Other Worlds: Space, Superspace, and the Quantum Universe (Penguin science) (Paperback)

by Paul Davies (Author) "In the early 1920s an American physicist, Clinton Joseph Davisson, began a series of investigations for the Bell Telephone Company in which nickel crystals were..." (more)
Key Phrases: primeval turbulence, primeval universe, primeval material, Milky Way, Albert Einstein, John Wheeler (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Paul Davies explains the significance of the amazing quantum universe, where fact is stranger than any science fiction. He takes us into a world where commonsense notions of space, time, and causality must be left behind as the realm of solid matter dissolves into vibrating patterns of ghostly energy, and where mind and matter are interwoven in a subtle and holistic manner. An Australian physicist and author of GOD AND THE NEW PHYSICS, Davies writes for the lay reader in simple language.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (May 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140138773
• ISBN-13: 978-0140138771
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #70,522 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #37 in	Books > Science > Astronomy > Universe
  #48 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Physics > Quantum Theory
  #52 in	Books > Science > Physics > Quantum Theory

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent layman's introduction to quantum theory, June 6, 2000

By A Customer

I learned quantum theory in college 15 years ago. Reading this book, I gained insights I never had back then. If you want a clear non-technical introduction to the subject, this book is for you. It stretches the mind with possibilities such as alternate universes.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Read, but not one of Davies' Best..., June 19, 2003

By	Jeffrey A. Smith "jasncompany" (Athens, AL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I really enjoy reading Paul Davies' books. Davies is a nice departure from many science writers who cannot come to a non-physicist level when explaining a concept. In down-to-earth terms, he explains anti-matter and how Einstein's theories explain much about time and space.

The reason I don't give this book 5 stars is that it is one of Davies' earlier writings (originally published in 1980). I think he's improved over the years, and one of the best reads I've had from Davies is his "The Last Three Minutes." "Other Worlds" is a great read, but it never seems to achieve it's objective. At the onset, you're expecting to learn how alternate existences and parallel universes may exist or at least be explained mathematically, and if they do exist, what is their physical representation. To me, however, the whole point of the book is lost in deep explanations regarding electron paths and variances along those paths, etc. How these variances apply to "Other Worlds" is never clearly explained. At least to me.

Still, it's a Davies book, and they're very interesting to read. He puts scientific principles in layman's terms without insulting one's intelligence. Overall, I recommend this book, even though I'd recommend reading some of his later works first.

Enjoy!

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quantum mechanics and the multiverse., December 31, 2002

By	Luc REYNAERT (Beernem, Belgium) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This book is an excellent introduction to quantum mechanics, the uncertainty principle and their consequences for spacetime and the universe: the coexistence of countless parallel worlds.

As always, Paul Davies' explanations are clear, easily understandable and intriguing.
He gives us an answer for all kind of questions.
Why are common sense and determinism illusions? What is superspace? What is an infinite-dimensional superworld?
Until he arrives at the ultimate one: why do we find ourselves living in this particular universe rather than one of the myriad others? Here he remains silent ... for the moment.

A super intriguing book. Not to be missed.