Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel Reprint Edition

by Michio Kaku (Author)

450 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0307278821

ISBN-10: 0307278824

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Teleportation, time machines, force fields, and interstellar space ships—the stuff of science fiction or potentially attainable future technologies? Inspired by the fantastic worlds of Star Trek, Star Wars, and Back to the Future, renowned theoretical physicist and bestselling author Michio Kaku takes an informed, serious, and often surprising look at what our current understanding of the universe's physical laws may permit in the near and distant future.Entertaining, informative, and imaginative, Physics of the Impossible probes the very limits of human ingenuity and scientific possibility.

Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this latest effort to popularize the sciences, City University of New York professor and media star Kaku (Hyperspace) ponders topics that many people regard as impossible, ranging from psychokinesis and telepathy to time travel and teleportation. His Class I impossibilities include force fields, telepathy and antiuniverses, which don't violate the known laws of science and may become realities in the next century. Those in Class II await realization farther in the future and include faster-than-light travel and discovery of parallel universes. Kaku discusses only perpetual motion machines and precognition in Class III, things that aren't possible according to our current understanding of science. He explains how what many consider to be flights of fancy are being made tangible by recent scientific discoveries ranging from rudimentary advances in teleportation to the creation of small quantities of antimatter and transmissions faster than the speed of light. Science and science fiction buffs can easily follow Kaku's explanations as he shows that in the wonderful worlds of science, impossible things are happening every day. (Mar. 11)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Bookmarks Magazine

Kaku (Parallel Worlds, Beyond Einstein, Hyperspace) introduces complex theories of physics to general readers. As The Economist notes, Kaku "makes a good stab at explaining difficult physics. But his grasp of his subject is perhaps trumped by his knowledge of science fiction." While Kaku writes in language designed to captivate nonscience readers, it's his references to pop culture—Star Trek to Terminator 3—that clarify his fringe physics. (Those wishing to explore the topic further can refer to Kaku's detailed footnotes.) To critics' delight, Kaku also investigates the moral issues of futuristic technology that SF does so well and asks provoking questions about the fate of humankind. The only complaints? Kaku omits a few obvious SF parallels, and, more seriously, readers who don't enjoy that genre may find less of interest here.
Copyright © 2004 Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product details

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Anchor; Reprint edition (April 7, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0307278824
ISBN-13: 978-0307278821
Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.8 x 8 inches
Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 450 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,160 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2 in Books > Science & Math > Physics > Applied
- #7 in Books > Science & Math > Experiments, Instruments & Measurement > Time
- #15 in Books > Textbooks > Science & Mathematics > Physics

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A Wonderful Study of Interesting Things and Physics at the Core

ByM. Opdykeon May 27, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Thank you, Michio for your optimism in a world where we hear so much of the opposite. This book was a wonderful repast, filled with amazing ideas with physics at its core, and a vision for the future, expressed well for a layman such as myself.

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I am not disappointed buying these books

Byvincent lizdenison June 8, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I discovered Michio Kaku a couple months ago. He is hard to get in podcasts, books, and videos here in Australia. I found Amazon sold his books. Even though the postage cost as much as the books I ordered them. I got the books relatively fast. In between living and working I have started reading this book and it is interesting. I am only a fifth of the way through this book. I haven't started Future of the Mind. I am not disappointed buying these books. I am a sci-fi addict. This guy is very knowledgeable and a great presenter. Amazon asked me to review the books a month after I ordered, and about two weeks after I got them. So far so good.

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Three words: Immersive, Insightful, & Intriguing.

ByKevin Kingon May 15, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This carefully constructed book outlined numerous science fiction technologies that could become real given scientific advancements in time.

0Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

Easy to understand

ByJoeon August 22, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

If you like physics and want to learn about more
this book really breaks it down simple so its easy for you to understand and grasp the concept

0CommentWas this review helpful to you?

