I wanted a book that would give me an overview of quantum physics and since this was a fairly recent book, I thought it would do the trick.

Unfortunately, I found it pretty dull. It was alright at first, but every time it got bogged down into the historical notes, I found my brain wandering off and it became increasingly difficult to return and finish the book. With the extensive and detailed digressions into who wrote what when, I approached the more interesting parts with growing disinterest.

I do NOT mind historical notes and have often read history of ___ books, but the amount of detail was completely unnecessary in telling the story.

I agree with what another reader said, 'all over the place.' Perhaps he was trying to appease every audience he could think of rather than producing a book with universal appeal/approachability.

In short, if I wanted a history of physics book, I would have bought one. I didn't intend to buy half a pop-sci physics book and half a history of physics book and lose track every time it switched from one to the other. It was ok. It was just not what I thought I purchased.

It is a very good introduction to this
exciting field for high school or college
students.

I have found this book very easy to read and understand. It is great for people who want to know things regarding physics without a 'gob' of formulas to be confused with.

Three themes are intertwined throughout this book:

1. Historical and biographical data on the men who, over about 50 years, discovered and described the weird world of quantum phenomenon and particle physics. The use of common sense had to be suspended during these investigations.

2. Accurate and intimidating descriptions of the particles and their interactions. I think it was Richard Feynman who said something like, "If I want to know the particulars about one of these particles, I know where to look it up."

3. Running commentary on how the quantum world works.

Of the three, the first is well-done and interesting, the second is relentless but necessary (for the career physicist), and the third is simply brilliant. It explains in clear language why the quantum world is so unlike the common sense world we thought we lived in. Difficult concepts come alive - such as wave/particle duality, the exclusion principle, the uncertainly principle, symmetry, and entanglement, or as Einstein called it, "spooky action at a distance." Unless you live like a Mennonite or are on a boy scout campout, quantum physics technologies effect the way you live your daily life - the internet even grew out of early efforts of physicists to keep each other more immediately informed about advances in particle physics. For non-physics majors, consider reading on despite lack of total understanding or you might bog down in details. As the point of view changes, concepts are restated and you'll get another try at it. This stuff is weird!

This is a great book that I highly recommend for any physicist who wants to brush up on particle physics and quantum phenomena, any undergrad or grad student in physics, or any other scientist types who are persistent enough to really want a handle on this fascinating but difficult subject.

Three themes are intertwined throughout this book:

1. Historical and biographical data on the men who, over about 50 years, discovered and described the weird world of quantum phenomenon and particle physics. The use of common sense had to be suspended during these investigations.
2. Accurate and intimidating descriptions of the particles and their interactions. I think it was Richard Feynman who said something like, "If I want to know the particulars about one of these particles, I know where to look it up."
3. Running commentary on how the quantum world works.

Of the three, the first is well-done and interesting, the second is relentless but necessary (for the career physicist), and the third is simply brilliant. It explains in clear language why the quantum world is so unlike the common sense world we thought we lived in.

Difficult concepts come alive - such as wave/particle duality, the exclusion principle, the uncertainly principle, symmetry, and entanglement, or as Einstein called it, "spooky action at a distance."

Unless you live like a Mennonite or are on a boy scout campout, quantum physics technologies effect the way you live your daily life - the internet even grew out of early efforts of physicists to keep each other more immediately informed about advances in particle physics.

For non-physics majors, consider reading on despite lack of total clarity or you might bog down in details. As the point of view changes, concepts are restated and you'll get another try at it. This stuff is weird!

This is a great book that I highly recommend for any physicist who wants to brush up on particle physics and quantum phenomena, any undergrad or grad student in physics, or any other scientist types who are persistent enough to really want a handle on this fascinating but difficult subject.

Three themes are intertwined throughout this book:

1. Historical and biographical data on the men who, over about 50 years, discovered and described the weird world of quantum phenomenon and particle physics. The use of common sense had to be suspended during these investigations.

2. Accurate and intimidating descriptions of the particles and their interactions. I think it was Richard Feynman who said something like, "If I want to know the particulars about one of these particles, I know where to look it up."

