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John Gribbin

In search of Schrodinger's cat

Nowadays there are plenty of books to choose from if you want a simple introduction to quantum theory, but back in 1984 John Gribbin's In search of Schrödinger's cat was one of only a handful of such books. The question is whether it is worth reading a book which was written that long ago, when the subject has certainly moved on. Well, there's plenty of information here but the book takes a more historical viewpoint than most. If you want to find out about how the subject came about then you should take a look at this easy to read book.

After a look at the early questions about whether matter and radiation are continuous or discrete the book describes the work at the end of the 19th and start of the 20th centuries such as the study of radioactivity, the photoelectric effect and Bohr's model of the atom. It then moves on to the revolution in the subject in the mid 1920's. Gribbin also looks at some of the applications of quantum theory such as microelectronics and the laser. The later part of the book takes a more detailed look at some of the paradoxical aspects of quantum theory

Amazon.co.uk info

Paperback 318 pages
ISBN: 0552125555
Salesrank: 16420
Weight:0.49 lbs

Published: 1985 Corgi Books

Amazon price £6.49

Marketplace:New from £4.09:Used from £0.38

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Amazon.com
Part history book and part remedial physics text for those who lost interest when the equations started getting unintuitive, In Search of Schrödinger's Cat explains quantum physics in a way that's not only clear, but also enjoyable. Gribbin opens with the subjects that most physics professors have just started to examine at the end of the semester: The mysterious character of light, the valence concept in Nils Bohr's atomic model, radioactive decay, and the physics of life-defining DNA all get clear, comprehensive, and witty coverage. This book reveals the beauty and mystery that underlies everything in the universe. Does this book claim to explain quantum physics without math? No. Math is too central to physics to be bypassed. But if you can do basic algebra, you can understand the equations in In Search of Schrödinger's Cat. Gribbin is the physics teacher everyone should have in high school or college: kind without being a pushover, knowledgeable without being condescending, and clearly expressive without being boring. Gribbin's book belongs on the shelf of every pre-calculus student. It also deserves a place in the library of everyone who was scared away from advanced physics prematurely.

Amazon.com

Part history book and part remedial physics text for those who lost interest when the equations started getting unintuitive, In Search of Schrödinger's Cat explains quantum physics in a way that's not only clear, but also enjoyable.

Gribbin opens with the subjects that most physics professors have just started to examine at the end of the semester: The mysterious character of light, the valence concept in Nils Bohr's atomic model, radioactive decay, and the physics of life-defining DNA all get clear, comprehensive, and witty coverage. This book reveals the beauty and mystery that underlies everything in the universe.

Does this book claim to explain quantum physics without math? No. Math is too central to physics to be bypassed. But if you can do basic algebra, you can understand the equations in In Search of Schrödinger's Cat. Gribbin is the physics teacher everyone should have in high school or college: kind without being a pushover, knowledgeable without being condescending, and clearly expressive without being boring. Gribbin's book belongs on the shelf of every pre-calculus student. It also deserves a place in the library of everyone who was scared away from advanced physics prematurely.

Good Book on Physics ****
This is a good book on Physics. Specially good for people with Physics background who want to learn more about Quantum world, or for people who just want to refresh their knowledge about Quantum Physics. Gives good insight into the development of Physics overall. Some background or knowledge in Physics would help understand this book better.

Good Book on Physics ****

This is a good book on Physics. Specially good for people with Physics background who want to learn more about Quantum world, or for people who just want to refresh their knowledge about Quantum Physics. Gives good insight into the development of Physics overall.
Some background or knowledge in Physics would help understand this book better.

Engaging, very clear introduction to quantum physics, but at times painfully opinionated ****
Gribbin's style of writing is pleasant to read. The first half of the book is an ideal introduction to any lay person wishing to delve into quantum physics. Engaging with his biographical details, while in my opinion still being concise and clearly communicates the essential scientific foundations of quantum theory. Cons: some info presented is outdated. In the "many worlds" chapter, to support his argument that the many worlds interpretation only allows a finite set of possibilities, he claims that "there is no observational justification for rejecting...that the universe is closed and finite," but the latest results from WMAP satellite conclusively suggests that the universe is infinite. As another reviewer pointed out concerning Gribbin's attempt to convince the reader that "nothing is real", the book seems heavily opinionated. Gribbin dedicated a whole chapter discusing why the many worlds interpretation (MWI) is superior to the Copenhagen interpretation, and I found it disappointing that he fails to discuss a significant weakness of MWI - it only vaguely specifies what triggers the splitting of reality into different branches. It is suggested that an observer's measurement triggers the split, but if that's the case, the observer's capacity to "split reality" is, in my opinion, just as equally paradoxical as the observer's capacity to collapse the wavefunction in the Copenhagen interpretation. Even if Gribbin thinks otherwise, like any good writers he ought to always present both sides of the debate and let the reader choose. Otherwise, even if one may disagree with Gribbin at times, it is guaranteed that the book will be found thought provoking. He is easy to understand, negligible mathematics used while still managing to present the essence of quantum theory, and his passion for the subject is contagious.

