A Quantum Life (Adapted for Young Adults): My Unlikely Journey from the Street to the Stars

by Hakeem Oluseyi, Joshua Horwitz

A NASA astrophysicist narrates his improbable journey from an impoverished childhood and an adolescence mired in drugs and crime to the nation's top physics PhD program at Stanford in this inspiring coming-of-age memoir.

Born into extreme poverty and emotional deprivation, James Edward Plummer was blessed with a genius I.Q. and a love of science. But in his community, a young bookworm quickly becomes a target for violence and abuse. As he struggles to survive his childhood in some of the toughest cities in the country, and his teenage years in the equally poor backwoods of Mississippi, James adopts the hybrid persona of a "gangsta nerd"--dealing weed in juke joints while winning state science fairs with computer programs that untangle the mysteries of Einstein's relativity theory.

When his prodigious intellect gains him admission to the elite Physics PhD program at Stanford University, James finds himself torn between his love of science and a dangerous crack cocaine habit he developed in college. With the encouragement of his mentor Art Walker, the lone Black faculty member in the physics department, James finally seizes his dream of a life in science and becomes his true adult self, changing his name to Hakeem Muata Oluseyi in honor--and celebration--of his African heritage.

In the tradition of The Autobiography of Malcolm X and The Other Wes Moore, A Quantum Life is an uplifting journey to the stars fueled by hope, hustle, and a hungry mind. As he charts his development as a young scientist, Oluseyi also plumbs the mysteries of the universe where potential personal outcomes are as infinite as the stars in the sky.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Memoir, Biography, Stem, Biography Memoir, Contemporary

352 pages, Hardcover

Published August 15, 2023

Reviews

[Rosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

Thank you NetGalley for giving me a free arc of this book!!

[Lali · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read enough of this to know my feelings on it, but I ultimately skipped parts and did not finish. The YA edition of This Quantum Life is fine, but had a few distinct aspects that were just not to my reading taste. First off, this is a very chronological-events memoir- meaning it closely describes the authors life, and not much else, at least not to the degree that I like in memoirs. I was hoping for a lot more discussion on the broader topics of quantum physics, or black people in the science professions. Second, I found the writing fairly direct and dry. This may have been influenced by this being adapted for younger readers from an adult version, but the author even talks about how he compared his writing styles to other classmates in school and found their prose so much more embellished.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an e-arc for review. All opinions are my own.

[Tyler Chen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this book because my parents told me read some books. When I started this book, I was unaware that this very book that I just found on amazon when I search the prompt "good books," I would come across such a great book. The thing that made me want to keep reading was the fact that, even though he had an addiction to drugs when he grew up, he powered through it. I really admire that he could be both the worst student at school but also the best person at school. I also just felt kind of connected to hime because he was always changing. One day he finds weed, the next he's the youngest bible preacher in his city. Another day he smokes weed for the fifth time this week, the next he's building computer programs that show the laws of physics. For my personal recommendation, I think that this book would be suited for everyone. My reasoning for this is because this book is very inspiring. It shows how some nobody who was almost killed on the streets got to be an astrophysicist that just so happens to be a Stanford graduate.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in one sitting. It was so riveting and I was completely engrossed in Dr. Oluseyi’s life and all that he had to overcome. From his early childhood and constant moving to his teenage years where he learned to survive on the streets, through his tumultuous college years, and finally his time at Stanford where he got his masters and his PhD. I was riveted.

For Hakeem Oluseyi to accomplish and persevere despite the system being against him is incredible. From the day he was born to a young mother and raised in poverty, to becoming introduced to drugs and facing addiction, to seeing his father and sister and even himself follow an endless cycle of teenage pregnancy, poverty, drugs, crime, and so much more. I simply can’t believe it.

I’m glad that there are so many young reader editions for nonfiction books now, making these books accessible to teens.

Highly recommend for ages 12+ and for high school classrooms.

