Einstein's Relativity and the Quantum Revolution: Modern Physics for Non-Scientists, 2nd Edition

By: Richard Wolfson, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Richard Wolfson

Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

"It doesn't take an Einstein to understand modern physics," says Professor Wolfson at the outset of these twenty-four lectures on what may be the most important subjects in the universe: relativity and quantum physics. Both have reputations for complexity. But the basic ideas behind them are, in fact, simple and comprehensible by anyone. These dynamic and illuminating lectures begin with a brief overview of theories of physical reality starting with Aristotle and culminating in Newtonian or "classical" physics. After that, you'll follow along as Professor Wolfson outlines the logic that led to Einstein's profound theory of special relativity and the simple yet far-reaching insight on which it rests. With that insight in mind, you'll move on to consider Einstein's theory of general relativity and its interpretation of gravitation in terms of the curvature of space and time.

From there, you'll embark on a dazzling exploration of how inquiry into matter at the atomic and subatomic scales led to quandaries that are resolved-or at least clarified-by quantum mechanics, a vision of physical reality so profound and so at odds with our experience that it nearly defies language.

By bringing relativity and quantum mechanics into the same picture, you'll chart the development of fascinating hypotheses about the origin, development, and possible futures of the entire universe, as well as the possibility that physics can produce a "theory of everything" to account for all aspects of the physical world. But the goal throughout these lectures remains the same: to present the key ideas of modern physics in a way that makes them clear to the interested layperson.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2000 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2000 The Great Courses

brilliant!!!

an excellent review of both topics. I would have enjoyed having a bit more time spent on quantum theory-- as it stands the split is about 80% special relativity, 20% quantum-- but perhaps that preference is more aesthetic than anything. the lecturer is enthusiastic and fun without being pithy, and the explanations are easy to follow even without visual aids.

Foundation for learning modern physics

Alan Watts used to say that anyone who wants to have a belief system must have a view of metaphysics. Such metaphysical view for a person with a scientific mind must start with the science of physical reality--physics, In this sense, this course provides a good start of that foundation. One thing I realise is that from the classic Newtonian world, to Einstein's relativity, and to the Quantum physics, the world of scientific view becomes more and more mystical and weird. That is to say, contradictory to human experience. Newton's gravity is pretty straightforward and feels real (objective). Then came Einstein's relativity, that in order for the law of physics to apply for any observer of uniform motion, to bend time and space (and the speed of light becomes more constant than time and space). The quantum world, with the wave-particle duality and quantum entanglement and etc,, shows an even more weird reality that directly contradicts human experiences or senses. Could we ever trust our direct experiences or senses to represent the physical world?

Amazing book

Loved this, it makes certain things easy to understand and sheds light on the quantum realm. Very well informed and consistent. This will make you understand special and general relativity and then question and investigate various aspects of the universe.

Magnificent and Illuminating

A spectacular reading and explanation of ultracomplex ideas for the non-scientist! This work slowly and clearly unravels the history of physics through the centuries, leads the reader to understand the problems that lead to special relativity, then explains in detail how the theory works—both in principle as well as in observable and measurable phenomena.

Following this, the author takes the reader through the rudiments of more complex concepts like general relativity and quantum physics. The entire lecture series is intelligible without having to understand high-order mathematics. For ANYONE who wants to see the universe in a completely new light, GET THIS BOOK!!!!

For everyone

This course was brilliant. The speaker was brilliant. Everyone should get to know the universe around them with this course.

this guy is SUPER excited about physics.

that's what makes what could be a really long class fun and engaging. it still took me a while to finish. you cant take it all in at once

Informative but maybe watch the video instead

Good info if a little dated. I can appreciate the difficulties of presenting this subject matter in this format but there were a few too many references to visual aids. I'm guessing there is a video version of this course that would be easier to fully comprehend.

Great listen!

Dr. Wolfson explains very complicated concepts in a way that the general public can understand. He even clarified several concepts for me that had never been explained in much detail during my college physics courses. I would highly recommend for anyone with an interest in how the universe really works and the essence of reality.

Very informative!

I'm happy to finally have a basic grasp of two subjects that previously eluded me.

Great

Professor Wolfson explained and expressed in a way that kept me listening. I will go back and listen again.