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Heinz R. Pagels

The Cosmic Code: Quantum Physics as the Language of Nature (Dover Books on Physics) Paperback – Illustrated, March 14, 2012

by Heinz R. Pagels (Author)

4.6 256 ratings

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"The Cosmic Code can be read by anyone. I heartily recommend it!" — The New York Times Book Review
"A reliable guide for the nonmathematical reader across the highest ridges of physical theory. Pagels is unfailingly lighthearted and confident." — Scientific American
"A sound, clear, vital work that deserves the attention of anyone who takes an interest in the relationship between material reality and the human mind." — Science 82
This is one of the most important books on quantum mechanics ever written for general readers. Heinz Pagels, an eminent physicist and science writer, discusses and explains the core concepts of physics without resorting to complicated mathematics. The two-part treatment outlines the history of quantum physics and addresses complex subjects such as Bell's theorem and elementary particle physics, drawing upon the work of Bohr, Gell-Mann, and others. Anecdotes from the personal documents of Einstein, Oppenheimer, Bohr, and Planck offer intimate glimpses of the scientists whose work forever changed the world.

Print length

384 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Dover Publications
Publication date

March 14, 2012
Dimensions

5.5 x 0.75 x 8.75 inches
ISBN-10

9780486485065
ISBN-13

978-0486485065
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About the Author

American physicist Heinz Pagels (1939–1988) was Adjunct Professor of Physics at Rockefeller University as well as the Executive Director and CEO of the New York Academy of Sciences and President of the International League for Human Rights.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0486485064
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dover Publications; Reprint edition (March 14, 2012)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780486485065
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0486485065
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.7 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.75 x 8.75 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #274,207 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #243 in Quantum Theory (Books)
- #320 in Cosmology (Books)

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4.6 256 ratings

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Vladimir Zuzukin

Excellent classic work that I discovered only recently

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 13, 2014

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Excellent classic work that I discovered only recently. It remains highly relevant today taking into account that 'dark energy' and 'dark matter' where not mainstream considerations in 1980. I have found that reading older texts sometimes helps the layman or beginner understand highly abstract and difficult concepts in science, notably relativity and quantum mechanics. We tend to run to the latest books thinking that "they know best," but the truth is that quantum mechanics is no better understood today than 1970, and some would say even 1945. This book by Pagels helps non-professional physicists understand topics that real physicists are still grappling with, and I think it helps that it was written at a simpler time in physics.

As an aside, academic physics is known for lineages where a famous teacher passes the baton to his later famous students. The most famous lineage includes Bohr, Wheeler, Feynman, and Everett. But I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Pagels in his shortened professional life taught and mentored Seth Lloyd who has certainly continued to carry the baton in "quantum computation" to this day. This knowledge makes me want to read the final work by Pagels, "The Computer and the Rise of the Science of Complexity," which was written in the pioneering days of 'natural computationalism' in physics and has clearly influenced the current work of Seth Lloyd.

8 people found this helpful

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Doc Hank

It will take me 6 mos to absorb .

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 30, 2022

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not very well laid out, the subject matter seems to be adequately presented, but I think the timelines are completely jumbled an unnecessarily repetitive

One person found this helpful

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RG

Excellent but possibly outdated by new research

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 19, 2012

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Although I did not care for the rambling in the first 60 pages or so, the later pages revealed interpretations and explanations of experiments that I have not seen done so thoroughly and uniquely in several other lay physics books I have read. The problem, though, is that Pagels tends to be highly opinionated and denigrates the positions of others when later research, if what I have read in more recent publications has been properly presented, suggests that the positions of others are vindicated. Nevertheless, Pagels unique way of looking at things and explaining them does add a lot of value and I recommend the book. Another excellent recent publication that covers a huge amount of territory (and seems to disagree with several of Pagel's conclusions such as "Spooky Action at a Distance") is Brian Greene's "Fabric of the Cosmos." I also have to agree with another commentator that Pagels' interjection of his opinions on "the God issue" seems unecessary and distracting. After reading numerous physics books, the one thing I have concluded is that no one seems to truly know how things really work despite how dogmatically they present their positions.

