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On the Equality of All Things: Lessons on Physics and Philosophy
From the celebrated scientist and bestselling author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics comes a radical new vision of reality, mapping a watershed moment in both physics and philosophy.
We are living in an age of scientific advancement on par with that of Copernicus, Galileo, and a period of discovery that has so fundamentally revolutionized our understanding of the world that it has shaken our most basic assumptions about who we are, and our relationship to all things. In On the Equality of All Things, Carlo Rovelli turns his attention to this reckoning, bringing expertise and clarity to the most mind-bending theories of modern physics. At the heart of this book are the most fundamental questions What does it mean to say something exists? What is time, when we now know that it flows differently for different observers? And what kind of world do we live in, if the very building blocks of nature are defined only by their connections?
Drawing from the latest advances in science and the teachings of ancient philosophers, Rovelli invites us into a universe that is not made of things, but of relationships. Time is a string of events, and there is no present time in the universe. Cause and effect is an illusion and reality is an intricate and fragile web. And knowledge itself will always be imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete.
This is an awe-inspiring meditation on science, meaning, and being that charts the strange majesty of the world we’ve always lived in—from a thinker unafraid to challenge not only centuries of philosophers but our own intuitions about the nature of reality and what organizes it.
We are living in an age of scientific advancement on par with that of Copernicus, Galileo, and a period of discovery that has so fundamentally revolutionized our understanding of the world that it has shaken our most basic assumptions about who we are, and our relationship to all things. In On the Equality of All Things, Carlo Rovelli turns his attention to this reckoning, bringing expertise and clarity to the most mind-bending theories of modern physics. At the heart of this book are the most fundamental questions What does it mean to say something exists? What is time, when we now know that it flows differently for different observers? And what kind of world do we live in, if the very building blocks of nature are defined only by their connections?
Drawing from the latest advances in science and the teachings of ancient philosophers, Rovelli invites us into a universe that is not made of things, but of relationships. Time is a string of events, and there is no present time in the universe. Cause and effect is an illusion and reality is an intricate and fragile web. And knowledge itself will always be imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete.
This is an awe-inspiring meditation on science, meaning, and being that charts the strange majesty of the world we’ve always lived in—from a thinker unafraid to challenge not only centuries of philosophers but our own intuitions about the nature of reality and what organizes it.
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 15, 2026
About the author
Carlo Rovelli
54 books4,302 followersCarlo Rovelli is an Italian theoretical physicist and writer who has worked in Italy and the USA, and currently works in France. His work is mainly in the field of quantum gravity, where he is among the founders of the loop quantum gravity theory. He has also worked in the history and philosophy of science. He collaborates regularly with several Italian newspapers, in particular the cultural supplements of Il Sole 24 Ore and La Repubblica.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 28, 2026
There is a wide gulf between the worldviews of physicists and philosophers. Many physicists present a rather sweetly naive, child-like view of the world, where philosophers bring a distinctly more adult, cynical tone. This being the case, it can be a little worrying when a physicist dips a toe into the philosophical mire. Infamously, in The Grand Design, Stephen Hawking and co-author Leonard Mlodinow told us that philosophy was now dead because science could deal with anything it had previously been needed for.
Thankfully, Carlo Rovelli is not trying to do away with philosophy, though it has to be said that when he veers into the topic that physicist's naivety can make it feel like the philosophising of an earnest eighteen-year-old. Take the opening paragraph, which tells us 'electrons and minds, stones and laws, judgements and galaxies do not essentially differ in nature from one another. They are notions that illuminate each other'. I almost expected a Pink Floyd soundtrack. But though Rovelli doesn't say philosophers are redundant, he does delight in telling them they're wrong, for example 'I feel there is a whole branch of contemporary philosophy that is trapped inside this mistake. The mistake is to believe that the concepts we have are necessarily adequate for understanding reality, even beyond the context in which these concepts were shaped.'
