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Introducing Graphic Guides
Introducing Quantum Theory: A Graphic Guide to Science's Most Puzzling Discovery
Quantum theory confronts us with bizarre paradoxes that contradict the logic of classical physics. One particle seems to know what the others are doing at the subatomic level, and according to Heisenberg's "uncertainty principle," there is a limit on how accurately nature can be observed. Yet the theory is amazingly accurate and widely applied, explaining all of chemistry and most of physics.
Introducing Quantum Theory takes readers on a step-by-step tour with the key figures, including Planck, Einstein, Bohr, Heisenberg, and Schrodinger. Each contributed at least one crucial concept to the theory. The puzzle of the wave-particle duality is here, along with descriptions of the two questions raised against Bohr's "Copenhagen Interpretation"—the famous "dead and alive cat" and the EPR paradox. Both remain unresolved.
Introducing Quantum Theory takes readers on a step-by-step tour with the key figures, including Planck, Einstein, Bohr, Heisenberg, and Schrodinger. Each contributed at least one crucial concept to the theory. The puzzle of the wave-particle duality is here, along with descriptions of the two questions raised against Bohr's "Copenhagen Interpretation"—the famous "dead and alive cat" and the EPR paradox. Both remain unresolved.
176 pages, Paperback
First published July 22, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 243 reviews
January 25, 2021
Everyone agrees, including the physicist that quantum physics is one of the most difficult theories of all the modern theories in this known universe to understand. Simply speaking, quantum physics is the study of particles at atomic and subatomic level. This book is simple as you can get on this subject matter with the advantage of pictures and diagrams. Not that the diagrams enhance comprehension, they are more there for the entertainment value.
Quantum physics owes its origins to classical physics – Newton’s mechanics (mass times acceleration as applied to ordinary objects) to James Clerk Maxwell electromagnetics (theory of electricity and magnetism). It follows a chronology (1900 to 1950s approximately) of who is who in physics and their contributions toward the distinction of quantum mechanics as a notable theory in physics.
In early 1900 to 1920, physicist like Planck, Einstein, Bohr, Paulli, Heisenberg realize that laws of classical physics did not apply to particles at subatomic scale however the laws of quantum theory do hold true to classic theory laws on particles at “macroscopic” scale. This book barely discusses relativity, which is an essential component of quantum physics but hey why add to the complication. Then in the 1920’s studies shift from theoretical phenomena to mathematical laws with the arrival of physicists such as Erwin Schrodinger wave equation and Werner Heisenberg’s Matrix Mechanics.
To quote the authors “Future generations will marvel at the compressed time scale and geographical proximity which brought these giants of quantum physics together in 1927. There is hardly any period in the history of science in which so much has been clarified by so few in so short a time.”
It’s a quick read on a complex topic but it is definitely a fascinating read. Especially when you realize the applications of quantum theory are far and wide, taken for granted by most of us but of notable significance according to Wikipedia “include quantum chemistry, quantum optics, quantum computing, superconducting magnets, light-emitting diodes, the optical amplifier and the laser, the transistor and semiconductors such as the microprocessor, medical and research imaging such as magnetic resonance imaging and electron microscopy. Explanations for many biological and physical phenomena are rooted in the nature of the chemical bond, most notably the macro-molecule DNA.” Source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum...
You don’t have to have any background in physics to read it, just love of science, history and geekiness will suffice.
Quantum physics owes its origins to classical physics – Newton’s mechanics (mass times acceleration as applied to ordinary objects) to James Clerk Maxwell electromagnetics (theory of electricity and magnetism). It follows a chronology (1900 to 1950s approximately) of who is who in physics and their contributions toward the distinction of quantum mechanics as a notable theory in physics.
In early 1900 to 1920, physicist like Planck, Einstein, Bohr, Paulli, Heisenberg realize that laws of classical physics did not apply to particles at subatomic scale however the laws of quantum theory do hold true to classic theory laws on particles at “macroscopic” scale. This book barely discusses relativity, which is an essential component of quantum physics but hey why add to the complication. Then in the 1920’s studies shift from theoretical phenomena to mathematical laws with the arrival of physicists such as Erwin Schrodinger wave equation and Werner Heisenberg’s Matrix Mechanics.
To quote the authors “Future generations will marvel at the compressed time scale and geographical proximity which brought these giants of quantum physics together in 1927. There is hardly any period in the history of science in which so much has been clarified by so few in so short a time.”
