Powers of Ten: About the Relative Size of Things in the Universe

This is a wonderful book that gives one a perspective on relative sizes in the reality in which we live. Did you know that the relative size of our vast Universe in all its vastness and empty spaces, is in the same proportion as the distances within our bodies, as seen from a microscopic view? The book starts with an illustration of our Universe as seen from many parsecs out in Space where what looks like stars are actually all galaxies. It then progresses page after page, ten times closer each time, to our planet, so that eventually those galaxies, then empty spaces, do become stars, more empty spaces, and eventually our own Solar System and Sun. The book then starts from a couple of people lying on a blanket in Central Park in New York, and takes the same trip inward, tenfold distance each page, through a microscopic view until it reaches the inner world of quarks and sub atomic particles. Amazingly enough the progression is almost exactly the same, from the body to cells, empty spaces, and eventually to sub atomic particles, as was the trip from a sky full of galaxies back to our own sun and planet. It's absolutely mind boggling how both trips are so similar and different at the same time. There are lots of written descriptions of what is transpiring, but I've found that just looking at the many pages of illustrations as the journey progresses tell you all you need to know; a picture is indeed worth a thousand words!

Had this as a kid. Bought it for mine. They love it too and it’s even better than I remembered.

Excellent. Had this in the early 1980s while in HS. Even 40 years later it is still relatively up to date.

I bought this book in 1990 and have been re-reading it ever since. I just bought one copy each for three of my sons who are in the midst of generating grandchildren for my wife and me. I want them all to have the opportunity of reading it. What has become clear to me is that we are in the sweet spot in the scale of things. Here we have space, time and matter. In other words we are able to hold and love our grandchildren (as well as each other). This is the only reason we are able to think that we exist. In reality everything is a milieu of random points of energy in a sea of nearly empty space where everything is uncertain. Scale is certainly the most important aspect of our existence.

This is a great book for exploring the relative scale of everything in the known universe, from subatomic particles to a scale where many galaxies can be seen, almost as if individual stars.My one recommendation is that this is a book best read from the middle towards the two ends. In that way we start with the familiar, and gradually work our way towards the two ends of the size spectrum where our imaginations are taxed to comprehend.Finally, there are many good quality used hardcover copies available. I have purchased several for friends. You really can't go wrong. Get a copy, share it with all of the kids you know. If that doesn't pique their interest in science, perhaps nothing will.

I had received the first hard cover edition of this book (and about 40 others)as a member of the Scientific American Book series. It was so good that I loaned it mostly non scientific friends. Unfortunately, it failed to return. Somehow it vanished. I was therefore fortunate to see it available on Amazon. The Amazon soft cover edition was identical to the original with the same high quality printing. The pictures, which are the heart of the book, were just great.

When this was first printed, it was a gem and played an important role in teaching the reader about the size of things. Unfortunately, the book has not been reprinted with updates, and as such has lost its unique place in science teaching. There are many youtubes available which do a much better job of presenting this topic.

Always concerned when buying a used item. In this case the description was accurate, and the book in great shape. Thumbs up.

i incorrectly imagined they would provide some updated more interesting photos than the limited frames from the video .... unfortunately it's not the case. if that would ever to be done, this would be a great book.

I bought this as a replacement for one which I lent out years ago and never got back. It's a bit dated now, of course, as recent science has taken us a couple of steps further. Even so, it's still as exhilarating and mind-blowing as I remember from twenty years ago.