It might seem, given this concern, that I've over-rated the book, but where he primarily focuses on the physics - which is more of the book than you might think, Rovelli absolutely deserves those four stars. Admittedly, as always, his presentation of physical theory does not give us an objective broad picture of the current debates, but only his own personal viewpoint - but he does that very well and approachably, giving considerably more detail than he has often done in these short books.
One major basis of his thesis is the relational interpretation of quantum theory, which builds on the idea that very few physical observations can be made in isolation - we always have to consider a physical system in its context. (This feels very much in opposition to the traditional physics approach of pretending we can deal with perfect isolated systems.) Inevitably this also brings in relativity. It was particularly interesting comparing Rovelli's section on 'the flow of time' with some very different views in Jim Al-Khalili's recent On Time.
Occasionally things seem to go a little adrift. At one point we are told that there is no such thing as absolute certainty of anything - effectively, there are no facts. Can’t I be certain that my entire body is not currently inside my own stomach? Even Rovelli seems not to be convinced by his own statement as soon after he states a physical observation is a 'fact'.
All in all, for me despite the dips into philosophical noodling, this book had far more meat to it than most of Rovelli's compact hardbacks. Probably his best book yet.
Thankfully, Carlo Rovelli is not trying to do away with philosophy, though it has to be said that when he veers into the topic that physicist's naivety can make it feel like the philosophising of an earnest eighteen-year-old. Take the opening paragraph, which tells us 'electrons and minds, stones and laws, judgements and galaxies do not essentially differ in nature from one another. They are notions that illuminate each other'. I almost expected a Pink Floyd soundtrack. But though Rovelli doesn't say philosophers are redundant, he does delight in telling them they're wrong, for example 'I feel there is a whole branch of contemporary philosophy that is trapped inside this mistake. The mistake is to believe that the concepts we have are necessarily adequate for understanding reality, even beyond the context in which these concepts were shaped.'
It might seem, given this concern, that I've over-rated the book, but where he primarily focuses on the physics - which is more of the book than you might think, Rovelli absolutely deserves those four stars. Admittedly, as always, his presentation of physical theory does not give us an objective broad picture of the current debates, but only his own personal viewpoint - but he does that very well and approachably, giving considerably more detail than he has often done in these short books.
One major basis of his thesis is the relational interpretation of quantum theory, which builds on the idea that very few physical observations can be made in isolation - we always have to consider a physical system in its context. (This feels very much in opposition to the traditional physics approach of pretending we can deal with perfect isolated systems.) Inevitably this also brings in relativity. It was particularly interesting comparing Rovelli's section on 'the flow of time' with some very different views in Jim Al-Khalili's recent On Time.
Occasionally things seem to go a little adrift. At one point we are told that there is no such thing as absolute certainty of anything - effectively, there are no facts. Can’t I be certain that my entire body is not currently inside my own stomach? Even Rovelli seems not to be convinced by his own statement as soon after he states a physical observation is a 'fact'.
All in all, for me despite the dips into philosophical noodling, this book had far more meat to it than most of Rovelli's compact hardbacks. Probably his best book yet.
September 21, 2026
Carlo Rovelli presents a fascinating and thought-provoking exploration of the world around us, bringing together philosophy and physics in a way that feels considered, often candid, and surprisingly accessible. It’s definitely the kind of book that requires your thinking hat!
I loved exploring the idea that everything is relational and there is no ultimate fixed reference point: even time, space and speed are relative. Rovelli encourages us to keep an open mind and to accept that our knowledge of anything will always be incomplete, leaving us open to continue learning and evolving our understanding of reality.
As someone who hasn’t read many books on physics or philosophy before, but has a lot of curiosity, I found this remarkably accessible. Complex ideas are clearly explained and illustrated with examples that helped me get my head around concepts that might otherwise have felt daunting. I also really appreciated the extensive footnotes, which offer plenty of further reading for anyone who wants to dig more deeply into a particular idea.
A challenging but rewarding read that left me thinking differently about how we understand the world and our place within it.