3. Running commentary on how the quantum world works.

Of the three, the first is well-done and interesting, the second is relentless but necessary (for the career physicist), and the third is simply brilliant. It explains in clear language why the quantum world is so unlike the common sense world we thought we lived in. Difficult concepts come alive - such as wave/particle duality, the exclusion principle, the uncertainly principle, symmetry, and entanglement, or as Einstein called it, "spooky action at a distance." Unless you live like a Mennonite or are on a boy scout campout, quantum physics technologies effect the way you live your daily life - the internet even grew out of early efforts of physicists to keep each other more immediately informed about advances in particle physics. For non-physics majors, consider reading on despite lack of total understanding or you might bog down in details. As the point of view changes, concepts are restated and you'll get another try at it. This stuff is weird!

This is a great book that I highly recommend for any physicist who wants to brush up on particle physics and quantum phenomena, any undergrad or grad student in physics, or any other scientist types who are persistent enough to really want a handle on this fascinating but difficult subject.

I found this book to be very interesting. The only minor drawback is the intense focus on the many kinds of sub-atomic particles (Hadrons, Fermions, Leptons, Pions, W particles, etc.), but I really liked the way the information was presented. A good book for the non-scientist. Makes the completely complicated quantum theory quasi-understandable, if not fathomable. I think it was Neils Bohr you said that something like "anybody who claims to understand quantum mechanics really doesn't", as it is weird science based on probabilities. Not many equations in the book; a few in the footnotes.

This is a good and readable introduction to Quantum Mechanics with a good collection of questions at the end that will be handy for educators (an answer manual is available to them). The quantum world is so far away from our daily experience that it should not surprise us that the concepts we use in classical physics such as defined trajectories, particles, waves, exact position, etc. get blurred in the quantum world. However, there are fascinating experiments, the best known is the double slit experiment, that show us the weirdness of the quantum, epitomized in the famous Wheeler's question: "How come the quantum?".

The quantum world is fundamentally probabilistic. For example, you do not who whether a specific atom of a radioactive substance will disintegrate in the next second, the only thing you can know is the probability that it will decay.

The book also traces the history of the main discoveries in particle physics and has a good number of photos of the main characters.

To conclude: anybody not familiar with QM and who wants to acquire a minimum scientific culture about one of the two main revolutions in physics of the XXth century (and the one that has had the widest impact in our modern economy) needs to read this book.

I particularly enjoyed the explanation of alpha and beta radioactivity and the discussion on CP violation, "the reason we are here", according to Nobel Prize winner Val Fitch. On the other hand, I missed some clarifications that will confuse the lay reader: why neutrinos are not their own antiparticles or how come there are 8 gluons if there are nine pairs of colour/anticolour. On the other hand, the important Uncertainty Principle is only discussed on page 213, whereas it is mentioned several times before in the book.

Emit one photon at a certain point, then detect it at another point. In between, that one photon has traveled EVERY POSSIBLE PATHWAY between the two points. The location where you detect it is determined by probability, not certainty.

This book blew my mind, as I had left physics behind over a decade prior. It was very accessible, but disjointed. I suppose it is difficult to compose a flowing narrative about a subject that no one truly understands. Credit Ford for helping us learn, even if we have to keep flipping back and forth to remind ourselves what leptons and bosons and fermions are.

This book an exellent introduction to Quamtum physics but it also talks about the history of quantum mechanics, which is quiet interresting and makes it easier to read.

I was look for an introduction to the Quantum World and this was the one. Sadly, I'm the kind of person who forget what I just read. This book is filled with theory (i.e. all sorts of leptons, quarks, force carriers, etc.) and consequently, really hard to remember.

Im in High School now and I was just curious about Quantum mechanics. I just had some really BASIC knowledge in QM and this book explained me all the rest easily althrought some explanations were incomplete like for the Weak interraction: it just says it is carried by the W and Z particle. The book does say what "carried" means (that is, force carrier) but it doesn't say actually how's it works.

Overall, this book explained a lot of things about QM but it demands the reader to remember a lot of things, especially the particles, their charge and their family (leptons, bosons, fermions, etc.).

