The two towering achievements of modern physics are quantum theory and Einstein's general theory of relativity. Together, they explain virtually everything about the world we live in. But, almost a century after their advent, most people haven't the slightest clue what either is about. Did you know that there's so much empty space inside matter that the entire human race could be squeezed into the volume of a sugar cube? Or that you grow old more quickly on the top floor of a building than on the ground floor? And did you realise that 1 percent of the static on a TV tuned between stations is a relic of the Big Bang?
Quantum Theory Cannot Hurt You: A Guide to the Universe
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A brief, non-mathematical introduction to quantum theory and relativity. Succeeds magnificently. -- New Humanist, December 2007
Chown proves it is perfectly possible to explain hard physics without needing mathematics and graphs. Thoroughly recommended. -- BBC Sky at Night, January 2008
Lay readers, delighted by Chown's vivid imagery and lively humour, will experience several happy Eureka moments. -- The Times, November 17, 2007
Science doesn't come harder than this but Chown makes it all look so easy. -- New Scientist, December 1, 2007
Weird, sexy and mind-blowing. It's remarkable the number of new ways Chown has found to explain difficult and abstract concepts.
-- Nature, April 13, 2006
Chown proves it is perfectly possible to explain hard physics without needing mathematics and graphs. Thoroughly recommended. -- BBC Sky at Night, January 2008
Lay readers, delighted by Chown's vivid imagery and lively humour, will experience several happy Eureka moments. -- The Times, November 17, 2007
Science doesn't come harder than this but Chown makes it all look so easy. -- New Scientist, December 1, 2007
Weird, sexy and mind-blowing. It's remarkable the number of new ways Chown has found to explain difficult and abstract concepts.
-- Nature, April 13, 2006
Review
'A must-read for anyone who wants to better understand this crazy universe we live in. Superb.'
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought this book at a book signing event in Waterstones whilst waiting around for Ben Goldacre to show up to sign his book Bad Science. Marcus Chown was also in attendance and I chatted a while with him about this book amongst other things.
I have read several books on physics and quantum theory by authors such as Brian Green, John Gribbin and Stephen Hawking and was familiar with quantum theory; familiar in the sense that I have a vague understanding of the topic and find it thoroughly interesting but decidedly bonkers.
Given my existing "knowledge", I wasn't sure if this book would be for me, but I bought it anyway, and now, having found a few spare hours dotted through the Christmas holiday, I am very glad indeed that I did.
The book is split into two parts; i) Small Things and ii) Big Things. Small things discusses the strange world of quantum theory, wave-particle duality, interference, superposition, quantum tunnelling and the like, whilst part two focusses, in general, on Einstein's theories of relativity.
Given the book's title, I was surprised at the amount of space given over to relativity. (That little bit of prior "knowledge" meant I figured the author intended to bring us full circle and explain why General/Special relativity break down when describing the very small in black holes or at the Big Bang - which he does.) However, the Big stuff sits nicely alongside the Small and in the final chapter prepares readers for the even stranger world that string theorists inhabit.
The book progresses at an nice, even pace with plenty of examples and illustrations, which, given the topic, end up being a little contrived and exaggerated.... Read more ›
I have read several books on physics and quantum theory by authors such as Brian Green, John Gribbin and Stephen Hawking and was familiar with quantum theory; familiar in the sense that I have a vague understanding of the topic and find it thoroughly interesting but decidedly bonkers.
Given my existing "knowledge", I wasn't sure if this book would be for me, but I bought it anyway, and now, having found a few spare hours dotted through the Christmas holiday, I am very glad indeed that I did.
The book is split into two parts; i) Small Things and ii) Big Things. Small things discusses the strange world of quantum theory, wave-particle duality, interference, superposition, quantum tunnelling and the like, whilst part two focusses, in general, on Einstein's theories of relativity.
Given the book's title, I was surprised at the amount of space given over to relativity. (That little bit of prior "knowledge" meant I figured the author intended to bring us full circle and explain why General/Special relativity break down when describing the very small in black holes or at the Big Bang - which he does.) However, the Big stuff sits nicely alongside the Small and in the final chapter prepares readers for the even stranger world that string theorists inhabit.
The book progresses at an nice, even pace with plenty of examples and illustrations, which, given the topic, end up being a little contrived and exaggerated.... Read more ›
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a first-rate book. If you're looking for an account of the current state of Quantum Mechanics and Relativity which is accessible to a non-scientist and takes you from the basics through to most recent developments, this is for you. It is easy to read, but doesn't fudge issues or patronise and has real intellectual weight beneath a thoroughly good-humoured surface. Marcus Chown has been one of our best scientific writers in journals like New Scientist for many years and has already written several really good books. This is well up to standard and I recommend it without reservation. A cracker.
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By Ms. L. J. Oliver
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I failed my last physics exam in 1983 with a grand score of 19% and was not allowed to take it at O level! Having had what I consider to have been one of the worst science teachers ever, I had never shown the remotest bit of interest in physics since. Then I discovered this man's books. I picked one up at a friend's house and was hooked. This is now the third one of his that I've read and he has opened my eyes to the wonders that are out there. It's a fascintating read which is pretty accessible to the average person if the reader is prepared to put a bit of effort in to concentrating on the trickier aspects.
