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مع القفزة الكمومية, كتاب يفلسف الفيزياء الجديدة لغير العلميين
This book entertainingly traces the history of physics from the observations of the earlyGreeks through the discoveries of Galileo and Newton to the dazzling theories of such scientists as Planck, Einstein, Bohr, and Bohm. This humanized view of science opens up the mind-stretching visions of how quantum mechanics, God, human thought, and will are related, and provides profound implications for our understanding of the nature of reality and our relationship to the cosmos.
248 pages
First published January 1, 1981
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
April 13, 2010
Theoretical physics and quantum mechanics for Joe Blow.
This is the easiest book I've read on these subjects, simply because Wolf didn't mince around with fancy words and you need a mathematical degree for. There were a few parts, particularly to the end, when my eyes started to glass over, but that could be due to tiredness more than anything else.
What I found so amusing was this was written over twenty years ago. Some of things Wolf was talking about have since been proved, and somethings are still a mystery. Reading outdated science books are always amusing to me.
But I really liked the simple language and the fact Wolf didn't presume the reader had a degree in advanced physics and mathematics. The history leading to quantum mechanics was also appreciated, but that's my history major talking.
This is the easiest book I've read on these subjects, simply because Wolf didn't mince around with fancy words and you need a mathematical degree for. There were a few parts, particularly to the end, when my eyes started to glass over, but that could be due to tiredness more than anything else.
What I found so amusing was this was written over twenty years ago. Some of things Wolf was talking about have since been proved, and somethings are still a mystery. Reading outdated science books are always amusing to me.
But I really liked the simple language and the fact Wolf didn't presume the reader had a degree in advanced physics and mathematics. The history leading to quantum mechanics was also appreciated, but that's my history major talking.
March 17, 2018
What A Pernicious Little Book
I had just finished looking through a half dozen current books about quantum physics that were clear, engaging, and remarkably accessible, when I came upon this chestnut from 1981. I thought it would be interesting to review what was being written as popular quantum physics science almost forty years ago.
I had not expected a New Age interpretation of "I think; therefore, it is", which is what you get here. I should have expected something funky from the chapter heading quotes from Pink Floyd and the Moody Blues, but, hey, lots of physicists have their whimsical side. I did not expect Wolf to take the idea that observation affects the observed and turn it into his central point - observation creates the observed.
Here is a central quote from the book's introduction - "Perhaps much of what is taken to be real is mainly determined by thought. Perhaps the appearance of the physical world is magical because the orderly processes of science fail to take the observer into account. The order of the universe may be the order of our own minds." If this line excites you, well by all means track down a copy of this book. Wolf can really rhapsodize along the lines of "consciousness is as consciousness does", and pretty much does for the entire book. For me, what consciousness did was look for my bong. On the other hand, if what you want is to understand why the Higgs Boson is such a big deal, try a different book.
I had just finished looking through a half dozen current books about quantum physics that were clear, engaging, and remarkably accessible, when I came upon this chestnut from 1981. I thought it would be interesting to review what was being written as popular quantum physics science almost forty years ago.
I had not expected a New Age interpretation of "I think; therefore, it is", which is what you get here. I should have expected something funky from the chapter heading quotes from Pink Floyd and the Moody Blues, but, hey, lots of physicists have their whimsical side. I did not expect Wolf to take the idea that observation affects the observed and turn it into his central point - observation creates the observed.
Here is a central quote from the book's introduction - "Perhaps much of what is taken to be real is mainly determined by thought. Perhaps the appearance of the physical world is magical because the orderly processes of science fail to take the observer into account. The order of the universe may be the order of our own minds." If this line excites you, well by all means track down a copy of this book. Wolf can really rhapsodize along the lines of "consciousness is as consciousness does", and pretty much does for the entire book. For me, what consciousness did was look for my bong. On the other hand, if what you want is to understand why the Higgs Boson is such a big deal, try a different book.
June 17, 2020
Fred Alan Wolf does a good job of explaining the latest thinking in quantum physics, which he himself concedes to be impossible for us to visualize in many respects, for readers without scientific training. He does this by adopting a historical approach, following the evolution of man's understanding of the nature of motion from the speculations of early Greek philosophers such as Zeno and Aristotle through the work of ground-breaking physicists such as Einstein and Bohr up to the most current (at the time of writing) knowledge about the crucial importance of the observer in determining reality. Wolf includes some mind-blowing speculations about the nature of human consciousness in the quantum universe which should fascinate you even if you find them difficult to accept.
