The Quantum Moment
How Planck, Bohr, Einstein, and Heisenberg Taught Us to Love Uncertainty
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Narrated by:
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Sean Runnette
About this listen
The fascinating story of how quantum mechanics went mainstream.
The discovery of the quantum - the idea, born in the early 1900s in a remote corner of physics, that energy comes in finite packets instead of infinitely divisible quantities - planted a rich set of metaphors in the popular imagination.
Quantum imagery and language now bombard us like an endless stream of photons. Phrases such as multiverse, quantum leap, alternate universe, the uncertainty principle, and Schrödinger's cat get reinvented continually in cartoons and movies, coffee mugs and T-shirts, and fiction and philosophy - phrases reinterpreted by each new generation of artists and writers.
Is a quantum leap big or small? How uncertain is the uncertainty principle? Is this barrage of quantum vocabulary pretentious and wacky or a fundamental shift in the way we think?
All of the above, say Robert P. Crease and Alfred Scharff Goldhaber in this groundbreaking book. The authors - one a philosopher, the other a physicist - draw on their training and six years of co-teaching to dramatize the quantum's rocky path from scientific theory to public understanding. Together, they and their students explored missteps, mistranslations, jokes, and gibberish in public discussions of the quantum. Their book explores the quantum's manifestations in everything from art and sculpture to the prose of John Updike and David Foster Wallace. The authors reveal the quantum's implications for knowledge, metaphor, intellectual exchange, and the contemporary world. Understanding and appreciating quantum language and imagery, and recognizing its misuse, is part of what it means to be an educated person today.
The result is acelebration of language at the interface of physics and culture, perfect for anyone drawn to the infinite variety of ideas.
©2014 Robert P. Crease (P)2014 Blackstone Audio, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
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- Narrated by: David Stifel
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Does time exist? What is infinity? Why do mirrors reverse left and right but not up and down? In this scintillating collection, Holt explores the human mind, the cosmos, and the thinkers who’ve tried to encompass the latter with the former. With his trademark clarity and humor, Holt probes the mysteries of quantum mechanics, the quest for the foundations of mathematics, and the nature of logic and truth. Along the way, he offers intimate biographical sketches of celebrated and neglected thinkers, from the physicist Emmy Noether to the computing pioneer Alan Turing and the discoverer of fractals, Benoit Mandelbrot.
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A good overview of scientific theory
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By: Jim Holt
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The Quantum Story
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Utterly beautiful. Profoundly disconcerting. Quantum theory is quite simply the most successful account of the physical universe ever devised. Its concepts underpin much of the 21st-century technology that we now take for granted. But at the same time it has completely undermined our ability to make sense of the world at its most fundamental level.
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who's the target reader?
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By: Jim Baggott
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Our Mathematical Universe
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- Narrated by: Rob Shapiro
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Max Tegmark leads us on an astonishing journey through past, present and future, and through the physics, astronomy, and mathematics that are the foundation of his work, most particularly his hypothesis that our physical reality is a mathematical structure and his theory of the ultimate multiverse. In a dazzling combination of both popular and groundbreaking science, he not only helps us grasp his often mind-boggling theories, but he also shares with us some of the often surprising triumphs and disappointments that have shaped his life as a scientist.
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Wow!
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By: Max Tegmark
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The Equation That Couldn't Be Solved
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For thousands of years mathematicians solved progressively more difficult algebraic equations, until they encountered the quintic equation, which resisted solution for three centuries. Working independently, two prodigies ultimately proved that the quintic cannot be solved by a simple formula. The first popular account of the mathematics of symmetry and order, The Equation That Couldn't Be Solved is told not through abstract formulas but in a beautifully written and dramatic account of the lives and work of some of the greatest and most intriguing mathematicians in history.
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Historical Perspective Appreciated
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Euclid's Window
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Through Euclid's Window Leonard Mlodinow brilliantly and delightfully leads us on a journey through five revolutions in geometry, from the Greek concept of parallel lines to the latest notions of hyperspace. Here is an altogether new, refreshing, alternative history of math revealing how simple questions anyone might ask about space -- in the living room or in some other galaxy -- have been the hidden engine of the highest achievements in science and technology.
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Wow!
