This is a collection of essays previously published in periodicals like the New York Review of Books, generally concerned with the argument between scientists who assume they are revealing the reality of nature and academics who favor the view that scientific theories are social constructs influenced by prejudice. There is no winner. There are essays about Sokal's hoax, and Thomas Kuhn, with responses to letters written about the articles. The collection format means that Weinberg describes the concepts of physics many times, and it becomes repetitive. ( )

23 refreshingly smart essays by the physics Nobel winner. No nonsense here about "scientism," antireductionism, or rapprochements with religion. ("Facing up" is the opposite posture from that of prayer!) "With or without religion, good people can behave well and bad people can do evil; but for good people to do evil -- that takes religion. ... One of the great achievements of science has been, if not to make it impossible for intelligent people to be religious, then at least to make it possible for them not to be religious. We should not retreat from this accomplishment." (p 242)

In this collection of essays (some based on lectures) by Weinberg, a Nobel Laureate in physics (1979), the author makes a passionate case for reason and science as the basis for a true understanding of the cosmos.