The personal touch, 11 Nov 2008
I really enjoyed reading this book!
Excellent, interesting, story and subject.

I thought Kumar put it across in a very entertaining way, I did not get all of the minutia of the physics but that did not matter, I especially
enjoyed the suspense and his sense of humour. I also enjoyed the way
the story wove characters and events together, all the way through I was kept interested, he knows how to tell a story.
I got alot out of the information in the book; it filled in gaps for me in my knowledge about the subject as well as providing a really interesting back drop to the stuff I'd done at school. (I liked science till I got to the 6th Form.) The book worked on many different levels, as a history I became aware that there were quite often unintended results or consequences from experiments or ideas, some times others taking up
something someone else had accidently stumbled across and looking at it in a new way, I liked that, I found it thought provoking.
This gave me an interesting insight in to the whole unfolding
understanding of the science as it happened in time, this was one of the main areas focused on. Another aspect, the personalities
and how they interacted what they got up to I enjoyed hearing about
their interests and how they lived. 'Painting a picture' of the
scientists as people really worked for me.



Bookbag.co.uk, 07 Nov 2008
Quantum is a fascinating, powerful and brilliantly written book that shows one of the most important theories of modern science in the making and discusses its implications for our ideas about the fundamental nature of the world and human knowledge, while presenting intimate and insightful portraits of people who made the science. Highly recommended.

Magda Healey writing for the Bookbag.co.uk





Quantum Theory - The Human Story, 17 Oct 2008

This is fascinating book written as a narrative history of those scientists who contributed to the development of Quantum Theory - one of the most important challenges to orthodox thinking in the whole history of ideas.

The book does a very good job of establishing how classical physics of the 19th Century was seen as completed and except for a few minor details that needed tidying up, the consensus was that nothing really fundamental at a theoretical level was left to discover.
Kumar explores how this certainty that physics was done and dusted came to unravel and how an idea as counter intuitive as the quantum came to be accepted by most physicists.

This manner of exploring quantum theory through its historical development allows anyone with a basic grasp of science to understand why it is so revolutionary in its implications. At the centre of this story is the struggle between Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr about what our attitude to the reality should be.

Mixing historical narrative with the scientific ideas that were in contention brings quantum theory to a much broader audience of readers than is generally possible with this sort of material.

Part social history, part popular science as well as raising questions of a philosophical nature - this makes a cracking read and comes highly recommended.

Jenny Gardener

The personal touch, 11 Nov 2008
I really enjoyed reading this book!
Excellent, interesting, story and subject.

I thought Kumar put it across in a very entertaining way, I did not get all of the minutia of the physics but that did not matter, I especially
enjoyed the suspense and his sense of humour. I also enjoyed the way
the story wove characters and events together, all the way through I was kept interested, he knows how to tell a story.
I got alot out of the information in the book; it filled in gaps for me in my knowledge about the subject as well as providing a really interesting back drop to the stuff I'd done at school. (I liked science till I got to the 6th Form.) The book worked on many different levels, as a history I became aware that there were quite often unintended results or consequences from experiments or ideas, some times others taking up
something someone else had accidently stumbled across and looking at it in a new way, I liked that, I found it thought provoking.
This gave me an interesting insight in to the whole unfolding
understanding of the science as it happened in time, this was one of the main areas focused on. Another aspect, the personalities
and how they interacted what they got up to I enjoyed hearing about
their interests and how they lived. 'Painting a picture' of the
scientists as people really worked for me.



Bookbag.co.uk, 07 Nov 2008
Quantum is a fascinating, powerful and brilliantly written book that shows one of the most important theories of modern science in the making and discusses its implications for our ideas about the fundamental nature of the world and human knowledge, while presenting intimate and insightful portraits of people who made the science. Highly recommended.

Magda Healey writing for the Bookbag.co.uk





Quantum Theory - The Human Story, 17 Oct 2008

This is fascinating book written as a narrative history of those scientists who contributed to the development of Quantum Theory - one of the most important challenges to orthodox thinking in the whole history of ideas.

The book does a very good job of establishing how classical physics of the 19th Century was seen as completed and except for a few minor details that needed tidying up, the consensus was that nothing really fundamental at a theoretical level was left to discover.
Kumar explores how this certainty that physics was done and dusted came to unravel and how an idea as counter intuitive as the quantum came to be accepted by most physicists.

This manner of exploring quantum theory through its historical development allows anyone with a basic grasp of science to understand why it is so revolutionary in its implications. At the centre of this story is the struggle between Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr about what our attitude to the reality should be.

Mixing historical narrative with the scientific ideas that were in contention brings quantum theory to a much broader audience of readers than is generally possible with this sort of material.

Part social history, part popular science as well as raising questions of a philosophical nature - this makes a cracking read and comes highly recommended.

Jenny Gardener


Very Dissapointed , 10 Nov 2008
I was very dissapointed with this book but it serves me right as I bought it based on the hype. I cringed with just about every hack joke or wittism he tried. If you think you'll learn something even mildly serious about QM or are seeking painless enlightenment, this book is pointless even within its genre - read Feynmans QED and Six not so Easy Peaces (which are, really, once explained by Feynman.)These two simple books (with just a bit more of well worthwhile effort) you'll find will round rings around Chown. If you want enlightenment on Cosmology go for Asimov. If you know something about QM already you'll spot and cringe at the often mixed-up attemps to explain many things. The cartoon style cover does this book good justice though.



An excellent non-specialist account, 06 Oct 2008
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.

The most complex topic in the easiest way to read, 02 Oct 2008
After sometime of looking for a reading about quantum theory and relativity and after trying to read few books, I can tell now: I understand quantum theory and relativity. Previously, I tried some books but always the reading was so in the sky. This book lands all these complex concepts through simple examples giving you a clear view of the wonders that are hidden from our daily lives but keep our world running together.

The personal touch, 11 Nov 2008
I really enjoyed reading this book!
Excellent, interesting, story and subject.

I thought Kumar put it across in a very entertaining way, I did not get all of the minutia of the physics but that did not matter, I especially
enjoyed the suspense and his sense of humour. I also enjoyed the way
the story wove characters and events together, all the way through I was kept interested, he knows how to tell a story.
I got alot out of the information in the book; it filled in gaps for me in my knowledge about the subject as well as providing a really interesting back drop to the stuff I'd done at school. (I liked science till I got to the 6th Form.) The book worked on many different levels, as a history I became aware that there were quite often unintended results or consequences from experiments or ideas, some times others taking up
something someone else had accidently stumbled across and looking at it in a new way, I liked that, I found it thought provoking.
This gave me an interesting insight in to the whole unfolding
understanding of the science as it happened in time, this was one of the main areas focused on. Another aspect, the personalities
and how they interacted what they got up to I enjoyed hearing about
their interests and how they lived. 'Painting a picture' of the
scientists as people really worked for me.



Bookbag.co.uk, 07 Nov 2008
Quantum is a fascinating, powerful and brilliantly written book that shows one of the most important theories of modern science in the making and discusses its implications for our ideas about the fundamental nature of the world and human knowledge, while presenting intimate and insightful portraits of people who made the science. Highly recommended.

Magda Healey writing for the Bookbag.co.uk





Quantum Theory - The Human Story, 17 Oct 2008

This is fascinating book written as a narrative history of those scientists who contributed to the development of Quantum Theory - one of the most important challenges to orthodox thinking in the whole history of ideas.

The book does a very good job of establishing how classical physics of the 19th Century was seen as completed and except for a few minor details that needed tidying up, the consensus was that nothing really fundamental at a theoretical level was left to discover.
Kumar explores how this certainty that physics was done and dusted came to unravel and how an idea as counter intuitive as the quantum came to be accepted by most physicists.

This manner of exploring quantum theory through its historical development allows anyone with a basic grasp of science to understand why it is so revolutionary in its implications. At the centre of this story is the struggle between Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr about what our attitude to the reality should be.

Mixing historical narrative with the scientific ideas that were in contention brings quantum theory to a much broader audience of readers than is generally possible with this sort of material.

Part social history, part popular science as well as raising questions of a philosophical nature - this makes a cracking read and comes highly recommended.

Jenny Gardener


Very Dissapointed , 10 Nov 2008
I was very dissapointed with this book but it serves me right as I bought it based on the hype. I cringed with just about every hack joke or wittism he tried. If you think you'll learn something even mildly serious about QM or are seeking painless enlightenment, this book is pointless even within its genre - read Feynmans QED and Six not so Easy Peaces (which are, really, once explained by Feynman.)These two simple books (with just a bit more of well worthwhile effort) you'll find will round rings around Chown. If you want enlightenment on Cosmology go for Asimov. If you know something about QM already you'll spot and cringe at the often mixed-up attemps to explain many things. The cartoon style cover does this book good justice though.



