Redefining Reality

The Intellectual Implications of Modern Science

By: Steven Gimbel, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Steven Gimbel

No subject is bigger than reality itself, and nothing is more challenging to understand, since what counts as reality is undergoing continual revision and has been for centuries. For example, the matter that comprises all stars, planets, and living things turns out to be just a fraction of what actually exists. Moreover, we think that we control our actions, but data analytics can predict, with astonishing accuracy, when we will wake up, what we will buy, and even whom we will marry.

The quest to pin down what's real and what's illusory is both philosophical and scientific, a metaphysical search for ultimate reality that goes back to the ancient Greeks. For the last 400 years, this search has been increasingly guided by scientists, who create theories and test them in order to define and redefine reality. And we have developed the power to alter our own reality in major ways - to defeat diseases, compensate for disabilities, and augment our intellect with computers. Where is that trend going?

Experience the thrill of this exciting quest in 36 wide-ranging lectures that touch on many aspects of the ceaseless search for reality. From the birth of the universe to brain science, discover that separating the real from the illusory is an exhilarating intellectual adventure.

Scientists and philosophers are not alone in grappling, at an intellectual level, with reality. Some of the most accessible interpretations are by painters, novelists, filmmakers, and other artists whose works not only draw on the latest discoveries but also sometimes inspire them. Explore examples such as Alice in Wonderland, pointillism, cubism, surrealism, and reality TV.

And since dealing with reality is an experience we all share, this course is designed for people of all backgrounds.

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

©2015 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2015 The Great Courses

Take this course instead of first year in college

All of the cool parts of all the sciences (and social sciences) are covered in this lecture. The lecture is somewhat equivalent to taking the first year undergraduate course of study where you didn't have to worry about memorizing irrelevant facts or learn the mathematics. He tells you what you need to know about physics, geology, economics, sociology, psychology, and even why deductive systems such as mathematics with it's different orders of infinity is so cool and relevant to understanding the nature of reality.

The lecturer ties each lecture together by linking the growth of each subject by how we first understand the individual item (say a rock), then the relationship between the rocks (say gravity) and then the web for which the rocks live in (say the universe).

The paradigms we use to describe our reality are part of the current understanding and when somebody steps out of that paradigm and sees the world differently we first say they are spouting nonsense, but overtime the new paradigm can take hold. Newton was called crazy (action at a distance, what an absurd concept!), Einstein was challenged until he wasn't then he never accepts the quantum mechanics, and so on.

Always, the lecture educates and entertains. He will tie difficult points to a movie, a book, or a painting and show how it is relevant to the point he is making. "Frankenstein" the book finally makes sense to me.

One of the best great courses

Helped me do my hour long beach walks. I like the progression the course took starting with the basics of physics and working right up to the latest time now with data mining and social media and how it all tied together at the very end. The professor knew his stuff and had his facts down cold.

The Best

Where does Redefining Reality rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This lecture series is one of the best I have ever listened to - and I have listened to many of the Great Courses offerings.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Professor Gimbel has the amazing ability to combine extremely complex ideas with examples from movies, books, and paintings.

What does Professor Steven Gimbel bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His witty comments bring chuckles to relieve the tension of trying to comprehend challenging ideas.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Thirty-six lectures have to be savored over time and not rushed.

Any additional comments?

I hope Professor Gimbel will soon have more lecture series for fans of the Great Courses.

Stunningly Well Presented

This is the best course among many I've listened to. The granular detail which leads to the cohesive larger conclusions are married together deftly. It follows like we'll structured novel.

Mind Candy!

Thoroughly enjoyable and comprehensively structured. If you enjoy using your mind, but this course.

A Joy to Hear

Engaging, elucidating, fascinating... etc. As a master of no trades, this summary of (albeit western, predominantly male) thinking on some of the most challenging questions confronting modern human existence is a real pleasure to encounter. Anyone who enjoys this might also enjoy Sapiens: a brief history of humankind.

Amazing lecture

overall a great lecture. i would definitely recommend this to any audible member or non member.

Loved it

Great ideas and best reader ever. Engaging story and the performance by the professor was awesome.

good summer reading for highschoolers

The span is ample, the depth knee-high, the ideas few, but well argued, but most of anything it's funny and easy. Should be mandatory reading for two categories:
- the under 16 years old
- the over 62 years old

Easy listening with instructive information

I got to finish this book in about a month, it's not tiring or boring. The explanations and descriptions are very simple, everybody can listen to it. The first half was very interesting and submerging, with science and linking factors from the past. The last 3 chapters were not at the same level of quality as the rest of the course. Still, probably the best book in this topic I know.