Decoding the Universe: How the New Science of Information Is Explaining Everything in the Cosmos,...
The author of Zero explains the scientific revolution that is transforming the way we understand our world
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reviews
Jan 22, 2009
Trevor
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I spotted this book in Readings, on the famous bargains table, and since I’d been trying to explain to a friend of mine the importance of information theory (and had made a complete dog’s breakfast of it) it became urgent that I read a book on this subject again to refresh my memory. My first taste of information theory was Grammatical Man by Jeremy Campbell – and what a joy that book was, pure magic. The only problem was that I read it probably 20 years ago and so my memory was hazy at best.
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Jan 07, 2008
Modern Hermeneut
rated it: 
Narrowly conceived and poorly argued. Seife, a mathematician, writes in the style of a born-again Christian, combining reductive thinking with wide-eyed zeal. The Good News that has him fired up this time is the "discovery" that we can use similar mathematical formulas to describe events in a variety of different fields, ranging from genetics to computer programming to neurochemistry to astrophysics. This (supposedly) revolutionary approach is called information theory, and, quite f
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Jun 15, 2011
Libyrinths
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Seife gives the reader a sense of how looking through the lens of information theory can help in understanding some of the questions of current science, particularly modern physics and cosmology.
In the early part of the book he relates it to entropy, and not just the common way we think of entropy, that is, things going toward chaos, but to the another more specific underlying principle of entropy dealing with thermodynamics. You don't have to be a science type to read this book, bu More...
In the early part of the book he relates it to entropy, and not just the common way we think of entropy, that is, things going toward chaos, but to the another more specific underlying principle of entropy dealing with thermodynamics. You don't have to be a science type to read this book, bu More...
Jan 30, 2010
Mike
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This is the fourth or fifth book that I have read by Charles Seife. I liked the others so much that I have deliberately spaced out reading more of his work to "savor" the experience when I do pick another up.
First off, this book is very well written, researched and organized. It presents a tricky and important topic with clear exposition, excellent examples and morsels of humor, much like his other works (although perhaps with a greater dollop of wit). If you simply like a More...
First off, this book is very well written, researched and organized. It presents a tricky and important topic with clear exposition, excellent examples and morsels of humor, much like his other works (although perhaps with a greater dollop of wit). If you simply like a More...
Oct 03, 2011
Matt
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An interesting book. The first couple chapters on thermodynamics and information were a good overview. I would have preferred some of the technical details, but I understand the desire to leave them out.
The chapter on "life" was week and disappointing for this reader. The author talked about DNA and how it carries information. This should be a review for anyone who has had high school biology. However, he did not connect it to the information theory he discussed at the More...
The chapter on "life" was week and disappointing for this reader. The author talked about DNA and how it carries information. This should be a review for anyone who has had high school biology. However, he did not connect it to the information theory he discussed at the More...
May 05, 2011
Sam
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The crux of this book is the link between the traditional domains of information theory and more unlikely fields, such as thermodynamics and quantum mechanics. This gives the book immense scope as it strides from computer science and linguistics to relativity and black holes. In some places this works well. For me at least, the inclusion of information theory was very useful in understanding some of the stranger points of quantum mechanics. In other sections, however, it definitely seemed li
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Dec 07, 2010
Andrew
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An interesting update on the tie between quantum physics and astrophysics. It gives a reader a good idea of what current science has discovered and highlights the differences between classical Newtonian physics and quantum physics, where things like superposition and particle entanglement give physics an Alice-in-Wonderland appearance.
But the sub-title, promising an explanation on how everything from "our brains to black holes" work is overdrawn. Indeed, late in the book More...
But the sub-title, promising an explanation on how everything from "our brains to black holes" work is overdrawn. Indeed, late in the book More...
Apr 21, 2010
Mattie
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Really interesting book approaching various aspects of science from the perspective of "information theory". Seife explains information theory as a possible truth underlying both quantum and classical physics in which "information" is not just an intangible concept but as an actualy physical presence.
Seife is writing a science book for the non-scientist, which, like legal writing for a non legal audience, is not so easy to do well. He succeeds - for the most p More...
Seife is writing a science book for the non-scientist, which, like legal writing for a non legal audience, is not so easy to do well. He succeeds - for the most p More...
Oct 19, 2010
Othello
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This was the second book by Charles Seife that I read. He has a flair for explaining difficult topics in a simple language. The progression in this book is gradual - from code breaking to Boltzmann's thermodynamic equations to quantum physics to Shannon's Information Theory. I can't recall the exact words of the last paragraph as of now (about the illusion of life), but I do remember thinking that the tone had become almost philosophical.
Dec 09, 2008
Powells.com
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Though the idea of information theory as the foundation of all of science is not new, Seife presents his argument in a fresh, compelling way that's practicable to the lay reader. The material covered is certainly absorbing, but it's Seife's fluid and engaging style that will keep you turning pages.
Recommended by Ann, Powells.com
http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?in...
Recommended by Ann, Powells.com
http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?in...