Engaging, very clear introduction to quantum physics, but at times painfully opinionated ****

Gribbin's style of writing is pleasant to read. The first half of the book is an ideal introduction to any lay person wishing to delve into quantum physics. Engaging with his biographical details, while in my opinion still being concise and clearly communicates the essential scientific foundations of quantum theory.

Cons: some info presented is outdated. In the "many worlds" chapter, to support his argument that the many worlds interpretation only allows a finite set of possibilities, he claims that "there is no observational justification for rejecting...that the universe is closed and finite," but the latest results from WMAP satellite conclusively suggests that the universe is infinite.

As another reviewer pointed out concerning Gribbin's attempt to convince the reader that "nothing is real", the book seems heavily opinionated. Gribbin dedicated a whole chapter discusing why the many worlds interpretation (MWI) is superior to the Copenhagen interpretation, and I found it disappointing that he fails to discuss a significant weakness of MWI - it only vaguely specifies what triggers the splitting of reality into different branches. It is suggested that an observer's measurement triggers the split, but if that's the case, the observer's capacity to "split reality" is, in my opinion, just as equally paradoxical as the observer's capacity to collapse the wavefunction in the Copenhagen interpretation. Even if Gribbin thinks otherwise, like any good writers he ought to always present both sides of the debate and let the reader choose.

Otherwise, even if one may disagree with Gribbin at times, it is guaranteed that the book will be found thought provoking. He is easy to understand, negligible mathematics used while still managing to present the essence of quantum theory, and his passion for the subject is contagious.

Through the rabbit hole with John Gribbin. ****
I wrote this review before reading the sequel to this book (Schrodinger's Kittens and the Search for Reality). After reading the sequel I have an additional comment, which is included at the end of the review. This book rests somewhere between being a history book and a popular science physics text that focuses on the underlying implications of quantum theory. It introduces the history of the development of quantum mechanics and develops this physics in a general, non-mathematical, manner. In my opinion, Gribbin does a fine job in both areas. The book is very readable and very informative. It begins with the particle/wave nature of light and how attempts to explain this paradox formed the basis of modern scientific thought. From this, Gribbin introduces the notion that matter (initially electrons) also exhibit wave as well as particle characteristics. This is then used to describe Bohr's initial attempts at describing the nature of the atom. Gribbin shows how the Heisenberg uncertainty principle grew naturally out of attempts to explain the nature of an atom, as depicted by the splitting of spectral lines. The uncertainty principle is often incorrectly depicted as just an adjunct to quantum theory, not as its central idea. Gribbin shows that it is intimately tied up with the particle/wave paradox and that it is not (as it is often portrayed) just an experimental limitation. (He also shows that Heisenberg himself is responsible for this misconception because he used this analogy to try to explain the concept.) The hardcover version of this book was published in 1984, so one could justly question reading a book that is over 20 years old. This is, however, not a reason skip this book, as the first half is concerned with the development of quantum theory up to the late 1920's. By this time, many of the basic ideas had been developed into a cohesive theory and since this is a history of this development, the fact that the book is over 20 years old is not a problem. Gribbin does a good job of introducing the many strange paradoxes and irrational (at least in terms of classical physics and human expectations) experimental results upon which the theory is based. Gribbin is, however, on much less firm ground in the second half of the book, which is concerned with the strange concepts of reality (or really un-reality) that the theory implies. As strange as they are (especially to elimination of causality at a quantum level and its replacement with probabilities) they are based upon experimental facts, not philosophical ramblings. Much of the theories presented in this part of the book were in their formative stages at the time the book was written and much has changed since 1983, but from a historical perspective this portion of the book is also useful. Likewise, the interpretations of quantum mechanics developed in the 1920's should be viewed from a historical context, having been modified before and after 1984. Most importantly, this book delves into the strange implications of quantum theory. Strange is not an adequate word to explain these implications. When Alice went down the rabbit hole she encountered a world that was ordinary and rational compared to the shocking world depicted (and verified by experimental observations) by quantum theory. In the last part of the book Gribbin delves into a universe of ghost particles, collapsing quantum wave functions, "spooky action at a distance" (Einstein's criticism of where quantum theory was leading) and multi-universe interpretations. These theories question our very notion of reality. Gribbin has given me a feel for how much I never dreamt of when I was studying quantum mechanics (or at least the simplified version that was taught to engineers like myself). I now see that I was never very shocked by quantum mechanics because I never understood its true ramifications. I was taught what Gribbin calls quantum cooking, in other words how to follow a recipe in order solve an exam problem and hopefully, eventually, make something useful, without knowing the true implications of quantum theory. This book aims to remedy this in a general, non-mathematical manner. I highly recommend this book not only to anyone studying quantum mechanics (especially if they read it before they start the course), but also to those who are better versed in this field. It should help a little bit to turn one from a quantum cook, into a quantum chef (i.e. one who knows more than just how to follow a recipe). At least it should get the reader thinking about the strange universe described by quantum theory. This book relies heavily on the "Copenhagen" interpretation of quantum theory developed by Niels Bohr in the 1920's. While other interpretations are discussed, this book gives the impression that this is still a favored interpretation of the meaning behind quantum theory. It certainly was a very popular view at the time that the book was written, in spite of the fact that it implies that nothing actually exists until a higher intelligence looks at it. Einstein never accepted this and while this view is questioned in this book, these questions are not given center stage. In contrast, the sequel to this book (Schrodinger's Kittens and the Search for Reality) spends more time focusing on these other interpretations. That these other interpretations are only made more prominent in the sequel is a bit surprising since most were well formulated before this initial book was written. I believe that it is thus necessary to also read the sequel in order to get a better feeling for the strange implications of quantum theory. Another book which sheds more light on this subject is Feynman's QED, which provides general information about the path integral method, which avoids the paradoxes because it avoids assuming that light (and electrons) are waves as well as particles. The lack of any significant discussion of these other interpretations made me reduce the rating to 4 stars.