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September 17, 2023
I'm not really sure what to rate it since this is probably the only book I've ever read like this. I understood maybe half of what he was talking about. It was a really big stretch for me.
But I came away with a couple of things. First, science is largely grounded in philosophy. And secondly, science is never settled.
But I came away with a couple of things. First, science is largely grounded in philosophy. And secondly, science is never settled.
June 19, 2021
An easy to grasp review of physical theories from the ancient to the late 90s. If you wanna know about physics without having to juggle all the numbers, this book is what you should get.
April 27, 2025
Read one way, Wolf’s book is a (another) primer on quantum physics, and I’d say he did a good job describing “the new physics for non-scientists.” Read another way, though, and there’s the Wolf vision that we are all one with the cosmos. Here, Wolf, for me, extends his quantum findings into LaLa Land, making this book toward the end increasingly hard to follow (hence, the title of this book - it’s really a leap of faith thing).
Regarding the quantum world, Wolf sets the stage in his discussion of Descartes (1) and Newton, but it is Newton who really put the mechanical, deterministic view of the cosmos on a solid footing with his three laws of motion. In Newton’s view, if one knows the position and the direction of an object, its future position and direction can be determined as there is a direct cause-effect relationship.
Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle revealed problems with the casual worldview: if one knows the position, one cannot know the direction and vice versa. There’s no way to know both. Moreover, the quantum world is plagued with the disappearance of particles (matter) in the form of waves, and the new reality, thus, is a particle-wave duality. (2) And, most importantly from Wolf’s perspective, the very act of observing a particle disturbed (via light from the microscope - “to observe is to disturb”) the behavior of the particle and that, for Wolf, means that the observer alters reality. More on this point below.
This means that at the heart of reality ( the quantum world), lies an indeterminism, which is a basic unpredictability in a strict cause-effect, mechanical point of view. (3) Though causality is preserved in a statistical, probabilistic sense, we do not, and cannot know, what is happening, particularly at the particle level. It’s in its own world, operating in accordance with laws of its own.
From here, Wolf takes off in the latter part of his book to suggest that we are no longer thought to be passive observers of objective reality as in the Newtonian view, but rather we are active observers who create our own reality via conscious choice among a range of possibilities (“quiffs”). For those who are enlightened, the universe then becomes nothing more than “the mind looking at itself,” thereby, overcoming the “mind-body” problem as classically highlighted by Descartes. The mind transcends the body to become one with all other minds and humans enter “the Age of Quantum Consciousness” where in this world “there is no matter present.” In this new age, “with the underlying order of the quiff…is God’s Will being done.” In learning of the limits of the (individual) human will, we will learn to get along with each other” and “may realize our cosmic heritage as part of the greater will.”
Whoa. Talk about taking a quantum leap! To this, I’d pull the reins back and revisit a couple of points that Wolf slides by. First, in the debate between Einstein and Bohr (and his fellow quantum physicists), Einstein is portrayed as this hopeless icon fighting a losing battle by arguing for the basic continuous, cause-effect world of Newton at the quantum level. What’s not highlighted in that debate is not that cause-effect does not conclusively exist but, rather, that we are prohibited from seeing its operation: We can see position and movement, but not at the same time; and, where we see what we see, the very act of seeing it disturbs the object. There's an inherent impossibility of what can be known, a “thing-in-itself” that is unreachable. But rather than leaving it there, Bohr and others took this uncertainty to posit that cause-effect determinism did not exist (much as the religionists argue, in the absence of proof that God does not exist, God exists). This backstory about Bohr never gets told: Biographical information on him indicates his strong philosophical tendency from an early age to believe that free will lives at the heart of the cosmos, which is what is preserved with the indeterminate, discontinuous model of the quantum universe.
And despite his discussion on nerve structure, Wolf does not look at the evolutionary origins of consciousness. By doing so, it would be seen as a teleological structure to help us survive and reproduce. Had he gone back to biology that way, he might have pulled back from co-opting consciousness' place in the cosmos to serve as his vehicle for achieving religious Oneness.
(1) Descartes’ well-known “I think, therefore I am” statement is said by Wolf to mean that “I am” means “being,” and “I think” means “change,” and from this “Descartes made a bold attempt to construct a complete theory of the universe using nothing but the elements of being and change. These were called matter and motion.” I stumbled here. I’m not clear how thinking for Wolf is change and motion, and how that contrasts with “being,” the definition of which, as a life form, is activity (and therefore change and motion). Wolf also, interestingly, inverts his description of Descartes famous statement by saying that “because I exist, I think.” That, biologically, is probably an accurate statement because without a body’s being, one presumably does not think. But, still, it’s at odds with Descartes' sequence, which is, “I think, therefore I am,” where thought is primary and body-being is secondary.