4 people found this helpful

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Max W. Giger

Too bad it took so long for me to get hold ...

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 17, 2015

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Pagels' book entitled Cosmic Code is one of the most fascinating books on quantum physics I have ever read during the past 30 years.
The author's attempt to explain a highly complex world to the non-initiated, I consider a success which even these days deserves highest recogniton and attention. If every politician, social scientist and educator, at large, especially those of industrial nations, would make the effort of reading this book and genuinely tried to understand the implications of the substance of modern physics, they would, I dare say, begin to question their systems in which they live, lived and operated for so long. They, no doubt, would begin to realize the illusion of mind portrayed realities to some of their obviously non-performing scaffold structures, often deliberately mistaken for sustainable buldings. Too bad it took so long for me to get hold of this book. I highly recommend reading it to anyone.

4 people found this helpful

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Johnny

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 9, 2014

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Heinz Pagels got it right when so many others fell short. I've read many books on cosmology and physics where the authors succumb to group think, making assertions that simply don't hold up to the facts. The Cosmic Code avoids falling into the trap of promoting theories that violate causality, frame independence or both.

Pagels has the unique ability to keep his deep philosophical insights grounded in rigorous physical truth and to avoid going into unsupportable flights of fancy like so many other authors do. This book is unusually well-written and is completely accessible to both expert and non-expert alike. It was effortless and a joy to read.

I especially liked his treatment of the EPR paper and Bell's Inequality. This is often very difficult to describe, but Pagels did it brilliantly.

I could go on and on about this book with more superlatives, but that wouldn't do it justice. Just read it and you'll see.

https://sites.google.com/site/amateurscientistessays/

30 people found this helpful

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CK_

An extraordinary book... Highly recommended

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 5, 2012

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I stumbled upon this book by accident while googling for an introductory Quantum Physics book. At first, I didn't want to read it because it was published in 1982 and I thought it must be hopelessly outdated.

However, the book is superb- although the section on the Standard Model is outdated, the bulk of the book on Quantum Theory is just as correct today as when it was published 30 years ago. Pagels was a true rarity- a first-rate scientist, who was also a first-rate writer (in terms of clarity and writing style).

The ending (which prefigures his death in 1989 from a mountain climbing accident) is truly poignant.

Note: Cosmic Code starts with Einstein's Special and General Relativity. I doubt that anyone without prior exposure will be able to understand Relativity from Pagels' account. However, be aware that his main intent is to provide historical context of Relativity. The bulk of the book is on Quantum Physics, which he explains better than any book I've read.

27 people found this helpful

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Jessi Ehret

Great book!

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on July 15, 2023

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It’s a great book. I bought it used but in good condition. My only regret is that, after postal fees, it would have made more sense to have just ordered a new copy.

Rama

Excelente

Reviewed in Brazil 🇧🇷 on November 1, 2017

Verified Purchase

O texto é execelente. Está muito bem escrito. Apesar do rigor é fácil de ler. O assunto é fantástico.
Recomendo para todos aqueles que buscam conhecimento científico em um nível de divulgação.
Para uma boa compeensão é necessário ter um conhecimento prévio de física, no nível dos anos iniciais de um curso de graduação.

One person found this helpful

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Na'eem

Amazing Book

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on October 2, 2021

Verified Purchase

Great book and very well worded knowledge in this book, including Professor Einstein himself, this book reminded of one many things here.

One person found this helpful

Sebastião Squirra

Ampla visão do tema

Reviewed in Brazil 🇧🇷 on May 9, 2019

Verified Purchase

Forma narrativa e objetividade

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A Tabesh

Fast shipping

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on November 18, 2019

Verified Purchase

Really good book

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