Through the rabbit hole with John Gribbin. ****

I wrote this review before reading the sequel to this book (Schrodinger's Kittens and the Search for Reality). After reading the sequel I have an additional comment, which is included at the end of the review.

This book rests somewhere between being a history book and a popular science physics text that focuses on the underlying implications of quantum theory. It introduces the history of the development of quantum mechanics and develops this physics in a general, non-mathematical, manner. In my opinion, Gribbin does a fine job in both areas. The book is very readable and very informative. It begins with the particle/wave nature of light and how attempts to explain this paradox formed the basis of modern scientific thought. From this, Gribbin introduces the notion that matter (initially electrons) also exhibit wave as well as particle characteristics. This is then used to describe Bohr's initial attempts at describing the nature of the atom. Gribbin shows how the Heisenberg uncertainty principle grew naturally out of attempts to explain the nature of an atom, as depicted by the splitting of spectral lines. The uncertainty principle is often incorrectly depicted as just an adjunct to quantum theory, not as its central idea. Gribbin shows that it is intimately tied up with the particle/wave paradox and that it is not (as it is often portrayed) just an experimental limitation. (He also shows that Heisenberg himself is responsible for this misconception because he used this analogy to try to explain the concept.)

The hardcover version of this book was published in 1984, so one could justly question reading a book that is over 20 years old. This is, however, not a reason skip this book, as the first half is concerned with the development of quantum theory up to the late 1920's. By this time, many of the basic ideas had been developed into a cohesive theory and since this is a history of this development, the fact that the book is over 20 years old is not a problem. Gribbin does a good job of introducing the many strange paradoxes and irrational (at least in terms of classical physics and human expectations) experimental results upon which the theory is based. Gribbin is, however, on much less firm ground in the second half of the book, which is concerned with the strange concepts of reality (or really un-reality) that the theory implies. As strange as they are (especially to elimination of causality at a quantum level and its replacement with probabilities) they are based upon experimental facts, not philosophical ramblings. Much of the theories presented in this part of the book were in their formative stages at the time the book was written and much has changed since 1983, but from a historical perspective this portion of the book is also useful. Likewise, the interpretations of quantum mechanics developed in the 1920's should be viewed from a historical context, having been modified before and after 1984.

Most importantly, this book delves into the strange implications of quantum theory. Strange is not an adequate word to explain these implications. When Alice went down the rabbit hole she encountered a world that was ordinary and rational compared to the shocking world depicted (and verified by experimental observations) by quantum theory. In the last part of the book Gribbin delves into a universe of ghost particles, collapsing quantum wave functions, "spooky action at a distance" (Einstein's criticism of where quantum theory was leading) and multi-universe interpretations. These theories question our very notion of reality.

