A great review piece here on Quantum by Vikram Johri on his blog:
'Kumar’s real achievement is not in throwing light on quantum mechanics per se, which descriptions are often mired in thick scientific jargon, but on a time when the thrill of discovery was so palpable it could slice through butter like a hot knife.'
Read the full piece here.
Thursday, 30 July 2009
Thursday, 9 July 2009
Quantum mention on Mumsnet.com
Nice to see that it's far from just geeky men who are reading Quantum - a reader at this post on Mumsnet.com says:
Right. I have finished Quantum by Manjit Kumar and have come to the conclusion
that quantum physicists are nutters!
How else can you explain beleiving that something only happens if you observe it? I used to think that when I hid my eyes when playing hide and seek as a very small child. And the cat thing is a bit daft, not to mention cruel .
I really enjoyed the book though. But wish I understand a bit more
Right. I have finished Quantum by Manjit Kumar and have come to the conclusion
that quantum physicists are nutters!
How else can you explain beleiving that something only happens if you observe it? I used to think that when I hid my eyes when playing hide and seek as a very small child. And the cat thing is a bit daft, not to mention cruel .
I really enjoyed the book though. But wish I understand a bit more
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
Quantum - reviewed in The Sunday Times
Robert Collins, writing in The Sunday Times at the weekend, had this to say about Quantum:
'Kumar seamlessly interweaves history and biography with clear explanations of the insights that Einstein and others made into the behaviour of matter at the subatomic level. The result makes you feel that you’ve grasped not only some of the revolutionary concepts of 20th-century science but sensed the thrill these physicists must have experienced as they made their world-changing breakthroughs.'
'Kumar seamlessly interweaves history and biography with clear explanations of the insights that Einstein and others made into the behaviour of matter at the subatomic level. The result makes you feel that you’ve grasped not only some of the revolutionary concepts of 20th-century science but sensed the thrill these physicists must have experienced as they made their world-changing breakthroughs.'
Wednesday, 1 July 2009
Quantum - the latest reprint
Our latest reprint of Quantum has arrived today. We've altered the cover slightly to mention some of the more recent press quotes, and of course the Samuel Johnson Prize shortlisting.
Quantum on the BBC Culture Show
Quantum missed out on winning the BBC Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction 2009 last night but the brilliant short film about the book, featuring Manjit Kumar, almost makes up for it - see it at the BBC here.
Monday, 22 June 2009
Quantum extract in the Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph have an extract of Manjit Kumar's Quantum online today - read it here.
Quantum - Paperback of the Week in the Observer
'A feat of true scholarship interspersed, thankfully, with moments of more accessible entertainment. The result is a book of such ambition that it has been shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize for non-fiction.'
Read the full review here.
Read the full review here.
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
Quantum - brilliant review on Amazon
Amazon.co.uk customer Louis Ryan has just posted the fabulous review of Quantum below. Read it in situ here.
A brilliant account of a fundamental subject
The development of quantum physics through the 20th century is one of the great adventures of science, and here at last is a book aimed at the layperson which clearly explains its key concepts, while situating the scientific development in its broader setting. The result is a challenging and enthralling read.
Quantum is appropriately sub-titled, Einstein, Bohr and the Great Debate about the Nature of Reality. The long theoretical duel between these two giants of modern physics is a recurring theme of the book, but the story starts before them with the build-up to the discovery of Planck's constant at the turn of the century, and continues beyond their deaths (in 1955 and 1962 respectively) to take in Bell's Theorem and Everett's "many worlds" interpretation. Along the way we meet other great physicists such as Rutherford, Heisenberg, Pauli, Schrödinger, Dirac and Bohm.
One might suspect that a book of such scope would be in danger of being overcrowded with theories and theorists, yet Kumar rises to the challenge, displaying a novelist's sense of pacing allied with an impressive scientific clarity and succinctness. Clearly he has taken to heart the famous injunction attributed to Einstein to "make it as simple as possible, but no simpler!" He also strikes a judicious balance between scientific explanation and human context. This provided for me a welcome alternation between the physics and the lives of the physicists, with each stimulating an interest in the other.