It’s a quick read on a complex topic but it is definitely a fascinating read. Especially when you realize the applications of quantum theory are far and wide, taken for granted by most of us but of notable significance according to Wikipedia “include quantum chemistry, quantum optics, quantum computing, superconducting magnets, light-emitting diodes, the optical amplifier and the laser, the transistor and semiconductors such as the microprocessor, medical and research imaging such as magnetic resonance imaging and electron microscopy. Explanations for many biological and physical phenomena are rooted in the nature of the chemical bond, most notably the macro-molecule DNA.” Source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum...
You don’t have to have any background in physics to read it, just love of science, history and geekiness will suffice.
January 17, 2009
Very useful. But despite being a member of the "Introducing..." series, this book does tend to assume that you understand certain science/physics concepts that you might have forgotten since your last class on the subject. My other complaint is that sometimes the drawings seem to just be inserted in order to have drawings. Some concepts that would be easier to understand with drawings, however, are lacking. Overall though, if you're looking for a readable introduction to Quantum Theory, I don't know of a better one.
September 28, 2018
For someone with only 1 high school physics class in my background and a like of Big Bang Theory, this is a great gap filler in my knowledge of quantum physics. It's a great way to learn more without making your head explode. It simply lays out the history of physics as a discipline, the 6 premises of quantum theory along with the scientists key to the development of each, and all the ways scientists continue to test the bounds of those 6 parts.
When I checked this out from the library, I assumed it was a graphic novel more along the line of Derrida for Beginners (which is fantastic). It isn't. I was disappointed that the graphic parts of this book are simple the occasional photo of a scientist or some random drawn photos that are related to the text but don't really add anything to the explanation. Most come at the beginning or end of written chapters. None are bad but I didn't feel any added to the information in any significant way.
I'm sure Sheldon Cooper would call this a book for toddlers making it perfect for me.
When I checked this out from the library, I assumed it was a graphic novel more along the line of Derrida for Beginners (which is fantastic). It isn't. I was disappointed that the graphic parts of this book are simple the occasional photo of a scientist or some random drawn photos that are related to the text but don't really add anything to the explanation. Most come at the beginning or end of written chapters. None are bad but I didn't feel any added to the information in any significant way.
I'm sure Sheldon Cooper would call this a book for toddlers making it perfect for me.
August 25, 2016
یکی از بهترین و عامه پسند ترین کتاب هایی که در مورد کوانتوم خوندم، در واقع یک کتاب کمیک بود،اقای مجتبی سلطانی ترجمه کردن و در نشر ،نشر و پژوهش شیرازه چاپ شده. من بەش پنج ستارە دادم(این مدیر گود ریز انگار اجدادش هتل دار بودن)باید ستاره داد:))))
March 9, 2023
یه کتاب تصویری در رابطه با فیزیک کوانتوم ،ساده و خوش خوان ،کامل در عین اختصار
March 21, 2015
[This review first appeared on MsKanta.]
One wonders why popular physics books do not come with illustrations more often. In fact, a surprising number of books are published that explain quantum physics in words alone, with not a single illustration to accompany them other than a fancy Hubble picture on the cover. It works, in many cases: Pedro Ferreira’s The Perfect Theory and Amanda Gefter’s Trespassing on Einstein’s Lawn are two excellent examples. But wouldn’t a few pictures be able to convey so much more than words, especially when famous experiments are discussed? McEvoy and Zarate aim for exactly such a concise visual presentation of quantum theory, but unfortunately overstretch themselves by covering too much material in their little book.
The book is part of the ‘Introducing’ Graphic Guides series. Other works in this series cover topics such as Freud, Wagner, Semiotics and Success: it seems to be the illustrated mirror of the Oxford University Press ‘Very Short Introductions’. The pictures in Quantum Theory are a mix of illustrations, by Zarate, and photographs. These photographs include quite brilliant historical illustrations: for instance, there is a picture of Mendeleev’s original periodic table, which looks entirely different visually from the one that is used today. As the illustrations indeed do prove to be very helpful, one realises that a little colour might have made them even better, especially in the chapter on absorption spectra. A black-and-white illustration of hydrogen absorption in the visible spectrum does not really help to explain the concept. Also, the illustrations in the ebook version were much too small, at times making it impossible to read the words in the comics, and it was impossible to zoom in – if you have the choice, go for the paper book.
