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A review by brannigan
In Search of Schrödinger's Cat by John Gribbin
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.