The Lightness of Being

Mass, Ether, and the Unification of Forces

By: Frank Wilczek

Narrated by: Walter Dixon

Length: 6 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's Summary

Our understanding of nature's deepest reality has changed radically, but almost without our noticing, over the past 25 years. Transcending the clash of older ideas about matter and space, acclaimed physicist Frank Wilczek explains a remarkable new discovery: matter is built from almost weightless units, and pure energy is the ultimate source of mass. He calls it "The Lightness of Being." Space is no mere container, empty and passive. It is a dynamic grid, modern ether, and its spontaneous activity creates and destroys particles. This new understanding of mass explains the puzzling feebleness of gravity, and a gorgeous unification of all the forces comes sharply into focus. The Lightness of Being is the first book to explore the implications of these revolutionary ideas about mass, energy, and the nature of empty space. In it, Wilczek masterfully presents new perspectives on our incredible universe and envisions a new golden age of fundamental physics.

©2010 Frank Wilczek (P)2014 Gildan Media LLC

WHY is he WHISPERING???

I like this topic a lot—This book covers many great concepts in cosmology and theoretical physics, and they're beautifully presented. It's a significant contribution to that class of books which helps the listener piece together a consistent view of dark energy, dark matter, and the underlying structure of space itself.
One of the most interesting discussions is on the history of the ether, and how the fashion of this concept has ebbed and flowed over the past one hundred and twenty years. Wary of this antiquated term, we're left with a description of space as some kind of soup of particle pairs that spontaneously appear and annihilate, due to the basic uncertainty of quantum fluctuations.
However, what I found strange about this book was what it did NOT discuss. The fact that there was so much about spontaneously created and annihilated particle pairs begs the question—why is there no name given to this phenomenon? If the idea is truly distinct from John Wheeler's 1955 Quantum Foam proposal, then why is there no comparison drawn? And if space is full of this phenomenon, what is the possible extent of it, relative to the visible matter in the universe? Is the author purposefully avoiding questions to which he has no good answer? That doesn't seem scientific at all.
Furthermore, the predominant view of this book is from a particle-based perspective,
although there are many tantalizing references to quantum field theory—but no in-depth discussion of the specific nature of bosons vs. their associated fields.
Overall, it feels like there are so many opportunities lost in this presentation of a truly fascinating subject.

Now for the worst of it. The narration is intolerable. Walter Dixon narrates with a strange, affected whisper that's both distracting and demeaning. His unyielding, emotionally-charged tone is the kind of voice you'd expect of a dramatic fairy story told to a five-year-old. I've listened to more than three hundred audiobooks, and this reading is one of the worst. This is a book on SCIENCE, Folks—so what's with the reader's continual high-drama, hush-hush inflections? I only survived by continually mocking this ridiculous, over-the-top narration. Not that that's the whole of it—you've got to admire how Mr. Dixon can plow through a long, complicated sentence without taking a breath—but making a complex sentence go by quickly is NOT the best way to make it clear to a listener. Furthermore, at random intervals, his tone becomes strangely strident, making the listening experience both continuously frustrating and occasionally uncomfortable. You have to wonder—doesn't Gildan Media have a director to help wayward narrators match their tone appropriately to the source material?

Beautifully written, deep understanding

Frank Wilczek is not only a Nobel-Prize winning quantum physicist, he is also a beautiful writer. He, of course, has a deep understanding of quantum physics, and he does not shy away from the concepts that lie at its foundation, including, in particular, quantum fields.

The focus of the book is what quantum physics tells us about the ultimate nature of reality. Wilczek believes that quantum fields and similar entities underlie reality--an approach I find very appealing.

This book is meant for a popular audience, but it is not a beginner's book. I came to the book after reading about 10 others on quantum physics. While there is very little math, the book is challenging. Wilczek's style is poetic, which I very much enjoy, but sometimes I wished for more examples of his abstract thinking.

I highly recommend "The Lightness of Being" for readers who have a sound knowledge of the basics of quantum physics and hope to make sense of how it relates to the reality that we experience.

Far more mainstream than the title suggests

This book was much more mainstream than I was expecting given the title. Honestly, this book didn't need to be written, because I feel like he didn't say much that hasn't already been said a thousand times. Being so familiar with physics, I just don't feel like I learned much that I didn't already know. The author just isn't able to open his mind to the possibility that so much of what we consider "settled science" is wrong. He simply repeats what he was told by mainstream science without offering much else in the way of alternative theories. This is unfortunately not all that I was hoping for.

A clear, deep, thorough review by Nobel Laureate

Would you listen to The Lightness of Being again? Why?

Would I listen to this again? I already have.