Thank you to Carlo Rovelli and Penguin Press for providing an advance reading copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I loved exploring the idea that everything is relational and there is no ultimate fixed reference point: even time, space and speed are relative. Rovelli encourages us to keep an open mind and to accept that our knowledge of anything will always be incomplete, leaving us open to continue learning and evolving our understanding of reality.
As someone who hasn’t read many books on physics or philosophy before, but has a lot of curiosity, I found this remarkably accessible. Complex ideas are clearly explained and illustrated with examples that helped me get my head around concepts that might otherwise have felt daunting. I also really appreciated the extensive footnotes, which offer plenty of further reading for anyone who wants to dig more deeply into a particular idea.
A challenging but rewarding read that left me thinking differently about how we understand the world and our place within it.
Thank you to Carlo Rovelli and Penguin Press for providing an advance reading copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
September 19, 2026
Rovelli is a brilliant writer. This confused the hell out of me. The central message is beautiful: that we’re all more connected than we think (through science!). The prose is excited, often funny, and yet so difficult to keep up with. Even with rovelli’s signature hedging comments, I often felt left behind. This book enjoys tying knots in your brain and then painstakingly helps you understand the larger picture of things, whilst you’re stuck in this state of confusion. The combination of some of my favourite philosophers showing up in a science book was fantastic, but make me access parts of my brain I haven’t used in a while. At times while reading this, I was reminded of completing the required reading the morning before a seminar. Despite its short length, this is chewy work. But if you work at it, you find some moments of beauty. I implore anyone who gets close to copy to read p. 89 and also the afterword.
September 27, 2026
“I believe we can have a much richer and more nuanced understanding of what it means for us to learn, and of what morality is for us, precisely by taking into account how morality is not rooted outside us but within us — and by recognizing how our knowledge is embodied. Morality is a powerful force. It is powerful because it is a part of who we are, and we cannot change it arbitrarily.”
“Reality is nothing more than the name we give to the content of everything we know about it, and to the acute awareness of the profound incompleteness of our knowledge.”
“Physicists rarely invent anything without first getting permission from a philosopher.”
“We are not pure reason, or pure spirit, contemplating the world. We are fragile and confused pieces of this world, caught within the vortices of relations that allow us to describe it.” Beautiful!
“Reality is nothing more than the name we give to the content of everything we know about it, and to the acute awareness of the profound incompleteness of our knowledge.”
“Physicists rarely invent anything without first getting permission from a philosopher.”
“We are not pure reason, or pure spirit, contemplating the world. We are fragile and confused pieces of this world, caught within the vortices of relations that allow us to describe it.” Beautiful!
August 5, 2026
Rovelli legt op een 'relatief' makkelijke manier de quantum fysica uit. Of je het direct zal begrijpen is een tweede, maar tijdens het lezen krijg je in ieder geval het idee dat het makkelijker is dan het in werkelijkheid is. De meerwaarde van dit boek zat hem voor mij vooral in nadenken over de lessen van Rovelli. Ondanks dat het geen dik boek is, is het zeker geen boek dat je één ruk uitleest. Wat vooral is blijven hangen is dat woorden als stilstaan en bestaan eigenlijk niks betekenen en dat alles in relatie tot elkaar gezien moet worden.
September 20, 2026
Among physicists, Rovelli is a rare breed. His writing is clear, concise, and beautiful, explaining the web of interrelationships that comprise our world with admirable ease. I have found his works essential in breaking through some of the more esoteric, academic walls in QM, and this is a valuable addition to his canon.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Scribner for providing an ARC for review consideration via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.
I discovered another great writer in Carlo Rovelli to continue learning about physics through his approachable teachings. On the Equality of All Things was a quick read focusing on the immense discoveries seen in quantum theory, general relativity, observers, time, space, existence, and morality.. Rovelli pushes thinkers to be open to adjustments to our beliefs as once-inconceivable ideas come to light. He also warns that the concepts we use on Earth to measure time and space simply do not apply in the broader vastness of the universe.