Gribbin has given me a feel for how much I never dreamt of when I was studying quantum mechanics (or at least the simplified version that was taught to engineers like myself). I now see that I was never very shocked by quantum mechanics because I never understood its true ramifications. I was taught what Gribbin calls quantum cooking, in other words how to follow a recipe in order solve an exam problem and hopefully, eventually, make something useful, without knowing the true implications of quantum theory. This book aims to remedy this in a general, non-mathematical manner.

I highly recommend this book not only to anyone studying quantum mechanics (especially if they read it before they start the course), but also to those who are better versed in this field. It should help a little bit to turn one from a quantum cook, into a quantum chef (i.e. one who knows more than just how to follow a recipe). At least it should get the reader thinking about the strange universe described by quantum theory.

This book relies heavily on the "Copenhagen" interpretation of quantum theory developed by Niels Bohr in the 1920's. While other interpretations are discussed, this book gives the impression that this is still a favored interpretation of the meaning behind quantum theory. It certainly was a very popular view at the time that the book was written, in spite of the fact that it implies that nothing actually exists until a higher intelligence looks at it. Einstein never accepted this and while this view is questioned in this book, these questions are not given center stage. In contrast, the sequel to this book (Schrodinger's Kittens and the Search for Reality) spends more time focusing on these other interpretations. That these other interpretations are only made more prominent in the sequel is a bit surprising since most were well formulated before this initial book was written. I believe that it is thus necessary to also read the sequel in order to get a better feeling for the strange implications of quantum theory. Another book which sheds more light on this subject is Feynman's QED, which provides general information about the path integral method, which avoids the paradoxes because it avoids assuming that light (and electrons) are waves as well as particles. The lack of any significant discussion of these other interpretations made me reduce the rating to 4 stars.

The cat, the box, and the forest ****
Reality is a stranger, more bewildering thing than we human beings realised before the advent of the late 19th century and the determined peeking we did into things very much smaller than visible matter. And the 20th and 21st centuries have uncovered even worse (or better, depending upon your perspective). Not only that, but our explanations for what we see have become increasingly bizarre... One of the things physicists, or those who are interested in physics, come to understand very quickly is that we understand very little. We use terms to describe events, qualities, values, objects, disturbances, energies, forces and physical tendencies that DO NOT DESCRIBE ANYTHING AT ALL. I do not mean to say that the events do not occur or the particles/waves/energies do not exist - although there's considerable debate about what events occur when and how, not to mention the sticky questions of matter and form and movement. I DO, however, mean to say that we hardly understand any of it. Gribbin is in many respects an excellent writer. He does extremely well in presenting a nice simplified overview of the quantum world and those whose work has contributed towards its... well, let's call it "understanding". But he (naturally enough) skips most of the detail, which is frustrating to anyone who's studied reasonably advanced physics, but reassuring to those who haven't. The truth is, some of the paths taken in physics today are fantastical, the theories proposed not only being unproven but being intrinsically unprovable. John Gribbin touched lightly upon a couple of them, but for the most part, the book dealt with more accessible issues - and quite delightfully so. I felt that the book lost its focus in the last third or so, but it was almost inevitable it would do so, given Gribbin's clear glee at shoving into the famous Schroedinger box not only a contentious cat, but also long-distance particles dependent upon each other (that vexed question - no clear answer yet), an occasional falling tree, ghostly worlds, and much much more. Any discussion of matter, reality and the fabric or fabrics that might be its determinants is going to be fascinating unless it ends up in the hands of a very turgid writer. Gribbin is far from turgid - the only real complaint I have is that he drifted into somewhat aerial form without signifying how tenuous it is. And let's be frank: the quantum world is weird enough without postulating some of the bizarrities that have indeed been postulated. The book does a nice job of presenting some of the truly odd behaviour of matter when it gets beyond a certain size. The very small has always fascinated me, and clearly it fascinates Gribbin as well. That certainly is conveyed in this book. In summary, I can recommend the book as light reading for those interested in the weird things that happen to matter when it becomes very, very small, although I add a caveat: advanced students won't find anything new here, and there's still an insistence on the "many worlds" or "ghostly quantum possibilities" theory that I find intellectually unsatisfying, however appealing it is to the imagination.

The cat, the box, and the forest ****

Reality is a stranger, more bewildering thing than we human beings realised before the advent of the late 19th century and the determined peeking we did into things very much smaller than visible matter. And the 20th and 21st centuries have uncovered even worse (or better, depending upon your perspective). Not only that, but our explanations for what we see have become increasingly bizarre...