In order to more fully grasp the principles and issues of various chapters, one needs to have the broad overview also present to mind. It is worth the effort. Few books on modern physics succeed so well.

What other book might you compare The Lightness of Being to and why?

Weinberg's To Explain the World, Nick Lane The Vital Question, Lawrence Krauss The Greatest Story Ever Told - So Far.

Even though written for the general public, Wilczek's book is no way superficial nor a "popular" discussion that leaves you with little when all is said and done. Yes, you have to work at understanding the argument, and you have to have some familiarity with the basics of modern physics. But the development of the ideas and the progression of the explanation for the "lightness" of being is both exciting and rewarding.

What about Walter Dixon’s performance did you like?

Very clear and direct. Limited use of emphasis, but always there in the right places.

Any additional comments?

... leaves you wanting for more from Wilczek

Good overview of Standard Model, deep + accessible

I have a deeper understanding of the physics underlying the Standard Model after having listened to this audible. Wilczek's explanations are clear and concise, and taken from a unique enough perspective that it's not just boring repeats of others' works. It's not complete, but helps to form a clearer picture.

The narration does detract somewhat from the quality of the book's content, but no so badly as to be unbearable.

We are part of the cosmic dance.

This book is crystal clear . The best cosmology book that I have found.Under standing understanding : I believe that it plays off of the human minds ability to integrate information, , to the highest level,in the parallel and probablistic. Space time GPS grid, in our brain. The human brain uses this process to create consciousness but probably tries out many juxtapositions prior to determining what Will become conscious. Even the very best non-algorithmic computer programs can't yetdo this. The brain creates A virtual reality based on this, for survival.
According to Ludwig Boltzman, sensory impressions are based at best on statistical estimates and scientific research is ,at neither precise nor accurate.Complex Scietific investigations, demand statistical analysis.
In special relativity, momentum is closely related to energy. Under boosts, energy and momentum mix with one another, just as time and space do. The total momentum of an isolated system is conserved. Space-time and matter and energy interact on Einstein's reality- metric grid and the brain creates-responds with a virtual reality based on historical survival. A dance,history does”nt repeat itself, but it rhymes.
What's fundamental, is the interpretation of quantum field theory as the grid. The reality grid like the neuronal consciousness grid is semi continuous ,with fermions ,photons and other bosons ,being simultaneously destroyed and created along the way to create motion just like our neurological consciousness grid creates and destroys ionic flow , integrating to the highest level. Space Time matter energy events don't repeat , but they do rhyme .Events may start out random, at the quantum level, but in a complex manner, they end up as a song ,and we and our consciousness ,are part of of the cosmic dance.

Paraphrased after Wilczek, Frank (2009-03-25). The Lightness of Being: Mass, Ether, and the Unification of Forces

Beautiful Concepts Described Lucidly

Time worth spent listening to.
The concepts covered by the author are simply skimmed by the instructors in universities.
Beautifully narrated, in simple language, which bridges the unexplained concepts in Universities.

Awesome! As simple as possible, but not simpler ;D

His mastery of the subject is apparent immediately. He is not afraid of speaking of many subjects that others may consider too vague or speculative (but beautiful). As is quoted in the book: "Better for ask forgiveness than permission"

Need to know the subject well to enjoy this

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

Yes but it was a real struggle. As a layman who listens a lot of Physics, Cosmology, Quantum Mechanics, and Astronomy type books from our greatest minds, this is the first book that I have written a review for. Because this book was way over your typical layman who enjoys these types of books and I listened to the entire sample and could not realize that this is too far above my understanding. Also it played quite fast and I was happy to see that I could actually slow it down by .75x. That helped but again I think this book requires an above average grasp of QCD and QED.

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

Walter Dixon did a good job with the reading, it just seemed fast, and that may have nothing to do with his performance. Perhaps it's a technical thing.

Do you think The Lightness of Being needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Frank Wilczek has many interesting things to say in this book and presents what I believe is a new perspective on things, but perhaps a follow-up ....on Quark and Lepton interactions for Dummies. An alternative would be to select a sample that represents the advanced complexity of his work.

Any additional comments?

I'll listen to it again, hoping more of it will sink in. Also I would not hesitate to buy another title written by Frank Wilczek, or read by Walter Dixon. I hope readers of this review are able to click to see my library which has quite a few hard science books so they might see where I am coming from.

excellent subjects with well re-inforced messages

If you could sum up The Lightness of Being in three words, what would they be?

A well thought out book that leads you through difficult concepts
in an engaging way.

The author often refers back to previous sections and links
the current topic using contextual historical references.

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

It would be a bit long for that!

Any additional comments?

I would listen to it again.