A Quantum Life

My Unlikely Journey from the Street to the Stars

De: Hakeem Oluseyi, Joshua Horwitz

Narrado por: Hakeem Oluseyi

In this inspiring coming-of-age memoir, a world-renowned astrophysicist emerges from an impoverished childhood and crime-filled adolescence to ascend through the top ranks of research physics.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY KIRKUS REVIEWS • “You’ll encounter one extraordinary turn of events after another, as the extraordinary chess player, puzzle solver, and occasional grifter works his way from grinding poverty and deep despair to worldwide acclaim as a physicist.”—Bill Nye, CEO of The Planetary Society

Navigating poverty, violence, and instability, a young James Plummer had two guiding stars—a genius IQ and a love of science. But a bookish nerd is a soft target, and James faced years of bullying and abuse. As he struggled to survive his childhood in some of the country’s toughest urban neighborhoods in New Orleans, Houston, and LA, and later in the equally poor backwoods of Mississippi, he adopted the persona of “gangsta nerd”—dealing weed in juke joints while winning state science fairs with computer programs that model Einstein’s theory of relativity.

Once admitted to the elite physics PhD program at Stanford University, James found himself pulled between the promise of a bright future and a dangerous crack cocaine habit he developed in college. With the encouragement of his mentor and the sole Black professor in the physics department, James confronted his personal demons as well as the entrenched racism and classism of the scientific establishment. When he finally seized his dream of a life in astrophysics, he adopted a new name, Hakeem Muata Oluseyi, to honor his African ancestors.

Alternately heartbreaking and hopeful, A Quantum Life narrates one man’s remarkable quest across an ever-expanding universe filled with entanglement and choice.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“A Quantum Life is not only a story about resilience but also about the power of science as a transcendent force for personal transformation. . . . An important book for anyone who wants to understand how the fire of inquiry, the burning demand to know the world and its beauty intimately, can take root in a heart and lift it up to shine brightly with the stars it most cherishes.”—NPR

“Hakeem Oluseyi’s journey to adulthood is not only lyrical but immensely expansive and powerful. Moving across the American West and South, A Quantum Life encompasses with equal grace matters of particle physics and matters of a fractured family, challenges that are self-wrought and challenges inflicted by racism, and triumphs over an academic landscape engineered against poor African Americans as well as triumphs of the human heart.”—Jeff Hobbs, New York Times bestselling author of The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace

“Oluseyi’s book is an epic personal and scientific journey through a system stacked against him. . . . Haunting and heroic.”—Sara Seager, professor of planetary science and physics at MIT, author of The Smallest Lights in the Universe

“A physicist works with the statistical nature of the cosmos to predict the future— possible outcomes and unlikely ones. In A Quantum Life, you’ll encounter one extraordinary turn of events after another, as the extraordinary chess player, puzzle solver, and occasional grifter works his way from grinding poverty and deep despair to worldwide acclaim as a physicist. As you turn each page, you may not believe this outcome is possible. Read on.”—Bill Nye, CEO of The Planetary Society

“A Black astrophysicist delivers a memoir that demonstrates the unstoppable strength of intelligence and the human spirit. . . . A sharp, relatable book about self-reinvention and a loving nod to anyone who has ever believed in the potential of another.”—Kirkus (starred review)

“[A] gripping story of overcoming obstacles and finding purpose . . . A great read for memoir fans, who will be drawn in from the first page.”—Library Journal (starred review)

“Inspiring . . . [Oluseyi’s] story serves as a reminder that barriers can be broken regardless of one’s background and that there is no one way to be a scientist.”—Science

Hard to stop listening to

If you are familiar with Hakeem and his work you can’t help but to wonder how he got to where he is now. Listening to this book put me through a roller coaster of emotions and often found myself going to work late because i just had to hear more. Such an awesome book that can give hope to people who might feel like they are at rock bottom

Unique listen

Wild and inspiring story. Couldn’t put it down. I hope he continues to lift POC in the sciences, it is so important. I’m a woman in physics so I can relate to aspects of feeling like an outsider. That he had a black mentor was huge.

I found it odd that he gained such perspective on himself, his childhood, his drug use, and yet seemed oblivious to how poorly he treated his romantic partners. Perhaps he feels remorse but he didn’t mention it in the book, despite the storylines related to his relationships.

Child Boy MAN

I thoroughly enjoyed this work of art. I was taken on such a journey. I could see it and almost feel the texture of the environments. I'm better for reading it. True definition of NOT having to be the product of his environment knowing within himself as well as seeking positive affirmations about the possibilities of his life. Awesome!!

Riveting and Inspiring

This book is incredible. His life has been a rollercoaster, and he brings you along for the ride while narrating his story in a masterful way. Highly recommended !

Amazing story of overcoming obstacles

This book goes into details about struggles most people don't think about or understand that not only get in the way of someone's educational goals, but also showcases how people do not start life on equal grounds. This book will help open your eyes to diversity, build empathy for others that struggle, and show you to not give up and keep pushing forward.

Fantastic and Inspiring Story

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this story. Dr. Oluseyi and Joshua Horwitz did a great job with composing the content in a way that flowed perfectly. Dr. Oluseyi overcame some incredible obstacles to grow into the man he is today. I cannot think of a biography that I enjoyed as much as this one. I very rarely write reviews, but I felt compelled to do so for this book. I highly recommend this book.

Beautiful

This book sent me through a wide array of emotions, sadness, anger and pride. Excellent l book!!!

A theory of hope.

This book taught me so much. Am often embarrassed to live in a state that has banned critical race theory. I hope this book will be accessible to all children in Tennessee and assigned as required reading to high schoolers faced with decisions about their futures in science or any field of further study. I’m sure the author’s unique voice would come through the written page but hearing his voice was a big plus.

Set your goals high.

The author strived during his youth to climb the sand dunes of achievement, fighting against temptations. He fortunately had mentor’s guidances to achieve his aspirations as an adult and a PHD giving back as he had received.

Honest

Wow…what this man has overcome in his life to attain the success he now possesses is truly inspirational. This isn’t just a book about science, it’s about the developmental process that leads to greatness.

I had the pleasure of meeting and listening to a lecture by Dr. Oluseyi at the local planetarium recently and it was incredible. If you opportunity to meet and hear him speak publicly, I highly recommend it.

This book is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.