One of the things physicists, or those who are interested in physics, come to understand very quickly is that we understand very little. We use terms to describe events, qualities, values, objects, disturbances, energies, forces and physical tendencies that DO NOT DESCRIBE ANYTHING AT ALL. I do not mean to say that the events do not occur or the particles/waves/energies do not exist - although there's considerable debate about what events occur when and how, not to mention the sticky questions of matter and form and movement. I DO, however, mean to say that we hardly understand any of it.

Gribbin is in many respects an excellent writer. He does extremely well in presenting a nice simplified overview of the quantum world and those whose work has contributed towards its... well, let's call it "understanding". But he (naturally enough) skips most of the detail, which is frustrating to anyone who's studied reasonably advanced physics, but reassuring to those who haven't.

The truth is, some of the paths taken in physics today are fantastical, the theories proposed not only being unproven but being intrinsically unprovable. John Gribbin touched lightly upon a couple of them, but for the most part, the book dealt with more accessible issues - and quite delightfully so. I felt that the book lost its focus in the last third or so, but it was almost inevitable it would do so, given Gribbin's clear glee at shoving into the famous Schroedinger box not only a contentious cat, but also long-distance particles dependent upon each other (that vexed question - no clear answer yet), an occasional falling tree, ghostly worlds, and much much more.

Any discussion of matter, reality and the fabric or fabrics that might be its determinants is going to be fascinating unless it ends up in the hands of a very turgid writer. Gribbin is far from turgid - the only real complaint I have is that he drifted into somewhat aerial form without signifying how tenuous it is. And let's be frank: the quantum world is weird enough without postulating some of the bizarrities that have indeed been postulated.

The book does a nice job of presenting some of the truly odd behaviour of matter when it gets beyond a certain size. The very small has always fascinated me, and clearly it fascinates Gribbin as well. That certainly is conveyed in this book.

In summary, I can recommend the book as light reading for those interested in the weird things that happen to matter when it becomes very, very small, although I add a caveat: advanced students won't find anything new here, and there's still an insistence on the "many worlds" or "ghostly quantum possibilities" theory that I find intellectually unsatisfying, however appealing it is to the imagination.

an interesting read ****
In this book John Gribbin sets out to demystify the world of quantum physics. He starts with the nature of light and the start of atomic structure, and then moves deeper into the makeup of the atom and into quantum theory. Gribbin gives brief histories of each scientist involved in the development of quantum physics. This is both a good and a bad thing. It helps give the progress made in quantum phsics a historical context and shows how it affected previous schools of thought, but at the same time it is distracting and almost gives too much information. Gribbin explores the strangeness of quantum physics without overwhelming the reader. He doesn't push the math or the concepts in your face but builds it all up, bit by bit. He tries to explain the experiments conducted to prove the theories presented in the book in a way that someone who doesn't have a complete grasp of physics or math can understand. This book is an interesting read that really makes you think as you read. It's really hard to fully understand what this book is about unless you are an active reader. Sometimes the concepts are a little hard to grasp, but this is a great introduction to quantum physics explained in an easy language.

an interesting read ****

In this book John Gribbin sets out to demystify the world of quantum physics. He starts with the nature of light and the start of atomic structure, and then moves deeper into the makeup of the atom and into quantum theory. Gribbin gives brief histories of each scientist involved in the development of quantum physics. This is both a good and a bad thing. It helps give the progress made in quantum phsics a historical context and shows how it affected previous schools of thought, but at the same time it is distracting and almost gives too much information. Gribbin explores the strangeness of quantum physics without overwhelming the reader. He doesn't push the math or the concepts in your face but builds it all up, bit by bit. He tries to explain the experiments conducted to prove the theories presented in the book in a way that someone who doesn't have a complete grasp of physics or math can understand.
This book is an interesting read that really makes you think as you read. It's really hard to fully understand what this book is about unless you are an active reader. Sometimes the concepts are a little hard to grasp, but this is a great introduction to quantum physics explained in an easy language.

A gripping introduction to quantum mechanics *****
Quantum mechanics is a tricky subject to come to terms with, but it's implications are diverse and far-reaching. It's also a fascinating subject to read about, because the quantum world is so counter-intuitive. John Gribbin writes clearly and concisely, elaborating just enough for you to understand, but concisely enough that you find yourself still asking questions (no bad thing). The history of quantum mechanics was interesting, but i'm unlikely to re-read, but the implications and explanations of the experiments were enthralling. Gribbin devotes special attention to particularly important experiments (like the double slit experiment) and then goes from there. When he does depart from fact into speculation (his preference for the many worlds view) he makes this clear, showing it's pros and cons without being biased, just opinionated. There's hardly any maths, so the layman need not fear, only the basic principles. Indeed, I don't think it's the maths behind quantum mechanics which is so confusing and controversial, it's the plain English implications of non-locality/non-causality which most people find baffling. Especially the Copanhagen interpretation. Nevertheless, if you're looking for a good introduction to quantum mechanics that will give you a solid framework to ask some deep questions, this is an excellent starting point.

