An excellent book, 29 Sep 2004
An excellent introduction into this fascinating subject. Starting with basic principles (such as what is matter, its constituents, what we mean by energy, and which are the physical forces in the universe), it leads the reader into the latest experiments of particle physics. This transition is done very smoothly, without confusing the reader. The book does not contain unecessary complicated information or mathematics. It is aimed at the non-specialist who has an interest in the subject and wants to comprehend a few things quickly and easily. I found this book very interesting and well written. I highly recommend it.

An excellent book, 29 Sep 2004
An excellent introduction into this fascinating subject. Starting with basic principles (such as what is matter, its constituents, what we mean by energy, and which are the physical forces in the universe), it leads the reader into the latest experiments of particle physics. This transition is done very smoothly, without confusing the reader. The book does not contain unecessary complicated information or mathematics. It is aimed at the non-specialist who has an interest in the subject and wants to comprehend a few things quickly and easily. I found this book very interesting and well written. I highly recommend it.

Wonderful book, 27 Mar 2008
For a layperson like myself who has no knowledge of the subject of Atomic physics (or any other science subject) and yet was gripped by the BBC series 'Atom', this book was the perfect partner to the series. Piers Bizony has made this mind-boggling subject understandable (almost) and very, very enjoyable.A wonderful book which I read at one sitting and I'm now eager for more.

Excellent stuff!!, 29 Jan 2008
It can be difficult for a layman to find material on Atomic physics which is entertaining, stimulating and which also has enough depth to enable you to walk away and say 'Oh - now I understand!'. Al-Khalili's book is deep enough to enable you to understand the gradual build-up of theory and how everything fit into everything that went before it. The biographies of the lead scientists enable the reader to see how a theory was part of a place and time and how new propositions were made on the basis of the thinking at the time. More importantly there is that sense of wonder, good humour and genuine reflective insight that make the best science books highly accessible but also highly informative. Certainly an excellent choice for the layman (me) and I would expect for those students who feel their lecturers suppose everyone to have walked in the door with ten years previous research experience!

Disappointing, 28 Jan 2008
No justice with the subject.We find more of short biographies of various scientists than the subject itself.A book far below expectation.

Atom....begin with basic building blocks!, 13 Oct 2007
I was hooked on the T.V series, which this book accompanies, and enthralled by the book, which I could not put down.My only disappointment was that the book did not cover the latter parts of the the T.V progamme in its foray into string theory and the cutting edge of contempoary physics. Having an interest in quantum physics, and the philosophy of science, (but not an education in physics to support it)I found that this book offers a coherent and comprehensible history of the development of ideas about the nature of the atom, which serves as an invaluable set of building blocks,from which to fashion a foundation of a better grasp of contemporary theory.I will certainly be buying the book by the same author on Quantum Theory.

An excellent book, 29 Sep 2004
An excellent introduction into this fascinating subject. Starting with basic principles (such as what is matter, its constituents, what we mean by energy, and which are the physical forces in the universe), it leads the reader into the latest experiments of particle physics. This transition is done very smoothly, without confusing the reader. The book does not contain unecessary complicated information or mathematics. It is aimed at the non-specialist who has an interest in the subject and wants to comprehend a few things quickly and easily. I found this book very interesting and well written. I highly recommend it.

Wonderful book, 27 Mar 2008
For a layperson like myself who has no knowledge of the subject of Atomic physics (or any other science subject) and yet was gripped by the BBC series 'Atom', this book was the perfect partner to the series. Piers Bizony has made this mind-boggling subject understandable (almost) and very, very enjoyable.A wonderful book which I read at one sitting and I'm now eager for more.

Excellent stuff!!, 29 Jan 2008
It can be difficult for a layman to find material on Atomic physics which is entertaining, stimulating and which also has enough depth to enable you to walk away and say 'Oh - now I understand!'. Al-Khalili's book is deep enough to enable you to understand the gradual build-up of theory and how everything fit into everything that went before it. The biographies of the lead scientists enable the reader to see how a theory was part of a place and time and how new propositions were made on the basis of the thinking at the time. More importantly there is that sense of wonder, good humour and genuine reflective insight that make the best science books highly accessible but also highly informative. Certainly an excellent choice for the layman (me) and I would expect for those students who feel their lecturers suppose everyone to have walked in the door with ten years previous research experience!

Disappointing, 28 Jan 2008
No justice with the subject.We find more of short biographies of various scientists than the subject itself.A book far below expectation.

Atom....begin with basic building blocks!, 13 Oct 2007
I was hooked on the T.V series, which this book accompanies, and enthralled by the book, which I could not put down.My only disappointment was that the book did not cover the latter parts of the the T.V progamme in its foray into string theory and the cutting edge of contempoary physics. Having an interest in quantum physics, and the philosophy of science, (but not an education in physics to support it)I found that this book offers a coherent and comprehensible history of the development of ideas about the nature of the atom, which serves as an invaluable set of building blocks,from which to fashion a foundation of a better grasp of contemporary theory.I will certainly be buying the book by the same author on Quantum Theory.

A pearl!, 17 Sep 2003
A lovely reprinted edition of a peral from Gamow. The original edition has been out of print for a number of years. This 1993 edition has added commentary and a fascinating bio of Gamow. He was born in Odessa, in what was then Russia, --before the Soviet Union. The story of his escape to the West is straight out of a thriller. Only it is real! Gamow was referred to by a journalist, some time during the Cold War, as "the only scientist in America with a real sense of humor". He can take the most technical stuff and make it simple. Fun too! The book:--Intellectual treats, whimsy, but deep. Illustrated with lovely drawings by Gamow himself. Much of it can be understood by a child, and other parts might require a little concentration. All of it is great fun. The author Gamow started in nuclear physics, during the Golden Age of Physics, worked with Niels Bohr, then later in the US, on the Manhattan Project during WWII, and after the war, he was professor in Boulder Colorado. He has a building on campus named after him! The books he wrote are pearls, and they have been equally popular with my parent's generation as with mine. Luckely some have been reprinted! Other Gamow titles: Biography of Physics, Atomic Energy [dedicated to the hope of lasting peace], Physics of the Strapless Evning Gown,...We are lucky that Dover has reprinted some of them. Gamow's list of scientific accomplishments includes a 1948 landmark paper on the origin of chemical elements, the Big Bang model, and later work with F. Crick on DNA and genetic coding.-- Do more Gamow editions, Dover!

A popular science classic, 06 Nov 2002
Gamow wrote this book out of some articles he published over 50 years ago. The basic facts of modern physics are presented through the explanations that an Einstein-looking old professor gives to a bank clerk. The dreams, nightmares and reveries of this clerk introduce you in the realms of the relativity or take you to a wild journey among quantum creatures.

There is also a revised version (The New World of Mr Tompkins) that incorporates discoveries made since the original work was published.

Easily readable by the general public this though-provoking book remains fresh and enjoyable.

A classic returns, 11 Jul 2000
I read this first while doing a Physics degree in the 70's. I was impressed that such a great scientist as George Gamow could translate the complex and inside out worlds of relativity and quantum mechanics to Joe Public in such a clear and humorous way. By slowing down the speed of light to about 100 mph, he shows what would happen to the travellers and viewers of people who ride bikes and trains, and how that by living in such a weird place the uncommon becomes a way of life. Moving on to tunnelling ( a field in which Gamow achieve Nobel status) he agian shows that the seemingly impossible only remains so to those who refuse to see. Thanks George!

An excellent book, 29 Sep 2004
An excellent introduction into this fascinating subject. Starting with basic principles (such as what is matter, its constituents, what we mean by energy, and which are the physical forces in the universe), it leads the reader into the latest experiments of particle physics. This transition is done very smoothly, without confusing the reader. The book does not contain unecessary complicated information or mathematics. It is aimed at the non-specialist who has an interest in the subject and wants to comprehend a few things quickly and easily. I found this book very interesting and well written. I highly recommend it.

Wonderful book, 27 Mar 2008
For a layperson like myself who has no knowledge of the subject of Atomic physics (or any other science subject) and yet was gripped by the BBC series 'Atom', this book was the perfect partner to the series. Piers Bizony has made this mind-boggling subject understandable (almost) and very, very enjoyable.A wonderful book which I read at one sitting and I'm now eager for more.