[Lidya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was SUCH an addictive read. Hearing about how Oluseyi went from cleaning weed in his family business to earning a doctorate and all the wonderful, crazy adventures in between had me on the edge of my seat. I absolutely LOVE seeing poc excel, and though I'm aware that poc, and black people in particular, often have the expectations to overachieve in order to be seen, rather than just being enough as they are, I still have to give credit where credit is due. Despite the book's focus on science, and physics & maths in particular, Oluseyi covers such a wide variety of topics from family to addiction to systemic racism- there's bound to be something that interests you. His writing was concise and clear and was really rooting for him throughout. A great read for any and everyone!

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

(adapted for young readers version) The author was born in a neighborhood where there were a lot of gangs. But he wasn't interested in having anything to do with that. He was interested in everything to do with science. He was brilliant and won science fair awards and got into a prestigious college. However, he got involved with drugs and almost lost everything he had worked so hard for. He changed his ways - and his name to honor his ancestors. Now he is a well known astrophysicist.

[Cindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting! Edge of your seat page turner. Couldn't put it down as I had to know what was next! I needed to know how the story ended! Conversational and narrative style made for an easy and engaging read. A story of true triumph through hardship. Story grips at one's heart and soul through all the ups and downs. It was overall encouraging to see him succeed after all he faced, both self inflicted and otherwise.

Definitely a book worth reading and a story worth knowing.

[Josh Wray · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great look into Hakeem’s childhood and where he came from. I first heard him speak on NdGT’s podcast ‘Star Talk.’ I was interested in him just by the way he spoke and seemed so knowledgeable about physics and the quantum. Loved the book and enjoyed reading about his struggles. We all have our story of where we came from. What a brilliant mind!

[Heidi Eastman Turner · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did enjoy the narrative of how he went from a rough life to getting the doctorate and learning. I was however surprised about the amount of language ( and drug references) in the book based on the fact that it was adapted for young readers

[Alicia]

Reviewing for professional magazine-- see review there.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing journey of a brilliant physicist! And it was so cool to have him read the book. He has a compelling voice and reads very well. The story was one I was thinking about constantly.

[Callie Navarathne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful story! Really enjoyed this bio

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

James Plummer Jr. was exceptional as a child- even growing up in a poor neighborhood. He overcame numerous struggles to attend Yale and earn his PhD in physics. A good story. An incredible man

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's fine.

[Marti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hakeem Oluseyi started out life as James Plummer, Jr. growing up bounced between a mother and father who weren't very interested in being parents and various family members in Mississippi, New Orleans and sometimes California. It was obvious from early on that he was incredibly bright, especially when it came to math and physics but that didn't stop him from falling into drugs and street life, mostly because dealing drugs was one of the family businesses, but he overcame it all to became a Stanford-educated physicist.

I really enjoyed his story, although it was hard to read about him descending into drugs and relapsing, especially after having a family. I wanted to know more about his son Martell and what happened to him and found it out that the book was dedicated to a son, Hakeem (junior?), that we never read about in the book and no mention of his first son and daughter was made in the dedication. But this is a bio adapted for young adults so maybe there was more about them in the original book.

Satisfies 52 Book Challenge 2024: #21 Written by a Ghostwriter

[Tamer Farraj]

Pg. 192-196

On the page im reading currently they were broke after a long night of smoking and only had 40 to their name and they went to go buy something and they were instead handed a bad full of rocks and they smalled weird so he got really mad and when he scrached them he found out it was just 2 balls of wax so he jumped out the car and threw it at the guys chest and clutches his gun hoping to kill him over just 40 dollers, his friend told plumer dont do it its cool let it go so he put it back in his pocket anbd when he ran they started arguing saying he should have popped him right there, his friend said "this isnt you plummer" and said you are changing man your gonna shoot a dude over 40 and right then and therr he knew he wasent right and was disgusted with who he was becoming.

Overall so far im liking the book more than i usually do because the book is getting way better as i read with a very intresting and exciting story, I would give it a 9.5/1o so far .