An excellent non-specialist account, 06 Oct 2008
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.

The most complex topic in the easiest way to read, 02 Oct 2008
After sometime of looking for a reading about quantum theory and relativity and after trying to read few books, I can tell now: I understand quantum theory and relativity. Previously, I tried some books but always the reading was so in the sky. This book lands all these complex concepts through simple examples giving you a clear view of the wonders that are hidden from our daily lives but keep our world running together.

This book will change the way you see the world around you!, 18 Nov 2008
Lynne McTaggart is an award-winning investigative writer, who is perhaps best known for her revealing work in What Doctors Don't Tell You. But in The Field she moves from conventional medicine to traditional science, cutting-edge physics and the meaning of the universe itself.

The Field began when McTaggart started researching the basis for and validity of homoeopathy. Along the way, she states that she stumbled on evidence that most of what we think of as scientific fact is now being rewritten by a handful of very reputable and very established scientists.

With her very balanced and informative style of writing, McTaggart reveals research that will startle some and excite others. But no matter on which side of the fence you sit, you will come away from this book with the conclusion that the world simply doesn't work the way that many of us, including scientists themselves, thought it did not so long ago.

McTaggart does not exaggerate when she proclaims that we are "on the brink of a revolution" in terms of our understanding of science. And while this might sound like hyperbole that could be easily brushed aside, she has compiled enough evidence to back up her claim.

The research being undertaken may be heavy-duty if not obtuse, but McTaggart makes it very understandable. She leads us by the hand through experiments that have been under way for approximately the last fifty years. Their findings point to conclusions that the universe is more akin to a sea of vibrations.

The implications of this vibrational theory range from the potential of an inexhaustible source of energy to the explanation of clairvoyance, remote viewing and distance healing.

The Field is a fascinating book to read to say the least. And with her extensive footnotes and bibliography, it's difficult for even the most hardened of sceptics to dismiss. Simply put, The Field will change how you see things!

The Mind-Body Book The World Has Been Waiting For, 15 Nov 2008
Written by award-winning journalist Lynne McTaggart, "The Field: The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe" is a ground-breaking book exhaustively exploring the enchanting complexities and wondrous discoveries of modern-day 21st century science, adducing remarkable evidence to prove that "The Zero Point Field" connects everything we have seen, heard or encountered to the wide, convoluted tapestry of human experiences.
Renowned for her wit, diligence and profundity, McTaggart deftly delineates how we are all connected - not just to one another, but also to nature, places and everything else that has ever happened in our universe - collating meticulous research, extensive interviews, and historic documents to craft a palatable, inventive message that wonderfully stretches the imagination like never before.
Human potential, she advances, can far surpass what modern science stipulates. This contention, though, is not without it's detractors; and, not least to her astonishment, many have rallied to villify this legitimate presentation of the theory that there is a measurable "life-force" in the universe. But of the numerous discursions into the frustratingly opaque area of quantum physics, none, of course, shine with the same stirring brilliance and polished mastery like those in the last electrifying third of this best-selling book. In part three, readers are afforded the rare opportunity to hear hallowed scientists Bill Church, Hal Puthoff, Karl Pribram, Ed Mitchell, Robert Jahn and Rupert Sheldrake express their thoughts, feelings and concerns on the controversial subject.
Creator and publisher of the astonishing 1999 release "What Doctors Don't Tell You", McTaggart produces not only one of the most inspiring novels in the last few years, but also one that is buttressed by compelling research culled from all corners of the world. Despite it's abstruse concepts, "The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe" is imbued with a gripping readability, replacing the widely-accepted and conventional perpection of man with a vivid, arresting depiction of collective strength, spiritual attainment and human transcendence. Offering unparalleled insight into the world of the supernatural, "The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe" is fraught with multiple surprises, scintillating twists and extraordinary information: readers of all stripes - scientists, New Agers, physicists, philosophers - will definitely rush to grab onto this one.


Fascinating, 16 Jul 2008
Although written for the lay man, this book does take some concentration for those of us who have never studied physics. That said, it is well worth the effort. A fascinating read that will make you look at life, the world and the whole universe in a completely new way

wrong end of the trumpet...hmm?, 01 Jul 2008
I came across this book some years ago and, with a grounding in arts and only a couple of years of very elementary science, I cannot possibly comment on the current veracity of the ideas in it. The word 'science' is somewhat misleading deriving as it does from the Latin 'to know' whereas 'to guess' would provide a more honest root to this ever changing discipline.

It is some time since I read McTaggart but I recall it was an intersting read which triggered a tentative foray into Quantum Theory which sounded to me pretty much what the ancients and mystics had 'known' all along - although from my point of view McT was looking at things down the wrong end of the trumpet.

What Quantum seems to tell us is that there are no absolutes and that our thoughts, emotions and intentions form our experience of the 'material world'. Those still hooked on the idea of an 'absolute' (as I understand even Einstein was - spending the rest of his life trying to disprove his equation) will find refuge in religion of one sort or another... including science which has, for many, replaced older faiths.

So... having written this review of the book and talked it up, I suppose I'd better read it again to see if I agree with myself. Hey, ho...

Interesting, but not a particularly easy read , 13 May 2008
This book is full of interesting information, and cutting edge ideas based on new research into physics. However, I found it quite hard-going at times - the author's style isn't particularly readable. I often had to grit my teeth in determination just to make it to the end of a chapter - and unfortunately I gave up about two-thirds way through the book. I think this would be a great book in the hands of a more entertaining writer.

The personal touch, 11 Nov 2008
I really enjoyed reading this book!
Excellent, interesting, story and subject.

I thought Kumar put it across in a very entertaining way, I did not get all of the minutia of the physics but that did not matter, I especially
enjoyed the suspense and his sense of humour. I also enjoyed the way
the story wove characters and events together, all the way through I was kept interested, he knows how to tell a story.
I got alot out of the information in the book; it filled in gaps for me in my knowledge about the subject as well as providing a really interesting back drop to the stuff I'd done at school. (I liked science till I got to the 6th Form.) The book worked on many different levels, as a history I became aware that there were quite often unintended results or consequences from experiments or ideas, some times others taking up
something someone else had accidently stumbled across and looking at it in a new way, I liked that, I found it thought provoking.
This gave me an interesting insight in to the whole unfolding
understanding of the science as it happened in time, this was one of the main areas focused on. Another aspect, the personalities
and how they interacted what they got up to I enjoyed hearing about
their interests and how they lived. 'Painting a picture' of the
scientists as people really worked for me.



Bookbag.co.uk, 07 Nov 2008
Quantum is a fascinating, powerful and brilliantly written book that shows one of the most important theories of modern science in the making and discusses its implications for our ideas about the fundamental nature of the world and human knowledge, while presenting intimate and insightful portraits of people who made the science. Highly recommended.

Magda Healey writing for the Bookbag.co.uk





Quantum Theory - The Human Story, 17 Oct 2008

This is fascinating book written as a narrative history of those scientists who contributed to the development of Quantum Theory - one of the most important challenges to orthodox thinking in the whole history of ideas.

The book does a very good job of establishing how classical physics of the 19th Century was seen as completed and except for a few minor details that needed tidying up, the consensus was that nothing really fundamental at a theoretical level was left to discover.
Kumar explores how this certainty that physics was done and dusted came to unravel and how an idea as counter intuitive as the quantum came to be accepted by most physicists.

This manner of exploring quantum theory through its historical development allows anyone with a basic grasp of science to understand why it is so revolutionary in its implications. At the centre of this story is the struggle between Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr about what our attitude to the reality should be.

Mixing historical narrative with the scientific ideas that were in contention brings quantum theory to a much broader audience of readers than is generally possible with this sort of material.

Part social history, part popular science as well as raising questions of a philosophical nature - this makes a cracking read and comes highly recommended.

Jenny Gardener


Very Dissapointed , 10 Nov 2008
I was very dissapointed with this book but it serves me right as I bought it based on the hype. I cringed with just about every hack joke or wittism he tried. If you think you'll learn something even mildly serious about QM or are seeking painless enlightenment, this book is pointless even within its genre - read Feynmans QED and Six not so Easy Peaces (which are, really, once explained by Feynman.)These two simple books (with just a bit more of well worthwhile effort) you'll find will round rings around Chown. If you want enlightenment on Cosmology go for Asimov. If you know something about QM already you'll spot and cringe at the often mixed-up attemps to explain many things. The cartoon style cover does this book good justice though.



An excellent non-specialist account, 06 Oct 2008
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.

