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by: Paul Davies  List Price: $26.00 Amazon.com's Price: $17.16 You Save: $8.84 (34%)Prices subject to change. Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Binding: HardcoverDewey Decimal Number: 523.12 EAN: 9780618592265 Edition: 1 ISBN: 0618592261 Label: Houghton Mifflin Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 336 Publication Date: April 11, 2007 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Studio: Houghton Mifflin Related Items:
Editorial Review: Product Description: Cosmic Jackpot is Paul Davies's eagerly awaited return to cosmology, the successor to his critically acclaimed bestseller The Mind of God. Here he tackles all the "big questions," including the biggest of them all: Why does the universe seem so well adapted for life? In his characteristically clear and elegant style, Davies shows how recent scientific discoveries point to a perplexing fact: many different aspects of the cosmos, from the properties of the humble carbon atom to the speed of light, seem tailor-made to produce life. A radical new theory says it's because our universe is just one of an infinite number of universes, each one slightly different. Our universe is bio-friendly by accident -- we just happened to win the cosmic jackpot. While this "multiverse" theory is compelling, it has bizarre implications, such as the existence of infinite copies of each of us and Matrix-like simulated universes. And it still leaves a lot unexplained. Davies believes there's a more satisfying solution to the problem of existence: the observations we make today could help shape the nature of reality in the remote past. If this is true, then life -- and, ultimately, consciousness -- aren't just incidental byproducts of nature, but central players in the evolution of the universe. Whether he's elucidating dark matter or dark energy, M-theory or the multiverse, Davies brings the leading edge of science into sharp focus, provoking us to think about the cosmos and our place within it in new and thrilling ways. Average Rating:
 Rating:  - Entertaining Read -- No Firm ConclusionMost of "Cosmic Jackpot" is a lively and entertaining high-level review of current theories of the origin of the universe and the remarkable fine tuning of some of the forces and constants of physics that are "just right" to support life. I didn't learn much new, but it was a good read. Considering the purpose of the book, I felt a tad disappointed that Davies didn't include a table summarizing all the "cosmic coincidences" that make the universe suitable for life. The last short section attempts ... Read More Rating: - This is a real mind bender........Let's see, we have: weak anthropic principals (WAP), strong anthropic principals (SAP) completely ridiculous anthropic principals (CRAP) expanding universes, contracting universes, static universes, multiple universes, imaginary universes, infinite universes, string theory, superstring theory, m theory, intelligent design, accidental design, no particular design, computer generated design, ad nauseam. I do enjoy a book like this from time to time, as I get to brush up on some of the latest scientific ... Read More Rating:  - Jackpot Indeed...! Lucky me...Paul Davies continues to be (amongst other things)a physics icon for the layman (self-educated) physicist such as I...A great read for all who are still entertaining the big questions of life...such as GOD...etc...Funny when I was growing up I always dreamed of being a rock star...Now I want to be a physicist...when I grow up that is...thanks Paul for sharing all you can about the real worlds outside of my windows...and the ones inside as well and the creative manner in which you do it. Jack Rating: - Fascinating, and likely to annoy many peopleAuthor and physicist Paul Davies takes on a subject likely to be met with hostility by many readers, and most especially by physicists and religious believers. His question is: why does the universe exist, and why is it hospitable to life, especially sentient life? These are questions on the boundary of science, and it may be that there is not, even in principle, scientific answers to these questions. A scientific theory must have 2 characteristics: explanatory power, and falsifiability. It seems likely ... Read More Rating:  - A Boring Big Tease - That ultimately leaves you disappointedBooks of this kind usually spend the first 1/2 of the book on some background physics, preparing you for the new theory you're going to get at the end. The Elegant Universe, which deals with String Theory, does a great job of this, for example. This annoying tease of a book appears to do that, but then when you finally get to the meat of the matter 'yonk!' there is no real theory there!! It is so frustrating! The author spends a lot of time going over so many possible theories, making sure to ... Read More 
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