Excellent stuff!!, 29 Jan 2008
It can be difficult for a layman to find material on Atomic physics which is entertaining, stimulating and which also has enough depth to enable you to walk away and say 'Oh - now I understand!'. Al-Khalili's book is deep enough to enable you to understand the gradual build-up of theory and how everything fit into everything that went before it. The biographies of the lead scientists enable the reader to see how a theory was part of a place and time and how new propositions were made on the basis of the thinking at the time. More importantly there is that sense of wonder, good humour and genuine reflective insight that make the best science books highly accessible but also highly informative. Certainly an excellent choice for the layman (me) and I would expect for those students who feel their lecturers suppose everyone to have walked in the door with ten years previous research experience!

Disappointing, 28 Jan 2008
No justice with the subject.We find more of short biographies of various scientists than the subject itself.A book far below expectation.

Atom....begin with basic building blocks!, 13 Oct 2007
I was hooked on the T.V series, which this book accompanies, and enthralled by the book, which I could not put down.My only disappointment was that the book did not cover the latter parts of the the T.V progamme in its foray into string theory and the cutting edge of contempoary physics. Having an interest in quantum physics, and the philosophy of science, (but not an education in physics to support it)I found that this book offers a coherent and comprehensible history of the development of ideas about the nature of the atom, which serves as an invaluable set of building blocks,from which to fashion a foundation of a better grasp of contemporary theory.I will certainly be buying the book by the same author on Quantum Theory.

A pearl!, 17 Sep 2003
A lovely reprinted edition of a peral from Gamow. The original edition has been out of print for a number of years. This 1993 edition has added commentary and a fascinating bio of Gamow. He was born in Odessa, in what was then Russia, --before the Soviet Union. The story of his escape to the West is straight out of a thriller. Only it is real! Gamow was referred to by a journalist, some time during the Cold War, as "the only scientist in America with a real sense of humor". He can take the most technical stuff and make it simple. Fun too! The book:--Intellectual treats, whimsy, but deep. Illustrated with lovely drawings by Gamow himself. Much of it can be understood by a child, and other parts might require a little concentration. All of it is great fun. The author Gamow started in nuclear physics, during the Golden Age of Physics, worked with Niels Bohr, then later in the US, on the Manhattan Project during WWII, and after the war, he was professor in Boulder Colorado. He has a building on campus named after him! The books he wrote are pearls, and they have been equally popular with my parent's generation as with mine. Luckely some have been reprinted! Other Gamow titles: Biography of Physics, Atomic Energy [dedicated to the hope of lasting peace], Physics of the Strapless Evning Gown,...We are lucky that Dover has reprinted some of them. Gamow's list of scientific accomplishments includes a 1948 landmark paper on the origin of chemical elements, the Big Bang model, and later work with F. Crick on DNA and genetic coding.-- Do more Gamow editions, Dover!

A popular science classic, 06 Nov 2002
Gamow wrote this book out of some articles he published over 50 years ago. The basic facts of modern physics are presented through the explanations that an Einstein-looking old professor gives to a bank clerk. The dreams, nightmares and reveries of this clerk introduce you in the realms of the relativity or take you to a wild journey among quantum creatures.

There is also a revised version (The New World of Mr Tompkins) that incorporates discoveries made since the original work was published.

Easily readable by the general public this though-provoking book remains fresh and enjoyable.

A classic returns, 11 Jul 2000
I read this first while doing a Physics degree in the 70's. I was impressed that such a great scientist as George Gamow could translate the complex and inside out worlds of relativity and quantum mechanics to Joe Public in such a clear and humorous way. By slowing down the speed of light to about 100 mph, he shows what would happen to the travellers and viewers of people who ride bikes and trains, and how that by living in such a weird place the uncommon becomes a way of life. Moving on to tunnelling ( a field in which Gamow achieve Nobel status) he agian shows that the seemingly impossible only remains so to those who refuse to see. Thanks George!

A very poor book, 15 Oct 2008
After reading the other reviews I was coming to terms with all the typos when I came across the definition of a vector space. In this author's version, a vector space contains a vector I such that I |a> = |a> for all |a> in V.

Now, I had never met this axiom before, so I was interested to see the examples to see what this might be. Unfortunately, the examples did not enlighten me any further.

The exposition is in general muddled and muddling. For instance, the explanation of the difference between a quantum state and a statistical mix of quantum states is more confusing than if it had been omitted. One section is called The Conservation of Probability, but all it does is arbitrarily define a probability current j(x,t) (incorrectly!) without any explanation of its relevance.

This is certainly not a good first book. Try Griffiths instead.

Delightfully tasty reading, 19 Sep 2007
This is an excellent book: well writen, easy to understand-but it could do with more examples.More explanations are needed as to the applications of certain formulae. Being a gifted Mahematician I taught myself from this book age 15 and i found it truly amazing though the learning curve gets steep. I would recommend to math/physics undergrads who are interested in applied math/physics.

Quantum physics demystified, 07 Sep 2007
Buyers beware that this is not a popular science book but rather one for the already mathematically competant. The title and zany cover could be misleading.

Errors demystified, 15 Dec 2006
Cons: The book lacks mathematical rigor. Too many important formulas and concepts are not derived from first principle. Also, the number of errors/typos in this book largely outnumber the cumulative of errors/typos in all my undergraduate books. I often found the emphasis was not done on the right things, mostly when it came to solve mathematical problems. The author solves them line by line but gives way too much details on simple algebra while rarely providing a detailed analysis of the result itself.

Pros: good for quick review or to initiate yourself to the subject. Provides answers to many typical quantum mechanical problems. I would definitely recommend using a reference book along with "Quantum Physics Demystified".

Excellent hands on practise in QM, 10 Nov 2006
Despite the large number of typographical errors ( which could be off putting for some) this is the first blow-by-blow hands on theory-example-solution(fully worked) approach to learning QM and I thoroughly recommend it for self study or as preparation for a more detailed study from the 'standard' texts on QM.
I really think this is a significant addition to texts on QM and if you do all the problems yourself before reading the solutions it could serve as a very powerful learning tool in this otherwise very challenging subject. For more on the full physical significance I guess further reading would be necessary as it has predominantly a mathematical approach. Great stuff......
I'd like more in this series!

An excellent book, 29 Sep 2004
An excellent introduction into this fascinating subject. Starting with basic principles (such as what is matter, its constituents, what we mean by energy, and which are the physical forces in the universe), it leads the reader into the latest experiments of particle physics. This transition is done very smoothly, without confusing the reader. The book does not contain unecessary complicated information or mathematics. It is aimed at the non-specialist who has an interest in the subject and wants to comprehend a few things quickly and easily. I found this book very interesting and well written. I highly recommend it.

Wonderful book, 27 Mar 2008
For a layperson like myself who has no knowledge of the subject of Atomic physics (or any other science subject) and yet was gripped by the BBC series 'Atom', this book was the perfect partner to the series. Piers Bizony has made this mind-boggling subject understandable (almost) and very, very enjoyable.A wonderful book which I read at one sitting and I'm now eager for more.

Excellent stuff!!, 29 Jan 2008
It can be difficult for a layman to find material on Atomic physics which is entertaining, stimulating and which also has enough depth to enable you to walk away and say 'Oh - now I understand!'. Al-Khalili's book is deep enough to enable you to understand the gradual build-up of theory and how everything fit into everything that went before it. The biographies of the lead scientists enable the reader to see how a theory was part of a place and time and how new propositions were made on the basis of the thinking at the time. More importantly there is that sense of wonder, good humour and genuine reflective insight that make the best science books highly accessible but also highly informative. Certainly an excellent choice for the layman (me) and I would expect for those students who feel their lecturers suppose everyone to have walked in the door with ten years previous research experience!

Disappointing, 28 Jan 2008
No justice with the subject.We find more of short biographies of various scientists than the subject itself.A book far below expectation.

Atom....begin with basic building blocks!, 13 Oct 2007
I was hooked on the T.V series, which this book accompanies, and enthralled by the book, which I could not put down.My only disappointment was that the book did not cover the latter parts of the the T.V progamme in its foray into string theory and the cutting edge of contempoary physics. Having an interest in quantum physics, and the philosophy of science, (but not an education in physics to support it)I found that this book offers a coherent and comprehensible history of the development of ideas about the nature of the atom, which serves as an invaluable set of building blocks,from which to fashion a foundation of a better grasp of contemporary theory.I will certainly be buying the book by the same author on Quantum Theory.