The most complex topic in the easiest way to read, 02 Oct 2008
After sometime of looking for a reading about quantum theory and relativity and after trying to read few books, I can tell now: I understand quantum theory and relativity. Previously, I tried some books but always the reading was so in the sky. This book lands all these complex concepts through simple examples giving you a clear view of the wonders that are hidden from our daily lives but keep our world running together.

This book will change the way you see the world around you!, 18 Nov 2008
Lynne McTaggart is an award-winning investigative writer, who is perhaps best known for her revealing work in What Doctors Don't Tell You. But in The Field she moves from conventional medicine to traditional science, cutting-edge physics and the meaning of the universe itself.

The Field began when McTaggart started researching the basis for and validity of homoeopathy. Along the way, she states that she stumbled on evidence that most of what we think of as scientific fact is now being rewritten by a handful of very reputable and very established scientists.

With her very balanced and informative style of writing, McTaggart reveals research that will startle some and excite others. But no matter on which side of the fence you sit, you will come away from this book with the conclusion that the world simply doesn't work the way that many of us, including scientists themselves, thought it did not so long ago.

McTaggart does not exaggerate when she proclaims that we are "on the brink of a revolution" in terms of our understanding of science. And while this might sound like hyperbole that could be easily brushed aside, she has compiled enough evidence to back up her claim.

The research being undertaken may be heavy-duty if not obtuse, but McTaggart makes it very understandable. She leads us by the hand through experiments that have been under way for approximately the last fifty years. Their findings point to conclusions that the universe is more akin to a sea of vibrations.

The implications of this vibrational theory range from the potential of an inexhaustible source of energy to the explanation of clairvoyance, remote viewing and distance healing.

The Field is a fascinating book to read to say the least. And with her extensive footnotes and bibliography, it's difficult for even the most hardened of sceptics to dismiss. Simply put, The Field will change how you see things!

The Mind-Body Book The World Has Been Waiting For, 15 Nov 2008
Written by award-winning journalist Lynne McTaggart, "The Field: The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe" is a ground-breaking book exhaustively exploring the enchanting complexities and wondrous discoveries of modern-day 21st century science, adducing remarkable evidence to prove that "The Zero Point Field" connects everything we have seen, heard or encountered to the wide, convoluted tapestry of human experiences.
Renowned for her wit, diligence and profundity, McTaggart deftly delineates how we are all connected - not just to one another, but also to nature, places and everything else that has ever happened in our universe - collating meticulous research, extensive interviews, and historic documents to craft a palatable, inventive message that wonderfully stretches the imagination like never before.
Human potential, she advances, can far surpass what modern science stipulates. This contention, though, is not without it's detractors; and, not least to her astonishment, many have rallied to villify this legitimate presentation of the theory that there is a measurable "life-force" in the universe. But of the numerous discursions into the frustratingly opaque area of quantum physics, none, of course, shine with the same stirring brilliance and polished mastery like those in the last electrifying third of this best-selling book. In part three, readers are afforded the rare opportunity to hear hallowed scientists Bill Church, Hal Puthoff, Karl Pribram, Ed Mitchell, Robert Jahn and Rupert Sheldrake express their thoughts, feelings and concerns on the controversial subject.
Creator and publisher of the astonishing 1999 release "What Doctors Don't Tell You", McTaggart produces not only one of the most inspiring novels in the last few years, but also one that is buttressed by compelling research culled from all corners of the world. Despite it's abstruse concepts, "The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe" is imbued with a gripping readability, replacing the widely-accepted and conventional perpection of man with a vivid, arresting depiction of collective strength, spiritual attainment and human transcendence. Offering unparalleled insight into the world of the supernatural, "The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe" is fraught with multiple surprises, scintillating twists and extraordinary information: readers of all stripes - scientists, New Agers, physicists, philosophers - will definitely rush to grab onto this one.


Fascinating, 16 Jul 2008
Although written for the lay man, this book does take some concentration for those of us who have never studied physics. That said, it is well worth the effort. A fascinating read that will make you look at life, the world and the whole universe in a completely new way

wrong end of the trumpet...hmm?, 01 Jul 2008
I came across this book some years ago and, with a grounding in arts and only a couple of years of very elementary science, I cannot possibly comment on the current veracity of the ideas in it. The word 'science' is somewhat misleading deriving as it does from the Latin 'to know' whereas 'to guess' would provide a more honest root to this ever changing discipline.

It is some time since I read McTaggart but I recall it was an intersting read which triggered a tentative foray into Quantum Theory which sounded to me pretty much what the ancients and mystics had 'known' all along - although from my point of view McT was looking at things down the wrong end of the trumpet.

What Quantum seems to tell us is that there are no absolutes and that our thoughts, emotions and intentions form our experience of the 'material world'. Those still hooked on the idea of an 'absolute' (as I understand even Einstein was - spending the rest of his life trying to disprove his equation) will find refuge in religion of one sort or another... including science which has, for many, replaced older faiths.

So... having written this review of the book and talked it up, I suppose I'd better read it again to see if I agree with myself. Hey, ho...

Interesting, but not a particularly easy read , 13 May 2008
This book is full of interesting information, and cutting edge ideas based on new research into physics. However, I found it quite hard-going at times - the author's style isn't particularly readable. I often had to grit my teeth in determination just to make it to the end of a chapter - and unfortunately I gave up about two-thirds way through the book. I think this would be a great book in the hands of a more entertaining writer.

The lawyers got at it!, 30 Jun 2007
I own a 3rd edition of this book. Its coverage of introductory QM is excellent and the explanations are clear. What is missing in the latest edition is the set of pithy reviews of other texts that Rae recommends- hence my comment in the title.

The chapter on relativistic equations -Dirac -lacks perspective and does not take one through the discussion of its explanation of the fine structure of the hydrogen spectrum. For this one needs the chapter of Schiff's text QM "relativistic wave equations".

An Enjoyable text, 07 Apr 2005
This is an informative and enjoyable book which does a good job of introducing the reader to the elegance of quantum mechanics. It is concise and digestible with a good development of the topic from fundamental principles upwards. I think that the previous comment about functional analysis somewhat misses the point that this aims to be an introductory text. Infact I would say that it makes a good precursor to this topic and other more advanced ones.

Great book, new edition, 4th is out with more, 13 Jul 2002
This book is one the best quantum mechanics textbooks available. It is clear, smart and conceptually deep. It also covers the latest (in the 4th edition) on quantum computation and the debate on the foundations of quantum mechanics. I highly recommend it.

A brilliant book with updated material, 13 Jul 2002
This book is not only fun to read, but contains the latest material on quantum computation, quantum teleportation, and the debate over the concepts of quantum mechanics. The text is clear and sharp. Written for undergraduate students, it can be read by anybody with college math (calculus, etc.). The beauty of quantum mechanics as exposed here will certainly make sure that you will read it nearly cover to cover.

stay well away..., 08 Mar 2002
I attended an introductory quantum mechanics course where this was the recommended text and can firmly say that this book doesn't do the subject any justice. There is just not enough mathematical formalism in this book, for example the relation between functional analysis and quantum mechanics is neglected. For a more analytic description of the underlying model of quatum mechanics I recommend Griffiths Intro to Quantum Mechanics.

Part history book and part remedial physics text for those who lost interest when the equations started getting unintuitive, In Search of Schrödinger's Cat explains quantum physics in a way that's not only clear, but also enjoyable.

Gribbin opens with the subjects that most physics professors have just started to examine by the end of term: the mysterious character of light; the valence concept in Nils Bohr's atomic model; radioactive decay; and the physics of life-defining DNA all get clear, comprehensive and witty coverage. This book reveals the beauty and mystery that underlies everything in the universe.

Does this book claim to explain quantum physics without maths? No. Maths is too central to physics to be bypassed. But if you can do basic algebra, you can understand the equations in In Search of Schrödinger's Cat. Gribbin is the physics teacher everyone should have in high school or college: kind without being a pushover, knowledgeable without being condescending, and clearly expressive without being boring. Gribbin's book belongs on the shelf of every pre-calculus student. It also deserves a place in the library of everyone who was scared away from advanced physics prematurely.

The personal touch, 11 Nov 2008
I really enjoyed reading this book!
Excellent, interesting, story and subject.