(2) Could this be Einstein’s E-MC squared formula at work? Particles dissipate into energy (waves), so tangible reality no longer exists?
(3) If I understand Wolf correctly, the world moves from a continuous (cause-effect) to a fundamentally discontinuous connection between cause and effect. For motion, we know position but not direction, or we know direction but cannot see its position at a point in time. And, if we see a particle in a point of time, we alter its movement - “when we observe, we disrupt continuity.”
Regarding the quantum world, Wolf sets the stage in his discussion of Descartes (1) and Newton, but it is Newton who really put the mechanical, deterministic view of the cosmos on a solid footing with his three laws of motion. In Newton’s view, if one knows the position and the direction of an object, its future position and direction can be determined as there is a direct cause-effect relationship.
Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle revealed problems with the casual worldview: if one knows the position, one cannot know the direction and vice versa. There’s no way to know both. Moreover, the quantum world is plagued with the disappearance of particles (matter) in the form of waves, and the new reality, thus, is a particle-wave duality. (2) And, most importantly from Wolf’s perspective, the very act of observing a particle disturbed (via light from the microscope - “to observe is to disturb”) the behavior of the particle and that, for Wolf, means that the observer alters reality. More on this point below.
This means that at the heart of reality ( the quantum world), lies an indeterminism, which is a basic unpredictability in a strict cause-effect, mechanical point of view. (3) Though causality is preserved in a statistical, probabilistic sense, we do not, and cannot know, what is happening, particularly at the particle level. It’s in its own world, operating in accordance with laws of its own.
From here, Wolf takes off in the latter part of his book to suggest that we are no longer thought to be passive observers of objective reality as in the Newtonian view, but rather we are active observers who create our own reality via conscious choice among a range of possibilities (“quiffs”). For those who are enlightened, the universe then becomes nothing more than “the mind looking at itself,” thereby, overcoming the “mind-body” problem as classically highlighted by Descartes. The mind transcends the body to become one with all other minds and humans enter “the Age of Quantum Consciousness” where in this world “there is no matter present.” In this new age, “with the underlying order of the quiff…is God’s Will being done.” In learning of the limits of the (individual) human will, we will learn to get along with each other” and “may realize our cosmic heritage as part of the greater will.”
Whoa. Talk about taking a quantum leap! To this, I’d pull the reins back and revisit a couple of points that Wolf slides by. First, in the debate between Einstein and Bohr (and his fellow quantum physicists), Einstein is portrayed as this hopeless icon fighting a losing battle by arguing for the basic continuous, cause-effect world of Newton at the quantum level. What’s not highlighted in that debate is not that cause-effect does not conclusively exist but, rather, that we are prohibited from seeing its operation: We can see position and movement, but not at the same time; and, where we see what we see, the very act of seeing it disturbs the object. There's an inherent impossibility of what can be known, a “thing-in-itself” that is unreachable. But rather than leaving it there, Bohr and others took this uncertainty to posit that cause-effect determinism did not exist (much as the religionists argue, in the absence of proof that God does not exist, God exists). This backstory about Bohr never gets told: Biographical information on him indicates his strong philosophical tendency from an early age to believe that free will lives at the heart of the cosmos, which is what is preserved with the indeterminate, discontinuous model of the quantum universe.
And despite his discussion on nerve structure, Wolf does not look at the evolutionary origins of consciousness. By doing so, it would be seen as a teleological structure to help us survive and reproduce. Had he gone back to biology that way, he might have pulled back from co-opting consciousness' place in the cosmos to serve as his vehicle for achieving religious Oneness.
(1) Descartes’ well-known “I think, therefore I am” statement is said by Wolf to mean that “I am” means “being,” and “I think” means “change,” and from this “Descartes made a bold attempt to construct a complete theory of the universe using nothing but the elements of being and change. These were called matter and motion.” I stumbled here. I’m not clear how thinking for Wolf is change and motion, and how that contrasts with “being,” the definition of which, as a life form, is activity (and therefore change and motion). Wolf also, interestingly, inverts his description of Descartes famous statement by saying that “because I exist, I think.” That, biologically, is probably an accurate statement because without a body’s being, one presumably does not think. But, still, it’s at odds with Descartes' sequence, which is, “I think, therefore I am,” where thought is primary and body-being is secondary.
