Challenge God

Author: Liang Heng
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-11-01
Features: There was once a famous saying: "Master math and physics, and you can go anywhere in the world without fear." This is also the advice many parents who value science and technology give to their children. However, for many students, learning math and physics can be a dull and tedious task, often failing to spark their interest. Interest is not only important for learning but also for work. Looking at scientists throughout history in China and abroad, none of the successful ones lack a strong curiosity and deep interest in exploring the mysteries of science. Merely treating scientific research as a means of livelihood will not foster a spirit of dedication or lead to significant achievements. Liang Heng’s book, The Popular Chronicle of Mathematics and Physics, uses vivid examples, accessible language, and a well-researched narrative in the style of a traditional Chinese novel, offering readers a rare popular science read that sweetens the often dry subject of math and physics with "a thin layer of sugar coating." The success of this book does not need further elaboration from me. Since its first publication in 1984, it has been reprinted six times and has won numerous awards, serving as the best evidence.
As a science and technology professional, I have written over a dozen books, including several popular science works. I deeply understand the hardships and difficulties of writing popular science books—the time and effort invested are no less than those required to write a professional work. Scientists writing popular science books often rely on logical thinking and are not adept at starting with imaginative thinking, using technical terms effortlessly. At the same time, they are often constrained by the rigorous description of academic concepts, failing to adopt or skillfully use clever metaphors and literary language, resulting in poor readability. When renowned British scientist Stephen Hawking first began writing his famous book, A Brief History of Time, he also encountered the same issue. His publisher told him, "Adding one more mathematical formula to your book will cause some readers to lose interest." This shows that writing a good popular science book is not something everyone can do. Liang Heng has long been engaged in science and education news reporting, having interacted with many scientists and studied the history of scientific development. He has unique insights into science and culture, which is evident from the creative reflections in the appendix of this book. For those who have not worked in specific science and technology fields, writing a popular science book is no easy task, as evidenced by the book’s multiple reprints, showcasing his efforts, dedication, and rewards. I believe this book will spark young readers’ interest in math and physics, and perhaps some will even change the direction of their lives, setting sail on the winds of science.
More importantly, regardless of readers’ age or profession, they can draw scientific nourishment from the history of scientific development and the growth of scientists, gaining insights into the scientific spirit. The perseverance and determination of scientists in solving scientific puzzles, their selfless and fearless willingness to sacrifice for the truth, their innovative spirit of thinking in reverse and daring to be the first, and their magnanimity in helping others and serving as role models will deeply inspire us. In today’s emphasis on learning scientific knowledge, fostering a scientific attitude, promoting the scientific spirit, mastering scientific methods, and striving to improve the scientific and cultural literacy of the entire nation, this holds particularly significant meaning.
It was my privilege to study with Liang Heng at the Central Party School for three months. Following his request, I have written the above words as the preface to the sixth edition of this book.