I thought Kumar put it across in a very entertaining way, I did not get all of the minutia of the physics but that did not matter, I especially
enjoyed the suspense and his sense of humour. I also enjoyed the way
the story wove characters and events together, all the way through I was kept interested, he knows how to tell a story.
I got alot out of the information in the book; it filled in gaps for me in my knowledge about the subject as well as providing a really interesting back drop to the stuff I'd done at school. (I liked science till I got to the 6th Form.) The book worked on many different levels, as a history I became aware that there were quite often unintended results or consequences from experiments or ideas, some times others taking up
something someone else had accidently stumbled across and looking at it in a new way, I liked that, I found it thought provoking.
This gave me an interesting insight in to the whole unfolding
understanding of the science as it happened in time, this was one of the main areas focused on. Another aspect, the personalities
and how they interacted what they got up to I enjoyed hearing about
their interests and how they lived. 'Painting a picture' of the
scientists as people really worked for me.



Bookbag.co.uk, 07 Nov 2008
Quantum is a fascinating, powerful and brilliantly written book that shows one of the most important theories of modern science in the making and discusses its implications for our ideas about the fundamental nature of the world and human knowledge, while presenting intimate and insightful portraits of people who made the science. Highly recommended.

Magda Healey writing for the Bookbag.co.uk





Quantum Theory - The Human Story, 17 Oct 2008

This is fascinating book written as a narrative history of those scientists who contributed to the development of Quantum Theory - one of the most important challenges to orthodox thinking in the whole history of ideas.

The book does a very good job of establishing how classical physics of the 19th Century was seen as completed and except for a few minor details that needed tidying up, the consensus was that nothing really fundamental at a theoretical level was left to discover.
Kumar explores how this certainty that physics was done and dusted came to unravel and how an idea as counter intuitive as the quantum came to be accepted by most physicists.

This manner of exploring quantum theory through its historical development allows anyone with a basic grasp of science to understand why it is so revolutionary in its implications. At the centre of this story is the struggle between Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr about what our attitude to the reality should be.

Mixing historical narrative with the scientific ideas that were in contention brings quantum theory to a much broader audience of readers than is generally possible with this sort of material.

Part social history, part popular science as well as raising questions of a philosophical nature - this makes a cracking read and comes highly recommended.

Jenny Gardener


Very Dissapointed , 10 Nov 2008
I was very dissapointed with this book but it serves me right as I bought it based on the hype. I cringed with just about every hack joke or wittism he tried. If you think you'll learn something even mildly serious about QM or are seeking painless enlightenment, this book is pointless even within its genre - read Feynmans QED and Six not so Easy Peaces (which are, really, once explained by Feynman.)These two simple books (with just a bit more of well worthwhile effort) you'll find will round rings around Chown. If you want enlightenment on Cosmology go for Asimov. If you know something about QM already you'll spot and cringe at the often mixed-up attemps to explain many things. The cartoon style cover does this book good justice though.



An excellent non-specialist account, 06 Oct 2008
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.

The most complex topic in the easiest way to read, 02 Oct 2008
After sometime of looking for a reading about quantum theory and relativity and after trying to read few books, I can tell now: I understand quantum theory and relativity. Previously, I tried some books but always the reading was so in the sky. This book lands all these complex concepts through simple examples giving you a clear view of the wonders that are hidden from our daily lives but keep our world running together.

This book will change the way you see the world around you!, 18 Nov 2008
Lynne McTaggart is an award-winning investigative writer, who is perhaps best known for her revealing work in What Doctors Don't Tell You. But in The Field she moves from conventional medicine to traditional science, cutting-edge physics and the meaning of the universe itself.

The Field began when McTaggart started researching the basis for and validity of homoeopathy. Along the way, she states that she stumbled on evidence that most of what we think of as scientific fact is now being rewritten by a handful of very reputable and very established scientists.

With her very balanced and informative style of writing, McTaggart reveals research that will startle some and excite others. But no matter on which side of the fence you sit, you will come away from this book with the conclusion that the world simply doesn't work the way that many of us, including scientists themselves, thought it did not so long ago.

McTaggart does not exaggerate when she proclaims that we are "on the brink of a revolution" in terms of our understanding of science. And while this might sound like hyperbole that could be easily brushed aside, she has compiled enough evidence to back up her claim.

The research being undertaken may be heavy-duty if not obtuse, but McTaggart makes it very understandable. She leads us by the hand through experiments that have been under way for approximately the last fifty years. Their findings point to conclusions that the universe is more akin to a sea of vibrations.

The implications of this vibrational theory range from the potential of an inexhaustible source of energy to the explanation of clairvoyance, remote viewing and distance healing.

The Field is a fascinating book to read to say the least. And with her extensive footnotes and bibliography, it's difficult for even the most hardened of sceptics to dismiss. Simply put, The Field will change how you see things!

The Mind-Body Book The World Has Been Waiting For, 15 Nov 2008
Written by award-winning journalist Lynne McTaggart, "The Field: The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe" is a ground-breaking book exhaustively exploring the enchanting complexities and wondrous discoveries of modern-day 21st century science, adducing remarkable evidence to prove that "The Zero Point Field" connects everything we have seen, heard or encountered to the wide, convoluted tapestry of human experiences.
Renowned for her wit, diligence and profundity, McTaggart deftly delineates how we are all connected - not just to one another, but also to nature, places and everything else that has ever happened in our universe - collating meticulous research, extensive interviews, and historic documents to craft a palatable, inventive message that wonderfully stretches the imagination like never before.
Human potential, she advances, can far surpass what modern science stipulates. This contention, though, is not without it's detractors; and, not least to her astonishment, many have rallied to villify this legitimate presentation of the theory that there is a measurable "life-force" in the universe. But of the numerous discursions into the frustratingly opaque area of quantum physics, none, of course, shine with the same stirring brilliance and polished mastery like those in the last electrifying third of this best-selling book. In part three, readers are afforded the rare opportunity to hear hallowed scientists Bill Church, Hal Puthoff, Karl Pribram, Ed Mitchell, Robert Jahn and Rupert Sheldrake express their thoughts, feelings and concerns on the controversial subject.
Creator and publisher of the astonishing 1999 release "What Doctors Don't Tell You", McTaggart produces not only one of the most inspiring novels in the last few years, but also one that is buttressed by compelling research culled from all corners of the world. Despite it's abstruse concepts, "The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe" is imbued with a gripping readability, replacing the widely-accepted and conventional perpection of man with a vivid, arresting depiction of collective strength, spiritual attainment and human transcendence. Offering unparalleled insight into the world of the supernatural, "The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe" is fraught with multiple surprises, scintillating twists and extraordinary information: readers of all stripes - scientists, New Agers, physicists, philosophers - will definitely rush to grab onto this one.


Fascinating, 16 Jul 2008
Although written for the lay man, this book does take some concentration for those of us who have never studied physics. That said, it is well worth the effort. A fascinating read that will make you look at life, the world and the whole universe in a completely new way

wrong end of the trumpet...hmm?, 01 Jul 2008
I came across this book some years ago and, with a grounding in arts and only a couple of years of very elementary science, I cannot possibly comment on the current veracity of the ideas in it. The word 'science' is somewhat misleading deriving as it does from the Latin 'to know' whereas 'to guess' would provide a more honest root to this ever changing discipline.

It is some time since I read McTaggart but I recall it was an intersting read which triggered a tentative foray into Quantum Theory which sounded to me pretty much what the ancients and mystics had 'known' all along - although from my point of view McT was looking at things down the wrong end of the trumpet.

What Quantum seems to tell us is that there are no absolutes and that our thoughts, emotions and intentions form our experience of the 'material world'. Those still hooked on the idea of an 'absolute' (as I understand even Einstein was - spending the rest of his life trying to disprove his equation) will find refuge in religion of one sort or another... including science which has, for many, replaced older faiths.

So... having written this review of the book and talked it up, I suppose I'd better read it again to see if I agree with myself. Hey, ho...

Interesting, but not a particularly easy read , 13 May 2008
This book is full of interesting information, and cutting edge ideas based on new research into physics. However, I found it quite hard-going at times - the author's style isn't particularly readable. I often had to grit my teeth in determination just to make it to the end of a chapter - and unfortunately I gave up about two-thirds way through the book. I think this would be a great book in the hands of a more entertaining writer.

The lawyers got at it!, 30 Jun 2007
I own a 3rd edition of this book. Its coverage of introductory QM is excellent and the explanations are clear. What is missing in the latest edition is the set of pithy reviews of other texts that Rae recommends- hence my comment in the title.

The chapter on relativistic equations -Dirac -lacks perspective and does not take one through the discussion of its explanation of the fine structure of the hydrogen spectrum. For this one needs the chapter of Schiff's text QM "relativistic wave equations".

An Enjoyable text, 07 Apr 2005
This is an informative and enjoyable book which does a good job of introducing the reader to the elegance of quantum mechanics. It is concise and digestible with a good development of the topic from fundamental principles upwards. I think that the previous comment about functional analysis somewhat misses the point that this aims to be an introductory text. Infact I would say that it makes a good precursor to this topic and other more advanced ones.