A pearl!, 17 Sep 2003
A lovely reprinted edition of a peral from Gamow. The original edition has been out of print for a number of years. This 1993 edition has added commentary and a fascinating bio of Gamow. He was born in Odessa, in what was then Russia, --before the Soviet Union. The story of his escape to the West is straight out of a thriller. Only it is real! Gamow was referred to by a journalist, some time during the Cold War, as "the only scientist in America with a real sense of humor". He can take the most technical stuff and make it simple. Fun too! The book:--Intellectual treats, whimsy, but deep. Illustrated with lovely drawings by Gamow himself. Much of it can be understood by a child, and other parts might require a little concentration. All of it is great fun. The author Gamow started in nuclear physics, during the Golden Age of Physics, worked with Niels Bohr, then later in the US, on the Manhattan Project during WWII, and after the war, he was professor in Boulder Colorado. He has a building on campus named after him! The books he wrote are pearls, and they have been equally popular with my parent's generation as with mine. Luckely some have been reprinted! Other Gamow titles: Biography of Physics, Atomic Energy [dedicated to the hope of lasting peace], Physics of the Strapless Evning Gown,...We are lucky that Dover has reprinted some of them. Gamow's list of scientific accomplishments includes a 1948 landmark paper on the origin of chemical elements, the Big Bang model, and later work with F. Crick on DNA and genetic coding.-- Do more Gamow editions, Dover!

A popular science classic, 06 Nov 2002
Gamow wrote this book out of some articles he published over 50 years ago. The basic facts of modern physics are presented through the explanations that an Einstein-looking old professor gives to a bank clerk. The dreams, nightmares and reveries of this clerk introduce you in the realms of the relativity or take you to a wild journey among quantum creatures.

There is also a revised version (The New World of Mr Tompkins) that incorporates discoveries made since the original work was published.

Easily readable by the general public this though-provoking book remains fresh and enjoyable.

A classic returns, 11 Jul 2000
I read this first while doing a Physics degree in the 70's. I was impressed that such a great scientist as George Gamow could translate the complex and inside out worlds of relativity and quantum mechanics to Joe Public in such a clear and humorous way. By slowing down the speed of light to about 100 mph, he shows what would happen to the travellers and viewers of people who ride bikes and trains, and how that by living in such a weird place the uncommon becomes a way of life. Moving on to tunnelling ( a field in which Gamow achieve Nobel status) he agian shows that the seemingly impossible only remains so to those who refuse to see. Thanks George!

A very poor book, 15 Oct 2008
After reading the other reviews I was coming to terms with all the typos when I came across the definition of a vector space. In this author's version, a vector space contains a vector I such that I |a> = |a> for all |a> in V.

Now, I had never met this axiom before, so I was interested to see the examples to see what this might be. Unfortunately, the examples did not enlighten me any further.

The exposition is in general muddled and muddling. For instance, the explanation of the difference between a quantum state and a statistical mix of quantum states is more confusing than if it had been omitted. One section is called The Conservation of Probability, but all it does is arbitrarily define a probability current j(x,t) (incorrectly!) without any explanation of its relevance.

This is certainly not a good first book. Try Griffiths instead.

Delightfully tasty reading, 19 Sep 2007
This is an excellent book: well writen, easy to understand-but it could do with more examples.More explanations are needed as to the applications of certain formulae. Being a gifted Mahematician I taught myself from this book age 15 and i found it truly amazing though the learning curve gets steep. I would recommend to math/physics undergrads who are interested in applied math/physics.

Quantum physics demystified, 07 Sep 2007
Buyers beware that this is not a popular science book but rather one for the already mathematically competant. The title and zany cover could be misleading.

Errors demystified, 15 Dec 2006
Cons: The book lacks mathematical rigor. Too many important formulas and concepts are not derived from first principle. Also, the number of errors/typos in this book largely outnumber the cumulative of errors/typos in all my undergraduate books. I often found the emphasis was not done on the right things, mostly when it came to solve mathematical problems. The author solves them line by line but gives way too much details on simple algebra while rarely providing a detailed analysis of the result itself.

Pros: good for quick review or to initiate yourself to the subject. Provides answers to many typical quantum mechanical problems. I would definitely recommend using a reference book along with "Quantum Physics Demystified".

Excellent hands on practise in QM, 10 Nov 2006
Despite the large number of typographical errors ( which could be off putting for some) this is the first blow-by-blow hands on theory-example-solution(fully worked) approach to learning QM and I thoroughly recommend it for self study or as preparation for a more detailed study from the 'standard' texts on QM.
I really think this is a significant addition to texts on QM and if you do all the problems yourself before reading the solutions it could serve as a very powerful learning tool in this otherwise very challenging subject. For more on the full physical significance I guess further reading would be necessary as it has predominantly a mathematical approach. Great stuff......
I'd like more in this series!



An essential undergraduate text, 04 Jun 2004
Most physics degree courses don't cover the topic of Statistical Mechanics until some way through the second year and this is mostly due to students requiring a reasonable grounding in thermodynamics, which is traditionally a 2nd year topic. Statistical Mechanics: A Survival Guide is an excellent book for any student studying this subject as it starts off by explaining the basics of statistics in such a manner that is very easy to understand. The foundations that it sets in the first chapter ensure that you have a very clear understanding of these basics, which are extremely important for grasping the idea of a microstate, essential to deriving the distribution functions for the various types of particle. It gives very complete discussions on quantum statistics and its applications along with the standard sections on ideal gases. The links between thermodynamics and statistical mechanics are frequently highlighted so as to show how the two subjects go hand in hand. This is an excellent text on a subject that can become very complicated and the presentation and explanations in the book cannot be faulted.

My only quibble is the price - I would have expected just a little bit more for my money but nonetheless I still consider it an essential book for a physics student to have on their shelf.

An excellent book, 29 Sep 2004
An excellent introduction into this fascinating subject. Starting with basic principles (such as what is matter, its constituents, what we mean by energy, and which are the physical forces in the universe), it leads the reader into the latest experiments of particle physics. This transition is done very smoothly, without confusing the reader. The book does not contain unecessary complicated information or mathematics. It is aimed at the non-specialist who has an interest in the subject and wants to comprehend a few things quickly and easily. I found this book very interesting and well written. I highly recommend it.

Wonderful book, 27 Mar 2008
For a layperson like myself who has no knowledge of the subject of Atomic physics (or any other science subject) and yet was gripped by the BBC series 'Atom', this book was the perfect partner to the series. Piers Bizony has made this mind-boggling subject understandable (almost) and very, very enjoyable.A wonderful book which I read at one sitting and I'm now eager for more.

Excellent stuff!!, 29 Jan 2008
It can be difficult for a layman to find material on Atomic physics which is entertaining, stimulating and which also has enough depth to enable you to walk away and say 'Oh - now I understand!'. Al-Khalili's book is deep enough to enable you to understand the gradual build-up of theory and how everything fit into everything that went before it. The biographies of the lead scientists enable the reader to see how a theory was part of a place and time and how new propositions were made on the basis of the thinking at the time. More importantly there is that sense of wonder, good humour and genuine reflective insight that make the best science books highly accessible but also highly informative. Certainly an excellent choice for the layman (me) and I would expect for those students who feel their lecturers suppose everyone to have walked in the door with ten years previous research experience!

Disappointing, 28 Jan 2008
No justice with the subject.We find more of short biographies of various scientists than the subject itself.A book far below expectation.

Atom....begin with basic building blocks!, 13 Oct 2007
I was hooked on the T.V series, which this book accompanies, and enthralled by the book, which I could not put down.My only disappointment was that the book did not cover the latter parts of the the T.V progamme in its foray into string theory and the cutting edge of contempoary physics. Having an interest in quantum physics, and the philosophy of science, (but not an education in physics to support it)I found that this book offers a coherent and comprehensible history of the development of ideas about the nature of the atom, which serves as an invaluable set of building blocks,from which to fashion a foundation of a better grasp of contemporary theory.I will certainly be buying the book by the same author on Quantum Theory.

