With this rollicking novel hailed equally for its satiric bite, its lightly borne scientific savvy, and its tender compassion for foible-prone humanity, one of America's preeminent storytellers returns to fiction.
Guy Carpenter is a regular guy, a family man, an obscure NASA scientist, when he is jolted out of his quiet life and summoned to the corridors of power in Washington, D.C. Through a turn of events as unlikely as it is inevitable, Guy finds himself compromised by scandal and romance, hounded by Hollywood, and agonizingly alone at the white-hot center of a firestorm ignited as three potent forces of American culture -- politics, big science, and the media -- spectacularly collide.
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"All in all it was well written, and relatively entertaining. I can say I cared for the personality of Penny Carpenter the protagonist's wife. In fact I actively disliked her personality. It detracted from the main storyline. The remaining story was enjoyable, and the scenery well painted."
— Paul (4 out of 5 stars)
“At eighty-eight, Wouk writes with the brightness of a forty-five-year-old kid hell-bent on fun about subatomic physics…Ingenious. Absolutely ingenious.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)“Playful, thoughtful, and passionate, this first novel by Wouk in ten years will charm fans with companionable warmth and wry humor.”
— Publishers Weekly“Narrator Jonathan Davis turns mere pages into a living story…Davis’ performance adds realism to a story in which hormonal urges, jealousy, and national pride energize the never-ending race to have the world’s biggest bomb.”
— AudioFile" I love Lab Lit! "
— Pete, 2/20/2014" I really enjoyed how this book wove together the themes of romantic intrigue, physics, and politics! I actually have a grasp on the superconducting super collider. "
— MeLisa, 2/17/2014" I listened to this in the car, and it was definitely entertaining. I was impressed by the science of it, less so by the human emotions and the politics. "
— Clifford, 1/10/2014" A very entertaining satire of Congress, Hollywood, nosy and malicious reporters,and dog-eat-dog Academia with a surprisingly clear explanation of particle physics thrown in for good measure. I loved the happy ending! "
— Mark, 12/18/2013" A quick read, with a fun look at international politics and the interplay between countries. Not of the caliber of "Marjorie Morningstar" or "Winds of War" but a good read with very believable characters. "
— Jo, 12/15/2013" Wouk still has it. "
— Jeffrey, 11/19/2013" Hilarious read about the searh for the Higgs Bosun. Sounds geeky, but is actually chock full of human vicissitudes. "
— Robert, 10/5/2013" this was not a good book. "
— Stephanie, 11/25/2012" A clever bit of science wrapped up in a trbue his brother. I don't know much more about the Higgs boson than before, but I appreciate just what happened down in Ellis County far more. "
— Teresa, 11/17/2012" A passable read but not even close to the level of some of his earlier works. "
— Heather, 3/28/2012" a friend found this book at goodwill and gave it to me. it's not the most well written story and it doesn't have the most compelling storyline but it is interesting. and i love physics - even though i did terribly in physics class in high school. "
— Melissa, 7/25/2011" Different read for me but found it fascinating. Men should like this book. "
— Mary, 7/6/2009" Pure Wouk - a quirky story about a proton collider in Texas and how forces see its potential. "
— Dori, 7/22/2008" I'm loved this book! A confluence of media frenzy, Congressional angst and a scientist with a past makes this satire a compelling read. "
— Dorothy, 4/14/2007" Far from Wouk's best. Fast read. "
— Alan, 1/6/2007" Good story - a little outdated on the characters. I love Wouk though so I was happy to discover a book I did not know about. "
— Nancy, 10/27/2006" I couldn't get very far in this one. "
— Joanne, 10/25/2006" Another great Wouk read. Different than the war series but with same detail. "
— Susan, 6/23/2006" When reading this book, one must keep in mind"...Herman Wouk exercises his deep insight and considerable comic powers to give us a witty and keen satire about Washington, the media, and science, and what happens when these three great forces of American culture clash." Keep in mind satire... "
— Penny, 5/12/2006" If you're looking for a breezy novel about the Higgs boson, this is the book for you. "
— Evan, 7/29/2005" This is a very good novel from a great author. It's an interesting story about NASA scientists, engineers, and America. Quick read and hard to put down. "
— Joe, 5/20/2005Herman Wouk (1915–2019) earned his living as a scriptwriter for Fred Allen before serving in World War II. His career as a novelist spans nearly six decades and has brought him resounding international acclaim, as well as a Pulitzer Prize for his novel The Caine Mutiny.
Jonathan Davis has been inducted into the Audible Narrator Hall of Fame. A three-time recipient and fourteen-time nominee of the Audie Award, he has earned accolades for his narration from the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, the American Library Association, Booklist, the Audio Publishers Association, AudioFile magazine, and USA Today. He has narrated a variety of bestsellers and award-winners for top publishing houses. He also narrated over forty titles of the Star Wars franchise for Lucasfilm Ltd./PRH Audio, including several iconic movie tie-ins, has participated with Star Wars Celebration, and has built a significant fan base. His work as a narrator includes films and programming for National Geographic Television, NOVA, PBS, VH1, and Francis Ford Coppola. He grew up in Puerto Rico and speaks Spanish, Portuguese, and Hebrew.