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generalheff's review against another edition
4.0
Appropriately for its titular enigmatic feline, it is surprisingly difficult to say precisely what kind of book In Search of Schrödinger’s Cat is. It is an unresolvable mixture of science history, quantum pedagogical advocacy and quasi-mysticism. What any particular reader gets out of it rather depends on how they look at the book (yes I’m stretching a very tortuous quantum-style observer metaphor here).
For those with a thorough grounding in quantum physics it will be an elucidating walk through the tortuous early days of the subject. The descriptions of the stops and starts, of the tentative first quantum revolution under Einstein and Planck, to the full-blown madness of the second quantum revolution, is brilliantly crafted scientific history. A good understanding of the field is likely needed to follow this story in full but if you want a brief, non-mathematical history of the quantum this is certainly the book for you.
If you happen, like me, to have spent much time with academic quantum physicists you will probably be most drawn to the gauntlet the author throws down to people who “even without understanding why the recipes work … are able to cook … effectively with quanta”. Gribbin powerfully argues against still-current trends in how quantum mechanics is taught and thought about.
He is, above all else, resistant to the focus on Schrodinger’s wave equation, with its more visualisable features, than alternatives like Paul Dirac’s abstract formalism. I, like most physics’ graduates, was introduced to quantum physics with precisely the wave approach Gribbin is arguing against. In this author’s telling, such approaches to teaching quantum mechanics are deeply unhelpful, shielding students from the true strangeness of quantum phenomena.
The book’s final, dissonant element is its appeal for new ways to think about quantum physics. The author acknowledges that the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics dominates precisely because it works. Yet Gribbin stresses his hope that new frameworks might encompass this interpretation but within a broader view of the field that irons out some of ‘god playing dice’ elements that so unsettled Einstein.
The author even has such a new framework on hand in Hugh Everett’s many-worlds hypothesis. The final line in the book on Schrodinger’s cat is to put it into a many-worlds framework and claim that, even if we open the box and find a dead cat, a living cat will have sprung into existence in a new world (an unreachable branch off of ours). These ideas are used to ‘solve’ problems in cosmology and classic paradoxes in time travel. If this all sounds rather mystical that is precisely because it is. For someone with a grounding in physics I was interested to see such arguments put forward in so much depth, though I worry that others might mistake some of this as hard science rather than the philosophy it really is.
Is this, in the end, a history book, teacher’s guide or orphic text? It is, in a true quantum manner, all of these and none of them. Much will depend on the observer. I found an erudite history with engaging challenges to the way I was taught quantum physics, but one that veered a little to the metaphysical in its final pages. Others will not care about the author’s vendetta against poor Schrodinger’s equation but will find much to chew over for their philosophical musings. Perhaps most people will simply find it in an intractable read, presupposing as it does a decent grasp of quantum physics. It will not be all things to all people but is a stimulating read for the right kind of reader.
For those with a thorough grounding in quantum physics it will be an elucidating walk through the tortuous early days of the subject. The descriptions of the stops and starts, of the tentative first quantum revolution under Einstein and Planck, to the full-blown madness of the second quantum revolution, is brilliantly crafted scientific history. A good understanding of the field is likely needed to follow this story in full but if you want a brief, non-mathematical history of the quantum this is certainly the book for you.
If you happen, like me, to have spent much time with academic quantum physicists you will probably be most drawn to the gauntlet the author throws down to people who “even without understanding why the recipes work … are able to cook … effectively with quanta”. Gribbin powerfully argues against still-current trends in how quantum mechanics is taught and thought about.
He is, above all else, resistant to the focus on Schrodinger’s wave equation, with its more visualisable features, than alternatives like Paul Dirac’s abstract formalism. I, like most physics’ graduates, was introduced to quantum physics with precisely the wave approach Gribbin is arguing against. In this author’s telling, such approaches to teaching quantum mechanics are deeply unhelpful, shielding students from the true strangeness of quantum phenomena.
The book’s final, dissonant element is its appeal for new ways to think about quantum physics. The author acknowledges that the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics dominates precisely because it works. Yet Gribbin stresses his hope that new frameworks might encompass this interpretation but within a broader view of the field that irons out some of ‘god playing dice’ elements that so unsettled Einstein.
The author even has such a new framework on hand in Hugh Everett’s many-worlds hypothesis. The final line in the book on Schrodinger’s cat is to put it into a many-worlds framework and claim that, even if we open the box and find a dead cat, a living cat will have sprung into existence in a new world (an unreachable branch off of ours). These ideas are used to ‘solve’ problems in cosmology and classic paradoxes in time travel. If this all sounds rather mystical that is precisely because it is. For someone with a grounding in physics I was interested to see such arguments put forward in so much depth, though I worry that others might mistake some of this as hard science rather than the philosophy it really is.
Is this, in the end, a history book, teacher’s guide or orphic text? It is, in a true quantum manner, all of these and none of them. Much will depend on the observer. I found an erudite history with engaging challenges to the way I was taught quantum physics, but one that veered a little to the metaphysical in its final pages. Others will not care about the author’s vendetta against poor Schrodinger’s equation but will find much to chew over for their philosophical musings. Perhaps most people will simply find it in an intractable read, presupposing as it does a decent grasp of quantum physics. It will not be all things to all people but is a stimulating read for the right kind of reader.
asphaltjunkie's review against another edition
4.0
This took me a lot longer to read than I'd anticipated. It turns out that just because my physicist friends can explain things to me in ways that seem rather simple (and partly because I *love* thought experiments) doesn't mean that quantum physics is easy to understand or, you know, not dense. So while I had a good base in the theories of quantum physics (much thanks to Juri, Emil, Malin and AJ), which probably helped to make the book easier to understand for me than it might be for others, it's still effing complicated!
brannigan's review against another edition
3.0
I am not mathematically minded, and I hated much of physics at school. I'm an arts student at heart, and I simply can't cope with this shit.