This book is not the first on quantum theory by a long stretch, nor is it the best one. Surprisingly, however, it does present itself as such in a cringe-worthy reference to John Gribbin’s In Search of Schrödinger’s Cat (1984): “Until now, this was the best lay person’s guide to how the theory emerged.” This entirely unnecessary arrogance is the first indication that this book may be slightly outdated, although this datedness does not fully become clear until the end. The book was actually first published in 1992. The edition reviewed here is from 2014, but the final chapter of the book shows that this edition has not actually been updated at all. For instance, this chapter claims that John Wheeler is still alive (he died in 2008) and shows a “web page recently down-loaded from the Internet” from 1995.
There are more instances in this book where the authors make claims they perhaps should have left out. As they explain Planck’s contribution to quantum mechanics, they remark, “Ironically, his discovery was accidental, caused by an incomplete mathematical procedure. An ignominious start to one of the greatest revolutions in the history of physics!” Ignominious? Really? They are calling Planck’s discovery shameful? Well, that’s one approach that is entirely different from all of the works (and the Nobel committee) who lauded him as one of the great founders of quantum physics.
The authors make one big mistake in their book that is going to cost them: they assume too much knowledge on the part of the reader. After a few chapters, their explanations demand that the reader’s secondary school chemistry and physics has not gone rusty yet: this knowledge is directly referred to several times. The book then continues to teach quantum mechanics up to an extraordinarily advanced level for a short popular work: at Oxford, this would be second-year university physics; at Coursera, this is advertised as final-year undergraduate or graduate physics (I took both courses).
For those who can stomach such a dense approach, however, this book is well-written. It does not shy away from equations, which are explained in detail: it is explained what each letter in the equation stands for. McEvoy and Zarate give a complete picture of quantum mechanics, rather than the polished verbal version many reviews give. Yet at one point, the authors even demand knowledge of matrix multiplication, which is only taught in the most advanced mathematics classes in high school. This makes the book an excellent introduction to quantum physics for other scientists, who may specialize in mathematics, engineering or computer science, but not for a wider readership than that.
One wonders why popular physics books do not come with illustrations more often. In fact, a surprising number of books are published that explain quantum physics in words alone, with not a single illustration to accompany them other than a fancy Hubble picture on the cover. It works, in many cases: Pedro Ferreira’s The Perfect Theory and Amanda Gefter’s Trespassing on Einstein’s Lawn are two excellent examples. But wouldn’t a few pictures be able to convey so much more than words, especially when famous experiments are discussed? McEvoy and Zarate aim for exactly such a concise visual presentation of quantum theory, but unfortunately overstretch themselves by covering too much material in their little book.
The book is part of the ‘Introducing’ Graphic Guides series. Other works in this series cover topics such as Freud, Wagner, Semiotics and Success: it seems to be the illustrated mirror of the Oxford University Press ‘Very Short Introductions’. The pictures in Quantum Theory are a mix of illustrations, by Zarate, and photographs. These photographs include quite brilliant historical illustrations: for instance, there is a picture of Mendeleev’s original periodic table, which looks entirely different visually from the one that is used today. As the illustrations indeed do prove to be very helpful, one realises that a little colour might have made them even better, especially in the chapter on absorption spectra. A black-and-white illustration of hydrogen absorption in the visible spectrum does not really help to explain the concept. Also, the illustrations in the ebook version were much too small, at times making it impossible to read the words in the comics, and it was impossible to zoom in – if you have the choice, go for the paper book.
This book is not the first on quantum theory by a long stretch, nor is it the best one. Surprisingly, however, it does present itself as such in a cringe-worthy reference to John Gribbin’s In Search of Schrödinger’s Cat (1984): “Until now, this was the best lay person’s guide to how the theory emerged.” This entirely unnecessary arrogance is the first indication that this book may be slightly outdated, although this datedness does not fully become clear until the end. The book was actually first published in 1992. The edition reviewed here is from 2014, but the final chapter of the book shows that this edition has not actually been updated at all. For instance, this chapter claims that John Wheeler is still alive (he died in 2008) and shows a “web page recently down-loaded from the Internet” from 1995.
There are more instances in this book where the authors make claims they perhaps should have left out. As they explain Planck’s contribution to quantum mechanics, they remark, “Ironically, his discovery was accidental, caused by an incomplete mathematical procedure. An ignominious start to one of the greatest revolutions in the history of physics!” Ignominious? Really? They are calling Planck’s discovery shameful? Well, that’s one approach that is entirely different from all of the works (and the Nobel committee) who lauded him as one of the great founders of quantum physics.
