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Product: Book
ISBN-10: 0-19-534250-X
ISBN-13: 9780195342505
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Country:
Year: June 16, 2008
Size: 15.24 x 23.11 x 2.03cm
Number of pages: 224
Weight: 318gr
Binding: Paperback
ISBN-10: 0-19-534250-X
ISBN-13: 9780195342505
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Country:
Year: June 16, 2008
Size: 15.24 x 23.11 x 2.03cm
Number of pages: 224
Weight: 318gr
Binding: Paperback
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Product Description
In trying to understand the atom, physicists built quantum mechanics and found, to their embarrassment, that their theory intimately connects consciousness with the physical world. Quantum Enigma explores what that implies and why some founders of the theory became the foremost objectors to it. Authors Bruce Rosenblum and Fred Kuttner explain all of this in non-technical terms with help from some fanciful stories and anecdotes about the theory's developers. They present the quantum mystery honestly, with an emphasis on what is and what is not speculation. Quantum Enigma's description of the experimental quantum facts, and the quantum theory explaining them, is undisputed. Interpreting what it all means, however, is controversial. Every interpretation of quantum physics encounters consciousness. Rosenblum and Kuttner therefore turn to exploring consciousness itself--and encounter quantum physics. Free will and anthropic principles become crucial issues, and the connection of consciousness with the cosmos suggested by some leading quantum cosmologists is mind-blowing. Readers are brought to a boundary where the particular expertise of physicists is no longer a sure guide. They will find, instead, the facts and hints provided by quantum mechanics and the ability to speculate for themselves. »A remarkable and readable presentation of the basic mysteries of science, our universe, and human life. Critically important problems in our understanding are interestingly discussed with perception, depth, and careful objectivity.« –-Charles Townes, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics »Lively and thought-provoking.« –-The Washington Times »This book is unique. The clearest expositions I have ever seen.« –-George Greenstein, Professor of Astronomy, Amherst College »An immensely important and exciting book.« –-Raymond Chester Russ, editor of Journal of Mind and Behavior »Exposes the hidden skeleton in the physicist's closet.« –-Nick Herbert, author of Quantum Reality
In trying to understand the atom, physicists built quantum mechanics and found, to their embarrassment, that their theory intimately connects consciousness with the physical world. Quantum Enigma explores what that implies and why some founders of the theory became the foremost objectors to it. Authors Bruce Rosenblum and Fred Kuttner explain all of this in non-technical terms with help from some fanciful stories and anecdotes about the theory's developers. They present the quantum mystery honestly, with an emphasis on what is and what is not speculation. Quantum Enigma's description of the experimental quantum facts, and the quantum theory explaining them, is undisputed. Interpreting what it all means, however, is controversial. Every interpretation of quantum physics encounters consciousness. Rosenblum and Kuttner therefore turn to exploring consciousness itself--and encounter quantum physics. Free will and anthropic principles become crucial issues, and the connection of consciousness with the cosmos suggested by some leading quantum cosmologists is mind-blowing. Readers are brought to a boundary where the particular expertise of physicists is no longer a sure guide. They will find, instead, the facts and hints provided by quantum mechanics and the ability to speculate for themselves. »A remarkable and readable presentation of the basic mysteries of science, our universe, and human life. Critically important problems in our understanding are interestingly discussed with perception, depth, and careful objectivity.« –-Charles Townes, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics »Lively and thought-provoking.« –-The Washington Times »This book is unique. The clearest expositions I have ever seen.« –-George Greenstein, Professor of Astronomy, Amherst College »An immensely important and exciting book.« –-Raymond Chester Russ, editor of Journal of Mind and Behavior »Exposes the hidden skeleton in the physicist's closet.« –-Nick Herbert, author of Quantum Reality
reviews
Where's their argument? 