This book CAN'T be read like a novel because you have to remember a lot of things but it's still easier to read than a book about relativity or math because it contains only few equations and doesn't ask you to "think" exept for the part when you have to know particles decay and their charge.

You must at least have some basic knowledge about Quantum Mechanics OR simply about physics before reading this. If you're interresed about QM and don't want to have all the complicated sutff (this book doesn't even say the value of Plank's constant), I deeply recommand this book.

This book deals mostly with the quantum facts and doesn't deal with the underlying reality interpretations in depth. It is written very clearly with lots of analogies, however the mass and depth of information make it a studious read, though it is easy to get many basic ideas with a skim. It has a lot of history of quantum discoveries and the people that made them. I like this book.

Ford's book is helpful for one to study quantum mechanics. But it doesn't answer how to really understand QM. In fact, this is still a puzzle for everyone. For example, it is still unclear what on earth the wave function describes and whether or not the wave function really collapses.

As indicated by the well-known double-slit experiment, the solution hides in the real form of quantum motion in all probability. A recent analysis, which is given in the book Quantum Motion - Unveiling the Mysterious Quantum World, implies that quantum motion is actually the random discontinuous motion of particles. As a result, what the wave function describes is the random discontinuous motion of microscopic particles. This picture makes quantum mechanics comprehensible for everyone.

When we realize that motion is discontinuous and random in reality, we may finally understand the mysterious quantum world, where an electron can pass through two slits at the same time. A popular introduction of quantum motion can be found at the website given by my name.

I love reading; and as of lately I've found that I want to read more material that will enrich my life or possibly expand my mind. I've been lucky enough to find knowledge in both works of fiction and non-fiction. I won't say I'm a prude when it comes to what I read; but I will say that I hope what I choose to read will either entertain me or teach me (preferably both). As I'm sure is the case with many of you ... I find myself with less and less time available for reading; so these days I've been trying to make reading an issue of quality over quantity. With that said, It's my belief that you can find knowledge in something as simple as a Fiction Thriller book if it makes you think and engages you. The same can be said about non-fiction such as the book "The Quantum World". Often with books like this if an author isn't careful then they can end up creating a dull lecture aimed only at those that share their intelligence on the subject "matter" (no pun intended). Nothing is worse than reading something that makes you feel like you've just walked in on a conversation between 2 or more colleagues who each understand what the other is saying. It's almost as if you are stuck trying to decipher the foreign language they are speaking because they refuse to talk on a level that they deem beneath them.

With all of that said ...

For years I've wanted to read about Quantum Physics and try to understand what it's all about; and thankfully I chose Mr. Ford's book as my first foray into the subject. I'll probably never fully grasp Quantum Physics because it is not my life's work; but Mr. Ford's words will forever serve as the reason I plan on reading more about this fascinating subject. I picked it up this book to gain knowledge; and because of this book I have a much better understanding of what QP is about. I also have a new found respect for the minds that practice in this field. In my opinion Kenneth Ford has done something that is hard for any author, instructor, or knowledgeable person to do ... He's simplified his subject and explained it in a manner that anyone can understand. Not only does this book inform; it is my belief that it entertains as well. His descriptions carry real world comparisons to fully explain its QP equivalent; and some of them will blow your mind just to think about them. The Quantum World is a good choice for those who have an interest in what QP is all about. Even more, however, it is a MUST READ for anyone entertaining the idea of following QP as their life's work.

If you are reading this review you will obviously fit into one of these two groups. Do yourself a huge favor and start with this book. I did, and I'm much wiser for doing so.

I love reading; and as of lately I've found that I want to read more material that will enrich my life or possibly expand my mind. I've been lucky enough to find knowledge in both works of fiction and non-fiction. I won't say I'm a prude when it comes to what I read; but I will say that I hope what I choose to read will either entertain me or teach me (preferably both). As I'm sure is the case with many of you ... I find myself with less and less time available for reading; so these days I've been trying to make reading an issue of quality over quantity. With that said, It's my belief that you can find knowledge in something as simple as a Fiction Thriller book if it makes you think and engages you. The same can be said about non-fiction such as the book "The Quantum World". Often with books like this if an author isn't careful then they can end up creating a dull lecture aimed only at those that share their intelligence on the subject "matter" (no pun intended). Nothing is worse than reading something that makes you feel like you've just walked in on a conversation between 2 or more colleagues who each understand what the other is saying. It's almost as if you are stuck trying to decipher the foreign language they are speaking because they refuse to talk on a level that they deem beneath them.