(2) Could this be Einstein’s E-MC squared formula at work? Particles dissipate into energy (waves), so tangible reality no longer exists?
(3) If I understand Wolf correctly, the world moves from a continuous (cause-effect) to a fundamentally discontinuous connection between cause and effect. For motion, we know position but not direction, or we know direction but cannot see its position at a point in time. And, if we see a particle in a point of time, we alter its movement - “when we observe, we disrupt continuity.”
November 14, 2013
I have read this several times. Every time I want to refresh my thoughts about Quantum Mechanics, I just start it again. Love the non-technical way that the science is explained. Although, some of the mathematics would be good also.
October 5, 2024
DOES REALITY DEPEND ON “WHAT AND HOW WE CHOOSE TO OBSERVE”?
Fred Alan Wolf (born 1934) is an American theoretical physicist (and former physics professor at San Diego State University) specializing in quantum physics and the relationship between physics and consciousness. He has helped popularize science on the Discovery Channel, and has produced a number of audio and video presentations (e.g., 'Dr. Fred Alan Wolf: The Secret of the Law of Attraction,' 'The Big Bang Within You,' 'Spirit Space; A Journey Into Your Consciousness,' 'Dr. Quantum Presents: A User's Guide to the Universe,' etc.) He has also written books such as 'Time Loops and Space Twists: How God Created the Universe,' 'Mind into Matter: A New Alchemy of Science and Spirit,' 'The Spiritual Universe,' etc.
He wrote in the Introduction to this 1981 book, “The ‘quantum leap’ to which the title of this book refers is to be taken both literally and figuratively. In its literal sense, the quantum leap is the tiny but explosive jump that a particle of matter undergoes in moving from one place to another. The ‘new physics’ … indicates that all particles composing the physical universe must move in this fashion or cease to exist. Since you and I are composed of atomic and subatomic matter, we too must ‘take the quantum leap.’ In the figurative sense, taking the quantum leap means taking a risk, going off into an uncharted territory with no guide to follow…
"For the scientists who discovered the underlying reality of quantum mechanics, the quantum leap was also an uncertain and risky affair. The uncertainty was literal… There is no way to know with absolute certainty the movements of such tiny particles of matter. This in fact led to a new law of physics called the Principle of Indeterminism… The new physics uncovered a bizarre and magical underworld. It showed physicists a new meaning for the word ‘order.’ This new order, the basis for the new physics, was not found in the particles of matter. Rather, it was found in the minds of the physicists.” (Pg. 1)
He adds, “This book presents both the history and the concepts of the new physics, called quantum mechanics… The gradual recognition that what we think may physically influence what we observe has led to a revolution in thought and philosophy, not to mention physics. Quantum mechanics appears to describe a universal order that includes us in a very special way. In fact, our minds may enter into nature in a way we had not imagined possible. The thought that atoms may not exist without observers of atoms is, to me, a very exciting thought. Could this fact concerning atoms also apply in other realms of science? Perhaps much of what is taken to be real is mainly determined by thought. Perhaps the appearance of the physical world is magical because the orderly processes of science fail to take the observer into account. The order of the universe may be the order of our own minds.” (Pg. 1, 6)
He observes, “no clear dividing line exists between ourselves and the reality we observe to exist outside of ourselves. Instead, reality depends upon our choices of what and how we choose to observe. These choices, in turn, depend upon our minds or, more specifically, the content of our thoughts. And our thoughts, in turn, depend upon our expectations, our desire for continuity… When we observe anything on an atomic scale, we disrupt that continuity… These concerns regarding observation I call the ‘construction of reality by mental acts.’ These are the acts of creation.
'Now, much of what we observe is NOT at all disturbed or affected by observation. The effects of observation upon elephants and baseballs appear quite negligible when these massive objects are seen with ordinary light. Here the uncertainty principle plays a very small role… But we should not automatically assume that our observations have no role in the universe when we are examining electrons… it is at least conceivable that our observations of ourselves play a significant role in our own human behavior.” (Pg. 128)
He concludes, “I feel that the underlying order of the … quantum mechanics of the universe, is God’s will being done. Yet to us, this order appears random and often without any meaning… Quantum mechanics, perhaps more clearly than any religion, points to the unity of the world. It also points to something beyond the physical world… All of these interpretations point to the mystery of the physical world from a nonphysical perspective. We might say that God’s will is exercised in the world of the … quantum wave function…
"It is a world of paradox and utter confusion to human, limited intelligence… Yet there is an explicit order to the paradox. There is a pattern to the many positions, a symmetry... Perhaps if we come to understand how modern physics, particularly quantum mechanics, can make us aware of the limits of human will, we will learn to get along with each other. Even better, we may realize our cosmic heritage as part of the greater will. I hope so.” (Pg. 249-250)
As a personal preference, I like Wolf’s earlier (more science-oriented) books to his later reinvention of himself as “Dr. Quantum.” This book---his first—remains an excellent orientation to his thought.