A gripping introduction to quantum mechanics *****

Quantum mechanics is a tricky subject to come to terms with, but it's implications are diverse and far-reaching. It's also a fascinating subject to read about, because the quantum world is so counter-intuitive.

John Gribbin writes clearly and concisely, elaborating just enough for you to understand, but concisely enough that you find yourself still asking questions (no bad thing).

The history of quantum mechanics was interesting, but i'm unlikely to re-read, but the implications and explanations of the experiments were enthralling. Gribbin devotes special attention to particularly important experiments (like the double slit experiment) and then goes from there.

When he does depart from fact into speculation (his preference for the many worlds view) he makes this clear, showing it's pros and cons without being biased, just opinionated.

There's hardly any maths, so the layman need not fear, only the basic principles. Indeed, I don't think it's the maths behind quantum mechanics which is so confusing and controversial, it's the plain English implications of non-locality/non-causality which most people find baffling. Especially the Copanhagen interpretation.

Nevertheless, if you're looking for a good introduction to quantum mechanics that will give you a solid framework to ask some deep questions, this is an excellent starting point.

Schrödinger's Cat is alive and well! *****
This book should probably be showing its age by now as it was originally published in 1984 but it remains a superb read. We are introduced to the most significant characters in the development of quantum mechanics and given an overview of its development. It is written with the layman in mind and is essentially non-mathematical. There is an occasional mathematical formula but no algebra is required to read and enjoy this book. If anything is likely to cause problems it may well be unravelling some of the Feynman diagrams which appear. In the final chapter John Gribbin does declare his partiality to the `many worlds' view. By now we have been softened up with so many weird ideas that this just becomes another to add to the list! All in all this is an impressive book. He allows us a glimpse into the world of quantum physics and what a strange world it is.

Schrödinger's Cat is alive and well! *****

This book should probably be showing its age by now as it was originally published in 1984 but it remains a superb read.

We are introduced to the most significant characters in the development of quantum mechanics and given an overview of its development. It is written with the layman in mind and is essentially non-mathematical. There is an occasional mathematical formula but no algebra is required to read and enjoy this book. If anything is likely to cause problems it may well be unravelling some of the Feynman diagrams which appear.

In the final chapter John Gribbin does declare his partiality to the `many worlds' view. By now we have been softened up with so many weird ideas that this just becomes another to add to the list!

All in all this is an impressive book. He allows us a glimpse into the world of quantum physics and what a strange world it is.

A fantastic introduction to Quantum Physics *****
I am in the same situation as a previous reviewer, studying Maths, Physics and Chemistry at A-Level with the desire to study engineering at a higher level. I decided to read this book in preperation for university admissions interviews. Contrary to the previous A-Level student's opinion I found John Gribbon's In search of Schrodinger's cat a brilliant read. I felt that the book provided a firm history of the theories simplified in the classroom. It enabled me to further my school studies by discussing the history of scientists such as Boltzman, Avagadro, Newton, Einstein and Planck, all of whom I had already encountered, and firmly asserted their place in modern day Physics. Admittedly I am not overly competent at Science but I found the book to be, when I set my mind to it, straightforward and understandable. Admittedly there were a few points at which I had to flick back a few pages just to make sure I had grasped the concepts Gribbin was explaining but that was half the beauty of the book. Personally I thouroughly enjoyed reading about Schrodinger's Cat and and I eagerly await the arrival of my copy of the sequel Schrodinger's Kittens. If you have a newly developed interest in the basics of quantum mechanics and are unsure of how to begin this is a fantastic start and if you already know the basics it is still a very enjoyable read!

A fantastic introduction to Quantum Physics *****

I am in the same situation as a previous reviewer, studying Maths, Physics and Chemistry at A-Level with the desire to study engineering at a higher level. I decided to read this book in preperation for university admissions interviews.

Contrary to the previous A-Level student's opinion I found John Gribbon's In search of Schrodinger's cat a brilliant read. I felt that the book provided a firm history of the theories simplified in the classroom. It enabled me to further my school studies by discussing the history of scientists such as Boltzman, Avagadro, Newton, Einstein and Planck, all of whom I had already encountered, and firmly asserted their place in modern day Physics.