Even having learned this in similar works, I still cannot get over the craziness of it. As Rovelli writes, “On Earth gravity is more or less the same everywhere... This is not the case in the wider universe. Time passes at different speeds for different travelers: when they meet again, they have generally not aged by the same number of years." Equally eerie is how general relativity describes reality as a set of fields that define spatial extension and time themselves, rather than sitting inside them. As he notes, "The location of an event only makes sense in relation to others. There is no 'where' or 'when,' except in a relative sense.”
While the book does discuss theories and their relationships, I found that as it progresses, it primarily makes a case for Rovelli's personal stances on how much value should be placed on each. I was interested in his perspectives on the flow of time and whether the future is open or fixed. However, I lacked the background in the intricacies of many other theories to fully engage with his arguments. Readers with a deeper understanding of physics will appreciate these perspectives, but I was hoping for more instruction on actual physics rather than debates on nuanced details. Even so, it successfully opened my eyes to what is important to consider so as not to fall into the trap of hyped-up theories pertaining to the flow of time and the Observer Effect.
Due to this, I found the concluding paragraph in lesson 5 gives a better synopsis of the book's true heart than the publisher's summary: “The reasonable question, it seems to me, is to ask what, given the current state of our knowledge... are effective concepts for thinking about the world, accounting for it, and navigating it?... Things all exist equally, in relation to others, each in its own way — a way that evolves as we learn.”
I highly recommend picking up this book if you have a foundation in physics and philosophy and want to engage in a discussion about the importance of certain areas of the field. The detailed footnotes are also a major benefit for those looking for a heavily researched work. I will certainly be picking up more of Rovelli's books.
Read more of my book reviews here...
https://fortandfield.blogspot.com/202...
I discovered another great writer in Carlo Rovelli to continue learning about physics through his approachable teachings. On the Equality of All Things was a quick read focusing on the immense discoveries seen in quantum theory, general relativity, observers, time, space, existence, and morality.. Rovelli pushes thinkers to be open to adjustments to our beliefs as once-inconceivable ideas come to light. He also warns that the concepts we use on Earth to measure time and space simply do not apply in the broader vastness of the universe.
Even having learned this in similar works, I still cannot get over the craziness of it. As Rovelli writes, “On Earth gravity is more or less the same everywhere... This is not the case in the wider universe. Time passes at different speeds for different travelers: when they meet again, they have generally not aged by the same number of years." Equally eerie is how general relativity describes reality as a set of fields that define spatial extension and time themselves, rather than sitting inside them. As he notes, "The location of an event only makes sense in relation to others. There is no 'where' or 'when,' except in a relative sense.”
While the book does discuss theories and their relationships, I found that as it progresses, it primarily makes a case for Rovelli's personal stances on how much value should be placed on each. I was interested in his perspectives on the flow of time and whether the future is open or fixed. However, I lacked the background in the intricacies of many other theories to fully engage with his arguments. Readers with a deeper understanding of physics will appreciate these perspectives, but I was hoping for more instruction on actual physics rather than debates on nuanced details. Even so, it successfully opened my eyes to what is important to consider so as not to fall into the trap of hyped-up theories pertaining to the flow of time and the Observer Effect.
Due to this, I found the concluding paragraph in lesson 5 gives a better synopsis of the book's true heart than the publisher's summary: “The reasonable question, it seems to me, is to ask what, given the current state of our knowledge... are effective concepts for thinking about the world, accounting for it, and navigating it?... Things all exist equally, in relation to others, each in its own way — a way that evolves as we learn.”
I highly recommend picking up this book if you have a foundation in physics and philosophy and want to engage in a discussion about the importance of certain areas of the field. The detailed footnotes are also a major benefit for those looking for a heavily researched work. I will certainly be picking up more of Rovelli's books.
Read more of my book reviews here...
https://fortandfield.blogspot.com/202...