Fred Alan Wolf (born 1934) is an American theoretical physicist (and former physics professor at San Diego State University) specializing in quantum physics and the relationship between physics and consciousness. He has helped popularize science on the Discovery Channel, and has produced a number of audio and video presentations (e.g., 'Dr. Fred Alan Wolf: The Secret of the Law of Attraction,' 'The Big Bang Within You,' 'Spirit Space; A Journey Into Your Consciousness,' 'Dr. Quantum Presents: A User's Guide to the Universe,' etc.) He has also written books such as 'Time Loops and Space Twists: How God Created the Universe,' 'Mind into Matter: A New Alchemy of Science and Spirit,' 'The Spiritual Universe,' etc.
He wrote in the Introduction to this 1981 book, “The ‘quantum leap’ to which the title of this book refers is to be taken both literally and figuratively. In its literal sense, the quantum leap is the tiny but explosive jump that a particle of matter undergoes in moving from one place to another. The ‘new physics’ … indicates that all particles composing the physical universe must move in this fashion or cease to exist. Since you and I are composed of atomic and subatomic matter, we too must ‘take the quantum leap.’ In the figurative sense, taking the quantum leap means taking a risk, going off into an uncharted territory with no guide to follow…
"For the scientists who discovered the underlying reality of quantum mechanics, the quantum leap was also an uncertain and risky affair. The uncertainty was literal… There is no way to know with absolute certainty the movements of such tiny particles of matter. This in fact led to a new law of physics called the Principle of Indeterminism… The new physics uncovered a bizarre and magical underworld. It showed physicists a new meaning for the word ‘order.’ This new order, the basis for the new physics, was not found in the particles of matter. Rather, it was found in the minds of the physicists.” (Pg. 1)
He adds, “This book presents both the history and the concepts of the new physics, called quantum mechanics… The gradual recognition that what we think may physically influence what we observe has led to a revolution in thought and philosophy, not to mention physics. Quantum mechanics appears to describe a universal order that includes us in a very special way. In fact, our minds may enter into nature in a way we had not imagined possible. The thought that atoms may not exist without observers of atoms is, to me, a very exciting thought. Could this fact concerning atoms also apply in other realms of science? Perhaps much of what is taken to be real is mainly determined by thought. Perhaps the appearance of the physical world is magical because the orderly processes of science fail to take the observer into account. The order of the universe may be the order of our own minds.” (Pg. 1, 6)
He observes, “no clear dividing line exists between ourselves and the reality we observe to exist outside of ourselves. Instead, reality depends upon our choices of what and how we choose to observe. These choices, in turn, depend upon our minds or, more specifically, the content of our thoughts. And our thoughts, in turn, depend upon our expectations, our desire for continuity… When we observe anything on an atomic scale, we disrupt that continuity… These concerns regarding observation I call the ‘construction of reality by mental acts.’ These are the acts of creation.
'Now, much of what we observe is NOT at all disturbed or affected by observation. The effects of observation upon elephants and baseballs appear quite negligible when these massive objects are seen with ordinary light. Here the uncertainty principle plays a very small role… But we should not automatically assume that our observations have no role in the universe when we are examining electrons… it is at least conceivable that our observations of ourselves play a significant role in our own human behavior.” (Pg. 128)
He concludes, “I feel that the underlying order of the … quantum mechanics of the universe, is God’s will being done. Yet to us, this order appears random and often without any meaning… Quantum mechanics, perhaps more clearly than any religion, points to the unity of the world. It also points to something beyond the physical world… All of these interpretations point to the mystery of the physical world from a nonphysical perspective. We might say that God’s will is exercised in the world of the … quantum wave function…
"It is a world of paradox and utter confusion to human, limited intelligence… Yet there is an explicit order to the paradox. There is a pattern to the many positions, a symmetry... Perhaps if we come to understand how modern physics, particularly quantum mechanics, can make us aware of the limits of human will, we will learn to get along with each other. Even better, we may realize our cosmic heritage as part of the greater will. I hope so.” (Pg. 249-250)
As a personal preference, I like Wolf’s earlier (more science-oriented) books to his later reinvention of himself as “Dr. Quantum.” This book---his first—remains an excellent orientation to his thought.