I teach physics for a living. For quite a while now I've been assigning Martin Gardner's Relativity Simply Explained to my students as supplementary reading, and I'd been hoping that Quantum Enigma would do for quantum mechanics what Gardner's wonderful little book does for relativity: give an entertaining, well-written, nonmathematical discussion of the subject, including open questions and philosophical questions. In my opinion Quantum Enigma doesn't do that. I have four general criticisms of the book: (1) It's dull, and it gets off to a terribly slow start. Chapter 1 is a summary of what the book is going to discuss, which is only going to be of interest to, or comprehensible to, a physicist. Chapter 2 has some personal reminiscences, which are not likely to be of interest to anyone at all. Chapter 3 is a parable; only a physicist will understand the point of the parable. Chapter 4 is about classical physics. Chapter 5 is more classical physics. We don't get to quantum mechanics until chapter 6. Ugh. (2) It simply doesn't explain things very well. Chapter 6 is a good example. It starts off with a historical presentation of Planck's analysis of blackbody radiation. Why? It may be the first thing that happened historicaly, but it's the most confusing possible way to introduce students to quantum mechanics. Planck, after all, didn't have the faintest idea what he was doing; he simply introduced quantization as a mathematical trick to get the right answer. (3) The central point about consciousness is poorly developed. The authors set up the Copenhagen interpretation as a straw man, and then argue that the Copenhagen interpretation doesn't make much sense unless we give consciousness a special place in our interpretation. They are absolutely right. The Copenhagen interpretation doesn't make much sense unless one gives consciousness some special status. Since consciousness is a physical phenomenon arising from physical interactions at the atomic level, this shows that the Copenhagen interpretation has some fundamental weaknesses. This doesn't prove anything about a relationship between consciousness and quantum mechanics, it only proves that there's something unsatisfying about the Copenhagen interpretation. The logical conclusion would be that we might want to examine other interpretations, such as the many-worlds interpretation. The authors devote a few pages to the many-worlds interpretation –- this in a 200-page textbook on the interpretation of quantum mechanics!? (4) The first sentence of chapter 1 is »This is a controversial book.« I disagree. Most of the book is noncontroversial, and the rest (the part about a supposed link between quantum mechanics and consciousness) is not controversial, it's just poorly developed. »Controversial« implies an idea that's being actively discussed among experts, and one on which a significant fraction of the experts takes each side. The claimed connection between quantum mechanics and consciousness is in this sense no more »controversial« than creationism.
I teach physics for a living. For quite a while now I've been assigning Martin Gardner's Relativity Simply Explained to my students as supplementary reading, and I'd been hoping that Quantum Enigma would do for quantum mechanics what Gardner's wonderful little book does for relativity: give an entertaining, well-written, nonmathematical discussion of the subject, including open questions and philosophical questions. In my opinion Quantum Enigma doesn't do that. I have four general criticisms of the book: (1) It's dull, and it gets off to a terribly slow start. Chapter 1 is a summary of what the book is going to discuss, which is only going to be of interest to, or comprehensible to, a physicist. Chapter 2 has some personal reminiscences, which are not likely to be of interest to anyone at all. Chapter 3 is a parable; only a physicist will understand the point of the parable. Chapter 4 is about classical physics. Chapter 5 is more classical physics. We don't get to quantum mechanics until chapter 6. Ugh. (2) It simply doesn't explain things very well. Chapter 6 is a good example. It starts off with a historical presentation of Planck's analysis of blackbody radiation. Why? It may be the first thing that happened historicaly, but it's the most confusing possible way to introduce students to quantum mechanics. Planck, after all, didn't have the faintest idea what he was doing; he simply introduced quantization as a mathematical trick to get the right answer. (3) The central point about consciousness is poorly developed. The authors set up the Copenhagen interpretation as a straw man, and then argue that the Copenhagen interpretation doesn't make much sense unless we give consciousness a special place in our interpretation. They are absolutely right. The Copenhagen interpretation doesn't make much sense unless one gives consciousness some special status. Since consciousness is a physical phenomenon arising from physical interactions at the atomic level, this shows that the Copenhagen interpretation has some fundamental weaknesses. This doesn't prove anything about a relationship between consciousness and quantum mechanics, it only proves that there's something unsatisfying about the Copenhagen interpretation. The logical conclusion would be that we might want to examine other interpretations, such as the many-worlds interpretation. The authors devote a few pages to the many-worlds interpretation –- this in a 200-page textbook on the interpretation of quantum mechanics!? (4) The first sentence of chapter 1 is »This is a controversial book.« I disagree. Most of the book is noncontroversial, and the rest (the part about a supposed link between quantum mechanics and consciousness) is not controversial, it's just poorly developed. »Controversial« implies an idea that's being actively discussed among experts, and one on which a significant fraction of the experts takes each side. The claimed connection between quantum mechanics and consciousness is in this sense no more »controversial« than creationism.
