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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
challenging
hopeful
informative
relaxing
medium-paced
Beautiful, poetic, and explains quantum gravity (loop), special relativity, time, granularity, and more elegantly and in an easily understandable form. Perfect read of you want to understand our existence and what the heck atoms and electrons do while we are not looking.
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
fast-paced
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Fascinante introdução a conceitos e história astrofísica para quem não sabe nada. Como se nos dessem uma lente nova através da qual vemos o mundo, um conhecimento novo através do qual interpretamos a realidade. Definitivamente que desperta curiosidade para saber mais sobre o tema.
Em certos pontos do livro não consegui acompanhar a informação, mas mais do que agora ter conhecimento "teórico" que não tinha antes, essencialmente tenho agora mais conhecimento da minha ignorância.
Mostra a importância do debate de ideias e da dúvida e questionamento para a evolução da ciência. E a importância do trabalho que veio antes.
Ideia muito interessante, se a percebi corretamente, de que a realidade é uma interação constante, uma rede de relações e reciprocidade de informação. Nao podemos na verdade dividir a realidade, é um fluxo de informação, nao podemos definir uma montanha como uma coisa, nem definir quando começa a vida, nem tentar conceptualizar se a unha que cortei ainda faz parte de mim, porque as nossas definições e divisões sao arbitrárias, e servem apenas para conseguirmos compreender e processar o que está à nossa volta.
O grande poder da ciência é precisamente a humildade perante o conhecimento e o ceticismo face a alguma dita verdade. A ciência não dá certezas absolutas, mas dá a resposta mais fiável que existe até esse momento. A beleza da ciência está no facto de que ciência consiste em olhar a ignorância nos olhos e mergulhar nesse mar desconhecido e incerto à procura de respostas e compreensão, em vez de ficar na costa segura de certezas e crenças de verdade.
Em certos pontos do livro não consegui acompanhar a informação, mas mais do que agora ter conhecimento "teórico" que não tinha antes, essencialmente tenho agora mais conhecimento da minha ignorância.
Mostra a importância do debate de ideias e da dúvida e questionamento para a evolução da ciência. E a importância do trabalho que veio antes.
Ideia muito interessante, se a percebi corretamente, de que a realidade é uma interação constante, uma rede de relações e reciprocidade de informação. Nao podemos na verdade dividir a realidade, é um fluxo de informação, nao podemos definir uma montanha como uma coisa, nem definir quando começa a vida, nem tentar conceptualizar se a unha que cortei ainda faz parte de mim, porque as nossas definições e divisões sao arbitrárias, e servem apenas para conseguirmos compreender e processar o que está à nossa volta.
O grande poder da ciência é precisamente a humildade perante o conhecimento e o ceticismo face a alguma dita verdade. A ciência não dá certezas absolutas, mas dá a resposta mais fiável que existe até esse momento. A beleza da ciência está no facto de que ciência consiste em olhar a ignorância nos olhos e mergulhar nesse mar desconhecido e incerto à procura de respostas e compreensão, em vez de ficar na costa segura de certezas e crenças de verdade.
The only truly infinite thing is our ignorance. - p208
Despite the simplified language and straightforward boiled down content of this book, by the end there was still a large amount I was struggling to grasp. It was somewhat like being tossed a hot potato – I kept on brushing the edges of understanding and for a moment thinking I almost might get a hold of it, until suddenly it would leap out of my hands (and mind). Of course, it’s hard to tell the difference between not understanding something, and (at least partially) understanding it and having genuine questions about it. Too often I’ve associated questions with a lack of understanding, but often the opposite is true. (Plus, of course, questions and inquiry can only lead to further understanding.)
As well as explaining the most current and (so far) plausible theories explaining the nature and structure of the universe, space and time, I took two core messages away from this book that I hadn’t expected to come across when I first started reading. The first is the emphasis of science as a practice/study being not about certainty but about questioning, and the second (very much related to the first) is about how science is not some sacred study superior to other subjects like, say, the humanities.
To me it showed shows the importance of art and philosophy and humanities in terms of development and discovery etc (if indeed that's what people think 'really' counts): Einstein's genius came not through his mathematical ability (which was lacking) but his imagination to picture the world differently, and his constant questioning (he was th greatest critic and sceptic of his own work). Dante's conception of the world and heavens in the Paradiso as a 3-sphere was not due to science but an expression of his artistic/spiritual genius. This isn’t to say that science itself is narrow-minded – it is to say that genuine science does not present things as unchallenged facts but hypotheses and theories to be tested. Good scientists are as creative and out-of-the-box-thinking as philosophers, and shouldn't be confined by scientific theories any more than philosophers are confined by philosophical theories. Having the freedom and ability to think outside the box, into the realm of the bonkers, is what results in massive progress, it seems. Cherishing and encouraging creativity and arts and imaginative thinking can only be a good thing. Rovelli expresses this nicely in his own way on p88: 'Our culture is foolish to keep science and poetry separated: they are two tools to open our eyes to the complexity and beauty of the world.'
