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julieabe89's review against another edition
challenging
informative
fast-paced
4.0
This was very interesting. I'm not sure I'm smart enough to have grasped all of it but it was really cool. I liked learning about how observance of a thing changes it
woolfen's review against another edition
5.0
Theory/ 5 Stars.
Carlo Rovelli is the Man. This absolutely dizzying book makes quantum physics seem comprehendible, and Rovelli's writing is so fucking intelligible, so clear, so communicative, and works personal touches throughout to maintain and regulate the pace. He also weaves politics, and a philosophical metaphysics, into the last few chapters in a very light hand which coherently meshes with the science of the first few chapters.
In only ~180 pages Rovelli succinctly communicates a 'vertiginous' (he loves this word) ordering of the world along quantum physics and philosophy.
Carlo Rovelli is the Man. This absolutely dizzying book makes quantum physics seem comprehendible, and Rovelli's writing is so fucking intelligible, so clear, so communicative, and works personal touches throughout to maintain and regulate the pace. He also weaves politics, and a philosophical metaphysics, into the last few chapters in a very light hand which coherently meshes with the science of the first few chapters.
In only ~180 pages Rovelli succinctly communicates a 'vertiginous' (he loves this word) ordering of the world along quantum physics and philosophy.
hyperbooktivity's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
A very accessible ode to Schrödinger’s cat
fatinallen's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
5.0
thomasgoddard's review
4.0
I love books that make me feel stupid. This one is a prime example.
Rovelli tells the story of Werner Heisenberg, a prominent figure in the realm of quantum physics. Young, he escapes to an island to avoid a bad bout of hayfever. There he is able to think. To tease out his ideas and develop a new theory to explain key questions in physics.
I've never read a book that did a better job of explaining quantum mechanics. Nor have I read one that burst so many popular myths. Misunderstandings about Schroeder's cat, multiverse theory, quantum entanglement... To name a few.
It's not an easy read, but it's way either than an actual textbook.
As soon as I finished this I gifted it to a young guy who asked what I was reading. I placed it down, after reading the final sentence, and he appeared out of nowhere. So that's his now. And I hope he gets as much from it as I did.
I'll probably buy the paperback when that comes out. It is definitely a book I'll have to read again.
Rovelli tells the story of Werner Heisenberg, a prominent figure in the realm of quantum physics. Young, he escapes to an island to avoid a bad bout of hayfever. There he is able to think. To tease out his ideas and develop a new theory to explain key questions in physics.
I've never read a book that did a better job of explaining quantum mechanics. Nor have I read one that burst so many popular myths. Misunderstandings about Schroeder's cat, multiverse theory, quantum entanglement... To name a few.
It's not an easy read, but it's way either than an actual textbook.
As soon as I finished this I gifted it to a young guy who asked what I was reading. I placed it down, after reading the final sentence, and he appeared out of nowhere. So that's his now. And I hope he gets as much from it as I did.
I'll probably buy the paperback when that comes out. It is definitely a book I'll have to read again.