GOING HEAD TO HEAD WITH THE IDIOT’S — by Steve Nadis
I’m writing about string theory which is why I needed to check out the competition, THE COMPLETE IDIOT’S GUIDE TO STRING THEORY–a book I checked out of the library today. (And yes, the librarian had to shout out as I stood at the front desk: “Hey, have you seen that Idiot’s Guide?”) As for the book, it’s not a bad effort at all and succeeds in making this stuff accessible which is anything but easy. For what it’s aiming to do, I’d call it a great success.
On the other hand, I was relieved to see that it is quite different from the thing I’m doing and the overlap between the two is miniscule. This should not be taken as a putdown of the other book (which, as I said is a creditable effort), but I like to think I’m aiming a little higher here. And asking a bit more out of my (hypothetical) readership.
Posted by
at
01:25:36
Well… If it was called ‘The Compleat Idiot’s Guide to String Theory’, you’d be aiming even farther above his crowd.
(Or is that misspelling trade-marked? You know…from the do-it-yourself auto repair guides.)
-Marco Polo
You’re asking the wrong person. I never professed to be an expert on Idiot’s Guides… –S
I think “expert on Idiot’s Guides” is a contradiction in terms–an oxymoron. Here’s an idea, “Oxymorons for Morons.”
That’s great; can we split the proceeds? –S
No problem. I thought of another one while I was at the barber’s: “The Idiot’s Guide to Brain Surgery.”