Great book, new edition, 4th is out with more, 13 Jul 2002
This book is one the best quantum mechanics textbooks available. It is clear, smart and conceptually deep. It also covers the latest (in the 4th edition) on quantum computation and the debate on the foundations of quantum mechanics. I highly recommend it.

A brilliant book with updated material, 13 Jul 2002
This book is not only fun to read, but contains the latest material on quantum computation, quantum teleportation, and the debate over the concepts of quantum mechanics. The text is clear and sharp. Written for undergraduate students, it can be read by anybody with college math (calculus, etc.). The beauty of quantum mechanics as exposed here will certainly make sure that you will read it nearly cover to cover.

stay well away..., 08 Mar 2002
I attended an introductory quantum mechanics course where this was the recommended text and can firmly say that this book doesn't do the subject any justice. There is just not enough mathematical formalism in this book, for example the relation between functional analysis and quantum mechanics is neglected. For a more analytic description of the underlying model of quatum mechanics I recommend Griffiths Intro to Quantum Mechanics.

Excellent, 30 Oct 2008
This book brought it all together for me having previously read a selection of other books on qantum mechanics and I now consider this a must read for the novice with an interest for physics at the micro level. The author has a great way of making complicated subjects understandable and writing in a way that keeps you gripped and interested. I am on my second reading now and picking up yet more insights and feeling that I am really getting an understanding of this complicated and fascinating subject matter. Excellent.

It's not you, it's the book!, 25 Aug 2008
I obtained a good degree in physics twenty years ago, and I hoped to get a reasonable understanding of the main interpretations of quantum mechanics from this book. Some hope. I, especially, found the account of the Copenhagen interpretation disjointed and unclear. On the plus side, there are clear accounts of the "Many World's" interpretation, and the early history of Quantum Mechanics. But this doesn't gain it more than a star. The last few chapters certainly lose stars through trying to explain too many areas of quantum exotica in too few pages. These chapters lost me, but at least I had enough knowledge to know it was the book's fault and not mine! I pity the lay reader confronted with these chapters, and his (non-)explanation of the Copenhagen interpretation. If you're looking for a simple, clear, unbiased account of the interpretations of quantum mechanics, keep looking.

A great basic text, 05 Aug 2008
By its very nature physics is a a complex subject and I am always a little dubious of any review that claims to take the uninitiated from ignorance to a full understanding of the universe in less than 300 pages.
In this respect I dont think John Gribbin entirely succeeds either but In search of Scrodingers cat certainly takes a good stab at it. I defy anyone to read even half the book and not come away with a very different view of how the world or indeed worlds work. I would certainly recomend this book to any student about to embark on a Physics degree - Much lighter reading than the standard texts but at the same time provides powerful (and more importantly memorable) illustrations of all the basic principles.

Tough going, 24 Jul 2008
Yes, this is probably a good buy when you want to discover what quantum physics is about (though I've heard that Taking the Quantum Leap: The New Physics for Non-Scientists by Fred Alan Wolf is a strong competitor). Even so, as Gribbin took me further and further into the quantum thicket, I'm afraid I did lose track.
Maybe it's me. Or maybe the book's not quite what it's cracked up to be. Still, I feel it was worth the try. And I must grant the author this: at every step, he's very clear about what he's doing and where's he's leading you.

Popular physics at its very best, 30 May 2008
To put it simply - I have already read many popular science books about physics by many authors, but this is by far the best one I have ever read. John Gribbin has a gift to write about science in a very interesting way - I can't think of any other author with quite the same gift.

The personal touch, 11 Nov 2008
I really enjoyed reading this book!
Excellent, interesting, story and subject.

I thought Kumar put it across in a very entertaining way, I did not get all of the minutia of the physics but that did not matter, I especially
enjoyed the suspense and his sense of humour. I also enjoyed the way
the story wove characters and events together, all the way through I was kept interested, he knows how to tell a story.
I got alot out of the information in the book; it filled in gaps for me in my knowledge about the subject as well as providing a really interesting back drop to the stuff I'd done at school. (I liked science till I got to the 6th Form.) The book worked on many different levels, as a history I became aware that there were quite often unintended results or consequences from experiments or ideas, some times others taking up
something someone else had accidently stumbled across and looking at it in a new way, I liked that, I found it thought provoking.
This gave me an interesting insight in to the whole unfolding
understanding of the science as it happened in time, this was one of the main areas focused on. Another aspect, the personalities
and how they interacted what they got up to I enjoyed hearing about
their interests and how they lived. 'Painting a picture' of the
scientists as people really worked for me.



Bookbag.co.uk, 07 Nov 2008
Quantum is a fascinating, powerful and brilliantly written book that shows one of the most important theories of modern science in the making and discusses its implications for our ideas about the fundamental nature of the world and human knowledge, while presenting intimate and insightful portraits of people who made the science. Highly recommended.

Magda Healey writing for the Bookbag.co.uk





Quantum Theory - The Human Story, 17 Oct 2008

This is fascinating book written as a narrative history of those scientists who contributed to the development of Quantum Theory - one of the most important challenges to orthodox thinking in the whole history of ideas.

The book does a very good job of establishing how classical physics of the 19th Century was seen as completed and except for a few minor details that needed tidying up, the consensus was that nothing really fundamental at a theoretical level was left to discover.
Kumar explores how this certainty that physics was done and dusted came to unravel and how an idea as counter intuitive as the quantum came to be accepted by most physicists.

This manner of exploring quantum theory through its historical development allows anyone with a basic grasp of science to understand why it is so revolutionary in its implications. At the centre of this story is the struggle between Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr about what our attitude to the reality should be.

Mixing historical narrative with the scientific ideas that were in contention brings quantum theory to a much broader audience of readers than is generally possible with this sort of material.

Part social history, part popular science as well as raising questions of a philosophical nature - this makes a cracking read and comes highly recommended.

Jenny Gardener


Very Dissapointed , 10 Nov 2008
I was very dissapointed with this book but it serves me right as I bought it based on the hype. I cringed with just about every hack joke or wittism he tried. If you think you'll learn something even mildly serious about QM or are seeking painless enlightenment, this book is pointless even within its genre - read Feynmans QED and Six not so Easy Peaces (which are, really, once explained by Feynman.)These two simple books (with just a bit more of well worthwhile effort) you'll find will round rings around Chown. If you want enlightenment on Cosmology go for Asimov. If you know something about QM already you'll spot and cringe at the often mixed-up attemps to explain many things. The cartoon style cover does this book good justice though.



An excellent non-specialist account, 06 Oct 2008
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.

The most complex topic in the easiest way to read, 02 Oct 2008
After sometime of looking for a reading about quantum theory and relativity and after trying to read few books, I can tell now: I understand quantum theory and relativity. Previously, I tried some books but always the reading was so in the sky. This book lands all these complex concepts through simple examples giving you a clear view of the wonders that are hidden from our daily lives but keep our world running together.

This book will change the way you see the world around you!, 18 Nov 2008
Lynne McTaggart is an award-winning investigative writer, who is perhaps best known for her revealing work in What Doctors Don't Tell You. But in The Field she moves from conventional medicine to traditional science, cutting-edge physics and the meaning of the universe itself.

The Field began when McTaggart started researching the basis for and validity of homoeopathy. Along the way, she states that she stumbled on evidence that most of what we think of as scientific fact is now being rewritten by a handful of very reputable and very established scientists.

With her very balanced and informative style of writing, McTaggart reveals research that will startle some and excite others. But no matter on which side of the fence you sit, you will come away from this book with the conclusion that the world simply doesn't work the way that many of us, including scientists themselves, thought it did not so long ago.

McTaggart does not exaggerate when she proclaims that we are "on the brink of a revolution" in terms of our understanding of science. And while this might sound like hyperbole that could be easily brushed aside, she has compiled enough evidence to back up her claim.

The research being undertaken may be heavy-duty if not obtuse, but McTaggart makes it very understandable. She leads us by the hand through experiments that have been under way for approximately the last fifty years. Their findings point to conclusions that the universe is more akin to a sea of vibrations.

The implications of this vibrational theory range from the potential of an inexhaustible source of energy to the explanation of clairvoyance, remote viewing and distance healing.

The Field is a fascinating book to read to say the least. And with her extensive footnotes and bibliography, it's difficult for even the most hardened of sceptics to dismiss. Simply put, The Field will change how you see things!

