The Strange Story of the Quantum [Paperback]

Banesh Hoffmann (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 14, 2011

This timeless exploration of the work of the great physicists of the early 20th century employs analogies, examples, and imaginative insights rather than computations to explain the dramatic impact of quantum physics on classical theory. Topics include Pauli's exclusion principle, Schroedinger's wave equation, Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, and many other concepts. 1959 edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications; 2 Reissue edition (January 14, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486205185
• ISBN-13: 978-0486205182
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #588,632 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wave or Particle...Particle or Wave? (no strings yet!), February 23, 2003

By 

MCP "strategicthinker" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Strange Story of the Quantum (Paperback)

This wonderful book written by Hoffman in 1947 (and updated in 1958) is timeless. That seems like a rather strange statement considering we are talking about physics, which seems to upend itself every 10 years! I am an avid fan of books on physics, astrophysics and cosmology. I have one major deficit and that is I have little math background. Hoffman's ability to write about complex concepts in a nonmathematical format is superb. His historical accounting of how classical physics was astounded by quantum physics is both stimulating and entertaining. I recommend this book to anyone wanting to know more about the origins of today's popular thoughts in physics.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Physics can be Fun, April 6, 2003

By 

Dew - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Strange Story of the Quantum (Paperback)

I truly enjoyed this book. I enjoy physics, and this book I believe is great for anyone who wants to know about the history of the quantum.

Hoffman wrote this book as if he is speaking directly to you, with a sense of humor and wit.

Are physicist right-well, most of the time.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Strange Story of the Quantum, May 11, 2004

By 

Simo Zarkovic (Calgary, Alberta Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Strange Story of the Quantum (Paperback)

This book is absolutly amazing, with very clear language that anyone could almsot understand. The beginning of the book does really start off as some dramatic book, but in the end, when all the dots are connected, you get the clearest explanation of why quantum world is random, but not the psuedo-random like the toss of a coin. At the points when the things really need to be explained as clearly as possible to the reader, the author does just that and leaves the story writting outline aside, while making sure that the reader really comperhands all the unusual quantum phenomena.