In L'image du Monde, des Babyloniens à Newton published in 1998 (ADAPT éditions), Arkan Simaan and Joëlle Fontaine wove a simple, lively tale of the history of astronomy. In his latest book L'image du Monde, de Newton à Einstein (Vuibert & ADAPT publishers), Simaan takes us on an intellectual adventure that starts with Isaac Newton at a time where the world was seen as fixed, goes on to Albert Einstein and ends with today's hypotheses. Arkan Simaan uses clear, simple language to explain the complex ideas and theories of relativity, quantum physics, the Big Bang and time-space and the scientists who developed them. Most of all, the fascinating book shows us that now-familiar ideas are the result of slow maturing and sudden breaks with commonly accepted knowledge. Each theory triggered surprising controversy and sometimes even strong resistance from those in power or even scientists. Arkan Simaan reminds us that that even the most brilliant men of science sometimes fell victim to their certainties. Wasn't Albert Einstein's first reaction to reject the expansion of the Universe? This is a gripping read - very appropriate for the World Year of Physics.
