Physics of the Impossible

A Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel

By: Michio Kaku

Narrated by: Feodor Chin

Length: 11 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

One hundred years ago, scientists would have said that lasers, televisions, and the atomic bomb were beyond the realm of physical possibility. In Physics of the Impossible, the renowned physicist Michio Kaku explores to what extent the technologies and devices of science fiction (such as phasers, force fields, teleportation, and time travel) that are deemed equally impossible today might well become commonplace in the future.

From teleportation to telekinesis, Kaku uses the world of science fiction to explore the fundamentals - and the limits - of the laws of physics as we know them today. In a compelling and thought-provoking narrative, he explains:

How the science of optics and electromagnetism may one day enable us to bend light around an object, like a stream flowing around a boulder, making the object invisible to observers downstream

How ramjet rockets, laser sails, antimatter engines, and nanorockets may one day take us to the nearby stars

How telepathy and psychokinesis, once considered pseudoscience, may one day be possible using advances in MRI, computers, superconductivity, and nanotechnology

Why a time machine is apparently consistent with the known laws of quantum physics, although it would take an unbelievably advanced civilization to actually build one

Kaku uses his discussion of each technology as a jumping-off point to explain the science behind it. An extraordinary scientific adventure, Physics of the Impossible takes listeners on an unforgettable, mesmerizing journey into the world of science that both enlightens and entertains.

©2008 Michio Kaku (P)2008 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Science and science fiction buffs can easily follow Kaku's explanations as he shows that in the wonderful worlds of science, impossible things are happening every day." ( Publishers Weekly)

wonderfully thought out.

Great break down of possibilities in the universe. Making modern physics and theoretical physics come to mutual understanding of humanities discoveries from the past to the future. After finishing it made me feel like diving further into my studies of mathematics and physics. Great read.

Huge fan of Michio Kaku!!

What made the experience of listening to Physics of the Impossible the most enjoyable?

I love all of the ideas behind the chapters. Deciphering science fiction from fact is something many people cannot do alone, as they do not have physics backgrounds. Professor Kaku gives the listener valuable insight into the world of science and science fiction.

What other book might you compare Physics of the Impossible to and why?

His other books are equally amazing.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Everything - this is a must-have for those researching for science fiction writing and for those interested in science.

It stands and delivers

This is a great companion book to Parallel Worlds. This and that book have a lot of content that ends up getting re-hashed in later books, so if you’re on a budget and can’t afford to buy the whole collection from Dr. Kaku, pick those two up!

Mind, blown.

Fascinating and mind bending, while still being accessible, this definitely merits multiple listens! It also expanded my admiration for the beauty of, well, everything!

A tour de force of conceptual thinking

What did you love best about Physics of the Impossible?

This book had me riveted, it pushed the edges of my imagination much farther than they've been exercised in quite some time. In a way that is fun and awe inspiring, Kaku takes very advanced physics and makes it available to everyone... for a while. The later chapters get a little head-spinny.

Kaku the Optimist!

I've always loved Michio Kaku's writings. He is such an optimist when it comes to humanity's future, but he isn't afraid to also spell out what is physically impossible. That is what this book does. He divides up levels of impossibility, based on an understanding of what future technologies could - and probably will - bring. In this he discussed abstract functions like time traveling and warping spacetime.

All in all, if you are a curious scientist, an interested science enthusiast, or even just someone questioning our future, give this audiobook a listen. I certainly would recommend it!

Excellent Read!!!

Insightful, engaging, fun, and fascinating. This book illicits vivid images from the imagination and then confirms their veracity (some more so than others). Though a little technical at times, it hardly take away from the book.

Theoretical physicists should stick to physics

Kaku knows physics pretty well, but he does not know what he's talking about elsewhere

Not as technical as his other books

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Sure it was. I enjoyed the book, and got a few ideas about subjects I'd like to probe into at a deeper level.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I would have appreciated some more technical information, as in Kaku's other books.

What does Feodor Chin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

A sense of irony and humour.

Was Physics of the Impossible worth the listening time?

Yes it was.

Nothing Is Impossible

While although this title is misleading, just the same with Michio's other book, "The God Equation", where this book is full of a series of ideas which may be thought to have been impossible, are argued that they may not be (In "the God Equation" Michio does not provide an equation which captures the power of God; also misleading). Yet still, I enjoyed this book pretty much for abundance of knowledge - especially, Sci-Fi related ideas, which I'm quite fond of (being a Sci-Fi writer myself looking for ideas to write about). Aside from Sci-FI, the book is full of historical stories and physics-based information. I didn't quite agree with everything Michio discussed, like his hierarchy of "impossibility levels" (I just don't think one could create tiers with predictions for the expectation of their possibility of emergence). Nothing is impossible, I truly believe that.