The authors make one big mistake in their book that is going to cost them: they assume too much knowledge on the part of the reader. After a few chapters, their explanations demand that the reader’s secondary school chemistry and physics has not gone rusty yet: this knowledge is directly referred to several times. The book then continues to teach quantum mechanics up to an extraordinarily advanced level for a short popular work: at Oxford, this would be second-year university physics; at Coursera, this is advertised as final-year undergraduate or graduate physics (I took both courses).
For those who can stomach such a dense approach, however, this book is well-written. It does not shy away from equations, which are explained in detail: it is explained what each letter in the equation stands for. McEvoy and Zarate give a complete picture of quantum mechanics, rather than the polished verbal version many reviews give. Yet at one point, the authors even demand knowledge of matrix multiplication, which is only taught in the most advanced mathematics classes in high school. This makes the book an excellent introduction to quantum physics for other scientists, who may specialize in mathematics, engineering or computer science, but not for a wider readership than that.
November 14, 2021
2.5 Stars!
What I know about physics I could probably write on the back of a matchbox. I’ve read and enjoyed loads of these graphic guides, but almost always I have a good idea about the subject beforehand, but this time round I have taken the plunge and really strayed out of my comfort zone into the realm of quantum theory. It is both maddening and a relief to read that,
“Quantum theory cannot be explained. Physicists and mathematicians from Niels Bohr to Roger Penrose have admitted that it doesn’t make sense. What one can do is discover how the ideas developed and how the theory is applied.”
Maybe I learned a thing or two from here, but that doesn’t mean I would be able to tell you what they were a week from now, but nevertheless this will appeal to those with a more enhanced grounding or keener interest than me in this esoteric subject. Go on dive into the mind melting universe of classical physics, thermodynamics and anti-matter.
October 15, 2020
Surprisingly different than I thought. Tries to follow the history of quantum physics and doesn't shy away from math. I actually learned some new aspects I was unaware of before. Does need some solid understanding of physics though, not for beginners.
August 16, 2024
My beige flag is reading a book on a certain subject and then wanting to learn as much as I can about that subject before my interest in it fizzles out again.
To quote Richard Feynman: “Nobody understands quantum mechanics” and I really did feel like the more I learned, the less I knew but apparently my brain has a masochistic side that likes getting told it knows nothing because I actually had a good time reading this? It doesn’t quite feel like an introduction as it assumes the reader to at least have some prior knowledge of physics. Had to dig up whatever secondary school physics knowledge I had left but thankfully there are a lot of helpful videos that touch on these concepts as well (e.g. Domain of Science’s Map of Quantum Physics or Michio Kaku explaining string theory 🙏🏻)
To quote Richard Feynman: “Nobody understands quantum mechanics” and I really did feel like the more I learned, the less I knew but apparently my brain has a masochistic side that likes getting told it knows nothing because I actually had a good time reading this? It doesn’t quite feel like an introduction as it assumes the reader to at least have some prior knowledge of physics. Had to dig up whatever secondary school physics knowledge I had left but thankfully there are a lot of helpful videos that touch on these concepts as well (e.g. Domain of Science’s Map of Quantum Physics or Michio Kaku explaining string theory 🙏🏻)
February 19, 2018
The title of the book is misleading. It should be called "Introducing the History of Quantum Theory: A Guide". It does very little in explaining Quantum Theory, but it does a pretty good job at explaining who came up with it. The "graphic" part is almost entirely superfluous, but does have some nice cartoon drawings of people like Rutherford.
August 4, 2020
This wasn't very useful unless you are fine with continuing pages after pages not having crucial information. I suggest you read Stephen Hawking's books instead, as he's very apt at explaining difficult concepts so almost anyone can get it. This book felt more like rushing through things and the pictures were pretty useless, as it didn't explain anything more or differently.
October 27, 2019
So I didn't finish this. The "graphic" aspect mainly meant caricatures of famous physicists, which is not bad, but not what I was hoping for. I wanted a graphic representation of the unseen, which, granted, is a big ask, but also I feel implied in the cover and title.
February 1, 2020
Good introduction to the subject and mostly easy to understand. The bit I enjoyed the most was that the book covers history of discoveries and experiments and some biography of the scientists. The drawings are a bit blurry though (at least it was the case on the kindle edition).