What is so powerful and inspiring about this book is the way it conveys the passion for truth of those great pioneers. No doubt ego played its part as well, they would hardly have been human otherwise, but it is always secondary to the great quest to fathom the nature of sub-atomic reality. Characteristic of this passion is the anecdote of Bohr and Einstein on their first meeting in Copenhagen, straightaway so engrossed in debate that they repeatedly miss their bus-stop. Kumar evidently resonates to this passion, and conveys it vividly in his narrative. Here is an extract from his account of Bohr's first meeting with Schrödinger, one of Einstein's key allies in the great debate:
"After the exchange of pleasantries, battle began almost at once, and according to Heisenberg, `continued daily from early morning until late at night'... During one discussion Schrödinger called `the whole idea of quantum jumps a sheer fantasy'. `But it does not prove there are no quantum jumps,' Bohr countered. All it proved, he continued, was that `we cannot imagine them'. Emotions soon ran high... Schrödinger finally snapped. `If all this damned quantum jumping were really here to stay, I should be sorry I ever got involved with quantum theory.' `But the rest of us are extremely grateful that you did,' Bohr replied, `your wave mechanics has contributed so much to mathematical clarity and simplicity that it represents a gigantic advance over all previous forms of quantum mechanics.'
"After a few days of these relentless discussions, Schrödinger fell ill and took to his bed. Even as his wife did all she could to nurse their house-guest, Bohr sat on the edge of the bed and continued the argument. `But surely Schrödinger, you must see...' He did see, but only through the glasses he had long worn, and he was not about to change them for ones prescribed by Bohr."
This book is a brilliant and compelling account of the genesis of quantum physics, but it is more than that. In the midst of today's pervasive cynicism and disorientation, it is an inspiring reminder of what the human spirit is capable of when it devotes itself passionately to the highest aim, that of understanding the truth of our reality.
A brilliant account of a fundamental subject
The development of quantum physics through the 20th century is one of the great adventures of science, and here at last is a book aimed at the layperson which clearly explains its key concepts, while situating the scientific development in its broader setting. The result is a challenging and enthralling read.
Quantum is appropriately sub-titled, Einstein, Bohr and the Great Debate about the Nature of Reality. The long theoretical duel between these two giants of modern physics is a recurring theme of the book, but the story starts before them with the build-up to the discovery of Planck's constant at the turn of the century, and continues beyond their deaths (in 1955 and 1962 respectively) to take in Bell's Theorem and Everett's "many worlds" interpretation. Along the way we meet other great physicists such as Rutherford, Heisenberg, Pauli, Schrödinger, Dirac and Bohm.
One might suspect that a book of such scope would be in danger of being overcrowded with theories and theorists, yet Kumar rises to the challenge, displaying a novelist's sense of pacing allied with an impressive scientific clarity and succinctness. Clearly he has taken to heart the famous injunction attributed to Einstein to "make it as simple as possible, but no simpler!" He also strikes a judicious balance between scientific explanation and human context. This provided for me a welcome alternation between the physics and the lives of the physicists, with each stimulating an interest in the other.
What is so powerful and inspiring about this book is the way it conveys the passion for truth of those great pioneers. No doubt ego played its part as well, they would hardly have been human otherwise, but it is always secondary to the great quest to fathom the nature of sub-atomic reality. Characteristic of this passion is the anecdote of Bohr and Einstein on their first meeting in Copenhagen, straightaway so engrossed in debate that they repeatedly miss their bus-stop. Kumar evidently resonates to this passion, and conveys it vividly in his narrative. Here is an extract from his account of Bohr's first meeting with Schrödinger, one of Einstein's key allies in the great debate:
"After the exchange of pleasantries, battle began almost at once, and according to Heisenberg, `continued daily from early morning until late at night'... During one discussion Schrödinger called `the whole idea of quantum jumps a sheer fantasy'. `But it does not prove there are no quantum jumps,' Bohr countered. All it proved, he continued, was that `we cannot imagine them'. Emotions soon ran high... Schrödinger finally snapped. `If all this damned quantum jumping were really here to stay, I should be sorry I ever got involved with quantum theory.' `But the rest of us are extremely grateful that you did,' Bohr replied, `your wave mechanics has contributed so much to mathematical clarity and simplicity that it represents a gigantic advance over all previous forms of quantum mechanics.'
"After a few days of these relentless discussions, Schrödinger fell ill and took to his bed. Even as his wife did all she could to nurse their house-guest, Bohr sat on the edge of the bed and continued the argument. `But surely Schrödinger, you must see...' He did see, but only through the glasses he had long worn, and he was not about to change them for ones prescribed by Bohr."