A pearl!, 17 Sep 2003
A lovely reprinted edition of a peral from Gamow. The original edition has been out of print for a number of years. This 1993 edition has added commentary and a fascinating bio of Gamow. He was born in Odessa, in what was then Russia, --before the Soviet Union. The story of his escape to the West is straight out of a thriller. Only it is real! Gamow was referred to by a journalist, some time during the Cold War, as "the only scientist in America with a real sense of humor". He can take the most technical stuff and make it simple. Fun too! The book:--Intellectual treats, whimsy, but deep. Illustrated with lovely drawings by Gamow himself. Much of it can be understood by a child, and other parts might require a little concentration. All of it is great fun. The author Gamow started in nuclear physics, during the Golden Age of Physics, worked with Niels Bohr, then later in the US, on the Manhattan Project during WWII, and after the war, he was professor in Boulder Colorado. He has a building on campus named after him! The books he wrote are pearls, and they have been equally popular with my parent's generation as with mine. Luckely some have been reprinted! Other Gamow titles: Biography of Physics, Atomic Energy [dedicated to the hope of lasting peace], Physics of the Strapless Evning Gown,...We are lucky that Dover has reprinted some of them. Gamow's list of scientific accomplishments includes a 1948 landmark paper on the origin of chemical elements, the Big Bang model, and later work with F. Crick on DNA and genetic coding.-- Do more Gamow editions, Dover!

A popular science classic, 06 Nov 2002
Gamow wrote this book out of some articles he published over 50 years ago. The basic facts of modern physics are presented through the explanations that an Einstein-looking old professor gives to a bank clerk. The dreams, nightmares and reveries of this clerk introduce you in the realms of the relativity or take you to a wild journey among quantum creatures.

There is also a revised version (The New World of Mr Tompkins) that incorporates discoveries made since the original work was published.

Easily readable by the general public this though-provoking book remains fresh and enjoyable.

A classic returns, 11 Jul 2000
I read this first while doing a Physics degree in the 70's. I was impressed that such a great scientist as George Gamow could translate the complex and inside out worlds of relativity and quantum mechanics to Joe Public in such a clear and humorous way. By slowing down the speed of light to about 100 mph, he shows what would happen to the travellers and viewers of people who ride bikes and trains, and how that by living in such a weird place the uncommon becomes a way of life. Moving on to tunnelling ( a field in which Gamow achieve Nobel status) he agian shows that the seemingly impossible only remains so to those who refuse to see. Thanks George!

A very poor book, 15 Oct 2008
After reading the other reviews I was coming to terms with all the typos when I came across the definition of a vector space. In this author's version, a vector space contains a vector I such that I |a> = |a> for all |a> in V.

Now, I had never met this axiom before, so I was interested to see the examples to see what this might be. Unfortunately, the examples did not enlighten me any further.

The exposition is in general muddled and muddling. For instance, the explanation of the difference between a quantum state and a statistical mix of quantum states is more confusing than if it had been omitted. One section is called The Conservation of Probability, but all it does is arbitrarily define a probability current j(x,t) (incorrectly!) without any explanation of its relevance.

This is certainly not a good first book. Try Griffiths instead.

Delightfully tasty reading, 19 Sep 2007
This is an excellent book: well writen, easy to understand-but it could do with more examples.More explanations are needed as to the applications of certain formulae. Being a gifted Mahematician I taught myself from this book age 15 and i found it truly amazing though the learning curve gets steep. I would recommend to math/physics undergrads who are interested in applied math/physics.

Quantum physics demystified, 07 Sep 2007
Buyers beware that this is not a popular science book but rather one for the already mathematically competant. The title and zany cover could be misleading.

Errors demystified, 15 Dec 2006
Cons: The book lacks mathematical rigor. Too many important formulas and concepts are not derived from first principle. Also, the number of errors/typos in this book largely outnumber the cumulative of errors/typos in all my undergraduate books. I often found the emphasis was not done on the right things, mostly when it came to solve mathematical problems. The author solves them line by line but gives way too much details on simple algebra while rarely providing a detailed analysis of the result itself.

Pros: good for quick review or to initiate yourself to the subject. Provides answers to many typical quantum mechanical problems. I would definitely recommend using a reference book along with "Quantum Physics Demystified".

Excellent hands on practise in QM, 10 Nov 2006
Despite the large number of typographical errors ( which could be off putting for some) this is the first blow-by-blow hands on theory-example-solution(fully worked) approach to learning QM and I thoroughly recommend it for self study or as preparation for a more detailed study from the 'standard' texts on QM.
I really think this is a significant addition to texts on QM and if you do all the problems yourself before reading the solutions it could serve as a very powerful learning tool in this otherwise very challenging subject. For more on the full physical significance I guess further reading would be necessary as it has predominantly a mathematical approach. Great stuff......
I'd like more in this series!



An essential undergraduate text, 04 Jun 2004
Most physics degree courses don't cover the topic of Statistical Mechanics until some way through the second year and this is mostly due to students requiring a reasonable grounding in thermodynamics, which is traditionally a 2nd year topic. Statistical Mechanics: A Survival Guide is an excellent book for any student studying this subject as it starts off by explaining the basics of statistics in such a manner that is very easy to understand. The foundations that it sets in the first chapter ensure that you have a very clear understanding of these basics, which are extremely important for grasping the idea of a microstate, essential to deriving the distribution functions for the various types of particle. It gives very complete discussions on quantum statistics and its applications along with the standard sections on ideal gases. The links between thermodynamics and statistical mechanics are frequently highlighted so as to show how the two subjects go hand in hand. This is an excellent text on a subject that can become very complicated and the presentation and explanations in the book cannot be faulted.

My only quibble is the price - I would have expected just a little bit more for my money but nonetheless I still consider it an essential book for a physics student to have on their shelf.

The Holographic Universe; Leonard Susskind -James Lindesay, 27 Jul 2006
It's a really great little book. I got half-way through and realized I wasn't understanding the mathematics involved. I was not surprised by this as I am an artist with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.I have had little opportunity to learn the terms and concepts involved. So I stopped reading this book and read Roger Penrose's "Road to Reality". It is an excellent book from which I was able to learn about the mathematics, and a whole lot more. I then read Susskind's Holographic Universe without much trouble, understanding quite well what he is getting at. I would rate it as "terribly interesting".

An excellent book, 29 Sep 2004
An excellent introduction into this fascinating subject. Starting with basic principles (such as what is matter, its constituents, what we mean by energy, and which are the physical forces in the universe), it leads the reader into the latest experiments of particle physics. This transition is done very smoothly, without confusing the reader. The book does not contain unecessary complicated information or mathematics. It is aimed at the non-specialist who has an interest in the subject and wants to comprehend a few things quickly and easily. I found this book very interesting and well written. I highly recommend it.

Wonderful book, 27 Mar 2008
For a layperson like myself who has no knowledge of the subject of Atomic physics (or any other science subject) and yet was gripped by the BBC series 'Atom', this book was the perfect partner to the series. Piers Bizony has made this mind-boggling subject understandable (almost) and very, very enjoyable.A wonderful book which I read at one sitting and I'm now eager for more.

Excellent stuff!!, 29 Jan 2008
It can be difficult for a layman to find material on Atomic physics which is entertaining, stimulating and which also has enough depth to enable you to walk away and say 'Oh - now I understand!'. Al-Khalili's book is deep enough to enable you to understand the gradual build-up of theory and how everything fit into everything that went before it. The biographies of the lead scientists enable the reader to see how a theory was part of a place and time and how new propositions were made on the basis of the thinking at the time. More importantly there is that sense of wonder, good humour and genuine reflective insight that make the best science books highly accessible but also highly informative. Certainly an excellent choice for the layman (me) and I would expect for those students who feel their lecturers suppose everyone to have walked in the door with ten years previous research experience!

Disappointing, 28 Jan 2008
No justice with the subject.We find more of short biographies of various scientists than the subject itself.A book far below expectation.

Atom....begin with basic building blocks!, 13 Oct 2007
I was hooked on the T.V series, which this book accompanies, and enthralled by the book, which I could not put down.My only disappointment was that the book did not cover the latter parts of the the T.V progamme in its foray into string theory and the cutting edge of contempoary physics. Having an interest in quantum physics, and the philosophy of science, (but not an education in physics to support it)I found that this book offers a coherent and comprehensible history of the development of ideas about the nature of the atom, which serves as an invaluable set of building blocks,from which to fashion a foundation of a better grasp of contemporary theory.I will certainly be buying the book by the same author on Quantum Theory.