November 20, 2018
Very interesting book
Crisp, easy to understand, diagrams and connected. If you want to learn basic theory with out any mathematics, you can pick this book.
Crisp, easy to understand, diagrams and connected. If you want to learn basic theory with out any mathematics, you can pick this book.
March 30, 2025
Even the cognitive outliers who developed quantum theory, over a span of decades, claim that it doesn't make sense. And that's after they spent countless hours working with it, testing it experimentally, and being competent at the mathematical details. Most readers of this book will bring considerably less to the table than, say, Albert Einstein possessed. So how much of quantum theory can a brief introductory book like this impart to the average reader?
I suspect that the average reader of this book won't be entirely "average" compared to the general population, but will instead have at least some educational background in mathematics, physics, and science more broadly. But even so, the book skims rapidly through equations and results, while a typical reader would probably need years of study to master the details enough to personally verify the conclusions.
The book contains a lot of equations, and according to Stephen Hawking's rule each one halves the readership. Maybe the abundant illustrations soften the damage a bit. I found the illustrations somewhat inconvenient in the ebook version, since some of them contain substantial amounts of text in the form of word balloons, text which is not repeated in the body text. However, the text size in the balloons is smaller and harder to read than the body text, and harder to enlarge in the e-reader I have on my tablet. Oh well, I squinted through it well enough.
One thing I didn't like about the equations is that many of them did not include dimensions for all the terms. My personal experience with actually studying mathematical topics is that I have to work with the equations before I can "understand" them. And this book doesn't define all the mathematical terms and symbols to the degree that a reader could actually do that. In other words, for "real" understanding it's probably necessary to read some actual textbooks. And repeat some of the calculations that the inventors of the theory used to confirm it.
But as an historical overview of how quantum theory developed, the book works pretty well. If I were really serious about grasping it, I'd probably need to read the book a few more times. But at least I got the sense of just how remarkable that particular time and place in history was, to have so much explained by so few people in so short a time. Scientific greatness seems to depend not only on having enough ability, but also having the luck to be born in the right place and time when interesting things become discoverable.
It was a bit jarring to see just what a non-factor the United States was in the early development of quantum theory. World War II certainly re-drew the map for science, with many prominent scientists fleeing to the USA to escape the mayhem of Europe. We're probably less likely to have any major scientific breakthrough today with near-zero American involvement. That might change if Trump's anti-science campaign causes a reverse brain-drain.
And while it was cool that a handful of exceptionally smart people were able to develop neat theories, which led to many useful applications, I'm sad to say that science has thus far done almost nothing to make anybody smarter. More knowledgeable, yes, but nobody's "cognitive motor" gets any bigger. We're still as much at the mercy of the random genetic crap shoot today as we were in the early 1900s, when scientific progress depended utterly on the chance appearance of exceptionally talented individuals. Just because a scientific finding is "known" doesn't mean it trickles down to hoi polloi. For example, according to Wikipedia, around a quarter of American adults believe the Sun goes around the Earth. For science to do something really impressive, it should figure out how to make everyone smart enough to understand science.
So if you have any difficulty understanding this book, it's the fault of science for failing to democratize cognition yet.
I suspect that the average reader of this book won't be entirely "average" compared to the general population, but will instead have at least some educational background in mathematics, physics, and science more broadly. But even so, the book skims rapidly through equations and results, while a typical reader would probably need years of study to master the details enough to personally verify the conclusions.
The book contains a lot of equations, and according to Stephen Hawking's rule each one halves the readership. Maybe the abundant illustrations soften the damage a bit. I found the illustrations somewhat inconvenient in the ebook version, since some of them contain substantial amounts of text in the form of word balloons, text which is not repeated in the body text. However, the text size in the balloons is smaller and harder to read than the body text, and harder to enlarge in the e-reader I have on my tablet. Oh well, I squinted through it well enough.
One thing I didn't like about the equations is that many of them did not include dimensions for all the terms. My personal experience with actually studying mathematical topics is that I have to work with the equations before I can "understand" them. And this book doesn't define all the mathematical terms and symbols to the degree that a reader could actually do that. In other words, for "real" understanding it's probably necessary to read some actual textbooks. And repeat some of the calculations that the inventors of the theory used to confirm it.
