The Quantum Moment: How Planck, Bohr, Einstein, and Heisenberg Taught Us to Love Uncertainty

The Quantum Moment is one of the best books to learn about Quantum Mechanics without getting totally lost in the details. Since the subject involves a lot of theoretical mathematics it is easy for a readers eyes to glaze over. This book isn't like that. It provides a detailed history from its beginnings, and simple examples to convey the meanings of theories and concepts.Since I wanted this book for my library, I took the time to track down a hardcover edition.The seller promptly notified me when the book shipped and when to expect it in the U.S.Mail. It arrived sooner than expected. It was packaged snug as a bug in a rug, and sealed in polythene to provide additional protection. They really did give it that extra touch.It truly was a pleasure doing business with these folks and would have absolutely no reservations about doing business with them again.

This is one of the most accessible yet soundly informative books I have read on the mysterious world of the quantum, the divide between orderly Newtonian classical/causal physics and the strange probabilistic and seemingly random subatomic world of quantum mechanics. The authors discuss pioneering physicists such as Planck, Einstein, and Bohr, and disputes between them over the completeness of the quantum theory. Concepts such as entanglement, complementarity, conjugate variables, the Uncertainty Principle, and the wave/particle duality are presented in a fresh and engaging manner. For the layman, like this reader, who has struggled through more arcane works, such as A Brief History of Time, this book is a welcome assurance that these concepts are not completely out of reach for non-specialists. Nevertheless, I am reminded that Descartes said something to the effect that one can touch a mountain but cannot put one's arms around it as one could a tree, and that to know something it is sufficient to touch it with your mind, but to grasp it is necessary to embrace it with your mind. Some of the discussion in this book I did in fact grasp, but much I confess to have merely touched upon, especially the mathematical equations.

Well written for the neophyte. Wish this book had been written when I first started studying quantum mechanics. It would have saved me some time and a great deal of dismay.I have been studying quantum mechanics now for about 20 years and have to keep going over and over the material. Yes, after all this time I count myself a neophyte. You have to open yourself to an entirely new way of thinking. There has been many a night when I got out of bed, went to the library and reread pages I'd read the day before. You'll say to yourself, "that can't possibly be what I read." What did that page really say? And, you'll find you've recalled correctly. Close your mouth and accept your incredulity as a constantly returning visitor as long as you stick with this topic.I diagram sentences and draw flow charts. You've really got to want to know this stuff.

A “must read” book for those interested in the quantum physics - classical physics dichotomy born in the beginning of the 20th century and still very much with us. Both authors are physicists at Stoney Brook, and Crease is also a philosopher with an uncanny ability to explain difficult concepts in a practical, level-headed way.The focus, ultimately, is on the Bohr-Heisenberg approach and the growing dissatisfaction of others who refuse to accept the coexistence of two basically incompatible theories of nature. Other culture-based influences are also treated as they made their appearances - Eastern mysticism, the anthropic principle, EST, and others.A great read and a great exposition of an important topic.

I have tried to understand quantum mechanics ever since leaving high school and university. I read many books and sadly all of them failed to do the job. There is no 1 plus 1 equals 2 to be found in practically all literature. Does anyone understands it? This book is bringing history of it’s development together with an attempt to explain it all. The history part is very interesting; the explaining part is again weak. The book is philosophy mixed with science and is doing a good job at that.

This was an excellent primer for the lay person on understanding the principles on quantum mechanics it's history and its impact on society.

At a time when it seems like each month brings forth some new book on quantum physics, this one stands out for its readability, reference to modern literature and art, and even a bit of sly humor. Nice companion piece to Louisa Gilder's excellent, "The Age of Entanglement."

This book sets everything in perspective. If you read something about these scientists you need to know where they are coming from. Some of them argued against each other and the science of each other.This book puts the ideas of the various viewpoints in the open and explains why we cannot rely on the arguments of the scientists at face value, because the scientists were arguing with each other. Whose argument you believe is up to the reader.

This is an extraordinarily well conceived book about the impact of quantum mechanics in Western culture from the moment of its inception, written both from the physics’ and philosophy’s perspectives. It is an insightful, intelligent work, treating quantum development with the seriousness it deserves and the lowest cultural manifestations of "quantum silliness" with objectivity and respect. Highly recommendable.

The world changed forever in 1927, but it was an event that few noticed.The invention of Quantum Mechanics challenged our idea of what is real. Many great scientists - then and now - remain unable to accept the conclusion that there is no "there there" - only the results of experiment. To this day, thousands of books are published with mumbo-jumbo about how Quantum Mechanics somehow supports almost any pseudo spiritual interpretation of reality. The real story is that the world of the very small cannot be visualized. For those who are comfortable with mathematics, that's not a shock. For most of us, even Einstein, it was unacceptable.This book takes us through the human dimension of the actual discoveries, with a taste of the dismay they caused. The reader is encouraged to dig deeper into what it's all about, through such books as  Quantum Mechanics: The Theoretical Minimum . It's physics, as carried out by real physicists, not something to do with philosophy or theology. Quantum Mechanics: The Theoretical Minimum

A parte la recensione del libro di cui ce ne sono a bizzeffe online mi vorrei soffermare su come arrivavano ogni volta i libri da Amazon, mai un imballaggio adeguato! Ed e un peccato questo perché non è la prima volta che capita forse non sembra che le condizioni del libro siamo chissà cosa (vi assicuro che mi sono capitati libri da Amazon in condizioni peggiori)però è una questione di principio perché pagare un libro nuovo e riceverne uno che sembra usato ? In questo caso ho preso il libro perché mi serviva un inglese e non sapevo dove prenderlo altrimenti ma devo ammettere che ormai per il resto quando si tratta di acquistare libri preferisco il sito online de LaFeltrinelli che propone gli stessi prezzi di Amazon (il 15%) ma i libri arrivano come si deve senza problemi.

Ho conosciuto personalmente Robert settembre scorso e avevo capito che il suo libro era qualcosa che spiegava la questione filosofica che esiste dietro la meccanica quantistica ma leggendolo ho ricevuto molto di più. Ci sono nozioni precise ma anche generali così da far capire il quadro completo ma scendere in dettagli se si vuole. Inoltre può farti addirittura vedere la vita e il mondo da una prospettiva completamente diversa che personalmente reputo più bella. Interessantissime le retrospettive dei protagonisti di un era di forte sviluppo scientifico e grande popolarità e coinvolgimento (non certo la nostra).

História da mecânica quântica porém com muitos arrodeios. Contem algumas fórmulas interessantes. Vale a pena ler o livro com paciência.