The Physics of Star Trek

I bought this book for my husband who loves both Physics and Star Trek -- he says it's great and very easy to understand for non-physicists. The author has a terrific sense of humor and writes in a conversational style. I also bought Krauss's "Beyond Star Trek" and it is equally good!

This book was great fun to read, it actually made learning about physics fun. Yes, I will admit I enjoy Star Trek which probably made this book even more interesting, but even for those a little interested in both physics and Star Trek I would highly suggest this book. It took what could be extremely dull and made it fun to learn about. For example who knew that the phrase "Beam me up, Scotty" could come with so many issues, or warp drive, black holes and laser beams. I am really glad I read this book, it has changed the way I watch Star Trek, I can now spout off useless, yet interesting, physics trivia while watching the classics.

"Physics of Star Trek" is a light-hearted, informative, thoroughly entertaining and yet, paradoxically, entirely serious overview of the physics of Star Trek - arguably the longest-running, most popular, and most famous franchise in the history of television and movies. Dr Krauss regales us with essay after essay on what the writers got right, what they got wrong and how their imaginative brilliance sometimes made them look like prescient scientists instead of script writers - black holes, parallel universes, time travel, quantum gravity, phasers, holographic virtual reality, warp drives, teleportation, replication, alien life forms, scanners, tractor beams, antimatter fuel and much, much more.

Similar in content and style to Michio Kaku's popular "Physics of the Impossible", Krauss' approach to the academic side of the physics involved is just a little more light-hearted and easy going which, of course, will appeal to the less-informed readers of popular science. If you feel up to the challenge, this makes a great prequel and companion read to Michio Kaku's excellent book.

For diehard Star Trek fans, Krauss also regales us with a set of laughable physics bloopers and ends with the hint of a sequel to come that he will entitle "Physics of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Krauss"! Now that's hilarious.

Well done, Mr Krauss. Highly recommended. On a side note, I recently had the privilege of hearing Mr Krauss speak live in a physics "debate" at the Perimeter Institute in Waterloo, Ontario. If you ever get the chance to hear, be sure to take the opportunity. His speaking is every bit as entertaining as his writing. (Or is it the other way around?)

Paul Weiss

This book is informative as well as fun. It is imbued with Star Trek humor and gives a clear explanation of the laws and principles of physics mentioned in the series.I enjoyed reading it and learning from it.

Ever wondered if traveling faster than the light of speed is possible, or if calling out those famous words, "Beam me up Scotty" could actually transport you instantly to a different location up 60 000km away? The Physics of Star Trek, brilliantly written by Lawrence M. Krauss, provides an educated look into the reality of concepts Star Trek writers incorporated into the series. Krauss illustrates that vast impossibilities exist due to the constraints of the laws of physics. Krauss takes many advanced ideas that have been developed in physics and explains them so that average people can grasp their complex principles. This is an interesting read for anyone who wants to better understand how our universe operates. I suggest that any Trekker out there, anyone who gazes into the stars at night and wonders if others are out there, or anyone who just loves to have their brain expanded by the intrigue of the vast universe read this book!!