professor at Berkeley. He says that's the United Nations estimate. Wikipedia also says the estimate is 4000, and references a report by the United Nations Scientific Committee…
on “Why I am not worried about Japan’s nuclear reactors” ↗Edit: Oh no. Physics For Future Presidents lied to me. See here: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/alcohol-radioactive/ I'd delete this comment if it were possible.
on “Fukushima’s nuclear signature found in California wine” ↗It's been many years since I've read it, but physics professor Richard A. Muller in his book https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physics_for_Future_Presidents argues that agricultural planes pose a great possibility of danger in relation to terrorism. They're small, nimble (meaning quite maneuverable) while holding a great amount of liquid. Gasoline is particularly…
on “Belarus 'diverts Ryanair flight to arrest journalist', opposition says” ↗…Google Maps displays aerial photos taken from airplanes under the heading "Satellite," which is always incorrect for the more close-in views (which also are seriously lacking in resolution). The book Physics for Future Presidents and a course handout for a "physics for future presidents" course at a university http://books.google.com/books?id=6DBnS2g-KrQC&pg=PA204&#... http://personal.carthage.edu/kcrosby/phys100/worksheet-licen...…
on “Decades later, a Cold War secret revealed” ↗