Reviews for The Waters of the Nile : Hydropolitics and the Jonglei Canal 1900-1988

The average rating for The Waters of the Nile : Hydropolitics and the Jonglei Canal 1900-1988 based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2013-12-23 00:00:00 Lisa Brazzel In this, Bohm's first book, written early in his career, he presents what was, at the time (circa 1951), the orthodox interpretation of quantum theory. This entailed the tacit assumption that physical systems fundamentally operate according to the laws of classical physics, with the probabilistic predictions of subatomic theory only interpretable insofar as they manifest particular outcomes in interaction with the macroscopic world. However, even at this early stage, Bohm evinces an ambivalence toward the apparent discontinuity inherent in this view, a dissatisfaction that would inform the eventual development of his own essentially quantum-mechanical theory. See, for instance, his assertion that the phase relations among potential eigenstates of a system persist (albeit diminished beyond any possibility of perception) even after that system is observed, implying an indeterminate quantum basis for physical processes. A caveat to the general reader: this book is heavily mathematical, as Bohm's use of formulae in addressing the physical consequences of quantum processes presupposes the reader's background in the calculus underpinning modern physics. While it is possible to gain a basic understanding of the concepts discussed by attending only to the more prosaic passages, the effort rendered in comprehending their mathematical proofs is proportionally rewarding.

Review # 2 was written on 2014-11-16 00:00:00 Jim Clark Okay, I haven't read through the entire book. But this is one of the better textbooks on Quantum Theory I've encountered.