But as an historical overview of how quantum theory developed, the book works pretty well. If I were really serious about grasping it, I'd probably need to read the book a few more times. But at least I got the sense of just how remarkable that particular time and place in history was, to have so much explained by so few people in so short a time. Scientific greatness seems to depend not only on having enough ability, but also having the luck to be born in the right place and time when interesting things become discoverable.
It was a bit jarring to see just what a non-factor the United States was in the early development of quantum theory. World War II certainly re-drew the map for science, with many prominent scientists fleeing to the USA to escape the mayhem of Europe. We're probably less likely to have any major scientific breakthrough today with near-zero American involvement. That might change if Trump's anti-science campaign causes a reverse brain-drain.
And while it was cool that a handful of exceptionally smart people were able to develop neat theories, which led to many useful applications, I'm sad to say that science has thus far done almost nothing to make anybody smarter. More knowledgeable, yes, but nobody's "cognitive motor" gets any bigger. We're still as much at the mercy of the random genetic crap shoot today as we were in the early 1900s, when scientific progress depended utterly on the chance appearance of exceptionally talented individuals. Just because a scientific finding is "known" doesn't mean it trickles down to hoi polloi. For example, according to Wikipedia, around a quarter of American adults believe the Sun goes around the Earth. For science to do something really impressive, it should figure out how to make everyone smart enough to understand science.
So if you have any difficulty understanding this book, it's the fault of science for failing to democratize cognition yet.
September 5, 2020
3.5 stars but I still recommend reading. As the author states, you can’t simply “describe” quantum physics but you can understand the history of the theory and how the theory is applied. This book focuses on the history of quantum theory, key players, dates, experiments, thought experiments, etc. I would rate this 4 stars but I found the illustrations to be difficult to read on kindle and sometimes they didn’t really serve a purpose other than to fill in space. I also felt this book is geared toward someone who has recently taken chemistry or physics and already grasps key concepts (I have taken both classes in college but a brief refresher or more detailed description on certain topics would have been useful). I did supplement the book with a few google searches which helped.
June 14, 2020
Interesting
I wish I could say I know understand the basics of quantum theory I don’t. Know more than I used to but some how feel like I know less.
So much was over my head but I do understand it better than I did and learnt some interesting facts along the way.
These graphic guides are a great source of information for the layperson.
I wish I could say I know understand the basics of quantum theory I don’t. Know more than I used to but some how feel like I know less.
So much was over my head but I do understand it better than I did and learnt some interesting facts along the way.
These graphic guides are a great source of information for the layperson.
May 9, 2019
355 - 2019
Berusaha memahami teori time travel Avengers: Endgame dengan baca buku ini...
#gagaltentusaja #kapanyaterakhirbelajarfisika
Berusaha memahami teori time travel Avengers: Endgame dengan baca buku ini...
#gagaltentusaja #kapanyaterakhirbelajarfisika
August 23, 2023
It's one of those books which is very fun to read, makes total sense, quenches your curiosity, inspires you to read more on physics... but at the same time, you know deep down that you are going to forget everything in probably two weeks time 😅
May 14, 2026
Always when topic is tough, they say it's best to start with some jokes:
"Schrödinger's cat walks into a bar ... And doesn't." 😂 "Heisenberg was pulled over by a police officer, who asked him, “do you know how fast you were going?” Heisenberg replied, “No, but I know exactly where I am.”"
"-Oh, Jane, you're the one for me!
- But, Bob, in a quantum world, how can we be sure?"
Leaving the giggles aside, quantum theory is a fascinating, complicated, confusing, puzzling, disorienting, complex, perplexing subject that exists or not, depending on your reading this or not. 😂
Eh, I couldn't really help myself. I am truly mystified by this area of science and I try to read whatever I can or attempt to understand. This visual guide wasn't that hard to get into and quite funny and well made.
Now on to find a box and a cat.
"Schrödinger's cat walks into a bar ... And doesn't." 😂 "Heisenberg was pulled over by a police officer, who asked him, “do you know how fast you were going?” Heisenberg replied, “No, but I know exactly where I am.”"
"-Oh, Jane, you're the one for me!
- But, Bob, in a quantum world, how can we be sure?"
Leaving the giggles aside, quantum theory is a fascinating, complicated, confusing, puzzling, disorienting, complex, perplexing subject that exists or not, depending on your reading this or not. 😂
Eh, I couldn't really help myself. I am truly mystified by this area of science and I try to read whatever I can or attempt to understand. This visual guide wasn't that hard to get into and quite funny and well made.