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The Big Picture
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Already internationally acclaimed for his elegant, lucid writing on the most challenging notions in modern physics, Sean Carroll is emerging as one of the greatest humanist thinkers of his generation as he brings his extraordinary intellect to bear not only on the Higgs boson and extra dimensions but now also on our deepest personal questions. Where are we? Who are we? Are our emotions, our beliefs, and our hopes and dreams ultimately meaningless out there in the void?
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ABSOLUTE MUST READ!
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The Story of Western Science
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Far too often, public discussion of science is carried out by journalists, voters, and politicians who have received their science secondhand. The Story of Western Science shows us the joy and importance of reading groundbreaking science writing for ourselves and guides us back to the masterpieces that have changed the way we think about our world, our cosmos, and ourselves.
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Good text, tedious book structure
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A Beginner’s Guide to Reality
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A unique fusion of philosophy and metaphysics set against the backdrop of contemporary culture. Have you ever wondered if the world is really there when you're not looking? We tend to take the reality of our world very much for granted. This book will lead you down the rabbit hole in search of something we can point to, hang our hats on, and say this is real.
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A real great listen on the nature of reality
- By Patrick Mabry, Jr. on 07-30-14
By: Jim Baggott
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The Infinity Puzzle
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The second half of the 20th century witnessed a scientific gold rush as physicists raced to chart the inner workings of the atom. The stakes were high, the questions were big, and there were Nobel Prizes and everlasting glory to be won. Many mysteries of the atom came unraveled, but one remained intractable-what Frank Close calls the "Infinity Puzzle."
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Succinct exposition
- By Gary on 06-26-12
By: Frank Close
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Beyond Biocentrism
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In Beyond Biocentrism, acclaimed biologist Robert Lanza and astronomer Bob Berman take the listener on an intellectual thrill ride as they reexamine everything we thought we knew about life, death, the universe, and the nature of reality itself. The first step is acknowledging that our existing model of reality is looking increasingly creaky in the face of recent scientific discoveries.
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Here's the thing
- By Mikal on 11-09-18
By: Robert Lanza, and others
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A Brief History of Infinity: The Quest to Think the Unthinkable
- Brief Histories
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Space is big. Really big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the street to the chemist, but that's just peanuts to space.' Douglas Adams, Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy.We human beings have trouble with infinity - yet infinity is a surprisingly human subject. Philosophers and mathematicians have gone mad contemplating its nature and complexity - yet it is a concept routinely used by schoolchildren. Exploring the infinite is a
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Really not great in Audio, not great otherwise
- By Michael on 03-29-13
By: Brian Clegg
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What listeners say about The Quantum Moment
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Hendrick Mcdonald
- 10-10-15
Goes Over The Basics
Goes over the basic concepts of quantum mechanics, tying them in with one or two references from popular culture for each concept.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Alexandra Hopkins
- 05-14-16
Learned a lot about quantum physics
I learned a lot more about quantum physics. But this book is more than about the science of quantum physics and the bios of the founders of the field. It also spends about half the book on social, philosophical, and artistic impacts of quantum physics. This might be interesting to some people, but a few pages rather than half a book on the topic would have suited me better.
I listen to science books about 5 times as I'm not able to put full attention on them when I'm listening -- driving, doing housework, etc. So, the last few times that I listened, I skipped the societal implications.
If your interest is primarily the science of quantum physics, this is not where to start. The science presentations are too concise for a beginner. However, I've read several books and watched endless numbers of Youtube videos on the subject. My math is not up to the level needed for quantum physics.
For me, the level of the book was about right -- only a few very simple equations. By careful, repeated listening, I picked up more understanding of the subject. I find that the more different videos I see, words I look up, and books that I read & listen to, the more understanding I gain.
It took me a while to get used to the narrator -- he has a style that I found a little distracting -- sort of sing-songy, but that doesn't quite capture it. He's a clear speaker though, and his voice is fine.
If you're a beginner, I'd start with Youtube videos, one after another, until you're somewhat oriented. Then, you might get "Dr. Quantum Presents the Real Creator, You!" -- also on Audible. It's by a quantum physicist though so informally presented that you might not think so. And it's got some philosophical viewpoints that you might not care for. But its presentation of quantum physics is a good place to start and it's pretty entertaining. There are probably lots of other good places to start as well.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Amy
- 11-03-16
Simply fantastic
I never fully grasped the impact and meaning of Plank's constant until this book.
