Books › In Search of Schrödinger's Cat
In Search of Schrödinger's Cat
First published 1984 · 400 pages
A mind-bending journey that dismantles your everyday understanding of reality and rebuilds it with the bizarre rules of the quantum realm.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping through a portal where the solid rules of the everyday world dissolve into something far stranger and more beautiful. The pace is steady and methodical, holding your hand as it walks you away from the comforting certainties of classical physics and into the dizzying, counterintuitive realm of the quantum. The mood is one of relentless curiosity mixed with a touch of existential vertigo. The prose is remarkably clear and conversational, using vivid analogies rather than dense equations to explain how the universe actually operates at its most fundamental level. It is a deeply awe-inspiring experience, perfect for armchair philosophers and curious minds who want to feel the ground shift beneath their feet as they discover just how bizarre reality truly is.
- Mood
- intellectual
- awe-inspiring
- curious
- disorienting
- Tone
- accessible
- enthusiastic
- authoritative
- mind-bending
- earnest
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- the nature of reality · scientific paradigm shifts · limits of human intuition · the bizarre microscopic world
- The writing
- Clear, conversational, and highly illustrative, relying on vivid analogies to translate complex mathematics into everyday language.
- The arc
- Moves from the comforting certainty of classical physics into a state of profound, mind-expanding bewilderment, culminating in a deep awe for the universe.
- Who it's for
- Curious non-scientists and armchair philosophers who want to grasp the foundational weirdness of quantum mechanics without needing a math degree.
About the book
Quantum theory is so shocking that Einstein could not bring himself to accept it. It is so important that it provides the fundamental underpinning of all modern sciences. Without it, we'd have no nuclear power or nuclear weapons, no TV, no computers, no science of molecular biology, no understanding of DNA, no genetic engineering.
In Search of Schrödinger's Cat tells the complete story of quantum mechanics, a truth stranger than any fiction. John Gribbin takes us step by step into an ever more bizarre and fascinating place, requiring only that we approach it with an open mind. He introduces the scientists who developed quantum theory. He investigates the atom, radiation, time travel, the birth of the universe, superconductors and life itself. And in a world full of its own delights, mysteries and surprises, he searches for Schrödinger's Cat — a search for quantum reality — as he brings every reader to a clear understanding of the most important area of scientific study today — quantum physics.
In Search of Schrödinger's Cat is a fascinating and delightful introduction to the strange world of the quantum — an essential element in understanding today's world. --Back Cover
Description from Open Library.
Books like In Search of Schrödinger's Cat
See why they match
Three Roads to Quantum GravityLee SmolinAn awe-inspiring and deeply human journey to the very edge of our understanding of space, time, and reality.
Quantum MechanicsLeonard Susskind and Art FriedmanA rigorous, roll-up-your-sleeves journey into the mathematical heart of reality that rewards patient, active reading.
The Elegant UniverseBrian GreeneA mind-expanding journey into the hidden dimensions and fundamental fabric of reality that leaves you staring in awe at the everyday world.
The strangest manGraham FarmeloAn illuminating journey into the brilliant, contradictory mind of one of modern science's most enigmatic figures.
The Universe in a NutshellStephen HawkingA mind-expanding, accessible journey to the very edges of theoretical physics, guided by a brilliant and witty intellect.
Quantum physics for beginnersCarl J PrattA gentle, jargon-free guided tour through the most mind-bending concepts of the universe.