Quantum : Einstein, Bohr and the great debate about the nature of reality

Quantum : Einstein, Bohr and the great debate about the nature of reality

 
Manjit Kumar's epic history of the band of young men and their challenging theories which changed the way we see the very building blocks of our world.

For most people, quantum theory is a byword for mysterious, impenetrable science. And yet for many years it was equally baffling for scientists themselves. In this magisterial book, Manjit Kumar gives a dramatic and superbly-written history of this fundamental scientific revolution, and the divisive debate at its core. Quantum theory looks at the very building blocks of our world, the particles and processes without which it could not exist. Yet for 60 years most physicists believed that quantum theory denied the very existence of reality itself.

In this tour de force of science history, Manjit Kumar shows how the golden age of physics ignited the greatest intellectual debate of the twentieth century. Quantum theory is weird. In 1905, Albert Einstein suggested that light was a particle, not a wave, defying a century of experiments. Werner Heisenberg's uncertainty principle and Erwin Schrodinger's famous dead-and-alive cat are similarly strange. As Niels Bohr said, if you weren't shocked by quantum theory, you didn't really understand it.

While Quantum sets the science in the context of the great upheavals of the modern age, Kumar's centrepiece is the conflict between Einstein and Bohr over the nature of reality and the soul of science. 'Bohr brainwashed a whole generation of physicists into believing that the problem had been solved', lamented the Nobel Prize-winning physicist Murray Gell-Mann. But in "Quantum", Kumar brings Einstein back to the centre of the quantum debate. "Quantum" is the essential read for anyone fascinated by this complex and thrilling story and by the band of brilliant men at its heart.

About the Author

Manjit Kumar was the founding editor of Prometheus, a journal that covered the arts, sciences and humanities, and has written for various publications including the Guardian, the TES and the Irish Times. He is the co-author of Science and the Retreat from Reason, an adapted chapter of which Michael Frayn described as 'the clearest account I've read yet of the development of quantum mechanics'. He lives in north London with his wife and two sons.

Specifications:

  • ISBN : 9781848310353
  • Product Type : Book
  • Format : Paperback
  • Author : Manjit Kumar
  • Language : ENG
  • Country of Publication : GB
GTIN: 9781848310353

Shipping Details

Booktopia uses the best quality packing material to protect items for the journey from our Sydney Distribution Centre to our customers, with the intention that they arrive in the same condition they left our Distribution Centre.

Shipping Expectation

Your order will ship within 2 business days

Delivery Instructions

Booktopia uses Australia Post for deliveries throughout Australia. Australia Post will leave the parcel unattended only if it's safe to do so, and take a photo as Proof of Delivery. Please note higher value deliveries may require a signature on receipt.

If there is no-one at home to provide a signature, the delivery person will leave a notification card and you may also receive an email letting you know where your parcel is.

Returns
This policy does not limit the rights you are entitled to under Australian Consumer Law. Booktopia does not accept returns or offer refunds for a change of mind. If you have any concerns about the item you have received then please ensure you contact Booktopia customer care first through your MyDeal account as soon as possible.

Damaged or Faulty Items
Our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law. You are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure. You are also entitled to have the goods repaired or replaced if the goods fail to be of acceptable quality and the failure does not amount to a major failure.

If you have received an item that is incorrect, damaged or faulty please contact Booktopia customer Care first through your MyDeal account as soon as possible. Booktopia will require evidence of the issue and may require you to return the item for assessment.

Before returning anything you must contact Booktopia customer care as returns will not be accepted without a Return Authorisation. Booktopia may provide means to return an item at no cost to you or an alternate remedy. If an item is required to be returned (at no cost) it must be packed securely with cardboard or bubble wrap protecting the item, packed to prevent movement inside the package and ensuring the package is firmly enclosed

Refunds
Where a Return Authorisation has been given, a refund via the method used for payment of the order will be provided. Booktopia will contact you if any items are not eligible for a refund.

Refund Guarantee Icon
Shop with peace of mind
All marketplace products are covered by our MyDeal Refund Guarantee Learn More
Sold & shipped by Booktopia
Reference ID: 437730

Reviews (0) Add Review

No reviews yet