A pearl!, 17 Sep 2003
A lovely reprinted edition of a peral from Gamow. The original edition has been out of print for a number of years. This 1993 edition has added commentary and a fascinating bio of Gamow. He was born in Odessa, in what was then Russia, --before the Soviet Union. The story of his escape to the West is straight out of a thriller. Only it is real! Gamow was referred to by a journalist, some time during the Cold War, as "the only scientist in America with a real sense of humor". He can take the most technical stuff and make it simple. Fun too! The book:--Intellectual treats, whimsy, but deep. Illustrated with lovely drawings by Gamow himself. Much of it can be understood by a child, and other parts might require a little concentration. All of it is great fun. The author Gamow started in nuclear physics, during the Golden Age of Physics, worked with Niels Bohr, then later in the US, on the Manhattan Project during WWII, and after the war, he was professor in Boulder Colorado. He has a building on campus named after him! The books he wrote are pearls, and they have been equally popular with my parent's generation as with mine. Luckely some have been reprinted! Other Gamow titles: Biography of Physics, Atomic Energy [dedicated to the hope of lasting peace], Physics of the Strapless Evning Gown,...We are lucky that Dover has reprinted some of them. Gamow's list of scientific accomplishments includes a 1948 landmark paper on the origin of chemical elements, the Big Bang model, and later work with F. Crick on DNA and genetic coding.-- Do more Gamow editions, Dover!

A popular science classic, 06 Nov 2002
Gamow wrote this book out of some articles he published over 50 years ago. The basic facts of modern physics are presented through the explanations that an Einstein-looking old professor gives to a bank clerk. The dreams, nightmares and reveries of this clerk introduce you in the realms of the relativity or take you to a wild journey among quantum creatures.

There is also a revised version (The New World of Mr Tompkins) that incorporates discoveries made since the original work was published.

Easily readable by the general public this though-provoking book remains fresh and enjoyable.

A classic returns, 11 Jul 2000
I read this first while doing a Physics degree in the 70's. I was impressed that such a great scientist as George Gamow could translate the complex and inside out worlds of relativity and quantum mechanics to Joe Public in such a clear and humorous way. By slowing down the speed of light to about 100 mph, he shows what would happen to the travellers and viewers of people who ride bikes and trains, and how that by living in such a weird place the uncommon becomes a way of life. Moving on to tunnelling ( a field in which Gamow achieve Nobel status) he agian shows that the seemingly impossible only remains so to those who refuse to see. Thanks George!

A very poor book, 15 Oct 2008
After reading the other reviews I was coming to terms with all the typos when I came across the definition of a vector space. In this author's version, a vector space contains a vector I such that I |a> = |a> for all |a> in V.

Now, I had never met this axiom before, so I was interested to see the examples to see what this might be. Unfortunately, the examples did not enlighten me any further.

The exposition is in general muddled and muddling. For instance, the explanation of the difference between a quantum state and a statistical mix of quantum states is more confusing than if it had been omitted. One section is called The Conservation of Probability, but all it does is arbitrarily define a probability current j(x,t) (incorrectly!) without any explanation of its relevance.

This is certainly not a good first book. Try Griffiths instead.

Delightfully tasty reading, 19 Sep 2007
This is an excellent book: well writen, easy to understand-but it could do with more examples.More explanations are needed as to the applications of certain formulae. Being a gifted Mahematician I taught myself from this book age 15 and i found it truly amazing though the learning curve gets steep. I would recommend to math/physics undergrads who are interested in applied math/physics.

Quantum physics demystified, 07 Sep 2007
Buyers beware that this is not a popular science book but rather one for the already mathematically competant. The title and zany cover could be misleading.

Errors demystified, 15 Dec 2006
Cons: The book lacks mathematical rigor. Too many important formulas and concepts are not derived from first principle. Also, the number of errors/typos in this book largely outnumber the cumulative of errors/typos in all my undergraduate books. I often found the emphasis was not done on the right things, mostly when it came to solve mathematical problems. The author solves them line by line but gives way too much details on simple algebra while rarely providing a detailed analysis of the result itself.

Pros: good for quick review or to initiate yourself to the subject. Provides answers to many typical quantum mechanical problems. I would definitely recommend using a reference book along with "Quantum Physics Demystified".

Excellent hands on practise in QM, 10 Nov 2006
Despite the large number of typographical errors ( which could be off putting for some) this is the first blow-by-blow hands on theory-example-solution(fully worked) approach to learning QM and I thoroughly recommend it for self study or as preparation for a more detailed study from the 'standard' texts on QM.
I really think this is a significant addition to texts on QM and if you do all the problems yourself before reading the solutions it could serve as a very powerful learning tool in this otherwise very challenging subject. For more on the full physical significance I guess further reading would be necessary as it has predominantly a mathematical approach. Great stuff......
I'd like more in this series!



An essential undergraduate text, 04 Jun 2004
Most physics degree courses don't cover the topic of Statistical Mechanics until some way through the second year and this is mostly due to students requiring a reasonable grounding in thermodynamics, which is traditionally a 2nd year topic. Statistical Mechanics: A Survival Guide is an excellent book for any student studying this subject as it starts off by explaining the basics of statistics in such a manner that is very easy to understand. The foundations that it sets in the first chapter ensure that you have a very clear understanding of these basics, which are extremely important for grasping the idea of a microstate, essential to deriving the distribution functions for the various types of particle. It gives very complete discussions on quantum statistics and its applications along with the standard sections on ideal gases. The links between thermodynamics and statistical mechanics are frequently highlighted so as to show how the two subjects go hand in hand. This is an excellent text on a subject that can become very complicated and the presentation and explanations in the book cannot be faulted.

My only quibble is the price - I would have expected just a little bit more for my money but nonetheless I still consider it an essential book for a physics student to have on their shelf.

The Holographic Universe; Leonard Susskind -James Lindesay, 27 Jul 2006
It's a really great little book. I got half-way through and realized I wasn't understanding the mathematics involved. I was not surprised by this as I am an artist with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.I have had little opportunity to learn the terms and concepts involved. So I stopped reading this book and read Roger Penrose's "Road to Reality". It is an excellent book from which I was able to learn about the mathematics, and a whole lot more. I then read Susskind's Holographic Universe without much trouble, understanding quite well what he is getting at. I would rate it as "terribly interesting".

An excellent update to a classic introduction to modern phys, 19 Sep 2004
My introduction to the world of the mild-mannered bank clerk with an interest in modern Physics came through copies of the original 1940s books rescued from a school library "disposal" pile. Unlike the school librarian I treasured those books, which presented hard science in a humorous, accessible way, and learned a lot from them.

George Gamow brought his original material up to date for "Mr Tompkins in Paperback" shortly before his death in 1968. However, since then Physics has moved on still further, and a new update was appropriate. Russell Stannard took on the challenge, and has done a superb job.

The new version brings both the science and the charming human back story fully up to date, and also addresses some inconsistencies in the earlier text and illustrations caused by their derivation from a group of separate magazine articles.

The books tackles all the main areas of modern Physics, from relativity to particle physics. Each topic is presented by both a serious (but straightforward) lecture text, and also by analogies in a dream experienced by one off the main characters. The two reinforce one another, and should leave the reader with a good basic understanding of all the key concepts. Familiarity with basic arithmetic and elementary concepts of classical physics are the only prerequisites, but the text should also be enjoyable for those with greater background knowledge.

I am very glad to see this classic developed for a new generation, and thoroughly recommend it.

Excellent, but just a new edition of the first Mr Tompkins, 24 Nov 2001
I bought this book thinking that it was different from the previous Mr Tompkins book, where in fact it is nothing more than a new edition. Still a great book, but surely a bit of a rip-off. Why didn't they just call it a new edition?

The easiest way to understand Physics, 26 Jan 2001
From the outset this book tries to portray the often complex world of Physics in a easy to understand way. Many books have attempted this but have failed, this is truly one of the best Physics books I have read for my age group. This book was one of the major contributing factor in me passing PHO2. This is one of the greatest rewriting of a book I have ever read. And pays much due respect to Gamov for his inventive way of teaching physics, to both physicists and the average person alike. And that is why I have given it 4 stars.

An modern update of the classic, 17 Sep 2000
George Gamow's classic introduction to a number of modern physics has been updated by Russell Stannard. Why? Well, despite it being an excellent introduction for young and old to the frankly bizarre concepts and affects of relativity and quantum physics, the original text was becoming somewhat dated. Telling a young girl to 'run along' as physics did not concern her, or talking about a 'tiger shoot' in todays modern climate, could distract the more sensitive away from the ideals of the book. What Stannard has done is modernise the text and analogies, provide more consistent stories and explanations, added some recent developments in modern physics, and updated the illustrations, all with the approval of Gamow's family. The result is a more accessable book that is still fun and thought-provoking. Buy it for yourself or your kids!

