Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #72166 in Books
• Published on: 2008-11-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 464 pages

Customer Reviews

A thoroughly enjoyable, highly original book on the history of Quantum Mechanics.
After reading Lousia Gilder's new book I was at a loss for words; how does one write anything (of merit) about the subject of Quantum Mechanics while also earning the title of 'page turner' ? Initially I was unsure about how much interest the book would hold for me: as an undergraduate in Astrophysics I've had wavefunctions and uncertainty relations hammered into me until they weren't funny (if they ever were). This book however takes a totally different tact, doing away with anything text-book and yet still retaining real integrity to the subject of quantum theory. The book is not about Quantum theory in the strictest sense; it is a completely original, beautifully narrated chronology of the developments in Quantum Mechanics and the people involved (from the earliest foundations to quantum computation). Aside from the various interpretations and formulations of Quantum Mechanics that the book historicizes, it also gives an overall sense of just how different the earlier time periods (1900-1940) of Physics were and the uniqueness of the 'quantum club' of Bohr, Einstein, Pauli &c &c. The reason why this book is such a pleasure to read is due to the formidable lengths that Gilder has gone to, in order to select from the vast amount of literature and commentary, the best and most poignant discourse on the subject. The fact that the best and most poignant remarks made were deeply philosophical, controversial, and ultimately revolutionary in the field of science, is (I think) what motivated the book's writing.

Gilder deserves a great deal of credit for crafting a wonderfully original, thought-provoking and enjoyable book on the subject of Quantum Mechanics.