We Have No Idea

A Guide to the Unknown Universe

By: Jorge Cham, Daniel Whiteson

Narrated by: Daniel Whiteson

Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Prepare to learn everything we still don’t know about our strange and mysterious Universe.

Humanity's understanding of the physical world is full of gaps. Not tiny little gaps you can safely ignore - there are huge yawning voids in our basic notions of how the world works. PHD Comics creator Jorge Cham and particle physicist Daniel Whiteson have teamed up to explore everything we don't know about the Universe: The enormous holes in our knowledge of the cosmos. Armed with entertaining and lucid explanations of science, they give us the best answers currently available for a lot of questions that are still perplexing scientists, including:

• Why does the Universe have a speed limit?
• Why aren't we all made of antimatter?
• What (or who) is attacking Earth with tiny, superfast particles?
• What is dark matter, and why does it keep ignoring us?

It turns out the Universe is full of weird things that don't make any sense. But Cham and Whiteson make a compelling case that the questions we can't answer are as interesting as the ones we can.

This introduction to the biggest mysteries in physics also helpfully demystifies many complicated things we do know about, from quarks and neutrinos to gravitational waves and exploding black holes. With equal doses of humor and delight, Cham and Whiteson invite us to see the Universe as a possibly boundless expanse of uncharted territory that's still ours to explore.

©2017 Jorge Cham and Daniel Whiteson (P)2017 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Accessible and entertaining.... Cham and Whiteson distil the essence of the little we know - and the lots we have no idea about...a very enjoyable read. (Nature)

"This witty book reveals the humbling vastness of our ignorance about the universe, along with charming insights into what we actually do understand." (Carlo Rovelli, author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics and Reality Is Not What It Seems)

"[A] lucid and irreverent survey of the many unsolved mysteries of our universe.... Cham and Whiteson mesh comics, lighthearted infographics, and lively explanations to painlessly introduce curious readers to complex concepts in easily digestible chapters. This fun guide is just the ticket for science fans of any age." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

A fairly good read

The book is heavily corny and the sound effects are both unnecessary and distracting. Both the corniness and of a sound effects mean that this is a book you should definitely listen to with headphones

Great content but full of annoying slapstick humor

The book is filled with distracting and unfunny jokes/sound effects. The content is good but the humor is very annoying

Awesome and WOW

I loved it definitely good making you want more. It left you with more questions than answers but opened your mind to new worlds.

Incredibly refreshing. Loved it.

In "We Have No Idea: A Guide to an Unknown Universe," the author takes readers on a refreshingly honest journey through the enigmatic world of physics. This book stands out in its humble acknowledgement that despite science's many accomplishments, there is still a vast amount that remains unknown. The author deftly addresses questions about dark matter, dark energy, and the events surrounding the Big Bang, emphasizing the significance of embracing uncertainty and continuing the pursuit of knowledge.

The author's explanations of complex concepts such as mass, matter, and the quantum world are a welcome departure from the often vague and unrelatable language of other scientific works. In fact, the clarity and accessibility of these explanations make a strong case for their inclusion in high school physics curricula.

"We Have No Idea" is a compelling, honest, and engaging exploration of the unknown universe that will resonate with readers who appreciate the ever-evolving nature of scientific inquiry. This book encourages curiosity and humility in the face of the many mysteries that still elude our understanding, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the vast and enigmatic world of physics.

Entertaining and educational

It was Entertaining and educational. Well worth the time. I learned many things, and was left with plenty more to learn someday.

Rekindles a sense of wonder about the universe

It's good once in a while to take stock of the state of knowledge about something, and this book is a good review of the known-unknowns. Rekindles a sense of wonder about the universe.

How my 11 year old niece started her path to astro physics

I gave her this book after hearing the authors speak. It made her laugh out loud. She wanted to be a flight attendant pre reading this. It’s still her favorite book.

It is wiser to know what you don't know

This was a fun and entertaining book, but it delivered more knowledge more effectively than any other source I can think of. The future of science has always been about the open questions more so than the suggested answers, and this audio telling is the perfect guide to leaning what those questions are and why.

This book is A M A Z I N G

I have listened to Daniel and Jorge Explain The Universe podcast for almost 2 years. I kept hearing about them mentioning their book, but I procrastinated. BIG MISTAKE.

Daniel is a wonderful narrator and is incredibly passionate about his areas of study, particle physics.

The information in this book is complex by nature, but surprisingly easy to digest. After listening to the 9 hour book during an entire workday and commute home, I want to listen to it again. I am going to listen to it with my 9 year old son who I’m positive will love it.

I also ordered the paperback version to skim thru and read. I am thinking about buying another copy for my best friend who has no concept of particles and energy, but I am confident this book will explain it to him and he will enjoy it.

I can’t wait for the sequel!

awesome

I love the puns and the detailed way this book is explained showing just how much we still need to learn.