Light Read--Great for Science Fiction Readers

Bylawbosson March 24, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” (Arthur C. Clarke)-- and I often walk the razor's edge between wondering how much of this is 'magic' and how much 'could be' science. This book helps in that quest. If you are an avid fan of the Science Channel, a good deal of what is discussed in the book is already out there in the form of guest appearances by Michio on various shows. This doesn't detract from the read--it does, however, take away some of the novelty.
As I believe " science fiction ... contains elements of known, extrapolation of known or logical theoretical science" -- I find myself going back to from time to time to re-read parts of this book as I continue to walk the journey of the razor's edge.
It's an easy read and a must for any die hard science fiction fan--unless, of course, you follow John W. Campbell's infamous "Science fiction is what I say it is."

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intellectually invigorating

ByCarl Kirsteinon February 2, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

The approach Kaku has taken with this book is very good. He has different ratings for (im)possibility: 1. possible, but existing technology is not quite there yet 2. could be possible if a new form of technology that we do not know of could be developed 3. not possible with our known laws of physics.

He also rates different kinds of civilizations based on their access to energy. A type 1 is for instance a civilization that is able to harness most of the power of the earth; a type 2 most of the power of the sun; a type 3 most of the power of the galaxy etc.

He uses the latest knowledge of physics to comment on cases ranging from time travel, force fields, anti-gravity and so forth. In each case he gives the (im)possibility rating and type of civilization he expects would be able to realize it. Watching sci-fi after reading this book will be different indeed, you will be able to jeer or praise the stories with much more authority.

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ByA. Portsmouthon April 20, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

You know how people always ask, "If you could sit down and have dinner with anyone, alive or dead, who would you pick and why?" Yeah, yeah, everybody picks Lincoln or Jesus.

Me? I'd pick Michio Kaku. This guy is phenomenal! I'd love to sit down across the table from him, ply him whatever libations he prefers and then let him verbally go to town while I sit there and listen to him and occasionally interject asking questions.

For this man to be able to not only explain previous futuristic predictions made by his predecessors with ease and an astutely keen perception of where they were correct and incorrect, but to also be able to go into such great detail about what's to come, based upon where we are now and where we've come from, it's actually something marvel over as you roll around what he's written in your brain and let it sink in.

If you have ANY interest in physics or even just in the progress of mankind -- past, present and future -- this book will not disappoint.

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A reminder to not always take the unlikely for the impossible..

ByDylanon November 26, 2012

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I would definitely recommend this book to others. It's very interesting and it's guaranteed to make you feel a thousand times more like a quantum physicist than you did before. This book really kick starts your imagination and makes you dream of physics, which no one would ever think was interesting until him or her reads this book. Michio Haku makes this book an easy read, especially coming from a physicist to your everyday person. Haku writes in a way that keeps the book intriguing, even when filled with the Quantum Theory, the String Theory and the Theory of Relativity. It's definitely not like a text book. While Physics of the Impossible has just as much, if not more, information as a text book, it remains intriguing and simple. You don't have to have a strong scientific background to be able to read this book. Anyone interested in science-fiction would appreciate this book, as it applies fiction concepts into real life. This book could also influence readers to start dreaming big. It will encourage them to not always take the unlikely for the impossible. This book is very well written and I would recommend it to all.

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Most recent customer reviews

Great book on Phyiics

The book is easy to read and the Author really understands Physics.
I am also a Physicist who wants to keep abreast of the new thinking in the field.

Published 5 days ago by Raymond Granata

Published 1 month ago by M. W. Williams

Michio Kaku is pure genius.

Published 2 months ago by Amazon Customer

Published 2 months ago by Nick G. Athas

I was interested in the author's conclusion in his chapter ...

I was interested in the author's conclusion in his chapter on Telepathy that "...natural telepathy...is impossible today," since I've actually had a telepathic experience.Read more

Published 2 months ago by J. DEWOLFE

Great book a lot of good information, I think that the author will do good, if he will update the book to 2017

Published 3 months ago by Omer Yavetz

Great book. My 14 year old is reading it.

Published 4 months ago by Donna W.

Published 4 months ago by P AG

Published 4 months ago by FlowerPower

It is very easy to digest. Eapecially fot those who are not familiar with physics terminology.

Published 5 months ago by Adi Santosa Budiman

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