April 24, 2015
يعيب الكتاب كثرة الأمثلة المشتتة وضعف الترجمة
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August 7, 2016كتاب جيد ، الفلسفة المعلوماتية بداخله ممتعة ..
December 21, 2021
Lo compré hace muchísimos años (más de 25!) y sólo lo había leído por partes.
La primera mitad es pasable, con explicaciones sobre la interpretación de la teoría cuántica y de la naturaleza de la realidad. Incluso tiene unos dibujitos muy piolas, como el de Einstein y Bohr que usé de ejemplo en un trabajo de la facultad hace como 20 años.
Pero a medida que progresa, comienza a introducir términos e interpretaciones muy new age que no me cuadran del todo, al punto que se vuelve un plomazo y no entiendo muy bien qué cuernos quiere decir.
Listo, lo terminé. Ahora a volverlo a archivar para mirar los dibujitos de vez en cuando...
La primera mitad es pasable, con explicaciones sobre la interpretación de la teoría cuántica y de la naturaleza de la realidad. Incluso tiene unos dibujitos muy piolas, como el de Einstein y Bohr que usé de ejemplo en un trabajo de la facultad hace como 20 años.
Pero a medida que progresa, comienza a introducir términos e interpretaciones muy new age que no me cuadran del todo, al punto que se vuelve un plomazo y no entiendo muy bien qué cuernos quiere decir.
Listo, lo terminé. Ahora a volverlo a archivar para mirar los dibujitos de vez en cuando...
December 9, 2024
The first part of the book is very clear and covers what has been found and who found. You can close the book when you start to find lots of mystical stuff about consciousness, right after some reasonable, but in my view insufficient, coverage of Everett's "many worlds" ideas. I am not sorry I read it, but it wandered away near the end. In "The Tyranny of Words" by Stuart Chase, the author describes how learning about Semantics destroyed his ability to read books on Philosophy. Having just read Chase's book, I could not stomach the last third of Wolf's otherwise useful book.
April 14, 2024
This is a hard book for me to rate, because I think I kind of wasn't the target audience. I am certainly not a physicist, but I've done a LOT of reading on physics and quantum physics, so I'm not a complete novice to the ideas either. Because of that, most of this was a review and I didn't really get a whole lot out of it.
March 14, 2025
Not quite was a was expected. Others have said this reading this book blew their minds. I had a passing familiarly with quantum physics, and it was good to get a little more background on the early findings throughout history. But the end stuff left it too vague.
August 27, 2025
very difficult reading for a concrete thinker like myself.
Was hoping for some new insight into ideas that prompted me to avoid graduate physics. Might be very enjoyable reading for a less rigid mind. Glad I plowed through to the end.
Was hoping for some new insight into ideas that prompted me to avoid graduate physics. Might be very enjoyable reading for a less rigid mind. Glad I plowed through to the end.
September 16, 2019
This is a greatly simple book on a not-so-simple topic. Although many water has flown since its writing, the book is still worth reading.
May 11, 2020
Excellent book on the history of quantum physics. At first, it might seem hard to grasp the challenging ideas but it becomes easy when you do some extra research on the internet.
August 24, 2023
"Quantum physics discovered that every act of observation made of an atom by a physicist disturbed the atom." p. 2 A wonderful book about physics history.
December 3, 2023
I just had a lot of fun reading this book. No physics background, still enjoyed it thoroughly.
February 14, 2024
I’m a trifle obtuse and not waxing oxymoronic but the more I learn the less I know. Absolutely fascinating read.
September 4, 2024
This book was so accessible! I appreciate authors who can explain difficult concepts simply, but without dumbing things down. Really enjoyed this book and recommended it to many friends
November 2, 2025
my head hurts
March 21, 2017
Accessible reading about quiff (quantum wave function) with lots of metaphors.
Pushes all the way through to explain consciousness and mind :-)
Pushes all the way through to explain consciousness and mind :-)
August 4, 2013
This is a really good book for anyone who wants to understand something about the world of quantum physics, but doesn't know the math, or has been out of school as long as I have. I've always had an interest in physics and when I read some of the reviews on this book, I put it on my list. It's time came this week.