Mar 13, 2010
Andrew
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Very very interesting and very well written. I had never really heard of information theory before but this book has made me very eager to learn more. The ultimate idea is that information is a real thing to be measured like any other physical thing and that our world can be viewed as a large computer simply processing data. I am going to reread it a few times probably.
May 04, 2011
Ivan
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This is one of those books where there is nothing wrong with them. Interesting topic, convincing author's bio, well structured and promising issues. However, no matter how often I have started to read it I need to stop after a while, completely bored gaining no new insight in highly complex matter whatsoever. Then I tried to read randomly through the chapters. Same thing. Reading a couple of sentences and starting to thinking of something completely different during the reading. To illustrate th
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Nov 12, 2011
Frank
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The most mind-expanding book I’ve read in years, this popularization of quantum information theory offers explanations of several weird quantum phenomena including action at a distance, superposition, entanglement and decoherence (the way the world works)… can you say ‘multiverse’?
Jan 08, 2011
Todd
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Very effortless reading for a book that discusses competing theories of everything. Unfortunately, just as it's getting really good, it ends abruptly. I had hoped for a deeper explanation of the theories presented, and specific objections to them. I turned the page suprized to find the appendix.
Dec 14, 2008
Ron
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This book made me a fan of Charles Seife. I absolutly loved the breadth of topics, all the way from the Big Bang, to computer programming, to genetics. Who knew that information theory could be fun?
Apr 22, 2011
Yersinia
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This book changed how I think about evolution. When you think about information, rather than species, attempting to survive, things like viruses and jumping genes make perfect sense.
Jan 29, 2008
Stuart
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I've been reading books on the search for a Theory of Everything. They can be lumped into the following categories:
1) TOE's that seek to unify the 4 physical forces but don't want to venture into philosophy.
2) TOE's that try to unify physics with other theories such as information theory, evolution, etc. but still stay within the realm of scientific speculation.
3) TOE's that go beyond that into the New-Agey.
This book falls into category #2 and is More...
1) TOE's that seek to unify the 4 physical forces but don't want to venture into philosophy.
2) TOE's that try to unify physics with other theories such as information theory, evolution, etc. but still stay within the realm of scientific speculation.
3) TOE's that go beyond that into the New-Agey.
This book falls into category #2 and is More...
Sep 06, 2011
BAKU
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Exactly the book I was looking for. Need a glossary. Someone needs to write a book specifically about the new ' holographic principle '.
May 05, 2009
Mike
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Lots of interesting concepts explained in this book in a very straightforward, readable manner. Think that relativity theory, particle physics, etc are boring and way over your head? This will change your mind. I started it because I'm interested in cryptography (not the aforementioned topics), which is touched on in the first chapter and then never again. I kept reading because it was engaging and presented ridicuously complex topics in layman's terms, without being overly technical. An ey
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Oct 14, 2008
Barrett
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The first chapter of this book was hil-arous in a very linguisticly intelligent level, five stars. I actually found myself laughing out loud with linguistic jokes like the newspaper ad for shorthand:"f u cn rd ths thn u cn mk mo do."
Then halfway through it had turned into a somewhat tedious textbook about everything we know scientifically from physics to chemistry. I have a feeling he ties it up at the end and it gets very profound again. To be read again later.
Then halfway through it had turned into a somewhat tedious textbook about everything we know scientifically from physics to chemistry. I have a feeling he ties it up at the end and it gets very profound again. To be read again later.
Jun 09, 2008
Tim
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If information theory is the new physics, then this book makes a good introduction for normal people into the ins and outs of number crunching, quantum theory, and the quest to use information to arrive at the long sought "theory of everything." Looking at paradoxes like Schrodinger's Cat and quantum entanglement can be daunting tasks, but Seife makes them pretty manageable without a lot of intimidating equations to get in the way.
Feb 11, 2008
Lisa
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I may finally understand, at least superficially, the theory of relativity. The author attempts to explain scientific theories in understandable language, and succeeds most of the time. He emphasizes that everything comes back to information; the existence, transfer, preservation and understanding of information explains the workings of the universe.
Nov 26, 2007
Alex
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Fascinating expansion on the theories of information technology, and how the nascent science that gave us the Enigma machine in WWII, and is used in computer cryptography today, serves as a way of discussing and understanding quantum physics and parallel universes. Snowballs from the simple to the complex in a surprisingly short read.
Feb 19, 2010
Dan
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Interesting presentation of what counts for "information" in the universe, but takes a very circuitous route. Plus, requires college physics to follow his discussions of thermodynamics and relativity.
Overall, tries to tackle too much.
Overall, tries to tackle too much.
Aug 13, 2010
Jamie
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Quantum Mechanics for Dummies? Quantum Mechanics for Dummies that makes the dummies feel at least a little smart? Quantum Mechanics for Dummies that makes the dummies feel at least a little smart before their brains spontaneously combust into flames?
I loved this book.
I loved this book.
Jun 02, 2008
Chris
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Mmmmmm... that's good science. For people who are actually interested in what the hell is going on.
Jan 10, 2008
Anne
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Good book, but written for people with no physics/math background so a little boring.
Feb 06, 2012
Feb 06, 2012