Why am I teaching myself about quantum theory then? Because, to paraphrase Gribbin, it's the single most important achievement of the human mind, and as I'm building myself into the ultimate Renaissance Man, I can't just ignore that. Thankfully, there are now plenty of pop-science books to guide me through this terrifying, crazy world of alpha particles, fermions, pions, hadrons, hardons and lardons.
Gribbin's tome was accessible enough, and really started from the very basics (light, atoms, etc.). Interestingly, this book is very much a historical account of the development of quantum theory out of 'classical' mechanics - lots of names and dates, but enough anecdotal tidbits to keep it fresh. Hell hath no fury like a physicist scorned.
Ultimately, I learned plenty more about quantum mechanics, and for that I'm grateful. But I think I only absorbed about half of the content of the book. I think about a third of the way in I was beginning to get lost - I needed more and better diagrams, that's my problem.
Also, Gribbin really has something against the prestige of the theory of relativity. Not to pun on the title but, miaow.
I'll save the gushing about how mind-blowing multiverse theory is, the implications of quantum theory viz. a holistically connected universe, the slight creepiness about the photon double-slit experiment (the particle KNOWS YOU'RE WATCHING, it messes with you). I'll need a second read through to fully take it in. But I have no regrets. Three thumbs up.
Why am I teaching myself about quantum theory then? Because, to paraphrase Gribbin, it's the single most important achievement of the human mind, and as I'm building myself into the ultimate Renaissance Man, I can't just ignore that. Thankfully, there are now plenty of pop-science books to guide me through this terrifying, crazy world of alpha particles, fermions, pions, hadrons, hardons and lardons.
Gribbin's tome was accessible enough, and really started from the very basics (light, atoms, etc.). Interestingly, this book is very much a historical account of the development of quantum theory out of 'classical' mechanics - lots of names and dates, but enough anecdotal tidbits to keep it fresh. Hell hath no fury like a physicist scorned.
Ultimately, I learned plenty more about quantum mechanics, and for that I'm grateful. But I think I only absorbed about half of the content of the book. I think about a third of the way in I was beginning to get lost - I needed more and better diagrams, that's my problem.
Also, Gribbin really has something against the prestige of the theory of relativity. Not to pun on the title but, miaow.
I'll save the gushing about how mind-blowing multiverse theory is, the implications of quantum theory viz. a holistically connected universe, the slight creepiness about the photon double-slit experiment (the particle KNOWS YOU'RE WATCHING, it messes with you). I'll need a second read through to fully take it in. But I have no regrets. Three thumbs up.
steve_hayer's review against another edition
4.0
Four stars for the book, pretty good explanation of the theory and the potted history of the brilliant minds that conjured it up in the first place, enjoyed the wtf moments when it started getting really weird.
I Recently watched the brilliant 'Everything, everywhere all at once' and thought wow what a mind fuck that was. But the truth it seems is stranger than fiction.
I think Richard Feynman was quoted as saying "If you think you understand quantum mechanics, you don't understand quantum mechanics." Well, I don't think I understand quantum mechanics therefore I must understand quantum mechanics. So please send me my PhD post haste.
I Recently watched the brilliant 'Everything, everywhere all at once' and thought wow what a mind fuck that was. But the truth it seems is stranger than fiction.
I think Richard Feynman was quoted as saying "If you think you understand quantum mechanics, you don't understand quantum mechanics." Well, I don't think I understand quantum mechanics therefore I must understand quantum mechanics. So please send me my PhD post haste.
aslfgjs's review against another edition
5.0
I started this with pretty much zero knowledge of quantum physics and picked it up solely because a friend had been telling me about schrödinger’s cat and I thought it sounded interesting. Somewhat surprisingly, I think it’s one of the most interesting topics I’ve ever encountered and an incredibly enjoyable read!
There were certainly a lot of confusing parts (although that was likely due to the fact I have literally no background knowledge) and so much information was covered, but it was broken down really well and there were plenty of analogies that made very theoretical concepts remarkably understandable. I feel like I have a good understanding of an awful lot of topics now and this has made me very much want to learn more (plus made it very easy to through the list of books referenced in the bibliography)
Also reading it made me feel incredibly smart, which is always fun
There were certainly a lot of confusing parts (although that was likely due to the fact I have literally no background knowledge) and so much information was covered, but it was broken down really well and there were plenty of analogies that made very theoretical concepts remarkably understandable. I feel like I have a good understanding of an awful lot of topics now and this has made me very much want to learn more (plus made it very easy to through the list of books referenced in the bibliography)
Also reading it made me feel incredibly smart, which is always fun
laci's review
5.0
John Gribbin tells the story of quantum physics form its inception at the beginning of 20th century through to the 1980s.
Aimed at a casual reader, it doesn't require any physics-related knowledge, is interesting to read and will open your eyes to the world around us. It explains everything, starting at the basics of the structure of matter and light and ending with the many-worlds theory and supergravity.
As Niels Bohr once said: "Anyone who is not shocked by the quantum theory has not understood it."
Aimed at a casual reader, it doesn't require any physics-related knowledge, is interesting to read and will open your eyes to the world around us. It explains everything, starting at the basics of the structure of matter and light and ending with the many-worlds theory and supergravity.
As Niels Bohr once said: "Anyone who is not shocked by the quantum theory has not understood it."