If you read anything on quantum physics before, this is a quick read. And, if you have not, it won't take too much longer. The world of quantum mechanics is very, very strange. Things don't work the way you would expect, so I'll admit there were some topics I could not grasp.
The author does a great job going over the background and history of the scientific method and the development of physics. This helps in your understanding. As the scientific method moves to the 19th and 20th centuries, the picture begins to come together.
Moving from a world of absolutes - mechanics, to one of probabilities is the essence of quantum physics/quantum mechanics. Mr Wolf uses analogies and diagrams to replace complex mathematics brought much into light.
Many of the theories presented are very controversial. For example, one theory tries to connect the probability wave of electrons with the mechanical presence of the electron itself using multiverses. The actual location of the electron cannot be observed, but can be inferred by the frequency of the wave, or the frequency can be inferred by locating the electron.
I would say the most difficult concept to understand remains the probability functions. The idea that the act of observing the electron itself causes a fundamental change. When observed, the wave collapses into a particle. So, how does that happen? And, Mr Wolf goes further to show how this can be applied to not just particles but to atoms, molecules and even to people. There final chapter uses this theory to explain how a human makes choices and presents philosophical arguments about whether the act of a lower animal observing has the same effects.
Although some of this went over my head, I thoroughly enjoyed the writer's style. The information presented was done in a logical sequence and in terms that most can understand. I would say I have a much better understanding of the current state of quantum physics and the various arguments for and against these theories than I had last week.
If you read anything on quantum physics before, this is a quick read. And, if you have not, it won't take too much longer. The world of quantum mechanics is very, very strange. Things don't work the way you would expect, so I'll admit there were some topics I could not grasp.
The author does a great job going over the background and history of the scientific method and the development of physics. This helps in your understanding. As the scientific method moves to the 19th and 20th centuries, the picture begins to come together.
Moving from a world of absolutes - mechanics, to one of probabilities is the essence of quantum physics/quantum mechanics. Mr Wolf uses analogies and diagrams to replace complex mathematics brought much into light.
Many of the theories presented are very controversial. For example, one theory tries to connect the probability wave of electrons with the mechanical presence of the electron itself using multiverses. The actual location of the electron cannot be observed, but can be inferred by the frequency of the wave, or the frequency can be inferred by locating the electron.
I would say the most difficult concept to understand remains the probability functions. The idea that the act of observing the electron itself causes a fundamental change. When observed, the wave collapses into a particle. So, how does that happen? And, Mr Wolf goes further to show how this can be applied to not just particles but to atoms, molecules and even to people. There final chapter uses this theory to explain how a human makes choices and presents philosophical arguments about whether the act of a lower animal observing has the same effects.
Although some of this went over my head, I thoroughly enjoyed the writer's style. The information presented was done in a logical sequence and in terms that most can understand. I would say I have a much better understanding of the current state of quantum physics and the various arguments for and against these theories than I had last week.
August 14, 2014
ONE OF BEST BOOK OUT THERE THAT DEALS WITH OBSERVATION AND THE COLLAPSE OF THE QUATUMN WAVE FUNCTION DUE TO THE CONSCIOUSNESS! Not hating at all with the 3 Star rating but I will need to read the book at least 5 times to fully understand it and I have a good knowledge about the consciousness and wave function before even reading this book. Fred Alan Wolf tried his best to make this book easy to read on the first attempt but failed to do so but after reading it over and over, you will be baffled and profound. You will need your consciousness and mind adapt to profound and overwhelming information explained in this book and will need to read it at least 3-5 time to fully get a grip. However inside the book is a welcome goldmine of valuable information that is explained into detail. Explains Zeno's Arrow of life being continuous frames of stops, also explains Early Planck, Bohm, Einstein and etc in timeline fashion. Even if the book is from 1981, this book is still loaded with valuable insights. He gave a specific reason why Schroedinger cat could be possible in two locations at once before being observed. Gives good insight on Atoms, Molecules, Foces that deal with NH2 Molecule and why h-2 gives away ghost energy and why the conclusions exist for the alternative realities and parallel universes. .
Gave excellent stories on the Passive Observer, Active Disturber and the disturbing Observer and how it affect the atoms, the wave function, and observation and reality.
One of my favorite quote in the book was
"WE ARE ALL VICTIMS OF A DESTINY OF A DETERIMINED MANNER"
Gave excellent stories on the Passive Observer, Active Disturber and the disturbing Observer and how it affect the atoms, the wave function, and observation and reality.