An excellent book, 29 Sep 2004
An excellent introduction into this fascinating subject. Starting with basic principles (such as what is matter, its constituents, what we mean by energy, and which are the physical forces in the universe), it leads the reader into the latest experiments of particle physics. This transition is done very smoothly, without confusing the reader. The book does not contain unecessary complicated information or mathematics. It is aimed at the non-specialist who has an interest in the subject and wants to comprehend a few things quickly and easily. I found this book very interesting and well written. I highly recommend it.

Wonderful book, 27 Mar 2008
For a layperson like myself who has no knowledge of the subject of Atomic physics (or any other science subject) and yet was gripped by the BBC series 'Atom', this book was the perfect partner to the series. Piers Bizony has made this mind-boggling subject understandable (almost) and very, very enjoyable.A wonderful book which I read at one sitting and I'm now eager for more.

Excellent stuff!!, 29 Jan 2008
It can be difficult for a layman to find material on Atomic physics which is entertaining, stimulating and which also has enough depth to enable you to walk away and say 'Oh - now I understand!'. Al-Khalili's book is deep enough to enable you to understand the gradual build-up of theory and how everything fit into everything that went before it. The biographies of the lead scientists enable the reader to see how a theory was part of a place and time and how new propositions were made on the basis of the thinking at the time. More importantly there is that sense of wonder, good humour and genuine reflective insight that make the best science books highly accessible but also highly informative. Certainly an excellent choice for the layman (me) and I would expect for those students who feel their lecturers suppose everyone to have walked in the door with ten years previous research experience!

Disappointing, 28 Jan 2008
No justice with the subject.We find more of short biographies of various scientists than the subject itself.A book far below expectation.

Atom....begin with basic building blocks!, 13 Oct 2007
I was hooked on the T.V series, which this book accompanies, and enthralled by the book, which I could not put down.My only disappointment was that the book did not cover the latter parts of the the T.V progamme in its foray into string theory and the cutting edge of contempoary physics. Having an interest in quantum physics, and the philosophy of science, (but not an education in physics to support it)I found that this book offers a coherent and comprehensible history of the development of ideas about the nature of the atom, which serves as an invaluable set of building blocks,from which to fashion a foundation of a better grasp of contemporary theory.I will certainly be buying the book by the same author on Quantum Theory.

A pearl!, 17 Sep 2003
A lovely reprinted edition of a peral from Gamow. The original edition has been out of print for a number of years. This 1993 edition has added commentary and a fascinating bio of Gamow. He was born in Odessa, in what was then Russia, --before the Soviet Union. The story of his escape to the West is straight out of a thriller. Only it is real! Gamow was referred to by a journalist, some time during the Cold War, as "the only scientist in America with a real sense of humor". He can take the most technical stuff and make it simple. Fun too! The book:--Intellectual treats, whimsy, but deep. Illustrated with lovely drawings by Gamow himself. Much of it can be understood by a child, and other parts might require a little concentration. All of it is great fun. The author Gamow started in nuclear physics, during the Golden Age of Physics, worked with Niels Bohr, then later in the US, on the Manhattan Project during WWII, and after the war, he was professor in Boulder Colorado. He has a building on campus named after him! The books he wrote are pearls, and they have been equally popular with my parent's generation as with mine. Luckely some have been reprinted! Other Gamow titles: Biography of Physics, Atomic Energy [dedicated to the hope of lasting peace], Physics of the Strapless Evning Gown,...We are lucky that Dover has reprinted some of them. Gamow's list of scientific accomplishments includes a 1948 landmark paper on the origin of chemical elements, the Big Bang model, and later work with F. Crick on DNA and genetic coding.-- Do more Gamow editions, Dover!

A popular science classic, 06 Nov 2002
Gamow wrote this book out of some articles he published over 50 years ago. The basic facts of modern physics are presented through the explanations that an Einstein-looking old professor gives to a bank clerk. The dreams, nightmares and reveries of this clerk introduce you in the realms of the relativity or take you to a wild journey among quantum creatures.

There is also a revised version (The New World of Mr Tompkins) that incorporates discoveries made since the original work was published.

Easily readable by the general public this though-provoking book remains fresh and enjoyable.

A classic returns, 11 Jul 2000
I read this first while doing a Physics degree in the 70's. I was impressed that such a great scientist as George Gamow could translate the complex and inside out worlds of relativity and quantum mechanics to Joe Public in such a clear and humorous way. By slowing down the speed of light to about 100 mph, he shows what would happen to the travellers and viewers of people who ride bikes and trains, and how that by living in such a weird place the uncommon becomes a way of life. Moving on to tunnelling ( a field in which Gamow achieve Nobel status) he agian shows that the seemingly impossible only remains so to those who refuse to see. Thanks George!

A very poor book, 15 Oct 2008
After reading the other reviews I was coming to terms with all the typos when I came across the definition of a vector space. In this author's version, a vector space contains a vector I such that I |a> = |a> for all |a> in V.

Now, I had never met this axiom before, so I was interested to see the examples to see what this might be. Unfortunately, the examples did not enlighten me any further.

The exposition is in general muddled and muddling. For instance, the explanation of the difference between a quantum state and a statistical mix of quantum states is more confusing than if it had been omitted. One section is called The Conservation of Probability, but all it does is arbitrarily define a probability current j(x,t) (incorrectly!) without any explanation of its relevance.

This is certainly not a good first book. Try Griffiths instead.

Delightfully tasty reading, 19 Sep 2007
This is an excellent book: well writen, easy to understand-but it could do with more examples.More explanations are needed as to the applications of certain formulae. Being a gifted Mahematician I taught myself from this book age 15 and i found it truly amazing though the learning curve gets steep. I would recommend to math/physics undergrads who are interested in applied math/physics.

Quantum physics demystified, 07 Sep 2007
Buyers beware that this is not a popular science book but rather one for the already mathematically competant. The title and zany cover could be misleading.

Errors demystified, 15 Dec 2006
Cons: The book lacks mathematical rigor. Too many important formulas and concepts are not derived from first principle. Also, the number of errors/typos in this book largely outnumber the cumulative of errors/typos in all my undergraduate books. I often found the emphasis was not done on the right things, mostly when it came to solve mathematical problems. The author solves them line by line but gives way too much details on simple algebra while rarely providing a detailed analysis of the result itself.

Pros: good for quick review or to initiate yourself to the subject. Provides answers to many typical quantum mechanical problems. I would definitely recommend using a reference book along with "Quantum Physics Demystified".

Excellent hands on practise in QM, 10 Nov 2006
Despite the large number of typographical errors ( which could be off putting for some) this is the first blow-by-blow hands on theory-example-solution(fully worked) approach to learning QM and I thoroughly recommend it for self study or as preparation for a more detailed study from the 'standard' texts on QM.
I really think this is a significant addition to texts on QM and if you do all the problems yourself before reading the solutions it could serve as a very powerful learning tool in this otherwise very challenging subject. For more on the full physical significance I guess further reading would be necessary as it has predominantly a mathematical approach. Great stuff......
I'd like more in this series!



An essential undergraduate text, 04 Jun 2004
Most physics degree courses don't cover the topic of Statistical Mechanics until some way through the second year and this is mostly due to students requiring a reasonable grounding in thermodynamics, which is traditionally a 2nd year topic. Statistical Mechanics: A Survival Guide is an excellent book for any student studying this subject as it starts off by explaining the basics of statistics in such a manner that is very easy to understand. The foundations that it sets in the first chapter ensure that you have a very clear understanding of these basics, which are extremely important for grasping the idea of a microstate, essential to deriving the distribution functions for the various types of particle. It gives very complete discussions on quantum statistics and its applications along with the standard sections on ideal gases. The links between thermodynamics and statistical mechanics are frequently highlighted so as to show how the two subjects go hand in hand. This is an excellent text on a subject that can become very complicated and the presentation and explanations in the book cannot be faulted.

My only quibble is the price - I would have expected just a little bit more for my money but nonetheless I still consider it an essential book for a physics student to have on their shelf.

The Holographic Universe; Leonard Susskind -James Lindesay, 27 Jul 2006
It's a really great little book. I got half-way through and realized I wasn't understanding the mathematics involved. I was not surprised by this as I am an artist with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.I have had little opportunity to learn the terms and concepts involved. So I stopped reading this book and read Roger Penrose's "Road to Reality". It is an excellent book from which I was able to learn about the mathematics, and a whole lot more. I then read Susskind's Holographic Universe without much trouble, understanding quite well what he is getting at. I would rate it as "terribly interesting".