This book is a brilliant and compelling account of the genesis of quantum physics, but it is more than that. In the midst of today's pervasive cynicism and disorientation, it is an inspiring reminder of what the human spirit is capable of when it devotes itself passionately to the highest aim, that of understanding the truth of our reality.
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
Quantum longlisted for Royal Society Prize for Science Books 2009
Manjit Kumar has made it two prize nominations in as many weeks today with the announcement of the longlist for this year's Royal Society Prize for Science Books, on which Quantum is included.
The Royal Society's press release is here. Congratulations once again to Manjit!
The Royal Society's press release is here. Congratulations once again to Manjit!
Friday, 22 May 2009
Quantum - BBC Samuel Johnson Prize shortlisting media coverage
News of Quantum's shortlisting for the BBC Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction 2009 has mentioned been in various places today.
The Guardian covered the announcement here, and trade organ the Bookseller published this story. Bookbrunch, a book trade website, had this.
Icon's press release about the book is available to readhere.
We await the 30th June with all fingers tightly crossed!
The Guardian covered the announcement here, and trade organ the Bookseller published this story. Bookbrunch, a book trade website, had this.
Icon's press release about the book is available to readhere.
We await the 30th June with all fingers tightly crossed!
Thursday, 21 May 2009
Quantum shortlisted for the BBC Samuel Johnson Prize
Quantum has been shortlisted for this year's BBC Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction!
Read the Evening Standard's piece here.
The winner is announced on 30th June.
Read the Evening Standard's piece here.
The winner is announced on 30th June.
Thursday, 14 May 2009
Quantum longlisted for the BBC Four Samuel Johnson Prize
Thursday, 30 April 2009
Quantum paperback reviewed in Nature
In this popular history of quantum mechanics, Manjit Kumar focuses "on the long-running debate between Niels Bohr and Albert Einstein, which took place from the mid-1920s through to the mid-1950s, over the adequacy of the quantum theory as a framework for fundamental physics", explained reviewer Don Howard (Nature 456, 706–707; 2008).
See the full article here.
See the full article here.
Monday, 30 March 2009
Win a chat with Manjit Kumar!
In association with Icon Books and The School of Life, Waterstones are offering holders of their loyalty card the chance to win one of five School of Life 'expert conversations' in London with Manjit Kumar.
See the full competition here and good luck!
See the full competition here and good luck!
Quantum - out this week in Paperback
Quantum is published on Thursday this week in paperback, priced £9.99 and available from all good bookshops
Nicholas Lezard reviewed the book in the Guardian on Saturday, saying:
'This is about gob-smacking science at the far end of reason; as Rutherford said after one experiment involving alpha particles, "it was almost as incredible as if you had fired a 15-inch shell at a piece of tissue paper and it had come back and hit you" - and with extraordinary implications for the nature of reality. Take it nice and slowly and savour the experience of your mind being blown without recourse to hallucinogens.' Read the whole review here.
Buy the Quantum paperback from Amazon using the link on the right or with these other retailers:
Waterstones
The Book Depository
WHSmith
Borders
Nicholas Lezard reviewed the book in the Guardian on Saturday, saying:
'This is about gob-smacking science at the far end of reason; as Rutherford said after one experiment involving alpha particles, "it was almost as incredible as if you had fired a 15-inch shell at a piece of tissue paper and it had come back and hit you" - and with extraordinary implications for the nature of reality. Take it nice and slowly and savour the experience of your mind being blown without recourse to hallucinogens.' Read the whole review here.
Buy the Quantum paperback from Amazon using the link on the right or with these other retailers:
Waterstones
The Book Depository
WHSmith
Borders
Monday, 2 March 2009
Quantum - reviewed in Astronomy Now
‘Kumar’s rich and intensively researched text tells of the development of quantum theory from the perspective of the scientists who worked on it. This qualitative, narrative method is a great way to get your head around the most extraordinary and intellectually demanding theory ever devised. Kumar brings to life the wide spectrum of personalities involved in the development of the quantum theory, from the quiet and thoughtful Bohr, to the lively and womanising Schrodinger. This was a time of the greatest scientific minds in history – unsurpassed before or since.