The Mind-Body Book The World Has Been Waiting For, 15 Nov 2008
Written by award-winning journalist Lynne McTaggart, "The Field: The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe" is a ground-breaking book exhaustively exploring the enchanting complexities and wondrous discoveries of modern-day 21st century science, adducing remarkable evidence to prove that "The Zero Point Field" connects everything we have seen, heard or encountered to the wide, convoluted tapestry of human experiences.
Renowned for her wit, diligence and profundity, McTaggart deftly delineates how we are all connected - not just to one another, but also to nature, places and everything else that has ever happened in our universe - collating meticulous research, extensive interviews, and historic documents to craft a palatable, inventive message that wonderfully stretches the imagination like never before.
Human potential, she advances, can far surpass what modern science stipulates. This contention, though, is not without it's detractors; and, not least to her astonishment, many have rallied to villify this legitimate presentation of the theory that there is a measurable "life-force" in the universe. But of the numerous discursions into the frustratingly opaque area of quantum physics, none, of course, shine with the same stirring brilliance and polished mastery like those in the last electrifying third of this best-selling book. In part three, readers are afforded the rare opportunity to hear hallowed scientists Bill Church, Hal Puthoff, Karl Pribram, Ed Mitchell, Robert Jahn and Rupert Sheldrake express their thoughts, feelings and concerns on the controversial subject.
Creator and publisher of the astonishing 1999 release "What Doctors Don't Tell You", McTaggart produces not only one of the most inspiring novels in the last few years, but also one that is buttressed by compelling research culled from all corners of the world. Despite it's abstruse concepts, "The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe" is imbued with a gripping readability, replacing the widely-accepted and conventional perpection of man with a vivid, arresting depiction of collective strength, spiritual attainment and human transcendence. Offering unparalleled insight into the world of the supernatural, "The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe" is fraught with multiple surprises, scintillating twists and extraordinary information: readers of all stripes - scientists, New Agers, physicists, philosophers - will definitely rush to grab onto this one.


Fascinating, 16 Jul 2008
Although written for the lay man, this book does take some concentration for those of us who have never studied physics. That said, it is well worth the effort. A fascinating read that will make you look at life, the world and the whole universe in a completely new way

wrong end of the trumpet...hmm?, 01 Jul 2008
I came across this book some years ago and, with a grounding in arts and only a couple of years of very elementary science, I cannot possibly comment on the current veracity of the ideas in it. The word 'science' is somewhat misleading deriving as it does from the Latin 'to know' whereas 'to guess' would provide a more honest root to this ever changing discipline.

It is some time since I read McTaggart but I recall it was an intersting read which triggered a tentative foray into Quantum Theory which sounded to me pretty much what the ancients and mystics had 'known' all along - although from my point of view McT was looking at things down the wrong end of the trumpet.

What Quantum seems to tell us is that there are no absolutes and that our thoughts, emotions and intentions form our experience of the 'material world'. Those still hooked on the idea of an 'absolute' (as I understand even Einstein was - spending the rest of his life trying to disprove his equation) will find refuge in religion of one sort or another... including science which has, for many, replaced older faiths.

So... having written this review of the book and talked it up, I suppose I'd better read it again to see if I agree with myself. Hey, ho...

Interesting, but not a particularly easy read , 13 May 2008
This book is full of interesting information, and cutting edge ideas based on new research into physics. However, I found it quite hard-going at times - the author's style isn't particularly readable. I often had to grit my teeth in determination just to make it to the end of a chapter - and unfortunately I gave up about two-thirds way through the book. I think this would be a great book in the hands of a more entertaining writer.

The lawyers got at it!, 30 Jun 2007
I own a 3rd edition of this book. Its coverage of introductory QM is excellent and the explanations are clear. What is missing in the latest edition is the set of pithy reviews of other texts that Rae recommends- hence my comment in the title.

The chapter on relativistic equations -Dirac -lacks perspective and does not take one through the discussion of its explanation of the fine structure of the hydrogen spectrum. For this one needs the chapter of Schiff's text QM "relativistic wave equations".

An Enjoyable text, 07 Apr 2005
This is an informative and enjoyable book which does a good job of introducing the reader to the elegance of quantum mechanics. It is concise and digestible with a good development of the topic from fundamental principles upwards. I think that the previous comment about functional analysis somewhat misses the point that this aims to be an introductory text. Infact I would say that it makes a good precursor to this topic and other more advanced ones.

Great book, new edition, 4th is out with more, 13 Jul 2002
This book is one the best quantum mechanics textbooks available. It is clear, smart and conceptually deep. It also covers the latest (in the 4th edition) on quantum computation and the debate on the foundations of quantum mechanics. I highly recommend it.

A brilliant book with updated material, 13 Jul 2002
This book is not only fun to read, but contains the latest material on quantum computation, quantum teleportation, and the debate over the concepts of quantum mechanics. The text is clear and sharp. Written for undergraduate students, it can be read by anybody with college math (calculus, etc.). The beauty of quantum mechanics as exposed here will certainly make sure that you will read it nearly cover to cover.

stay well away..., 08 Mar 2002
I attended an introductory quantum mechanics course where this was the recommended text and can firmly say that this book doesn't do the subject any justice. There is just not enough mathematical formalism in this book, for example the relation between functional analysis and quantum mechanics is neglected. For a more analytic description of the underlying model of quatum mechanics I recommend Griffiths Intro to Quantum Mechanics.

Excellent, 30 Oct 2008
This book brought it all together for me having previously read a selection of other books on qantum mechanics and I now consider this a must read for the novice with an interest for physics at the micro level. The author has a great way of making complicated subjects understandable and writing in a way that keeps you gripped and interested. I am on my second reading now and picking up yet more insights and feeling that I am really getting an understanding of this complicated and fascinating subject matter. Excellent.

It's not you, it's the book!, 25 Aug 2008
I obtained a good degree in physics twenty years ago, and I hoped to get a reasonable understanding of the main interpretations of quantum mechanics from this book. Some hope. I, especially, found the account of the Copenhagen interpretation disjointed and unclear. On the plus side, there are clear accounts of the "Many World's" interpretation, and the early history of Quantum Mechanics. But this doesn't gain it more than a star. The last few chapters certainly lose stars through trying to explain too many areas of quantum exotica in too few pages. These chapters lost me, but at least I had enough knowledge to know it was the book's fault and not mine! I pity the lay reader confronted with these chapters, and his (non-)explanation of the Copenhagen interpretation. If you're looking for a simple, clear, unbiased account of the interpretations of quantum mechanics, keep looking.

A great basic text, 05 Aug 2008
By its very nature physics is a a complex subject and I am always a little dubious of any review that claims to take the uninitiated from ignorance to a full understanding of the universe in less than 300 pages.
In this respect I dont think John Gribbin entirely succeeds either but In search of Scrodingers cat certainly takes a good stab at it. I defy anyone to read even half the book and not come away with a very different view of how the world or indeed worlds work. I would certainly recomend this book to any student about to embark on a Physics degree - Much lighter reading than the standard texts but at the same time provides powerful (and more importantly memorable) illustrations of all the basic principles.

Tough going, 24 Jul 2008
Yes, this is probably a good buy when you want to discover what quantum physics is about (though I've heard that Taking the Quantum Leap: The New Physics for Non-Scientists by Fred Alan Wolf is a strong competitor). Even so, as Gribbin took me further and further into the quantum thicket, I'm afraid I did lose track.
Maybe it's me. Or maybe the book's not quite what it's cracked up to be. Still, I feel it was worth the try. And I must grant the author this: at every step, he's very clear about what he's doing and where's he's leading you.

Popular physics at its very best, 30 May 2008
To put it simply - I have already read many popular science books about physics by many authors, but this is by far the best one I have ever read. John Gribbin has a gift to write about science in a very interesting way - I can't think of any other author with quite the same gift.

Finally, a book about what is known, 30 Jan 2007
Unlike many books relating to quantum mechanics, and the strange universe that exists on the quantum scale, this book is dedicated to a subject that is known and (as far as can be said about anything relating to the quantum scale) understood.

This book does a superb job of explaining to the layman (such as myself) what quantum electrodynamics is, and restricts itself to doing just that job and doing it well.

QED loud and clear, 12 Jul 2005
I know little about physics and upon reading this book i gained a clear understanding of QED and it pushed me into the right direction to find out more about the world of quantum mechanics.
A recommeded read.

A Truly Annoying Read, 25 Sep 2002
All I can say is that I hated this book. It seems it was taken directly from lecture slides with no regard for how it would appear in a book. In order to follow his examples, it is necessary to flick constantly back and forth between pages of crudely drawn diagrams. The subject matter, when he keeps it clear, is fairly understandable (for want of a better word) but the manner in which it appears in the book will make you want to throw it in the fire.

