Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5634 in Books
• Published on: 2007-11-01
• Binding: Hardcover
• 192 pages

New Humanist, December 2007
A brief, non-mathematical introduction to quantum theory and relativity. Succeeds magnificently.

New Scientist, December 1, 2007
Science doesn't come harder than this but Chown makes it all look so easy.

The Times, November 17, 2007
Lay readers, delighted by Chown's vivid imagery and lively humour, will experience several happy Eureka moments.

Customer Reviews

read and regret buying
this book does what too many popular science books tend to do. It gives a simile and then explains it using physics. This is the wrong way round. Give the physics then explain it using a simile. Otherwise all your explaining using physics is your own bad explanation of physics. This book isn't very good. The explanation of ideas and constant Einstein worship are just irratating. Buy a book by Feynman instead - it'll be more difficult going but more rewarding in the medium to long term (and probably in the short term to). Sorry if that sounds a little harsh but I've read it and feel conned. The author writes for the new scientist, a publication I am a big fan of, but on this book he just doesn't cut it.

Also i find the other reviews rather dubious "I read other books and now I finally inderstand????", if you don't like this review then read it - you'll understand.

Popular science at its best
In agreement with the general tone of the reviews that this is a very good book for explaining concepts that are so counter-intuitive you really don't want to believe they are true. Popular science is in rude health at the moment and books like this can only add to that. My only gripe is that if you've already read The Never-ending Days of Being Dead you'll find some repeated material.

Quantum theory with a bonus.
This is an absolutely brilliant book and a fine example to any budding science writers. The subject matter is explained in such a straight forward manner that anyone with an interest in the subject should be able to follow it. As a bonus, not only do you get an explanation of "special relativity" which many authors have tackled but in addition a clear and concise explanation of "general relativity" which very few authors have attempted and none of which, to my knowledge, successfully. Whoever designed that childish dust cover should be fired however the contents are absolutely top notch. Diagrams, who needs them when you can write like that. Marcus Chown you have a new fan !