One of my favorite quote in the book was
"WE ARE ALL VICTIMS OF A DESTINY OF A DETERIMINED MANNER"
September 8, 2014
Our world is indeed a most peculiar place. Any curious person who wishes to be bathed in strangeness need look no further than quantum physics. Beings that are both dead and alive, things not existing until you observe them, multiple worlds, and more paradoxes than you can shake a paradoxical cube at. If you wish to read this in an attempt to understanding something you do not expect to understand at all (like me), then you'll find this book quite useful in doing so. You could also easily become by far the most fascinating conversationalist at the next party you attend (Why yes, your drink didn't even exist until you looked at it, and your cat is dead. Well, he's alive too. Just depends which world we're in. What are you doing next Saturday?).
You might be wondering to yourself, "Alright Garrett, sure you'll become the biggest freak at a party. But is it a good book?"
No, it's a sufficient condition for reality!
PS: Yes, it is actually an excellent book. I wish there were an updated version. I've started seeing ideas related to quantum physics all over popular culture lately, so it's been interesting to try to really understand some of these concepts. I'd like to buy the book for reference, and I think I'll have to re-read it a few times as time goes by.
You might be wondering to yourself, "Alright Garrett, sure you'll become the biggest freak at a party. But is it a good book?"
No, it's a sufficient condition for reality!
PS: Yes, it is actually an excellent book. I wish there were an updated version. I've started seeing ideas related to quantum physics all over popular culture lately, so it's been interesting to try to really understand some of these concepts. I'd like to buy the book for reference, and I think I'll have to re-read it a few times as time goes by.
November 19, 2008
Probably the first and only book I'll read on physics! This book is for those of us who are in the 6th grade level of science. Ha! I chose to read this book because I had come across some interesting statements and ideas about quantum physics from other sources. I wanted to see if they were finally approaching a "scientific confirmation" that yes, you can control your universe and that there is more beyond the physical body and the atomic, electron, proton, to 'ether' level. The book gets a bit jumbled in the middle but I kept going to get to the punch line. I agree that it gets confusing as to whether qwiffs are popping or pops are qwiffing. What I gained from this book is knowledge for a new way to meditate (though meditation is not mentioned in the book), a new way to think, and confirmation that free will works wonders. A good source of basic information if you can wade through it.
September 21, 2007
The first part of the book "Welcome to the Machine" provides an excellent review of early scientific concepts and I enjoyed the comparisons between the shift in observance from passive to active as scientists were evolving their understanding of the universe within and without.
I am now entering part II - so I will have to get back to you on that.
I will say that I am relatively glad that I have an extensive background in science. While not in this particular content area, it certainly makes the reading and comprehension less complicated and my passion for science makes the reading exciting as well.
crappity crap - that sounds awful geeky. just pick it up. it provides an excellent journey through science.
I am now entering part II - so I will have to get back to you on that.
I will say that I am relatively glad that I have an extensive background in science. While not in this particular content area, it certainly makes the reading and comprehension less complicated and my passion for science makes the reading exciting as well.
crappity crap - that sounds awful geeky. just pick it up. it provides an excellent journey through science.
August 26, 2009
Wolf is the master at turning a difficult concept of understanding and puttting it in layman's terms. Without understanding math to the extent of physicists, Wolf can still put you part way there with this book. I read Taking the Quantum Leap before the string theory was part of the scientific inquision. Though fascinating and shivering in its realization, using only language is limited in giving a full understanding of quantum theory.
I loved this book. I found with every read, I get that much closer to understanding this concept, yet there is more I don't understand. Wolf takes me as quickly as Paul Davis, if not faster. That's why I love this book. It gave me a quantum leap toward understanding quantum theory.
I loved this book. I found with every read, I get that much closer to understanding this concept, yet there is more I don't understand. Wolf takes me as quickly as Paul Davis, if not faster. That's why I love this book. It gave me a quantum leap toward understanding quantum theory.
June 14, 2013
Fred Alan Wolf does a good job of explaining the latest thinking in quantum physics, which he himself concedes to be impossible for us to visualize in many respects, for readers without scientific training. He does this by adopting a historical approach, following the evolution of man's understanding of the nature of motion from the speculations of early Greek philosophers such as Zeno and Aristotle through the work of ground-breaking physicists such as Einstein and Bohr up to the most current knowledge about the crucial importance of the observer in determining reality. Wolf includes some mind-blowing speculations about the nature of human consciousness in the quantum universe which should fascinate you even if you find them difficult to accept.
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