Admittedly I am not overly competent at Science but I found the book to be, when I set my mind to it, straightforward and understandable. Admittedly there were a few points at which I had to flick back a few pages just to make sure I had grasped the concepts Gribbin was explaining but that was half the beauty of the book.

Personally I thouroughly enjoyed reading about Schrodinger's Cat and and I eagerly await the arrival of my copy of the sequel Schrodinger's Kittens. If you have a newly developed interest in the basics of quantum mechanics and are unsure of how to begin this is a fantastic start and if you already know the basics it is still a very enjoyable read!

Pay attention, Ryan-p *****
I've had this book for years, but I'm moved to coimment on it by Ryan-p's inane remarks. For sure, Ryan, it's your attention span that's the problem. You do have to read this book from start to finish, and you do have to pay attention. But the rewards are well worth the effort! I read it when I was doing A levels, and now I have a degree in physics, and it still has stuff to say to me. What's more, I think the analogy with audiences at concerts worked really well. Charlie T

Pay attention, Ryan-p *****

I've had this book for years, but I'm moved to coimment on it by Ryan-p's inane remarks. For sure, Ryan, it's your attention span that's the problem. You do have to read this book from start to finish, and you do have to pay attention. But the rewards are well worth the effort! I read it when I was doing A levels, and now I have a degree in physics, and it still has stuff to say to me. What's more, I think the analogy with audiences at concerts worked really well.
Charlie T

overated ***
I bought this book a few months ago as I was led to believe that it is a standard introduction to quantum physics, presented in an easily accessible way. I am almost at the end of my A-level courses in maths, physics and chemistry and consider myself to be a pretty able scientist so have more of a subject knowledge than most of the target audience of this book. However I have to admit that i did have difficulty getting through parts of it (although this may have had more to do with the disjointed way that i read it and my short attention span.) I also had a problem with the style of writing. I think that it would be difficult for most people with no scientific background to understand many of the concepts and those who do are likely to end up frustrated at the lack of depth or rigorous examination of the ideas. Perhaps its because i am too much of a physics purist but i found myself irritated by such passages as when Gribbin explains the Pauli exclusion principle in terms of the audience at a symphonic concert and at a Bruce Springsteen concert. Having said that, this book is very good at conveying the sense of wonder at the quantum world and giving a history of science.

overated ***

I bought this book a few months ago as I was led to believe that it is a standard introduction to quantum physics, presented in an easily accessible way. I am almost at the end of my A-level courses in maths, physics and chemistry and consider myself to be a pretty able scientist so have more of a subject knowledge than most of the target audience of this book. However I have to admit that i did have difficulty getting through parts of it (although this may have had more to do with the disjointed way that i read it and my short attention span.) I also had a problem with the style of writing. I think that it would be difficult for most people with no scientific background to understand many of the concepts and those who do are likely to end up frustrated at the lack of depth or rigorous examination of the ideas. Perhaps its because i am too much of a physics purist but i found myself irritated by such passages as when Gribbin explains the Pauli exclusion principle in terms of the audience at a symphonic concert and at a Bruce Springsteen concert.
Having said that, this book is very good at conveying the sense of wonder at the quantum world and giving a history of science.

poor **
This book is alright if youd like to hear about what scientist rushed into the other ones office screaming. Or the life of Dr. Planck, and three hours later find out what the planck length is and what it,s used for. i personally want the facts and the information about the interesting subject that they use as their title. Not the history of why a world class scientist killed himself. To sum up it's a great book if you want a biography with the interesting stuff strewn about in many places so you have to search. although if you like a historical book then you may find it interesting.

poor **

This book is alright if youd like to hear about what scientist rushed into the other ones office screaming. Or the life of Dr. Planck, and three hours later find out what the planck length is and what it,s used for. i personally want the facts and the information about the interesting subject that they use as their title. Not the history of why a world class scientist killed himself. To sum up it's a great book if you want a biography with the interesting stuff strewn about in many places so you have to search. although if you like a historical book then you may find it interesting.

The Mind Boggles *****
A friend recommended this book to me...little did I know I was about to embark on a journey to the heart of the atom, and the limits of the known universe. I am not generally a math person, but John Gribbin makes the ideas and equations of quantum mechanics accessible to non mathematical people in a readable, non patronising yet entertaining way. More than anything else, this book demonstrated to me the truth of something that Madeleine L'Engle frequently states in her non fiction; scientists are indeed the modern mystics.

The Mind Boggles *****

A friend recommended this book to me...little did I know I was about to embark on a journey to the heart of the atom, and the limits of the known universe.