Quantum’s subtitle is the hub of this book. After the spectacular success Bohr had explaining the nature of the atom (building on the groundwork of Rutherford and others), quantum theory began to get messy. In some experiments photons and electrons behaved like particles, and in others they behaved like waves. Should scientists just accept what could be objectively measured (as Bohr insisted), or was there a deeper reality, as Einstein believed? The intellectual arguments between the two kept the debate about quantum theory and the nature if reality fresh. Only now in the twenty-first century can we even begin to investigate the theory’s fundamental nature. As for myself, I had difficulty putting this book down, even when I should have been sleeping!’
Kulvinder Singh Chadha, assistant editor, Astronomy Now
Quantum’s subtitle is the hub of this book. After the spectacular success Bohr had explaining the nature of the atom (building on the groundwork of Rutherford and others), quantum theory began to get messy. In some experiments photons and electrons behaved like particles, and in others they behaved like waves. Should scientists just accept what could be objectively measured (as Bohr insisted), or was there a deeper reality, as Einstein believed? The intellectual arguments between the two kept the debate about quantum theory and the nature if reality fresh. Only now in the twenty-first century can we even begin to investigate the theory’s fundamental nature. As for myself, I had difficulty putting this book down, even when I should have been sleeping!’
Kulvinder Singh Chadha, assistant editor, Astronomy Now
Monday, 9 February 2009
Quantum - more Amazon reader reviews
Matthew Burns from Dover has this to say about Quantum on the book's Amazon page:
'I really enjoyed reading this book!
Excellent, interesting, story and subject.
I thought Kumar put it across in a very entertaining way, I did not get all of the minutia of the physics but that did not matter, I especially enjoyed the suspense and his sense of humour. I also enjoyed the way the story wove characters and events together, all the way through I was kept interested, he knows how to tell a story.
I got alot out of the information in the book; it filled in gaps for me in my knowledge about the subject as well as providing a really interesting back drop to the stuff I'd done at school. (I liked science till I got to the 6th Form.) The book worked on many different levels, as a history I became aware that there were quite often unintended results or consequences from experiments or ideas, some times others taking up something someone else had accidently stumbled across and looking at it in a new way, I liked that, I found it thought provoking.
This gave me an interesting insight in to the whole unfolding understanding of the science as it happened in time, this was one of the main areas focused on. Another aspect, the personalities and how they interacted what they got up to I enjoyed hearing about their interests and how they lived. 'Painting a picture' of the scientists as people really worked for me. '
'I really enjoyed reading this book!
Excellent, interesting, story and subject.
I thought Kumar put it across in a very entertaining way, I did not get all of the minutia of the physics but that did not matter, I especially enjoyed the suspense and his sense of humour. I also enjoyed the way the story wove characters and events together, all the way through I was kept interested, he knows how to tell a story.
I got alot out of the information in the book; it filled in gaps for me in my knowledge about the subject as well as providing a really interesting back drop to the stuff I'd done at school. (I liked science till I got to the 6th Form.) The book worked on many different levels, as a history I became aware that there were quite often unintended results or consequences from experiments or ideas, some times others taking up something someone else had accidently stumbled across and looking at it in a new way, I liked that, I found it thought provoking.
This gave me an interesting insight in to the whole unfolding understanding of the science as it happened in time, this was one of the main areas focused on. Another aspect, the personalities and how they interacted what they got up to I enjoyed hearing about their interests and how they lived. 'Painting a picture' of the scientists as people really worked for me. '
Thursday, 8 January 2009
Quantum - an Amazon reader review
Amazon customer P.G. Harris has submitted this review of Quantum to the book's page on Amazon.co.uk:
Quantum is the unfinished story of the development of quantum mechanics. Unfinished? Yes, because the question which lies at the centre of the book is not yet resolved.
The story starts in late Victorian times when classic physics seems close to completion, to being able to explain the world fully. There seem to be just a few loose ends to be tied up. However, it is those few loose ends inside the atom, explaining the nature of the electron, being able to account for light behaving both like a particle and a wave etc which lead to the unravelling (at the atomic level) of previous world views.
Through the lives of Planck, Bohr, Einstein, Schroedinger, Heisenberg, Pauli, De Broglie and others we see how diferent strands of quantum theory were hotly contested and how it developed through analysis and synthesis.
One of the most exciting things about the book to me was the rigour and power of true scientific method. Quantum physics, despite being in some ways mind blowingly ethereal is subject to the most searching challenge and detailed research. We see two of the greatest minds of the 20th century, Einstein and Bohr sitting on opposite sides of the dispute, deploying their most powerful destructive intellectual weapons in order to test the veracity of each others ideas. If ever you doudt bthe superiority of genuine science over pseudo Science (are you listening Charles Windsor), read this book.