New enlightenment in my understanding of cosmos 
My understanding of classic physics made me wonder if there is any way God can be involved in our life. This book »Quantum Enigma« very well presented two things to me: (1) the role of consciousness in creating reality, and (2) the spooky action at a distance. It made me posit that God's consciousness combined with the spooky action can give wide freedom in God's involvement.
My understanding of classic physics made me wonder if there is any way God can be involved in our life. This book »Quantum Enigma« very well presented two things to me: (1) the role of consciousness in creating reality, and (2) the spooky action at a distance. It made me posit that God's consciousness combined with the spooky action can give wide freedom in God's involvement.
Quantum mechanics for lay readers
I can't think in a better book that explains quantum mechanics in an easier way than »Quantum Enigma«. I've read other books on quantum mechanics, but this is so far the easier to understand for non-specialists like me. If you're interested in having a basic, but solid foundation, in the concepts and ideas of quantum mechanics, this book won't dissapoint you.
I can't think in a better book that explains quantum mechanics in an easier way than »Quantum Enigma«. I've read other books on quantum mechanics, but this is so far the easier to understand for non-specialists like me. If you're interested in having a basic, but solid foundation, in the concepts and ideas of quantum mechanics, this book won't dissapoint you.
Best I've read on the Subject
Back in the day, I read all of the popularizations of QM: Davies, Gribbon, et al. The best of that bunch was Nick Herbert's »Quantum Reality«, which I have highly recommended for some 15 years and running: I still highly recommend that book. However, this one-ups Herbert simply by being more modern and referencing newer developments, especially where consciousness is concerned. And while nothing tops Herbert's discussion of the details, this is »equal to« Herbert, and does an even better job of repeatedly pointing out the weirdness of QM. It is written for beginners, but you'd better have some notion of logical reasoning, otherwise the weirdness of QM might be lost on you. With that said, the examples (analogies) given here are the simplest I've seen.
Back in the day, I read all of the popularizations of QM: Davies, Gribbon, et al. The best of that bunch was Nick Herbert's »Quantum Reality«, which I have highly recommended for some 15 years and running: I still highly recommend that book. However, this one-ups Herbert simply by being more modern and referencing newer developments, especially where consciousness is concerned. And while nothing tops Herbert's discussion of the details, this is »equal to« Herbert, and does an even better job of repeatedly pointing out the weirdness of QM. It is written for beginners, but you'd better have some notion of logical reasoning, otherwise the weirdness of QM might be lost on you. With that said, the examples (analogies) given here are the simplest I've seen.
Too much info on certain things, and to vague in others 
The book is fantastic. I do recommend it, however, in certain things I felt it needed more info and details,to go more deeply in the idea, and in others, they were too specific where it wasn't needed, or for my taste … in overall i did enjoy very much the book … certain times couldn't stop reading, but others just wondering when all those details where going to be over …
The book is fantastic. I do recommend it, however, in certain things I felt it needed more info and details,to go more deeply in the idea, and in others, they were too specific where it wasn't needed, or for my taste … in overall i did enjoy very much the book … certain times couldn't stop reading, but others just wondering when all those details where going to be over …
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