I am not generally a math person, but John Gribbin makes the ideas and equations of quantum mechanics accessible to non mathematical people in a readable, non patronising yet entertaining way.

More than anything else, this book demonstrated to me the truth of something that Madeleine L'Engle frequently states in her non fiction; scientists are indeed the modern mystics.

Should be required reading for ALL college students *****
Look! At the photon! It's a particle! No, it's a wave! No, it's a... well, it's BOTH!!! And not only that, but it can interfere with itself, or with other consequential photons! WHAT?!?!? Welcome to the wacky world of quantum physics, the science so absurd that even Einstein couldn't believe it (and let's face it, after relativity, he was the MASTER of the absurd-but-true) where statistics are everything, specifics only happen when you're looking for them, and nothing is real at all, anywhere. Again, WHAT?!?!? In Schroedinger's Cat, John Gribbin not only explains all this nonsense, but he actually makes it understandable. This amazing book should be required of all college students, as part of a well-rounded education. Engineers and scientists will be amazed and think it's cool, but even "fuzzy majors" (i.e. everything else -- sorry, that's what we arrogant engineers called the denizens of that side of campus) will be able to understand it, and they too will be enlightened by it. If you have any interest in science, in knowing what theoretical physicists really do, in knowing what a "particle accelerator" is, or even just want to have some idea about how much of Star Trek is based on real science, you MUST read this book. Not only that, but you must read THIS book before reading other books on quantum mechanics. Ok, enough ranting. I think it takes a certain amount of Zen to grasp all this quantum non-reality particle-wave-duality possible-parallel-universe stuff. Gribbin, then, is the true Zen Master. Gribbin takes that which is not only beyond comprehension but beyond even Einstein's belief, and makes it understandable to the layman. He uses great examples that not only explain key concepts, but also help the non-Zen-Master remember them in such a way that makes one sound like a Guru at cocktail parties. Pardon my silliness. Just read the book. And then buy it for all your friends, kids, friends' kids, coworkers, and anyone else on your gift list. Yes, it's THAT good.

Should be required reading for ALL college students *****

Look! At the photon! It's a particle! No, it's a wave! No, it's a... well, it's BOTH!!! And not only that, but it can interfere with itself, or with other consequential photons!

WHAT?!?!?

Welcome to the wacky world of quantum physics, the science so absurd that even Einstein couldn't believe it (and let's face it, after relativity, he was the MASTER of the absurd-but-true) where statistics are everything, specifics only happen when you're looking for them, and nothing is real at all, anywhere.

Again, WHAT?!?!?

In Schroedinger's Cat, John Gribbin not only explains all this nonsense, but he actually makes it understandable. This amazing book should be required of all college students, as part of a well-rounded education. Engineers and scientists will be amazed and think it's cool, but even "fuzzy majors" (i.e. everything else -- sorry, that's what we arrogant engineers called the denizens of that side of campus) will be able to understand it, and they too will be enlightened by it.

If you have any interest in science, in knowing what theoretical physicists really do, in knowing what a "particle accelerator" is, or even just want to have some idea about how much of Star Trek is based on real science, you MUST read this book. Not only that, but you must read THIS book before reading other books on quantum mechanics.

Ok, enough ranting. I think it takes a certain amount of Zen to grasp all this quantum non-reality particle-wave-duality possible-parallel-universe stuff. Gribbin, then, is the true Zen Master. Gribbin takes that which is not only beyond comprehension but beyond even Einstein's belief, and makes it understandable to the layman. He uses great examples that not only explain key concepts, but also help the non-Zen-Master remember them in such a way that makes one sound like a Guru at cocktail parties.

Pardon my silliness. Just read the book. And then buy it for all your friends, kids, friends' kids, coworkers, and anyone else on your gift list. Yes, it's THAT good.

Lacks clarity **
The author talks about all major developments in the field of Quantum Physics as of the date the book was published, but does not explain them clearly, especially towards the end with topics such as super gravity. The diagrams appear out of sync with the text, and are not explained well. I somewhat liked the book in the begining, but at the end was forcing myself to finish it.

Lacks clarity **

The author talks about all major developments in the field of Quantum Physics as of the date the book was published, but does not explain them clearly, especially towards the end with topics such as super gravity. The diagrams appear out of sync with the text, and are not explained well. I somewhat liked the book in the begining, but at the end was forcing myself to finish it.

Koan ***
Does this book In Search of Schrodinger's Cat only begin to exist once I start reading it?

Koan ***

Does this book In Search of Schrodinger's Cat only begin to exist once I start reading it?