An excellent update to a classic introduction to modern phys, 19 Sep 2004
My introduction to the world of the mild-mannered bank clerk with an interest in modern Physics came through copies of the original 1940s books rescued from a school library "disposal" pile. Unlike the school librarian I treasured those books, which presented hard science in a humorous, accessible way, and learned a lot from them.

George Gamow brought his original material up to date for "Mr Tompkins in Paperback" shortly before his death in 1968. However, since then Physics has moved on still further, and a new update was appropriate. Russell Stannard took on the challenge, and has done a superb job.

The new version brings both the science and the charming human back story fully up to date, and also addresses some inconsistencies in the earlier text and illustrations caused by their derivation from a group of separate magazine articles.

The books tackles all the main areas of modern Physics, from relativity to particle physics. Each topic is presented by both a serious (but straightforward) lecture text, and also by analogies in a dream experienced by one off the main characters. The two reinforce one another, and should leave the reader with a good basic understanding of all the key concepts. Familiarity with basic arithmetic and elementary concepts of classical physics are the only prerequisites, but the text should also be enjoyable for those with greater background knowledge.

I am very glad to see this classic developed for a new generation, and thoroughly recommend it.

Excellent, but just a new edition of the first Mr Tompkins, 24 Nov 2001
I bought this book thinking that it was different from the previous Mr Tompkins book, where in fact it is nothing more than a new edition. Still a great book, but surely a bit of a rip-off. Why didn't they just call it a new edition?

The easiest way to understand Physics, 26 Jan 2001
From the outset this book tries to portray the often complex world of Physics in a easy to understand way. Many books have attempted this but have failed, this is truly one of the best Physics books I have read for my age group. This book was one of the major contributing factor in me passing PHO2. This is one of the greatest rewriting of a book I have ever read. And pays much due respect to Gamov for his inventive way of teaching physics, to both physicists and the average person alike. And that is why I have given it 4 stars.

An modern update of the classic, 17 Sep 2000
George Gamow's classic introduction to a number of modern physics has been updated by Russell Stannard. Why? Well, despite it being an excellent introduction for young and old to the frankly bizarre concepts and affects of relativity and quantum physics, the original text was becoming somewhat dated. Telling a young girl to 'run along' as physics did not concern her, or talking about a 'tiger shoot' in todays modern climate, could distract the more sensitive away from the ideals of the book. What Stannard has done is modernise the text and analogies, provide more consistent stories and explanations, added some recent developments in modern physics, and updated the illustrations, all with the approval of Gamow's family. The result is a more accessable book that is still fun and thought-provoking. Buy it for yourself or your kids!

Thankyou Mark Fox for making Quantum Optics accessible and enjoyable!, 21 Oct 2007
I wish this book had been published when I first started as a grad student! Instead there was Loudon's "The Quantum Theory of Light" and Marlan Scully's "Quantum Optics" - both excellent books, but both lose sight of the fundamental physics, and do not really bridge the gap between most physics degrees and the subtle mathematical world of quantum optics. This is a book which really introduces the subject from a concise fundamental physics footing, taking into account that new grad students are not experts in the field - it is enough work for some students to come to terms with a lot of new mathematics, let alone try and understand where many physical approximations creep in - some quantum optics lectures simply introduce expressions without explanation, and this book seems to answer most of them.

A case in point is the quantum treatment of the Hanbury Brown-Twiss experiment, where in the treatement of one of the beamsplitter output ports, a subtraction appears. This book is the only place where I've clearly seen sufficient explanation, in a margin note, that this arises through conservation of energy (actually you are not handed this on a plate, but given a guided problem that shows how it arises, which is a good idea).

And here lies the only complaint about the book, that it uses margin notes. It might sound a strange complaint, perhaps its just me being stupid, but if you've spent a few years reading books and papers where you're used to scanning through single column blocks of text for a vital bit of information, your eyes don't immediately notice an off-set, small block of margin text (in small font, so it looks like a figure caption). A few times I've been caught out searching for explanations in the main body of the text, only to realise after much head scratching that its in the margin notes!

In all, I find this the best book I've ever read - it makes quantum optics enjoyable, simply because of the grass-roots physics. Not everybody in quantum optics is a theorist, some people actually have to do experiments, which is the hardest part of quantum optics.

Thankyou Mark Fox for making Quantum Optics accessible and enjoyable to all!

An excellent book, 29 Sep 2004
An excellent introduction into this fascinating subject. Starting with basic principles (such as what is matter, its constituents, what we mean by energy, and which are the physical forces in the universe), it leads the reader into the latest experiments of particle physics. This transition is done very smoothly, without confusing the reader. The book does not contain unecessary complicated information or mathematics. It is aimed at the non-specialist who has an interest in the subject and wants to comprehend a few things quickly and easily. I found this book very interesting and well written. I highly recommend it.

Wonderful book, 27 Mar 2008
For a layperson like myself who has no knowledge of the subject of Atomic physics (or any other science subject) and yet was gripped by the BBC series 'Atom', this book was the perfect partner to the series. Piers Bizony has made this mind-boggling subject understandable (almost) and very, very enjoyable.A wonderful book which I read at one sitting and I'm now eager for more.

Excellent stuff!!, 29 Jan 2008
It can be difficult for a layman to find material on Atomic physics which is entertaining, stimulating and which also has enough depth to enable you to walk away and say 'Oh - now I understand!'. Al-Khalili's book is deep enough to enable you to understand the gradual build-up of theory and how everything fit into everything that went before it. The biographies of the lead scientists enable the reader to see how a theory was part of a place and time and how new propositions were made on the basis of the thinking at the time. More importantly there is that sense of wonder, good humour and genuine reflective insight that make the best science books highly accessible but also highly informative. Certainly an excellent choice for the layman (me) and I would expect for those students who feel their lecturers suppose everyone to have walked in the door with ten years previous research experience!

Disappointing, 28 Jan 2008
No justice with the subject.We find more of short biographies of various scientists than the subject itself.A book far below expectation.

Atom....begin with basic building blocks!, 13 Oct 2007
I was hooked on the T.V series, which this book accompanies, and enthralled by the book, which I could not put down.My only disappointment was that the book did not cover the latter parts of the the T.V progamme in its foray into string theory and the cutting edge of contempoary physics. Having an interest in quantum physics, and the philosophy of science, (but not an education in physics to support it)I found that this book offers a coherent and comprehensible history of the development of ideas about the nature of the atom, which serves as an invaluable set of building blocks,from which to fashion a foundation of a better grasp of contemporary theory.I will certainly be buying the book by the same author on Quantum Theory.

A pearl!, 17 Sep 2003
A lovely reprinted edition of a peral from Gamow. The original edition has been out of print for a number of years. This 1993 edition has added commentary and a fascinating bio of Gamow. He was born in Odessa, in what was then Russia, --before the Soviet Union. The story of his escape to the West is straight out of a thriller. Only it is real! Gamow was referred to by a journalist, some time during the Cold War, as "the only scientist in America with a real sense of humor". He can take the most technical stuff and make it simple. Fun too! The book:--Intellectual treats, whimsy, but deep. Illustrated with lovely drawings by Gamow himself. Much of it can be understood by a child, and other parts might require a little concentration. All of it is great fun. The author Gamow started in nuclear physics, during the Golden Age of Physics, worked with Niels Bohr, then later in the US, on the Manhattan Project during WWII, and after the war, he was professor in Boulder Colorado. He has a building on campus named after him! The books he wrote are pearls, and they have been equally popular with my parent's generation as with mine. Luckely some have been reprinted! Other Gamow titles: Biography of Physics, Atomic Energy [dedicated to the hope of lasting peace], Physics of the Strapless Evning Gown,...We are lucky that Dover has reprinted some of them. Gamow's list of scientific accomplishments includes a 1948 landmark paper on the origin of chemical elements, the Big Bang model, and later work with F. Crick on DNA and genetic coding.-- Do more Gamow editions, Dover!

A popular science classic, 06 Nov 2002
Gamow wrote this book out of some articles he published over 50 years ago. The basic facts of modern physics are presented through the explanations that an Einstein-looking old professor gives to a bank clerk. The dreams, nightmares and reveries of this clerk introduce you in the realms of the relativity or take you to a wild journey among quantum creatures.

There is also a revised version (The New World of Mr Tompkins) that incorporates discoveries made since the original work was published.

Easily readable by the general public this though-provoking book remains fresh and enjoyable.