At the centre of the dispute is the Copenhagen interpretation of Quantum mechanics, at the heart of which is the assertion that reality is not indepedent of measurement. (it would take too long to explain more, but Schrodingers famous cat is involved). Through the book we see Bohr besting Einstein, but one feels that the author is sympathetic towards Einstein and there is a sense of relief at the end of the book that the door remains open for the father of relativity.
Also fascinating is that roughly half of the book is about the major advances in the development of quantum theory in the first three decades of the 20th Century and thereafter debate switched to the interpretation, in a nutshell, is it reality or just a convenient model describing the effect of an underlying reality.
This is no dry science book however, one gets to know the people involved and the story has as its setting the major events of 20th Century history, the first world war, the rise of the nazis, the development of the atomic bomb, and the cold war.
Kumar is a clear and engaging writer, and my only two criticims would be firstly that in his efforts to be comprehensoible he maybe keeps too far away from the hard science at times. Secondly the odd summarising passage, showing briefly what the current state of play was would be helpful.
Overall, definitely recommended, it's a book for everyone, not just the scientifically minded.
Read various other Amazon reader reviews here.
Quantum is the unfinished story of the development of quantum mechanics. Unfinished? Yes, because the question which lies at the centre of the book is not yet resolved.
The story starts in late Victorian times when classic physics seems close to completion, to being able to explain the world fully. There seem to be just a few loose ends to be tied up. However, it is those few loose ends inside the atom, explaining the nature of the electron, being able to account for light behaving both like a particle and a wave etc which lead to the unravelling (at the atomic level) of previous world views.
Through the lives of Planck, Bohr, Einstein, Schroedinger, Heisenberg, Pauli, De Broglie and others we see how diferent strands of quantum theory were hotly contested and how it developed through analysis and synthesis.
One of the most exciting things about the book to me was the rigour and power of true scientific method. Quantum physics, despite being in some ways mind blowingly ethereal is subject to the most searching challenge and detailed research. We see two of the greatest minds of the 20th century, Einstein and Bohr sitting on opposite sides of the dispute, deploying their most powerful destructive intellectual weapons in order to test the veracity of each others ideas. If ever you doudt bthe superiority of genuine science over pseudo Science (are you listening Charles Windsor), read this book.
At the centre of the dispute is the Copenhagen interpretation of Quantum mechanics, at the heart of which is the assertion that reality is not indepedent of measurement. (it would take too long to explain more, but Schrodingers famous cat is involved). Through the book we see Bohr besting Einstein, but one feels that the author is sympathetic towards Einstein and there is a sense of relief at the end of the book that the door remains open for the father of relativity.
Also fascinating is that roughly half of the book is about the major advances in the development of quantum theory in the first three decades of the 20th Century and thereafter debate switched to the interpretation, in a nutshell, is it reality or just a convenient model describing the effect of an underlying reality.
This is no dry science book however, one gets to know the people involved and the story has as its setting the major events of 20th Century history, the first world war, the rise of the nazis, the development of the atomic bomb, and the cold war.
Kumar is a clear and engaging writer, and my only two criticims would be firstly that in his efforts to be comprehensoible he maybe keeps too far away from the hard science at times. Secondly the odd summarising passage, showing briefly what the current state of play was would be helpful.
Overall, definitely recommended, it's a book for everyone, not just the scientifically minded.
Read various other Amazon reader reviews here.
Monday, 5 January 2009
Quantum - a reader's book of the year in the Guardian
Audrey Fogelman from Rutland had this to say about Quantum in the Guardian on 27th December:
'As a fairly innumerate non-scientist, I am perversely drawn to books about maths and science and usually abandon them with ignorance intact. However, Quantum by Manjit Kumar (Icon) is so well written that I now feel I've more or less got particle physics sussed. Quantum transcends genre - it is historical, scientific, biographical, philosophical.'
The full article is here.
'As a fairly innumerate non-scientist, I am perversely drawn to books about maths and science and usually abandon them with ignorance intact. However, Quantum by Manjit Kumar (Icon) is so well written that I now feel I've more or less got particle physics sussed. Quantum transcends genre - it is historical, scientific, biographical, philosophical.'
The full article is here.
Monday, 15 December 2008
Quantum - reviewed in Odyssey magazine, South Africa
'Beautifully written ... a tour de force that covers the fierce debate about the foundations of reality that gripped the scientific community through the 20th century.'