Now on to find a box and a cat.
September 11, 2014
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 3.0 of 5
Mostly what I learned from this book is: 1) trying to explain quantum theory in a graphic novel format doesn't actually make it any more understandable for someone like me, and 2) "Quantum theory cannot be explained. Physicists and mathematicians ... have admitted that it doesn't make sense." Number 2 is a sentence from the book.
Quantum Theory is a pretty tough topic. it IS after all, a theory, and one in which even some of our most brilliant scientific minds have disagreed on (Niels Bohr and Albert Einstein apparently battled [verbally] over the subject, each trying to disprove the other).
If I understand it, the theory essentially attempts to explain the motion of sub-atomic particles. Because the particles can not actually be measured or monitored individually, their movements and reactions are 'theorized' given different particulars.
I'm not a math guy, not by a long shot, so when I see things like "E = αf³exp(-ßf/T)" -- even in a graphic novel format -- I tend to start checking out.
Kudos to McEvoy and Zarate and the "Introducing" series for this format and for this attempt. I'm sad to admit that I'm not up to the challenge of learning about Quantum Theory.
Looking for a good book? Introducing Quantum Theory: A Graphic Guide does everything it can to make it understandable, but you still need to have some strong understanding of math and science to follow the principles of this theory that "cannot be explained."
Mostly what I learned from this book is: 1) trying to explain quantum theory in a graphic novel format doesn't actually make it any more understandable for someone like me, and 2) "Quantum theory cannot be explained. Physicists and mathematicians ... have admitted that it doesn't make sense." Number 2 is a sentence from the book.
Quantum Theory is a pretty tough topic. it IS after all, a theory, and one in which even some of our most brilliant scientific minds have disagreed on (Niels Bohr and Albert Einstein apparently battled [verbally] over the subject, each trying to disprove the other).
If I understand it, the theory essentially attempts to explain the motion of sub-atomic particles. Because the particles can not actually be measured or monitored individually, their movements and reactions are 'theorized' given different particulars.
I'm not a math guy, not by a long shot, so when I see things like "E = αf³exp(-ßf/T)" -- even in a graphic novel format -- I tend to start checking out.
Kudos to McEvoy and Zarate and the "Introducing" series for this format and for this attempt. I'm sad to admit that I'm not up to the challenge of learning about Quantum Theory.
Looking for a good book? Introducing Quantum Theory: A Graphic Guide does everything it can to make it understandable, but you still need to have some strong understanding of math and science to follow the principles of this theory that "cannot be explained."
January 3, 2021
Do your wave functions collapse even after you’ve applied sculpting hair spray? Do your observations frequently change your reality? Well, then, this is not the book for you. Quantum theory is some mind bending material and I’m just vaguely familiar enough to almost be able to review this book. It does an amazing job of condensing the history of the primary players and discoveries, and, mostly, makes them understandable. There’s a whole series of these graphic guides being offered via Prime Reading and it was a timely suggestion (coming my way shortly after reading the amazing Death's End). The graphics were helpful depicting some of the experiments and put faces with the many names, but many of them were just speech text bubbles in cartoon/comic book style (the resolution was pretty crappy in the Kindle version making them hard to read even when enlarged).
It definitely inspired me to read more on the subject. When they decimated the commutative property of multiplication I knew my whole childhood had been a lie. (I’m just joking—-this realization occurred prior to this reading).
There are still a great number of unsolved problems in physics, but all you need to know is that the same rules for really big things don’t work for the really small things. Just like we have different rules for the rich and the poor but wish everyone was treated equally.
It definitely inspired me to read more on the subject. When they decimated the commutative property of multiplication I knew my whole childhood had been a lie. (I’m just joking—-this realization occurred prior to this reading).
There are still a great number of unsolved problems in physics, but all you need to know is that the same rules for really big things don’t work for the really small things. Just like we have different rules for the rich and the poor but wish everyone was treated equally.
September 11, 2013
To quote the one man to truly defy the laws of physics: "whoa."
I chose this book because of the word "introducing" in the title, and while accurate it would have been better to learn more about classical physics before diving in.
Even with the graphic-novel style I was still lost. It's impossible to determine whether this is the fault of the author (yes, some of the time) or the ignorance of the reader (yes, most of the time) but overall it's a worthwhile read if you know nothing about the subject. I suspect folks well versed in Quantum Theory would be bored, but while many of the specifics were over my head the summations and philosophical implications were not.