A classic returns, 11 Jul 2000
I read this first while doing a Physics degree in the 70's. I was impressed that such a great scientist as George Gamow could translate the complex and inside out worlds of relativity and quantum mechanics to Joe Public in such a clear and humorous way. By slowing down the speed of light to about 100 mph, he shows what would happen to the travellers and viewers of people who ride bikes and trains, and how that by living in such a weird place the uncommon becomes a way of life. Moving on to tunnelling ( a field in which Gamow achieve Nobel status) he agian shows that the seemingly impossible only remains so to those who refuse to see. Thanks George!

A very poor book, 15 Oct 2008
After reading the other reviews I was coming to terms with all the typos when I came across the definition of a vector space. In this author's version, a vector space contains a vector I such that I |a> = |a> for all |a> in V.

Now, I had never met this axiom before, so I was interested to see the examples to see what this might be. Unfortunately, the examples did not enlighten me any further.

The exposition is in general muddled and muddling. For instance, the explanation of the difference between a quantum state and a statistical mix of quantum states is more confusing than if it had been omitted. One section is called The Conservation of Probability, but all it does is arbitrarily define a probability current j(x,t) (incorrectly!) without any explanation of its relevance.

This is certainly not a good first book. Try Griffiths instead.

Delightfully tasty reading, 19 Sep 2007
This is an excellent book: well writen, easy to understand-but it could do with more examples.More explanations are needed as to the applications of certain formulae. Being a gifted Mahematician I taught myself from this book age 15 and i found it truly amazing though the learning curve gets steep. I would recommend to math/physics undergrads who are interested in applied math/physics.

Quantum physics demystified, 07 Sep 2007
Buyers beware that this is not a popular science book but rather one for the already mathematically competant. The title and zany cover could be misleading.

Errors demystified, 15 Dec 2006
Cons: The book lacks mathematical rigor. Too many important formulas and concepts are not derived from first principle. Also, the number of errors/typos in this book largely outnumber the cumulative of errors/typos in all my undergraduate books. I often found the emphasis was not done on the right things, mostly when it came to solve mathematical problems. The author solves them line by line but gives way too much details on simple algebra while rarely providing a detailed analysis of the result itself.

Pros: good for quick review or to initiate yourself to the subject. Provides answers to many typical quantum mechanical problems. I would definitely recommend using a reference book along with "Quantum Physics Demystified".

Excellent hands on practise in QM, 10 Nov 2006
Despite the large number of typographical errors ( which could be off putting for some) this is the first blow-by-blow hands on theory-example-solution(fully worked) approach to learning QM and I thoroughly recommend it for self study or as preparation for a more detailed study from the 'standard' texts on QM.
I really think this is a significant addition to texts on QM and if you do all the problems yourself before reading the solutions it could serve as a very powerful learning tool in this otherwise very challenging subject. For more on the full physical significance I guess further reading would be necessary as it has predominantly a mathematical approach. Great stuff......
I'd like more in this series!



An essential undergraduate text, 04 Jun 2004
Most physics degree courses don't cover the topic of Statistical Mechanics until some way through the second year and this is mostly due to students requiring a reasonable grounding in thermodynamics, which is traditionally a 2nd year topic. Statistical Mechanics: A Survival Guide is an excellent book for any student studying this subject as it starts off by explaining the basics of statistics in such a manner that is very easy to understand. The foundations that it sets in the first chapter ensure that you have a very clear understanding of these basics, which are extremely important for grasping the idea of a microstate, essential to deriving the distribution functions for the various types of particle. It gives very complete discussions on quantum statistics and its applications along with the standard sections on ideal gases. The links between thermodynamics and statistical mechanics are frequently highlighted so as to show how the two subjects go hand in hand. This is an excellent text on a subject that can become very complicated and the presentation and explanations in the book cannot be faulted.

My only quibble is the price - I would have expected just a little bit more for my money but nonetheless I still consider it an essential book for a physics student to have on their shelf.

The Holographic Universe; Leonard Susskind -James Lindesay, 27 Jul 2006
It's a really great little book. I got half-way through and realized I wasn't understanding the mathematics involved. I was not surprised by this as I am an artist with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.I have had little opportunity to learn the terms and concepts involved. So I stopped reading this book and read Roger Penrose's "Road to Reality". It is an excellent book from which I was able to learn about the mathematics, and a whole lot more. I then read Susskind's Holographic Universe without much trouble, understanding quite well what he is getting at. I would rate it as "terribly interesting".

An excellent update to a classic introduction to modern phys, 19 Sep 2004
My introduction to the world of the mild-mannered bank clerk with an interest in modern Physics came through copies of the original 1940s books rescued from a school library "disposal" pile. Unlike the school librarian I treasured those books, which presented hard science in a humorous, accessible way, and learned a lot from them.

George Gamow brought his original material up to date for "Mr Tompkins in Paperback" shortly before his death in 1968. However, since then Physics has moved on still further, and a new update was appropriate. Russell Stannard took on the challenge, and has done a superb job.

The new version brings both the science and the charming human back story fully up to date, and also addresses some inconsistencies in the earlier text and illustrations caused by their derivation from a group of separate magazine articles.

The books tackles all the main areas of modern Physics, from relativity to particle physics. Each topic is presented by both a serious (but straightforward) lecture text, and also by analogies in a dream experienced by one off the main characters. The two reinforce one another, and should leave the reader with a good basic understanding of all the key concepts. Familiarity with basic arithmetic and elementary concepts of classical physics are the only prerequisites, but the text should also be enjoyable for those with greater background knowledge.

I am very glad to see this classic developed for a new generation, and thoroughly recommend it.

Excellent, but just a new edition of the first Mr Tompkins, 24 Nov 2001
I bought this book thinking that it was different from the previous Mr Tompkins book, where in fact it is nothing more than a new edition. Still a great book, but surely a bit of a rip-off. Why didn't they just call it a new edition?

The easiest way to understand Physics, 26 Jan 2001
From the outset this book tries to portray the often complex world of Physics in a easy to understand way. Many books have attempted this but have failed, this is truly one of the best Physics books I have read for my age group. This book was one of the major contributing factor in me passing PHO2. This is one of the greatest rewriting of a book I have ever read. And pays much due respect to Gamov for his inventive way of teaching physics, to both physicists and the average person alike. And that is why I have given it 4 stars.

An modern update of the classic, 17 Sep 2000
George Gamow's classic introduction to a number of modern physics has been updated by Russell Stannard. Why? Well, despite it being an excellent introduction for young and old to the frankly bizarre concepts and affects of relativity and quantum physics, the original text was becoming somewhat dated. Telling a young girl to 'run along' as physics did not concern her, or talking about a 'tiger shoot' in todays modern climate, could distract the more sensitive away from the ideals of the book. What Stannard has done is modernise the text and analogies, provide more consistent stories and explanations, added some recent developments in modern physics, and updated the illustrations, all with the approval of Gamow's family. The result is a more accessable book that is still fun and thought-provoking. Buy it for yourself or your kids!

Thankyou Mark Fox for making Quantum Optics accessible and enjoyable!, 21 Oct 2007
I wish this book had been published when I first started as a grad student! Instead there was Loudon's "The Quantum Theory of Light" and Marlan Scully's "Quantum Optics" - both excellent books, but both lose sight of the fundamental physics, and do not really bridge the gap between most physics degrees and the subtle mathematical world of quantum optics. This is a book which really introduces the subject from a concise fundamental physics footing, taking into account that new grad students are not experts in the field - it is enough work for some students to come to terms with a lot of new mathematics, let alone try and understand where many physical approximations creep in - some quantum optics lectures simply introduce expressions without explanation, and this book seems to answer most of them.

A case in point is the quantum treatment of the Hanbury Brown-Twiss experiment, where in the treatement of one of the beamsplitter output ports, a subtraction appears. This book is the only place where I've clearly seen sufficient explanation, in a margin note, that this arises through conservation of energy (actually you are not handed this on a plate, but given a guided problem that shows how it arises, which is a good idea).

And here lies the only complaint about the book, that it uses margin notes. It might sound a strange complaint, perhaps its just me being stupid, but if you've spent a few years reading books and papers where you're used to scanning through single column blocks of text for a vital bit of information, your eyes don't immediately notice an off-set, small block of margin text (in small font, so it looks like a figure caption). A few times I've been caught out searching for explanations in the main body of the text, only to realise after much head scratching that its in the margin notes!

In all, I find this the best book I've ever read - it makes quantum optics enjoyable, simply because of the grass-roots physics. Not everybody in quantum optics is a theorist, some people actually have to do experiments, which is the hardest part of quantum optics.

Thankyou Mark