September 26, 2026
'Het is een vreemde wereld. Maar voor ons, voornamelijk uit gedachten en gevoelens bestaande sterfelijke wezens, lijkt ze mij tamelijk gemakkelijk toegankelijk en aangenaam.'
'De wereld omvat ons, die haar gedeeltelijk kennen, en de wereld waarover we spreken is datgene wat we van de wereld kennen. Het is de gelukkige cirkel waarvan wij deel uitmaken.'
'Wij zelf zijn in de tijd bestaande wezens.(...) We zouden niet gedurende één enkel ogenblik kunnen bestaan: wij zijn de eersten die geen entiteiten zijn, maar juist processen.(...) De tijdgeoriënteerd van het kennisproces ligt ten grondslag aan het krachtige gevoel van het verstrijken van de tijd dat wij ervaren: wij zijn zelf tijdgeoriënteerde fenomenen.(...) Het is ons denken dat voortsnelt, niet de tijd.'
'De wereld zoals we die kennen laat toe dat ze wordt beschreven van binnenuit, we leren haar van binnenuit kennen, we treden er nooit buiten.(...) De waarheid over de toestand van de wereld is, in deze zin, een subjectieve waarheid.'
'De subtiliteit van de Natuur overstijgt verre de subtiliteit van de zintuigen en het intellect: dus zijn de subtiele overpeinzingen, speculaties en redeneringen van de mensen een soort dwaasheid, maar er is alleen niemand die dat kan opmerken. - Francis Bacon. Novum Organum, I, 10.'
'Denk niet, neem waar!'
'De wereld omvat ons, die haar gedeeltelijk kennen, en de wereld waarover we spreken is datgene wat we van de wereld kennen. Het is de gelukkige cirkel waarvan wij deel uitmaken.'
'Wij zelf zijn in de tijd bestaande wezens.(...) We zouden niet gedurende één enkel ogenblik kunnen bestaan: wij zijn de eersten die geen entiteiten zijn, maar juist processen.(...) De tijdgeoriënteerd van het kennisproces ligt ten grondslag aan het krachtige gevoel van het verstrijken van de tijd dat wij ervaren: wij zijn zelf tijdgeoriënteerde fenomenen.(...) Het is ons denken dat voortsnelt, niet de tijd.'
'De wereld zoals we die kennen laat toe dat ze wordt beschreven van binnenuit, we leren haar van binnenuit kennen, we treden er nooit buiten.(...) De waarheid over de toestand van de wereld is, in deze zin, een subjectieve waarheid.'
'De subtiliteit van de Natuur overstijgt verre de subtiliteit van de zintuigen en het intellect: dus zijn de subtiele overpeinzingen, speculaties en redeneringen van de mensen een soort dwaasheid, maar er is alleen niemand die dat kan opmerken. - Francis Bacon. Novum Organum, I, 10.'
'Denk niet, neem waar!'
July 20, 2026
‘Is it really, really real? Yeah / Wе're splitting up reality / And I slip out through the crack in bеtween it / Is it really real?’, zingt popster Robyn in een nummer op haar laatste album. Een tekst die vermoedelijk over de zoveelste tragische liefdesrelatie gaat, maar na het lezen van Helgoland van Carlo Rovelli, begon ik toch te twijfelen of Robyn zich niet ook stiekem een beetje in de kwantumfysica heeft verdiept. Met het werk van Rovelli zou dat in ieder geval goed mogelijk moeten zijn. Deze theoretisch natuurkundige van beroep maakt namelijk al een tijdlang furore met boeken waarin hij de ideeën van de moderne fysica zo kort en krachtig uit de doeken doet dat ze zelfs voor een gemiddelde popster te begrijpen zouden moeten zijn.
De rest van deze recensie is te lezen op Tzum of op mijn Substack
De rest van deze recensie is te lezen op Tzum of op mijn Substack
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rovelli has a remarkable ability to make even the most challenging subjects accessible to general readers, and this short volume is no exception. Blending physics, philosophy, and history, he explores key concepts and weaves them together into a coherent and thought-provoking narrative. He even offers an accessible explanation of how the Standard Model and quantum mechanics relate to one another.