Read the full review - alongside one on another Icon title, Atom - here.
Read the full review - alongside one on another Icon title, Atom - here.
Quantum - one of John Banville's Books of the Year
John Banville, who won the Man Booker prize for his novel The Sea in 2005, chooses Quantum as one of his three books of the year in Australia's The Age newspaper:
'Quantum: Einstein, Bohr and the Great Debate about the Nature of Reality (Icon Books) by Manjit Kumar is one of the best guides yet to the central conundrums of modern physics.'
'Quantum: Einstein, Bohr and the Great Debate about the Nature of Reality (Icon Books) by Manjit Kumar is one of the best guides yet to the central conundrums of modern physics.'
Saturday, 13 December 2008
Quantum - reviewed in the Daily Telegraph
'Admirably ambitious ... for those who already know at least some of the physics and want a brief, non-academic but thorough history of the subject's golden age, it is hard to beat.'
Read the full review here.
Read the full review here.
Tuesday, 9 December 2008
Quantum - new reprint jacket
Quantum has just recently been reprinted and we've taken the opportunity to include some of the brilliant press quotes the book has received on the new jacket - and here it is:
Friday, 5 December 2008
Quantum - an exclusive extract
Read the Prologue of Manjit Kumar's Quantum here - click on the book below to zoom in:
Quantum - reviewed at The Book Depository
'A thrilling account of quantum theory that focusses on the central relationship between Niels Bohr and Albert Einstein'
Scroll down on this page to see the full piece.
Scroll down on this page to see the full piece.
Quantum - reviewed in the Independent
'Manjit Kumar's Quantum is a super-collider of a book, shaking together an exotic cocktail of free-thinking physicists, tracing their chaotic interactions and seeing what God-particles and black holes fly up out of the maelstrom. He provides probably the most lucid and detailed intellectual history ever written of a body of theory that makes other scientific revolutions look limp-wristed by comparison.'
Read the full review here.
Read the full review here.
Thursday, 20 November 2008
Quantum - reviewed at 26.org.uk
'If you need an improving book for the autumn, with which to impress your friends and family, look no further. Manjit Kumar, who is trained as both a philosopher and a physicist, is eminently qualified to bring off this ambitious attempt to bring the story of the discovery of quantum physics to life for the layperson. He mixes up biography, narrative history and lucid explanation of the science involved to create a highly readable account of one of the most important but impenetrable topics of twentieth century thinking.'
Monday, 17 November 2008
Quantum - reviewed in the Financial Times
'Kumar is an accomplished writer who knows how to separate the excitement of the chase from the sometimes impenetrable mathematics. In Quantum he tells the story of the conflict between two of the most powerful intellects of their day: the hugely famous Einstein and the less well-known but just as brilliant Dane, Niels Bohr.'
Read the full review here.
Read the full review here.
Saturday, 15 November 2008
Quantum - reviewed in the Guardian
Steven Poole reviews Quantum in today's Guardian and calls it:
'An exhaustive and brilliant account of decades of emotionally charged discovery and argument, friendship and rivalry spanning two world wars.'
Read the full review here.
'An exhaustive and brilliant account of decades of emotionally charged discovery and argument, friendship and rivalry spanning two world wars.'
Read the full review here.
Monday, 10 November 2008
Quantum - reviewed by thebookbag.co.uk
'I found Quantum a fascinating, riveting read. I have not read individual biographies of the scientists concerned beyond what can be found in customary introductory sections of popular science books, and I normally dislike the biographical approach to popular science, but in this case the interweaving of the stories of the scientists and of the science worked brilliantly. Quantum shows not only the body of science, but also its human face. I had a real feeling of observing one of the greatest revolutions of human understanding of the world as it happened; from the personalities of people involved to the administrative details of their employment to the grand sweeps of history that engulfed them. Particularly compelling was how essential for the development of ideas was the communication, co-operation and competition between the scientists: how ideas were bounced between them, reused and refashioned, and how astonishingly creative this cohort of incredibly young men became in the process. ... Quantum is a fascinating, powerful and brilliantly written book that shows one of the most important theories of modern science in the making and discusses its implications for our ideas about the fundamental nature of the world and human knowledge, while presenting intimate and insightful portraits of people who made the science. Highly recommended.'
Magda Healey
Magda Healey
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