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Quantum: A Guide For The Perplexed [Paperback]

Jim Al-Khalili
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
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Book Description

13 May 2004

Quantum mechanics is the most fundamental scientific theory known to man. It underpins modern science and technology and even provides us with a blueprint for reality itself. And yet it has been said that if you think you understand it, you quite clearly don't. But is quantum physics really so unknowable? Is reality really so strange? And just how can cats be half alive and half dead at the same time?

This book untangles the weirdness of the quantum world, explains the theories, explores their consequences and presents a cutting-edge guide to the current state of the science.


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Product details

  • Paperback: 280 pages
  • Publisher: Phoenix; Reprint edition (13 May 2004)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1841882380
  • ISBN-13: 978-1841882383
  • Product Dimensions: 19 x 2.1 x 22.1 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 236,823 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • See Complete Table of Contents

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Review

Al-Khalili succeeds in making the quantum world understandable. Well, almost. (THE GUARDIAN 20130112) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Book Description

The terrifying complexities of quantum mechanics explained.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
35 of 35 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Quarks, strangeness & charm! 2 Jan 2007
Format:Paperback
I will admit that the title of this book grabbed me straight away. Having been self-studying quantum physics and evangelistically telling friends and anyone who would listen about the wonderful world of the sub-atomic, i thought a general reader on the subject would be good for 'summing up' etc.

In this regard Al-Khalili does not disappoint. The historical progress of thought from the world of classical (Newtonian) physics through the golden age where physics and philosophy walked uneasily hand-in-hand during the 1920's and 30's and the rise to prominence of the 'greats' of theoretical physics - Heisenberg, Schroedinger, Einstein, Bohr, Pauli, et al - is very well and clearly documented and engagingly presented.

The vibrancy of the crashing principles and ideas of quantum mechanics and the birth of subatomic theory is fascinating in itself, but it is Al-Khalili's sheer enthusiasm for the truly strange nature of the universe at the quantum level that is most infectious. This can often lead to hints of "no, look how weird this is!" but for the most part, the ideas are clearly presented and logically presented without resorting to jingoism and tenuous metaphor.

The only place the book really falls down is in its layout in this edition. Often very key principles are interrupted by small fly out boxes or spin-off articles within a chapter which can lead your train of thought to go "ooh, hang on, i better read that, it looks interesting" which can really wreck your train of thought on the main chapter text.

These articles are always interesting and are often practical examples of current research into matters being discussed within the chapter, often by prominent current researchers - it's just the layout that suffers a little.
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60 of 61 people found the following review helpful
By Philip Mayo VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
This is an extremely interesting book and, considering the subject matter, very accessible. The author present the ideas and theories of the Quantum world without, as I think some other writers do, ascribing an almost "black magic" side to the subject. This temptation to sensationalise I find in some writers on Quantum Mechanics (QM) who tend to present themselves practically as high-priests, allowing us, the uninitiated, a glimpse of the wonders that lie beyond our comprehension, but not necessarily beyond theirs. So, well done! to the author, Jim Al-Khalili, for avoiding that irritating style.

Also, I was very interested to learn that Schrödinger's famous thought-experiment about the dead / alive cat, dealing with one of the weirder aspects of Quantum Theory - the collapse of the wave function into actuality only on observation or measurement - was proposed by Schrödinger as a rebuttal of that theory, on the basis that he considered the notion of the cat being simultaneously alive and dead as being absurd. As do I. All other books that I have read to date on QM discuss Schrödinger's cat as one of the many bizarre realities of QM rather than as being a warning sign that the theory is incomplete.

The world, the universe, matter, time and space are all exceedingly strange things. We can only perceive them, or anything else, through our senses. Undoubtedly much lies "out there" that our senses do not perceive. We have, and can have, only a glimpse of reality. It is therefore virtually impossible for us, even in principle, to fully understand how it all works. But work it undoubtedly does. Science is a search for the explanation and continually seeks the Holy Grail of physics, the Grand Unified Theory or the Theory of Everything, a quest which may never succeed.
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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By Simon
Format:Paperback
As other reviewers have pointed out, "Quantum: A guide for the perplexed" is a superbly readable and entertaining introduction to the field of quantum mechanics. It is highly suitable for those, like me, whose knowledge of mathematics and physics is not particularly advanced.

Quantum physics being what it is, I half-expected the book to be quite difficult and dry but this is 100% not the case. Although some of the theories are tricky to grasp, the author uses a great set of analogies (along with some clever and very colourful diagrams) to convey their meaning. There is plenty of humour to keep you going as well.

After finishing the book, I'll come clean and admit that I am still not sure exactly what a wavefunction really is (then again, I'm not sure anyone does) but I do feel that I climbed a couple of rungs up the ladder of understanding. But I definitely now know what a quantum leap is and I learnt about something I had never heard of before, namely quantum tunnelling' (and why it is relevant to everyday life). I also certainly now understand the significance of what happens in the famous double-slit experiment (so next time the subject comes up in the pub, I can offer an explanation of wave-partical duality). Oh, and I solved the paradox at the heart of the `Schrodinger's cat' thought experiment. Of course I didn't actually solve it but the author gently led me there step by step and then, just at the right time, confirmed my growing suspicions. That is a clever teacher/writer in action !

The book is also superb on real-life applications of quantum understanding, such as in biology and semi-conductors, and on possible future applications such as the `quantum computer' (which could one day help Moore's law hold good for a few more years).
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed with the irrelevancies
I was disappointed with this book. It has good information about how scientists in the early 20th century struggled with Quantum Theory but there appears much the author does not... Read more
Published 18 days ago by R Christopher
5.0 out of 5 stars to the point
This book manages to explain the quantum problem rather clearly because of its clear schematics. In total I have read about 7 books of this sort ( popular books without too much... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Luc Govaert
5.0 out of 5 stars Clarity at last!
This Quantum thing is tricky. Prof Al-Khalili has found a way of helping to shed some light on the matter for us folks that have an interest in it, without have a PhD in it!
Published 2 months ago by Mr. D. Boocock
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting
Not a Gcse book but My 15 yr old has really enjoyed reading this . It has extended his understanding of the topic.
Published 2 months ago by !
3.0 out of 5 stars a serious read
Tends to wonder somewhat, can be a bit boring at times otherwise quite informative.
A few annecdotes would make this an interesting read.
Published 3 months ago by MR DAVID ARBUTHNOTT
2.0 out of 5 stars Yet another Quantum book!
Although I'm a big fan of Jim Al-Khalili, especially his Radio 4 series " The Life Scientific", this book doesn't really have anything new to say. Read more
Published 3 months ago by ALISTAIR MCNEILL
4.0 out of 5 stars Took me from being ignorant to being perplexed
Jim Al-Khalili's style is chatty, but he manages to tackle this incredibly difficult/confusing subject well. Read more
Published 3 months ago by BrynG
5.0 out of 5 stars Still Made My Brain Hurt, But Worth The Effort
As an aged non-physicist I have struggled with quantum physics on and off for the last 30 yrs. This book along with Krauss' A Universe From Nothing have at least made me... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Richard
5.0 out of 5 stars Quantum:A Guide for the Perplexed
Well,I have to admit to being less perplexed than I was. Jim Al-Khalili is one of my favourite science presenters and he writes a good readable book. Read more
Published 4 months ago by C. Fletcher
5.0 out of 5 stars Quantum - A Guide for the Perplexed (Phoenix 2012 Ed)
Having read several books on the subject of quantum mechanics/physics, all by reputable authors, I can testify that many have indeed left me perplexed on certain issues. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Doug Jay
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