Other lines worth mentioning:
'To a wise man, the whole earth is open, because the true country of a virtuous soul is the entire universe.' - p25, words of Democritus
Even the greatest make mistakes and are prey to preconceived ideas. - p176-7 (after Einstein stubbornly refused to accept the idea of the universe expanding)
The nature of a man is not his internal structure but the network of personal, familial and social interactions within which he exists. - p227
A scientist is someone who lives immersed in the awareness of our deep ignorance, in direct contact with our own innumerable limits, with the limits of our understanding. - p230
Despite the simplified language and straightforward boiled down content of this book, by the end there was still a large amount I was struggling to grasp. It was somewhat like being tossed a hot potato – I kept on brushing the edges of understanding and for a moment thinking I almost might get a hold of it, until suddenly it would leap out of my hands (and mind). Of course, it’s hard to tell the difference between not understanding something, and (at least partially) understanding it and having genuine questions about it. Too often I’ve associated questions with a lack of understanding, but often the opposite is true. (Plus, of course, questions and inquiry can only lead to further understanding.)
As well as explaining the most current and (so far) plausible theories explaining the nature and structure of the universe, space and time, I took two core messages away from this book that I hadn’t expected to come across when I first started reading. The first is the emphasis of science as a practice/study being not about certainty but about questioning, and the second (very much related to the first) is about how science is not some sacred study superior to other subjects like, say, the humanities.
To me it showed shows the importance of art and philosophy and humanities in terms of development and discovery etc (if indeed that's what people think 'really' counts): Einstein's genius came not through his mathematical ability (which was lacking) but his imagination to picture the world differently, and his constant questioning (he was th greatest critic and sceptic of his own work). Dante's conception of the world and heavens in the Paradiso as a 3-sphere was not due to science but an expression of his artistic/spiritual genius. This isn’t to say that science itself is narrow-minded – it is to say that genuine science does not present things as unchallenged facts but hypotheses and theories to be tested. Good scientists are as creative and out-of-the-box-thinking as philosophers, and shouldn't be confined by scientific theories any more than philosophers are confined by philosophical theories. Having the freedom and ability to think outside the box, into the realm of the bonkers, is what results in massive progress, it seems. Cherishing and encouraging creativity and arts and imaginative thinking can only be a good thing. Rovelli expresses this nicely in his own way on p88: 'Our culture is foolish to keep science and poetry separated: they are two tools to open our eyes to the complexity and beauty of the world.'
Other lines worth mentioning:
'To a wise man, the whole earth is open, because the true country of a virtuous soul is the entire universe.' - p25, words of Democritus
Even the greatest make mistakes and are prey to preconceived ideas. - p176-7 (after Einstein stubbornly refused to accept the idea of the universe expanding)
The nature of a man is not his internal structure but the network of personal, familial and social interactions within which he exists. - p227
A scientist is someone who lives immersed in the awareness of our deep ignorance, in direct contact with our own innumerable limits, with the limits of our understanding. - p230
Once or twice a year I attempt a book on theoretical physics with the knowledge that I am unlikely to grasp even a fraction of the principles proposed. In this way I have tried to stay somewhat abreast on advances in quantum mechanics and previously string theory.
This book was no exception in that many of the concepts of quantum gravity are extremely difficult to parse, but this book had a few things going for it that set it above the usual popular physics fare:
1) a thorough and extremely well organized historical survey of physics, beginning from ancient Greece, that repeatedly returned to the 10,000 ft view to show how our understanding of the universe has evolved. This was interesting and helpful to see not just where we are, but where we came from and how we moved from one step to the next. This holds for every step of the way, but was most salient in describing how and when both relativity and quantum mechanics work, as well as when the two systems merge (big bang and black holes) and necessitate a new theory to synthesize them.
2. It cleared up a LOT on the so called spookiness of quantum theory, and examined why the author believes in quantum loop theory over string theory. Also, it explained current evidence that showed how certain oddities in string theory were not inherent to the universe, but rather represented our failure to grasp the true nature of reality. Rovelli's explanation of 'information' (a word that does considerable lifting in this work), drastically cleared up my confusion with many odd aspects of quantum mechanics.
3. Thermal time... Mind blown.
Overall, a wonderful book that will reward your patience with a great survey of physics, and well worth your time even if you chose to skip the more speculative final chapters (though I recommend against doing that!).
This book was no exception in that many of the concepts of quantum gravity are extremely difficult to parse, but this book had a few things going for it that set it above the usual popular physics fare:
1) a thorough and extremely well organized historical survey of physics, beginning from ancient Greece, that repeatedly returned to the 10,000 ft view to show how our understanding of the universe has evolved. This was interesting and helpful to see not just where we are, but where we came from and how we moved from one step to the next. This holds for every step of the way, but was most salient in describing how and when both relativity and quantum mechanics work, as well as when the two systems merge (big bang and black holes) and necessitate a new theory to synthesize them.
2. It cleared up a LOT on the so called spookiness of quantum theory, and examined why the author believes in quantum loop theory over string theory. Also, it explained current evidence that showed how certain oddities in string theory were not inherent to the universe, but rather represented our failure to grasp the true nature of reality. Rovelli's explanation of 'information' (a word that does considerable lifting in this work), drastically cleared up my confusion with many odd aspects of quantum mechanics.
3. Thermal time... Mind blown.
Overall, a wonderful book that will reward your patience with a great survey of physics, and well worth your time even if you chose to skip the more speculative final chapters (though I recommend against doing that!).
A brilliantly passionate book about physics. It brings the history of the science to life with wonderful enthusiasm. I wish my physics teachers at school had explained the theories and laws of the universe in the same poetic way as this book. Really enjoyed the way it included the history of these ideas and how they developed, were challenged and some times rejected all together. I liked how it mentioned what we don’t know & that physics is struggling to continually develop theories to understand the universe better.