The Amazing Story of Quantum Mechanics: A Math-Free Exploration of the Science That Made Our World [Audiobook, MP3 Audio, Unabridged] [Audio CD]

James Kakalios (Author), Peter Berkrot (Narrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 14, 2010

In the pulp magazines and comics of the 1950s, it was predicted that the future would be one of gleaming utopias, with flying cars, jetpacks, and robotic personal assistants. Obviously, things didn't turn out that way. But the world we do have is actually more fantastic than the most outlandish predictions of the science fiction of the mid-twentieth century. The World Wide Web, pocket-sized computers, mobile phones, and MRI machines have changed the world in unimagined ways. In The Amazing Story of Quantum Mechanics, James Kakalios uses examples from comics and magazines to explain how breakthroughs in quantum mechanics led to such technologies.The book begins with an overview of speculative science fiction, beginning with Jules Verne and progressing through the space adventure comic books of the 1950s. Using the example of Dr. Manhattan from the graphic novel and film Watchmen, Kakalios explains the fundamentals of quantum mechanics and describes nuclear energy via the hilarious portrayals of radioactivity and its effects in the movies and comic books of the 1950s. Finally, he shows how future breakthroughs will make possible ever more advanced medical diagnostic devices-and perhaps even power stations on the moon that can beam their power to Earth.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* In revolutionizing modern science, Erwin Schrödinger and Werner Heisenberg somehow neglected the exciting plots and images of science fiction and comic books. Not to worry. Kakalios has now remedied that curious lapse. Indeed, Kakalios sees kindred kinds of imaginative daring in the appearance of the first science-fiction pulp magazine in the same year (1926) that Schrödinger and Heisenberg published their paradigm-shaping discoveries. This improbable connection between abstruse science and popular culture brings Buck Rogers, Dr. Manhattan (of the Watchmen), Dick Tracy, and—yes—even Dagwood into a no-tears foray into the theoretical physics that opened the world of lasers, laptop computers, DVDs, and cell phones. Though the book does not quite live up to the subtitle’s promise of a “math-free” text, readers need no more than basic algebra to accompany comic-book heroes into well-illustrated explanations of quantum packets of light energy, of the wave functions of particles, and even of the angular spin inherent in both energy and matter. These basic principles illuminate the solid-state physics of semiconductors, the atomic magnetism of MRIs, and the nanotechnology of high-capacity storage batteries. And all of this conceptual heavy lifting comes with entertaining episodes from DC Comics and H. G. Wells’ fiction. Physics has never been more fun! --Bryce Christensen --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

James Kakalios is a professor of physics at the University of Minnesota. He has published more than one hundred physics papers and has conducted research on a variety of obscure physical phenomena. The popularity of his seminar "Everything I Needed to Know About Physics I Learned from Reading Comic Books" led to the publication of The Physics of Superheroes, which was named one of the best science books of 2005 by Discover magazine. James also served as a science consultant on the adaptation of the graphic novel Watchmen into a major feature film. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife, Therese, and his three children. A veteran of stage and screen, Peter Berkrot's career spans four decades. Highlights include feature roles in Caddyshack and Showtime's Brotherhood, and appearances on America's Most Wanted and Unsolved Mysteries. His voice can be heard on television, radio, video games, documentaries and industrials. He is a prominent acting coach and a regular contributor to the award-winning news program Frontline produced by WGBH in Boston. Peter served as director of narration for the Emmy-nominated The Truth About Cancer. Peter has recorded a number of audiobooks, including three by Peter Hessler: Country Driving, Oracle Bones, and River Town. Other favorite titles include The Woods by Harlan Coben, English, August by Upamanyu Chatterjee, The Fifth Vial by Michael Palmer, American Brutus by Michael W. Kauffmann, Better by Atul Gawande, and Some Sort of Epic Grandeur by Matthew J. Bruccoli.

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Tantor Media; Unabridged,MP3 - Unabridged CD edition (October 14, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400166284
• ISBN-13: 978-1400166282
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,553,806 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

James Kakalios is the Taylor Distinguished Professor in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Minnesota, where he has been teaching since 1988. His research projects in experimental solid state physics range from the nano to the neuro. In 2001 he created a Freshman Seminar course at the University of Minnesota entitled "Everything I Know About Science I Learned from Reading Comic Books." When the first Spider-Man film was released in May 2002, media attention about this class inspired him to write The Physics of Superheroes - now in its Spectacular Second Edition. He was the science consultant for the Warner Bros. film Watchmen. In Feb. 2009 he filmed a video on The Science of Watchmen for the University of Minnesota's youtube page which, to date, has been viewed over 1.6 million times, and in Sept. 2009 won a regional Emmy award and in 2010 was nominated for a Webby. His latest book - The Amazing Story of Quantum Mechanics - explains the basic quantum physics principles behind the laser, transistors, light emitting diodes, computer hard drives and magnetic resonance imaging. He has been reading comic books longer than he has been studying physics.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Three, Three, Three Books in One, January 17, 2011