From the master, 23 Jul 2002
In this book, written for the non-technical, Feynman illustrates with a breathtaking boldness and clarity how common processes (reflection & motion of photons and electrons to name only 3) are in reality far stranger than we think.

Feynman writes not so much to surprise (which he certainly does) but with a passionate desire that we the readers follow what he is saying. This is a book for those who are curious as to what makes the world tick, even if they already have some knowledge of the quantum world. I did not find this an easy read (the concepts are too alien) but it was most rewarding.

Written by a master, 22 Jul 2002
In this book, written for the non-technical, Feynman illustrates with a breathtaking boldness and clarity how common processes (reflection & motion of photons and electrons to name only 3) are in reality far stranger than we think.

Feynman writes not so much to surprise (which he certainly does) but with a passionate desire that we the readers follow what he is saying. This is a book for those who are curious as to what makes the world tick, even if they already have some knowledge of the quantum world. I did not find this an easy read (the concepts are too alien) but it was most rewarding.

The personal touch, 11 Nov 2008
I really enjoyed reading this book!
Excellent, interesting, story and subject.

I thought Kumar put it across in a very entertaining way, I did not get all of the minutia of the physics but that did not matter, I especially
enjoyed the suspense and his sense of humour. I also enjoyed the way
the story wove characters and events together, all the way through I was kept interested, he knows how to tell a story.
I got alot out of the information in the book; it filled in gaps for me in my knowledge about the subject as well as providing a really interesting back drop to the stuff I'd done at school. (I liked science till I got to the 6th Form.) The book worked on many different levels, as a history I became aware that there were quite often unintended results or consequences from experiments or ideas, some times others taking up
something someone else had accidently stumbled across and looking at it in a new way, I liked that, I found it thought provoking.
This gave me an interesting insight in to the whole unfolding
understanding of the science as it happened in time, this was one of the main areas focused on. Another aspect, the personalities
and how they interacted what they got up to I enjoyed hearing about
their interests and how they lived. 'Painting a picture' of the
scientists as people really worked for me.



Bookbag.co.uk, 07 Nov 2008
Quantum is a fascinating, powerful and brilliantly written book that shows one of the most important theories of modern science in the making and discusses its implications for our ideas about the fundamental nature of the world and human knowledge, while presenting intimate and insightful portraits of people who made the science. Highly recommended.

Magda Healey writing for the Bookbag.co.uk





Quantum Theory - The Human Story, 17 Oct 2008

This is fascinating book written as a narrative history of those scientists who contributed to the development of Quantum Theory - one of the most important challenges to orthodox thinking in the whole history of ideas.

The book does a very good job of establishing how classical physics of the 19th Century was seen as completed and except for a few minor details that needed tidying up, the consensus was that nothing really fundamental at a theoretical level was left to discover.
Kumar explores how this certainty that physics was done and dusted came to unravel and how an idea as counter intuitive as the quantum came to be accepted by most physicists.

This manner of exploring quantum theory through its historical development allows anyone with a basic grasp of science to understand why it is so revolutionary in its implications. At the centre of this story is the struggle between Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr about what our attitude to the reality should be.

Mixing historical narrative with the scientific ideas that were in contention brings quantum theory to a much broader audience of readers than is generally possible with this sort of material.

Part social history, part popular science as well as raising questions of a philosophical nature - this makes a cracking read and comes highly recommended.

Jenny Gardener


Very Dissapointed , 10 Nov 2008
I was very dissapointed with this book but it serves me right as I bought it based on the hype. I cringed with just about every hack joke or wittism he tried. If you think you'll learn something even mildly serious about QM or are seeking painless enlightenment, this book is pointless even within its genre - read Feynmans QED and Six not so Easy Peaces (which are, really, once explained by Feynman.)These two simple books (with just a bit more of well worthwhile effort) you'll find will round rings around Chown. If you want enlightenment on Cosmology go for Asimov. If you know something about QM already you'll spot and cringe at the often mixed-up attemps to explain many things. The cartoon style cover does this book good justice though.



An excellent non-specialist account, 06 Oct 2008
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.

The most complex topic in the easiest way to read, 02 Oct 2008
After sometime of looking for a reading about quantum theory and relativity and after trying to read few books, I can tell now: I understand quantum theory and relativity. Previously, I tried some books but always the reading was so in the sky. This book lands all these complex concepts through simple examples giving you a clear view of the wonders that are hidden from our daily lives but keep our world running together.

This book will change the way you see the world around you!, 18 Nov 2008
Lynne McTaggart is an award-winning investigative writer, who is perhaps best known for her revealing work in What Doctors Don't Tell You. But in The Field she moves from conventional medicine to traditional science, cutting-edge physics and the meaning of the universe itself.

The Field began when McTaggart started researching the basis for and validity of homoeopathy. Along the way, she states that she stumbled on evidence that most of what we think of as scientific fact is now being rewritten by a handful of very reputable and very established scientists.

With her very balanced and informative style of writing, McTaggart reveals research that will startle some and excite others. But no matter on which side of the fence you sit, you will come away from this book with the conclusion that the world simply doesn't work the way that many of us, including scientists themselves, thought it did not so long ago.

McTaggart does not exaggerate when she proclaims that we are "on the brink of a revolution" in terms of our understanding of science. And while this might sound like hyperbole that could be easily brushed aside, she has compiled enough evidence to back up her claim.

The research being undertaken may be heavy-duty if not obtuse, but McTaggart makes it very understandable. She leads us by the hand through experiments that have been under way for approximately the last fifty years. Their findings point to conclusions that the universe is more akin to a sea of vibrations.

The implications of this vibrational theory range from the potential of an inexhaustible source of energy to the explanation of clairvoyance, remote viewing and distance healing.

The Field is a fascinating book to read to say the least. And with her extensive footnotes and bibliography, it's difficult for even the most hardened of sceptics to dismiss. Simply put, The Field will change how you see things!

The Mind-Body Book The World Has Been Waiting For, 15 Nov 2008
Written by award-winning journalist Lynne McTaggart, "The Field: The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe" is a ground-breaking book exhaustively exploring the enchanting complexities and wondrous discoveries of modern-day 21st century science, adducing remarkable evidence to prove that "The Zero Point Field" connects everything we have seen, heard or encountered to the wide, convoluted tapestry of human experiences.
Renowned for her wit, diligence and profundity, McTaggart deftly delineates how we are all connected - not just to one another, but also to nature, places and everything else that has ever happened in our universe - collating meticulous research, extensive interviews, and historic documents to craft a palatable, inventive message that wonderfully stretches the imagination like never before.
Human potential, she advances, can far surpass what modern science stipulates. This contention, though, is not without it's detractors; and, not least to her astonishment, many have rallied to villify this legitimate presentation of the theory that there is a measurable "life-force" in the universe. But of the numerous discursions into the frustratingly opaque area of quantum physics, none, of course, shine with the same stirring brilliance and polished mastery like those in the last electrifying third of this best-selling book. In part three, readers are afforded the rare opportunity to hear hallowed scientists Bill Church, Hal Puthoff, Karl Pribram, Ed Mitchell, Robert Jahn and Rupert Sheldrake express their thoughts, feelings and concerns on the controversial subject.
Creator and publisher of the astonishing 1999 release "What Doctors Don't Tell You", McTaggart produces not only one of the most inspiring novels in the last few years, but also one that is buttressed by compelling research culled from all corners of the world. Despite it's abstruse concepts, "The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe" is imbued with a gripping readability, replacing the widely-accepted and conventional perpection of man with a vivid, arresting depiction of collective strength, spiritual attainment and human transcendence. Offering unparalleled insight into the world of the supernatural, "The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe" is fraught with multiple surprises, scintillating twists and extraordinary information: readers of all stripes - scientists, New Agers, physicists, philosophers - will definitely rush to grab onto this one.


Fascinating, 16 Jul 2008
Although written for the lay man, this book does take some concentration for those of us who have never studied physics. That said, it is well worth the effort. A fascinating read that will make you look at life, the world and the whole universe in a completely new way

wrong end of the trumpet...hmm?, 01 Jul 2008
I came across this book some years ago and, with a grounding in arts and only a couple of years of very elementary science, I cannot possibly comment on the current veracity of the ideas in it. The word 'science' is somewhat misleading deriving as it does from the Latin 'to know' whereas 'to guess' would provide a more honest root to this ever changing discipline.

It is some time since I read McTaggart but I recall it was an intersting read which triggered a tentative foray into Quantum Theory which sounded to me pretty much what the ancients and mystics had 'known' all along - although from my point of view McT was looking at things down the wrong end of the trumpet.

