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Helgoland
- Narrated by: Erica Segre, David Rintoul
- Length: 4 hrs and 31 mins
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Helgoland
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Summary
Brought to you by Penguin.
The number one best-selling author of The Order of Time is back with a stunning book about the enigma of quantum physics.
In June 1925, 23-year-old Werner Heisenberg, suffering from hay fever, retreated to a small, treeless island in the North Sea called Helgoland. It was there that he came up with one of the most transformative scientific concepts: quantum theory.
Almost a century later, quantum physics has given us many startling ideas: ghost waves, distant objects that seem magically connected to each other, cats that are both dead and alive. Countless experiments have led to practical applications that shape our daily lives. Today our understanding of the world around us is based on this theory. And yet it is still profoundly mysterious.
In this enchanting book, Carlo Rovelli, one of our most celebrated scientists, tells the extraordinary story of quantum physics and reveals its deep meaning: a world made of substances is replaced by a world made of relations, each particle responding to another in a never ending game of mirrors.
Shifting our perspective once again, Rovelli takes us on a riveting journey through the universe so we can better understand our place in it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Tom O'Rourke
- 07-11-21
Love Carlo
Whom so ever shall thus discover that ultimate volume of "Yes you are right!" that tome of no more questions, will be a liar relatively speaking, besides, who would know?
Tom O'Rourke 1953...?.?love always
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- Redd
- 08-01-22
Very interesting take on quanta
A beautifully written book weaving the history and science of quantum theory from its inception onwards. Carlo also touches on the philosophy of science in the area. A true giant of literary physics.
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- Derek S.
- 17-06-21
Blew my (admittedly fairly tiny) mind!
This is my first Carlo Rovelli book and I don't think it will be my last. This is a beautifully written book with many poetically phrased and composed statements which serve to illustrate how difficult it is to understand the quantum world that underlies reality as we experience it. I'm educated to A Level and graduate level in the sciences and have always been fascinated by the topics covered in this book, having said that I'm not sure I actually 'understood' but a fraction of the ideas postulated and explored by Carlo (I'm not sure anybody does) but I found the language he uses and the the excellent reading by the very posh David Rintoul more than enough to keep me interested. There were some chapters that I found completely undecipherable (probably because by knowledge of Philosophy is at play school level) but it was still enjoyable to let the ideas and the language wash over me in my ignorance. There were also some turns of phrase that will stay with me for long time. I found myself wanting other (maybe less scientifically inclined) people to listen to certain passages just to get there reaction to it.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 24-04-21
stunning
couldn't put it down, how joyful to be a ripple in a network of networks
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1 person found this helpful
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- Monika
- 12-04-21
Great insight into the meaning of quantum mechanic
The book is equally philosophical and scientific. It is a great and quite easy read. It makes you think about the nature of the world and our human experience.
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- Anonymous User
- 25-07-22
great book and great narrator
Rovelli's clearness never stops to amaze me. As with the order of time my mind was blown several times.
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- Leigh
- 03-04-21
OMG
My first book from Carlo Rovelli...profound, mind blowing and totally compelling! An easy read with so many insights.
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5 people found this helpful
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- Dave G
- 07-05-21
Astonishing scientific literature with the skilful hand of a poet.
A little heavy at the beginning (for me at least), but came together beautifully in the end. Rovelli is a scientist, a philosopher, a poet. This is another one of his master works that skilfully articulates all these facets and delivers a mind bending, soul searching, life affirming piece of literate that can be read and appreciated by anyone with a interest in science/philosophy.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Heisenberg
- 30-03-21
Short and sweet.
I found this challenging, but very enjoyable. It is quite brief at 4 1/2 hours, and I completed it over two days, but this will probably receive further listenings at later dates. I like Rovelli's writing and his ability to convey complex ideas with a combination of lyricism and clarity. I disagree with his conclusions - he dismisses the 'many worlds' interpretation of quantum mechanics far too easily (in a couple of paragraphs) in favour of his own preferred relational interpretation. Good nonetheless.
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- Simon
- 29-04-21
Physics at its most beautiful.
Simply a wonderful book. The author weaves a fascinating story that reveals the origins and future of quantum theory. Just magical.
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1 person found this helpful