The fact that as of the year 2000, one hundred years after Quantum Theory was first devised, we were still arguing about whether it proved faster-than-light travel or not ... that's just staggering. If not locality is ever proven (I'm assuming it still hasn't been disproved, though 12 years have passed since this book was published) it will basically open a while new world of scientific discovery. Fascinating stuff.
I chose this book because of the word "introducing" in the title, and while accurate it would have been better to learn more about classical physics before diving in.
Even with the graphic-novel style I was still lost. It's impossible to determine whether this is the fault of the author (yes, some of the time) or the ignorance of the reader (yes, most of the time) but overall it's a worthwhile read if you know nothing about the subject. I suspect folks well versed in Quantum Theory would be bored, but while many of the specifics were over my head the summations and philosophical implications were not.
The fact that as of the year 2000, one hundred years after Quantum Theory was first devised, we were still arguing about whether it proved faster-than-light travel or not ... that's just staggering. If not locality is ever proven (I'm assuming it still hasn't been disproved, though 12 years have passed since this book was published) it will basically open a while new world of scientific discovery. Fascinating stuff.
July 2, 2018
I'm going to pat myself on the back TWICE for plowing through this warp-speed tour of Quantum Theory. Thanks to the power of bedrock-simple baby prose and frequent though often extraneous or even distracting illustrations, I think I might actually have a grasp on what it might be and what its principal ideas entail. I will admit that I became extremely bored discussing the dry as dust theorems, but they all methodically built up step by step to produce the finished product. And I'm also encouraged by the fact that many people SAY they understand relativity and quantum mechanics, but really have no idea what they're talking about. The dusty bones of these withered old white dudes really laid the backbone for this paradoxical but nonetheless practical idea. Non-local reality is real. The quantum world undergirds everything, even if we wish it weren't so.
August 27, 2017
These guides are useful as the illustrations and diagrams help with the concepts as do the conversations between the characters. I particularly liked that between Einstein and his wife. I don’t necessarily think that I understand quantum theory completely. This is after all only an introduction, However, I do have a strong sense of the scientific method with one scientist building on the work of another, finding different angles to explore. It is building on the work of others or learning from the mistakes. As the scientists interact, they gain insight. This books gives the reader an appreciation of process.
October 28, 2012
Das Buch bietet einen guten Überblick über die komplette Entwicklung der Quantentheorie. Die Illustrationen des Comics sind gut. Obwohl der Sachcomic eine Einführung ins Thema sein will, setzt er relativ viel Wissen voraus bzw. dass der Leser sehr schnell, sehr viel nachvollziehen kann.
Keine einfache Einführung, aber dennoch gut.
Keine einfache Einführung, aber dennoch gut.
July 24, 2014
Clear and interesting, the history of physics since 1800 through drawings and explanations seem almost understandable, almost.
Chiaro ed interessante, la storia della fisica dal 1800 ad oggi attraverso disegni e spiegazioni sembra quasi comprensibile, quasi.
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND ICON BOOKS FOR THE PREVIEW!
Chiaro ed interessante, la storia della fisica dal 1800 ad oggi attraverso disegni e spiegazioni sembra quasi comprensibile, quasi.
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND ICON BOOKS FOR THE PREVIEW!
December 25, 2014
The pith and pictures (the ever-reliable Oscar Zarate should be credited as well!) were quite helpful navigational tools through some ponderous historical (even meta-physical?) thought here, though I was later comforted to know not even my programmer and engineer friends could explain why multiplication matrices could demonstrate that q x p is NOT necessarily the same as p x q. You know?
July 15, 2015
It is truly an enjoyable and understandable introduction to Quantum Theory.
As someone who is not 'gifted' in the sciences but takes big interest in them, this book was a great way to learn more about a subject that is quite dense.
It's a book I'll definitely re-read and can't recommend enough for those looking to start understanding the incredibly crazy world of physics.
As someone who is not 'gifted' in the sciences but takes big interest in them, this book was a great way to learn more about a subject that is quite dense.
It's a book I'll definitely re-read and can't recommend enough for those looking to start understanding the incredibly crazy world of physics.
April 5, 2016
Very cool and entertaining introduction to Quantum Theory. It was also very helpful fir me to understand "The Electron Structure" unit in Chemistry. I recommend for all who doesn't have any idea on this topic, especially for students in high school.
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