What Quantum seems to tell us is that there are no absolutes and that our thoughts, emotions and intentions form our experience of the 'material world'. Those still hooked on the idea of an 'absolute' (as I understand even Einstein was - spending the rest of his life trying to disprove his equation) will find refuge in religion of one sort or another... including science which has, for many, replaced older faiths.

So... having written this review of the book and talked it up, I suppose I'd better read it again to see if I agree with myself. Hey, ho...

Interesting, but not a particularly easy read , 13 May 2008
This book is full of interesting information, and cutting edge ideas based on new research into physics. However, I found it quite hard-going at times - the author's style isn't particularly readable. I often had to grit my teeth in determination just to make it to the end of a chapter - and unfortunately I gave up about two-thirds way through the book. I think this would be a great book in the hands of a more entertaining writer.

The lawyers got at it!, 30 Jun 2007
I own a 3rd edition of this book. Its coverage of introductory QM is excellent and the explanations are clear. What is missing in the latest edition is the set of pithy reviews of other texts that Rae recommends- hence my comment in the title.

The chapter on relativistic equations -Dirac -lacks perspective and does not take one through the discussion of its explanation of the fine structure of the hydrogen spectrum. For this one needs the chapter of Schiff's text QM "relativistic wave equations".

An Enjoyable text, 07 Apr 2005
This is an informative and enjoyable book which does a good job of introducing the reader to the elegance of quantum mechanics. It is concise and digestible with a good development of the topic from fundamental principles upwards. I think that the previous comment about functional analysis somewhat misses the point that this aims to be an introductory text. Infact I would say that it makes a good precursor to this topic and other more advanced ones.

Great book, new edition, 4th is out with more, 13 Jul 2002
This book is one the best quantum mechanics textbooks available. It is clear, smart and conceptually deep. It also covers the latest (in the 4th edition) on quantum computation and the debate on the foundations of quantum mechanics. I highly recommend it.

A brilliant book with updated material, 13 Jul 2002
This book is not only fun to read, but contains the latest material on quantum computation, quantum teleportation, and the debate over the concepts of quantum mechanics. The text is clear and sharp. Written for undergraduate students, it can be read by anybody with college math (calculus, etc.). The beauty of quantum mechanics as exposed here will certainly make sure that you will read it nearly cover to cover.

stay well away..., 08 Mar 2002
I attended an introductory quantum mechanics course where this was the recommended text and can firmly say that this book doesn't do the subject any justice. There is just not enough mathematical formalism in this book, for example the relation between functional analysis and quantum mechanics is neglected. For a more analytic description of the underlying model of quatum mechanics I recommend Griffiths Intro to Quantum Mechanics.

Excellent, 30 Oct 2008
This book brought it all together for me having previously read a selection of other books on qantum mechanics and I now consider this a must read for the novice with an interest for physics at the micro level. The author has a great way of making complicated subjects understandable and writing in a way that keeps you gripped and interested. I am on my second reading now and picking up yet more insights and feeling that I am really getting an understanding of this complicated and fascinating subject matter. Excellent.

It's not you, it's the book!, 25 Aug 2008
I obtained a good degree in physics twenty years ago, and I hoped to get a reasonable understanding of the main interpretations of quantum mechanics from this book. Some hope. I, especially, found the account of the Copenhagen interpretation disjointed and unclear. On the plus side, there are clear accounts of the "Many World's" interpretation, and the early history of Quantum Mechanics. But this doesn't gain it more than a star. The last few chapters certainly lose stars through trying to explain too many areas of quantum exotica in too few pages. These chapters lost me, but at least I had enough knowledge to know it was the book's fault and not mine! I pity the lay reader confronted with these chapters, and his (non-)explanation of the Copenhagen interpretation. If you're looking for a simple, clear, unbiased account of the interpretations of quantum mechanics, keep looking.

A great basic text, 05 Aug 2008
By its very nature physics is a a complex subject and I am always a little dubious of any review that claims to take the uninitiated from ignorance to a full understanding of the universe in less than 300 pages.
In this respect I dont think John Gribbin entirely succeeds either but In search of Scrodingers cat certainly takes a good stab at it. I defy anyone to read even half the book and not come away with a very different view of how the world or indeed worlds work. I would certainly recomend this book to any student about to embark on a Physics degree - Much lighter reading than the standard texts but at the same time provides powerful (and more importantly memorable) illustrations of all the basic principles.

Tough going, 24 Jul 2008
Yes, this is probably a good buy when you want to discover what quantum physics is about (though I've heard that Taking the Quantum Leap: The New Physics for Non-Scientists by Fred Alan Wolf is a strong competitor). Even so, as Gribbin took me further and further into the quantum thicket, I'm afraid I did lose track.
Maybe it's me. Or maybe the book's not quite what it's cracked up to be. Still, I feel it was worth the try. And I must grant the author this: at every step, he's very clear about what he's doing and where's he's leading you.

Popular physics at its very best, 30 May 2008
To put it simply - I have already read many popular science books about physics by many authors, but this is by far the best one I have ever read. John Gribbin has a gift to write about science in a very interesting way - I can't think of any other author with quite the same gift.

Finally, a book about what is known, 30 Jan 2007
Unlike many books relating to quantum mechanics, and the strange universe that exists on the quantum scale, this book is dedicated to a subject that is known and (as far as can be said about anything relating to the quantum scale) understood.

This book does a superb job of explaining to the layman (such as myself) what quantum electrodynamics is, and restricts itself to doing just that job and doing it well.

QED loud and clear, 12 Jul 2005
I know little about physics and upon reading this book i gained a clear understanding of QED and it pushed me into the right direction to find out more about the world of quantum mechanics.
A recommeded read.

A Truly Annoying Read, 25 Sep 2002
All I can say is that I hated this book. It seems it was taken directly from lecture slides with no regard for how it would appear in a book. In order to follow his examples, it is necessary to flick constantly back and forth between pages of crudely drawn diagrams. The subject matter, when he keeps it clear, is fairly understandable (for want of a better word) but the manner in which it appears in the book will make you want to throw it in the fire.

From the master, 23 Jul 2002
In this book, written for the non-technical, Feynman illustrates with a breathtaking boldness and clarity how common processes (reflection & motion of photons and electrons to name only 3) are in reality far stranger than we think.

Feynman writes not so much to surprise (which he certainly does) but with a passionate desire that we the readers follow what he is saying. This is a book for those who are curious as to what makes the world tick, even if they already have some knowledge of the quantum world. I did not find this an easy read (the concepts are too alien) but it was most rewarding.

Written by a master, 22 Jul 2002
In this book, written for the non-technical, Feynman illustrates with a breathtaking boldness and clarity how common processes (reflection & motion of photons and electrons to name only 3) are in reality far stranger than we think.

Feynman writes not so much to surprise (which he certainly does) but with a passionate desire that we the readers follow what he is saying. This is a book for those who are curious as to what makes the world tick, even if they already have some knowledge of the quantum world. I did not find this an easy read (the concepts are too alien) but it was most rewarding.

Pointless , 10 Nov 2008
I was very dissapointed with this book but it serves me right as I bought it based on the hype. I cringed with just about every hack joke or wittism he tried. If you think you'll learn something even mildly serious about QM or are seeking painless enlightenment, this book is pointless even within its genre - read Feynmans QED and Six not so Easy Peaces (which are, really, once explained by Feynman.)These two simple books (with just a bit more of well worthwhile effort) you'll find will round rings around Chown. If you want enlightenment on Cosmology go for Asimov. If you know something about QM already you'll spot and cringe at the often mixed-up attemps to explain many things. The cartoon style cover does this book good justice though.


Beginers guide, 23 Sep 2008
I loved this book! As a non-scientist I still found this book easy to follow and could not put it down and got through the book in a day. Each part to the book starts of with a thought provoking scenario which filled me with exictment to ensure I read every word in the following chapters.

A must read for anyone who has heard of quantum theory.

Science beautifully explained (and he writes kids' fiction too!), 07 Sep 2008
Did you know that Mr Chown also writes children's fiction? I was curious to see what it was like so I gave it a go. "Felicity Frobisher & the Three-Headed Aldeberan Dust Devil". Check it out. It's funny and very silly - reminded me of Douglas Adams and "The Magic Roundabout" (showing my age!). It also appeals to children - mine loved it - and adults too. It's weird that Mr Chown also writes popular scince. When I picked up "Quantum Theory Cannot Hurt You", I was completely ignorant of quantum theory (and relativity - the otherr subject he covers). But I was immediately hooked. This is mind-blowing stuff - and brilliantly explained. What next Mr Chown, after pop science and kids' fiction? Maybe a book on gardening!!!

read and regret buying, 22 Jun 2008
this book does what too many popular science book