By 

Terry Sunday (El Paso, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Amazing Story of Quantum Mechanics: A Math-Free Exploration of the Science that Made Our World (Hardcover)

James Kakalios' "The Amazing Story of Quantum Mechanics" is an almost entirely math-free overview of one of the most mysterious, counter-intuitive fields of modern physics. In his well-written, lively work intended for the general reader, Dr. Kakalios actually tells three interrelated and integrated stories about quantum mechanics, a subject that, for over a century, has defined the careers of many theoretical physicists and frightened countless college students. This highly readable volume makes the basic concepts of quantum mechanics accessible to any curious reader with a desire to learn.

One of the three stories Dr. Kakalios tells covers the growth of our knowledge about atoms and their interactions with each other. You'll find out about the insights of history's most famous physicists, such as Drs. Albert Einstein, Werner Heisenberg, Wolfgang Pauli, Max Planck and Erwin Schrödinger. You'll learn a lot about "matter waves," a concept essential to understanding the subject. You'll gain a simplified but functional grasp of atomic structure, electron energy transitions, electromagnetism, superfluidity, superconductivity and many other esoteric and fascinating subjects. But don't think this is easy stuff. You'll have to think hard about what Dr. Kakalios presents, and maybe re-read some parts to be sure you grasp it. At least I did, and I was not totally ignorant about subatomic physics at the outset. Quantum mechanics and solid-state physics are complicated subjects, and it takes effort to understand them.

Dr. Kakalios' second story centers on his interest in classic pulp science fiction magazines such as "Amazing Stories" and "Science Wonder Stories," as well as more recent comic books such as "The Watchmen" and "Challengers of the Unknown." He says, in a self-deprecating footnote, "...as a physics professor who is also an avid fan of science fiction and comic books, I am simultaneously a nerd and a geek." Thus, he shows how (or whether) quantum mechanics could explain the unusual super-powers of various fictional characters such as Dr. Manhattan and Dr. Solar. Although I was not familiar with most of the characters he profiles, I still found these parts of the book pretty absorbing. You shouldn't have to be a fan-boy to enjoy these digressions.

The third story shows the roles quantum mechanics play in making possible many of the devices and capabilities we take for granted today. For example, lasers, DVD players, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), flash drives and cell phones would not exist if their designers had not understood quantum mechanics. Dr. Kakalios explains these modern "conveniences" in detail, and then predicts future developments such as quantum computers and nanotechnology. Being a practical engineer type, I enjoyed these parts of the book most of all. But, having said that, I think "The Amazing Story of Quantum Mechanics" is interesting and informative from cover to cover, and I'm sure I will re-read it from time to time.

Speaking of covers, "The Amazing Story of Quantum Mechanics" has one of the coolest covers I've seen on a book in many years. It's unrelated to the quality of the book, of course, but the cover's retro artwork, with simulated tears, wrinkles and frayed edges that look so real you'll think the book is damaged, is really eye-catching. You can mention the neat cover at your next cocktail party, while you captivate your rapturous audience with your new-found knowledge of De Broglie matter waves.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting reading, January 2, 2011

By 

Captain Bob - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Amazing Story of Quantum Mechanics: A Math-Free Exploration of the Science that Made Our World (Hardcover)

I was very much surprised (and pleased) with this book. It was not too technical that the average high-school student could not understand it yet it was detailed enough to describe processes that many of us are not aware of.
It was very interesting how the author kept tying the subject matter back to "science fiction" and the connection between fiction and science. However, it did seem that some of these were a bit too long (and distracting). All in all though, it was well written and a quick read. It is a natural for Kindle.

I donated my copy to the local library hoping it will attract interest in this subject among high-school and college students.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I enjoyed the book., January 11, 2011

By 

John "jdsotack" (Rochester, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Amazing Story of Quantum Mechanics: A Math-Free Exploration of the Science that Made Our World (Hardcover)

Quantum mechanics is the bizarre science of how the world operates at a tiny scale where light is made of particles and particles are waves (or at least defined by wave functions). The book explains this non intuitive and complex science with real world analogies and very little math. Although I have had some quantum physics back in college, I enjoyed the book and gained some insight from it.