Books › The great unknown
The great unknown
464 pages
A whirlwind, deeply personal tour through the profound mysteries and outer limits of human knowledge.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like embarking on a brisk, mind-expanding expedition to the very edges of what we can possibly know. The narrative moves with a propulsive curiosity, sweeping the reader through a whirlwind tour of profound scientific mysteries from quantum physics to consciousness while remaining deeply grounded in the personal and the accessible. The prose translates the dizzying concepts of infinity and chaos into the familiar language of rolling dice and cello notes, creating an atmosphere that is both intellectually stimulating and warmly inviting. It is an awe-inspiring experience that balances the fraught history of scientific innovation with a sense of boundless wonder. This is the perfect read for inquisitive minds eager to explore the philosophical frontiers of reality without getting lost in academic jargon.
- Mood
- intellectually stimulating
- awe-inspiring
- expansive
- Tone
- curious
- accessible
- personal
- wonder-struck
- philosophical
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- the limits of human understanding · scientific innovation · the nature of reality · mysteries of the universe
- The writing
- Accessible and deeply personal, translating complex scientific frontiers into simple, everyday metaphors.
- The arc
- Moves from a grounded curiosity about everyday phenomena to a profound sense of awe at the infinite edges of human understanding.
- Who it's for
- Inquisitive minds who love exploring the philosophical boundaries of science and the deep mysteries of the universe.
About the book
"A captivating journey to the outer frontiers of human knowledge by the popular presenter of Netflix's The Story of Math. Ever since the dawn of civilization we have been driven by a desire to know--to understand the physical world and the laws of nature. But are there limits to human knowledge? This tantalizing question has inspired scientists and functioned as a spur to innovation. Now, Marcus du Sautoy invites us to join him on a journey to the outer reaches of human understanding as there are still lots of deep mysteries waiting to be solved. Are some things beyond the predictive powers of science? Or are those challenges simply the next big discovery waiting to happen? Du Sautoy takes us into the minds of science's greatest innovators and reveals the fraught circumstances of their discoveries. He reminds us that major breakthroughs were often ridiculed at the time of their discovery. And he carries us on a whirlwind tour of seven "Edges" of knowledge - chaos theory, matter, quantum physics, the universe, time, consciousness and infinity --grounding a deeply personal exploration in simple concepts like the roll of dice, the notes of a cello, or how a clock measures time"--
Description from Open Library.
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