Quantum

Einstein, Bohr, and the Great Debate about the Nature of Reality

By: Manjit Kumar

Narrated by: Ray Porter

Length: 14 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

Quantum theory is weird. As Niels Bohr said, if you aren’t shocked by quantum theory, you don’t really understand it. For most people, quantum theory is synonymous with mysterious, impenetrable science. And in fact for many years it was equally baffling for scientists themselves.

In this tour de force of science history, Manjit Kumar gives a dramatic and superbly written account of this fundamental scientific revolution, focusing on the central conflict between Einstein and Bohr over the nature of reality and the soul of science. This revelatory book takes a close look at the golden age of physics, the brilliant young minds at its core, and how an idea ignited the greatest intellectual debate of the 20th century.

Manjit Kumar was the founding editor of Prometheus, an arts-and-sciences journal. He has written and reviewed for various publications, including the Guardian, and is a consulting science editor at Wired UK. He lives in London.

©2008 Manjit Kumar (P)2010 Blackstone Audio

Critic reviews

“Lively…A wide-ranging account, written for readers who are curious about the theory but want to sidestep its mathematical complexities….Fascinating.” ( The New York Times Book Review)

“With vigor and elegance, Kumar…recounts this meaty, dense, exciting story, filled with vivid characters and sharp insights. With physics undergoing another revolution today, Kumar reminds us of a time when science turned the universe upside down.” ( Publishers Weekly)

Very entertaining and written

This book was very good, it was well read and well written and very entertaining. They connected a lot of the pieces of the history of science that I’ve wondered about for my whole life. Thank you Mr. Kumar for writing it.

To Understand Quantum Mechanics

For forty years I’ve struggled to understand quantum mechanics (QM), held back, so I thought, by the mathematics. But from this incredible writing on the history of the development of QM, where you are able to follow the detailed, time-lapsed struggles and confusion, and ultimately the incremental advances in understanding made by the physicists working on it, I’ve come to realize that I stumbled primarily on the nuanced, intricate concepts behind QM. Working new, complex math on concepts that I truly did not understand made coming to a true understanding of QM impossible for me. Worse still, I continued to bang away on the math thinking that therein lie the problem. I believe that understanding what is written in this book FIRST will allow you to then slay the mathematics, and come to an understanding of Quantum Mechanics.

Very good. A few niggling mispronunciations

Review of 20th century quantum theory. I only wish that the reader had figured out the difference between “v” and the Greek “nu”. But this is a quibble.

Fabulous

This is the best treatment of the discovery and exploration of quantum physics that I have read. It’s engrossing, enlightening, and mostly comprehensible for such a profound and complex topic.

A well told story…

A very interesting story was captured by a very good writer and narrated by a very good narrator! This was one of the best listening experiences I have had in awhile. I love to listen while walking on a rural road and I logged several enjoyable miles in the past week.

Wondeful Story Telling

One of the most intriguing story in the history of science; well written and well read.

Excellent history lesson

This book is great for anyone who wants to read the history of this periods’ scientific struggle. It was a very good choice that the author included so much world history, as the stage seriously affected the debate.

Amazing

Captivating from the beginning until the end. Couldn't stop listening very informative and interesting throughout.

Good mixing of science and philosophy

This book was a good blend of science history, physics, and scientific philosophy. I dealt with quantum mechanics in graduate school so I had a head start in understanding the science itself, but with a little effort the layperson could probably get through the science also, given that the author does try to be very clear about the concepts both theoretical and experimental without using scientific jargon. It dwelled a little bit too much on the philosophy side of things for my taste, but I really liked the political history that affected the scientific community as described by the author. The performance was good as well.

Great Read

I really enjoyed this book. Who knew that the field of astrophysics is so competent and riven with strife? It’s so interesting to read about the different theories, their origins and creators. I will definitely read this more than once just so that all of the information sinks in. Well written for the layperson and good narration.