A must read / listen.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Jean
- 11-02-14
Interesting
The authors, one a philosopher the other a physicist draw on their training and six years of co-teaching to dramatize the quantum’s rocky path from scientific theory to public understanding. The book explores the quantum’s manifestation in everything from art and sculpture to the prose of John Updike. Understanding and appreciation the quantum language and imagery, and recognizing its misuse, is part of what is means to be an educated person today according to the authors.
The authors recount a series of historical moments that occurred during the development of quantum mechanics in order to demonstrate how quickly scientific language worked its way into the artistic world. The author’s vivid storytelling of Einstein’s theories of relativity to Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle to modern conception of causality. Crease and Goldhaber keep the discussion of these complex topics clear and fun to read. Pop culture took to the quantum cause with far more gusto than most physicists. Experimentalist Robert Milliken tried to kill the idea, but his lab results kept confirming it. It is fascinating that concepts imagined 100 years ago will influence the physical and intellectual spaces we inhabit in the future. Sean Runnette narrated the book.
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5 people found this helpful
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- abed
- 04-23-16
Good enough introduction and general overview
Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
this was my very first audio book purchase and i couldn't have picked a better tittlei have been going over the topic of quantum mechanics and sub particle physics for quite sometimes with multiple readings here and there.although this book was not a deep plunge into the nitty and gritty but it was a very insightful introduction to the ideas or the basics of quantum mechanics.the authors painted a picture for the reader and eased them into the story, allowing a better understanding of the principles.
i liked the way he segwayed from the traditional(Newtonian) way that we see the world and presented it in the quantum realm where everything is counter intuitive.Really enjoyed this book and i would definitely recommend it to anyone new to this topic.
Would you be willing to try another book from Robert P. Crease and Alfred Scharff Goldhaber ? Why or why not?
the authors used various real world examples from their own lectures to pop culture to shed light on the topic presented in the book, the story and the rhythm of the book was very fluent which made a very good read, it tended to get a bit redundant at time but would definitely check out other books by the authors
What do you think the narrator could have done better?
Spot-on
Did The Quantum Moment inspire you to do anything?
Go further into Quantum mechanics
Any additional comments?
Good book, very insightful
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- Amazon Customer
- 01-06-22
An accessible examination of quantum physics
This is a pretty great book. It goes into some detail but not really that much. You don't need to know anything about the math to understand it, I don't know the math either.
What I really liked about it is that it called out what it calls " fruit loopery". That's when people use pseudoscientific reference to quantum mechanics that they clearly know nothing about to supposedly prove things like mysticism and the law of attraction.
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- Ken
- 09-15-20
Great Listen!
The story an narration were fantastic. What I liked best was the equal parts of science, philosophy, history, and entertainment. This will be one my favorites for the year.
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- John L. Murphy
- 05-15-22
Pop culture + physics for poets?
Rather odd. The authors appear to have adapted their lecture notes. Each chapter starts with an often well-chosen, "geeky" reference to a sighting of usually a snarky or sardonic use of a quantum-related concept or turn of phrase. Then the rest of the chapter dives down into a more conventional course of explaining the theory in reference to a particular theorist. I thought I'd get more out of this, for I am a stereotypical member of a liberal arts audience who needs explanations in simpler forms. While my time was not wasted, perhaps on paper this would have worked better for my attention and my comprehension than audio.
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- I'm all ears
- 06-30-22
The development of the quantum viewpoint
I found this to be a fresh take and quite good, generally speaking. Many of the explanations were clearer and more helpful than those I found in other books. I have mixed feelings about the author’s efforts to show how quantum physics is reflected in popular culture, though. There were times when I found the observations enlightening, but more often they just seemed to break the flow and seriousness of the central narrative. I mean, it was quite a step down to move from Einstein‘s debate with Niels Bohr to a discussion of “Quantum beer.” Such moments aside, I found this to be a really valuable book — clear, well written, insightful, and balanced in its presentation of the various interpretations. I enjoyed it.
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- T. Roberson
- 01-07-17
G R E A T ! ! ! Done.....
This really was well done !
Rearly do I listen to an audio book on one go so:
I will be reviewing this book at least a fee times.
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