With all of that said ...

For years I've wanted to read about Quantum Physics and try to understand what it's all about; and thankfully I chose Mr. Ford's book as my first foray into the subject. I'll probably never fully grasp Quantum Physics because it is not my life's work; but Mr. Ford's words will forever serve as the reason I plan on reading more about this fascinating subject. I picked it up this book to gain knowledge; and because of this book I have a much better understanding of what QP is about. I also have a new found respect for the minds that practice in this field. In my opinion Kenneth Ford has done something that is hard for any author, instructor, or knowledgeable person to do ... He's simplified his subject and explained it in a manner that anyone can understand. Not only does this book inform; it is my belief that it entertains as well. His descriptions carry real world comparisons to fully explain its QP equivalent; and some of them will blow your mind just to think about them. The Quantum World is a good choice for those who have an interest in what QP is all about. Even more, however, it is a MUST READ for anyone entertaining the idea of following QP as their life's work.

If you are reading this review you will obviously fit into one of these two groups. Do yourself a huge favor and start with this book. I did, and I'm much wiser for doing so.

I've always wanted to learn more about quantum physics, so I figured I would start with a book that was for "Everyone." Me defenitely being that "Everyone" and not having a very strong background in the subject, I thought this book would fit me perfectly. However, about 30 pages in, I realized I was quickly being left behind by Kenneth Ford. He starts out at a good pace in the first few pages, explaining the kinds of measurements in quantum physics and also a little bit of the history behind the field, but then he becomes increasingly technical, referrencing terms unknown to the average layman without prior explanation. Sometimes I realized that these explanations did exist in an abbreviated manner farther along in the book, so many times I found myself searching for terms in the index and jumping around to put everything together.

Basically, I think this book might be great for people who already have an intermediate understanding of quantum physics and have heard of the terminology at least once. But the rest of us "everyonish" people who come with less experience on the subject might find that it might be possible to gain a good understanding of quantum physics reading this book but only after some dedicated work on our part. Personally, I think I will buy a more quantum-physics-for-dummies kind of book first and then move on to this one.

In this book, Mr. Ford shows an uncanny ability to explain the most obscure concepts of Quantum physics in a clear way. Do not misunderstand me, this book requires some knowledge in the basics of physics but you do not have to be a quantum physicist to follow the argument.
The only negative comment I have is that I found the pages on Dark Energy incomplete since there is no explanation on what the 1A supernova is, or how this simple concept sets the theoretical underpinning for the remapping of huge areas of the known universe and for the very recent discovery of the accelerated expansion. This is an area where cosmology and quantum are touching now in an interesting, bizarre way and I would have given a whole chapter to the topic.
The author makes a great effort in explaining the world of quarks, waves and particles. The wave function of a particle is difficult to grasp and its effect, for example, on the different energy levels of the electron more so. The book is best, in my view, in these difficult chapters.
Finally, I have learned to understand Feynman diagrams and in particular the relationship between particles, antiparticles and the time vector. Thank you, Mr. Ford. This is a great book for the interested reader.

I love this book is very well-written, and has gotten me interested in physics of the quantum nature I suggest it to anyone who wishes to learn quantum physics or to anyone who wishes to just expand their knowledge.

I love this book is very well-written, and has gotten me interested in physics of the quantum nature I suggest it to anyone who wishes to learn quantum physics or to anyone who wishes to just expand their knowledge.

I know nothing of the quantum world so I picked up this book and to my amazement, I can actually understand most of it so far. I haven't read all of it yet, but its basically and introduction into the field and the author breaks down what he's talking about into examples so you understand it. I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in quantum physics, physics, or even science. Very interesting book.

This is the best overview of quantum theory that I've read. Lucid, concise, and, amazingly, very inclusive at the same time.