Well worth a try even if you're a physics sceptic as I was!
Well worth a try even if you're a physics sceptic as I was!
27 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
chown's latest offering is a fairly slender, but highly fascinating volume which runs through the physics of the very small (quantum theory) and the very big (general relativity) with pointers along the way where they interface. as usual for chown, it's all told with easy-to-understand descriptions, analogies and speculations, along with all the groundwork necessary to follow it through logically. the latter part of this book - the physics of the very big - is by far the more interesting (to me anyway).
well worth reading.
well worth reading.
25 of 27 people found the following review helpful
By Stitcher
Format:Hardcover
An excellent explanation of very tricky concepts. I have read many books on these subjects, but after reading this one I felt I understood it all at last.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By J. Bolch
Format:Hardcover
This book explains, in language understandable by (almost) anyone, two of the most important and least understood concepts in physics: quantum theory and the general theory of relativity.
"I think that I can safely say that nobody understands quantum mechanics", the great physicist Richard Feynman famously said. I'm sure he was right, and I certainly don't claim now to understand it, but at least after reading this book I feel for the first time that I have a basic grasp of some of the abstruse concepts involved, aided by the many incredible facts Chown sprinkles through the book, such as that the entire human race would fit in the volume of a sugar cube.
The second half of the book deals with Einstein's theory of relativity. The concepts here are far more familiar to me, but again Chown describes them in an elegant and accessible way, once again illustrating them with simple but memorable analogies and facts, such as that you age faster at the top of a building than the bottom.
Another reviewer complains that the book has no diagrams, something I noted with surprise when I first opened it. However, it is so clearly written that no diagrams are required - I certainly didn't ever feel I needed a diagram as I was reading it.
If you have an interest in these subjects (and, as they are central to everything in the universe, I think you should), then I thoroughly recommend this extremely readable book (even if it has a completely naff cover!).
"I think that I can safely say that nobody understands quantum mechanics", the great physicist Richard Feynman famously said. I'm sure he was right, and I certainly don't claim now to understand it, but at least after reading this book I feel for the first time that I have a basic grasp of some of the abstruse concepts involved, aided by the many incredible facts Chown sprinkles through the book, such as that the entire human race would fit in the volume of a sugar cube.
The second half of the book deals with Einstein's theory of relativity. The concepts here are far more familiar to me, but again Chown describes them in an elegant and accessible way, once again illustrating them with simple but memorable analogies and facts, such as that you age faster at the top of a building than the bottom.
Another reviewer complains that the book has no diagrams, something I noted with surprise when I first opened it. However, it is so clearly written that no diagrams are required - I certainly didn't ever feel I needed a diagram as I was reading it.
If you have an interest in these subjects (and, as they are central to everything in the universe, I think you should), then I thoroughly recommend this extremely readable book (even if it has a completely naff cover!).
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic introduction to an incredibly captivating subject
I was initially recommended to read this by my Physics teacher when he noticed i was interested in 20th century physics. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Liam
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bri ses
Marcus Chown does have a good writing style, and if like me you find Quantum theory (now practice?) fascinating, then don't hesitate.
Published 4 months ago by Brian
5.0 out of 5 stars
Quantum
second hand book as described - still reading but interesting slant. Will give to my son who is into this stuff
Published 5 months ago by B. Croal
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good read
Accessible, humorous and informative read. Marcus Chown makes the Quantum world a lot less scary with examples that aren't full of mathematics.
Published 6 months ago by Sean Sturgess
4.0 out of 5 stars
Put your thinking cap on
In the last two years I have become more and more interested in theoretical physics, Quantum Theory Cannot Hurt You is the fifth such book I've read in the last 2 years. Read more
Published 7 months ago by R. A. Davison
5.0 out of 5 stars
joie de vivre
Whether you'll enjoy this book depends largely on your taste. The style is informal, conversational, and, to my mind, very appealing. Chown comes across as a born storyteller. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Dela
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mind-bogglingly wow!
I know pretty much nothing about Physics and, wanting to understand at least something of quantum theory, was recommended this by someone who does know Physics (thanks Sid!). Read more
Published 8 months ago by Roman Clodia
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant!
Every breath you take contains at least one atom breathed out by Albert Einstein. Weird but true. Some physics is only based on random chance. Why? How? No! Read more
Published 14 months ago by Emma Louise
3.0 out of 5 stars
Lacking illustrations
Obviously quantum theory is a difficult topic for anyone, and therefore there's quite a challenge to make it accessible. Read more
Published 17 months ago by C. L. Dixon
3.0 out of 5 stars
Lack of structure (and of an editor) hampers what could have been a...
I can't recommend this book as a first introduction. I read it after a graduate course in chemistry so I already knew the subject matter of the 1st half of the book well (I wanted... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Vallendester
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