My own knowledge of physics is limited, but Rovelli's use of clear, well-chosen examples helped me grasp ideas without oversimplifying them. In his exploration of the universe, he even finds room to consider the concept of God. Despite its brevity, this is not a book to rush through; its ideas are best appreciated by taking the time to pause and reflect on them.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Scribner.
My own knowledge of physics is limited, but Rovelli's use of clear, well-chosen examples helped me grasp ideas without oversimplifying them. In his exploration of the universe, he even finds room to consider the concept of God. Despite its brevity, this is not a book to rush through; its ideas are best appreciated by taking the time to pause and reflect on them.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Scribner.
September 26, 2026
I get the basic underlying ideas and the concepts, but simply can't understand the application to the world of quantum theory and time as he describes it. A lot seems to be presented as self evident although mitigation, there are some health warnings at the outset.
By way of context, because it's relevant in reviewing technical books of this sort, I have no background in the sciences, but do have a postgraduate degree, so assume i'm not just totally thick.
By way of context, because it's relevant in reviewing technical books of this sort, I have no background in the sciences, but do have a postgraduate degree, so assume i'm not just totally thick.
September 25, 2026
A take-away from this book: XD
Giving it a 4 for now; a very easy and engaging read which I swallowed probably a bit too fast. Short, clear, cheeky, full worth re-reading, and lightly sprinkled with formulas for taste.
Giving it a 4 for now; a very easy and engaging read which I swallowed probably a bit too fast. Short, clear, cheeky, full worth re-reading, and lightly sprinkled with formulas for taste.
September 17, 2026
There is no doubt Rovelli is one of my favorite authors & this one is right up there with his best. A thought-provoking lecture on how “science” and “philosophy” really aren’t but two sides of a norrow-edged coin.
September 4, 2026
A brief lesson on quantum physics and what it means for philosophy.
September 19, 2026
Interessante visie maar soms wat ontoegankelijk.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Netgalley and Allen Lane for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Reading On the Equality of All Things reminded me why Carlo Rovelli remains one of my favourite science writers: he has an unmatched gift for distilling 150 years of counterintuitive physics into warm, luminous prose. He dismantles the rigid certainty of classical Newtonian reality and rebuilds it as a dynamic web of relations, all without ever leaving you out of your depth - provided you skip the footnotes and their daunting mathematics. It is a generous work that allowed me to chip away at the impenetrable wall standing between me and the true complexity of the physical world I inhabit.
Highly recommended!
#OntheEqualityofAllThings #NetGalley
Reading On the Equality of All Things reminded me why Carlo Rovelli remains one of my favourite science writers: he has an unmatched gift for distilling 150 years of counterintuitive physics into warm, luminous prose. He dismantles the rigid certainty of classical Newtonian reality and rebuilds it as a dynamic web of relations, all without ever leaving you out of your depth - provided you skip the footnotes and their daunting mathematics. It is a generous work that allowed me to chip away at the impenetrable wall standing between me and the true complexity of the physical world I inhabit.
Highly recommended!
#OntheEqualityofAllThings #NetGalley
June 19, 2026
I’ve read multiple books by Rovelli at this point and I’m pretty sure he’s my favorite nonfiction author. I was so excited when I saw this for request on Netgalley and I jumped at the chance to read it.
I loved this book so much. It is super well written and informative. Rovelli has a gift for writing about physics in a way that makes it easy to understand for the every day person. I ate this up and I’m probably going to buy a copy so that I can read it again soon. Overall I highly recommend this and all of the author previous works.
I loved this book so much. It is super well written and informative. Rovelli has a gift for writing about physics in a way that makes it easy to understand for the every day person. I ate this up and I’m probably going to buy a copy so that I can read it again soon. Overall I highly recommend this and all of the author previous works.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews