The more precisely the position is determined, the less precisely the momentum is known in this instant, and vice versa.
—Werner He... read full description
—Werner He... read full description
reviews
Nov 04, 2011
Mahmood
rated it: 
لم يسبق لي أن قرأت أو سمعت عن كتاب لتاريخ العلم و العلماء, والصورة النمطية المرسومة في ذهني للعلم و التي تكونت نتيجة أسلوب التدريس العقيم في المدرسة و الجامعة توحي بأن العالم عبارة عن شيء شبيه بمسخ غير إنساني يقضي وقته كله في البحث و التجريب و أن العالم هو عالم فقط يتحول لشخص عادي أو أقل من عادي حالما يخرج خارج وسطه المفضل, هذا الكتاب و بأسلوبه المشوق و السلس يعطي فكرة -و إن كانت غير واضحة تماما- عن حياة العلماء و كيف أن العنصر الإنساني من شغف و صراع و نضال كان حاسما في تكون العلم الذي بي More...
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Nov 09, 2011
Ryan
rated it:
The early 20th century was by no means an orderly, calm period in the world of theoretical physics. New discoveries in relativity and quantum mechanics were casting increasing doubt on classical physics. Scientists were learning that some phenomena, taking place at the unseeable atomic level, seemed not to be deterministic and predictable, but probabilistic and not so predictable.
Uncertainty provides an informative overview of the major players during this era, and explores the disar More...
Uncertainty provides an informative overview of the major players during this era, and explores the disar More...
Jul 13, 2011
Byron
rated it:
I read this book as if I was watching a movie in my head. This book has little to do with the complex formula of Quantum Mechanics but everything to do about the complex characters that created the concepts that led to Quantum Mechanics.
I was slightly amused to finish the book and feel I had a better understanding of how Quantum Mechanics came about but now i was more lost than ever as to the people that made it so. Its a lot to wrap your head around when your continually blown away More...
I was slightly amused to finish the book and feel I had a better understanding of how Quantum Mechanics came about but now i was more lost than ever as to the people that made it so. Its a lot to wrap your head around when your continually blown away More...
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(1 person liked it)
Dec 09, 2011
Robert
rated it: 
When I give a lecture on patient assessment I start off by saying “Begin your assessment from across the room. You want to first view your patients with as little influence upon them as possible. You know, like the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle: the process of looking at something changes it.” Then come the deer-in-the-headlight looks from most of my students. That’s perhaps the look that will obtain from many of the readers of this book. Unless you’re a theoretical physicist, taken a class i
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Aug 16, 2011
Katelyn
rated it:
Overall, an adequate narrative - but really, that's all. I'm still at a loss to believe someone could write a book about the advent of quantum mechanics and the uncertainty principle without a single diagram.
Also, I must say I'm amused by the irony of Lindley's ability to write about the uncertainty princinple in so formulaic a manner. Every chapter bears a title that echoes the exact words of one of the scientists quoted within, almost always popping up in its last 2-3 pages. I though More...
Also, I must say I'm amused by the irony of Lindley's ability to write about the uncertainty princinple in so formulaic a manner. Every chapter bears a title that echoes the exact words of one of the scientists quoted within, almost always popping up in its last 2-3 pages. I though More...
Oct 08, 2011
Heather
rated it:
I preferred The Age of Entanglement (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50968...) for its explanations of the actual physics and for the deep descriptions of the people involved. It was only at around chapter 18 (of 19) of this book that I really felt like it was worth the investment. That isn't to say it wasn't really good. It was very good. It just wasn't a lot of new information, though it was engaging and interesting. But the part that really got me thinking was at the end when there was som
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May 21, 2011
HassanAli2011
rated it: 
جعل الكاتب من العلم موضوع قصصي يروي فيه الاحداث التي رافقت تطور فيزياء الكم
جاعلا من الامر يبدو كاقصة متسلسلة الاحداث
لكن سرعان ما تدرك أنك قد توهت في معمة الجدال بين العماء حول الذرة وغيرها من النظريات
في رأيَ كتاب مختص للفيزيائين المهتمين بالسير الذاتية لأعلام الفيزياء الحديثة. More...
جاعلا من الامر يبدو كاقصة متسلسلة الاحداث
لكن سرعان ما تدرك أنك قد توهت في معمة الجدال بين العماء حول الذرة وغيرها من النظريات
في رأيَ كتاب مختص للفيزيائين المهتمين بالسير الذاتية لأعلام الفيزياء الحديثة. More...
Aug 01, 2009
Seth
rated it: 
I found this narrative of the transition from a deterministic, Newtonian view of the physical world to the statistical probabilities (and uncertainty) of quantum interactions really entertaining. It had much the same feel as James Watson's Double Helix: a sort of clubby, intellectual-but-confused, adversarial-but-friendly atmosphere of early twentieth century science. Towards the end, David Lindley does go off on a minor tangent ranting about other historians of science who see this narrative di
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Aug 04, 2009
Jennie
rated it:
Uncertainty</> provides a thorough, historical overview of the legendary figures involved in the discovery of quantum mechanics and the bizarre and controversial revelation that the act of observing a particle changes the nature of the thing being observed. This detailed account diagnoses the idiosyncrasies of the key players and recounts the battles and breakthroughs that proved integral to the development and eventual (if decidedly begrudging) acceptance of Heisenberg's uncertainty princ
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Aug 02, 2010
Scott
rated it:
Uncertainty paints a clear and lucid account of the genesis of a nearly incomprehensible idea, Heisenberg's notorious uncertainty principle. I would recommend this book to any lay person anyone searching for a basic understanding of uncertainty and its tie to quantum theory, as well as anyone interested to learn about the personalities behind the cutting edge of physics in the middle part of the 20th century.
Apr 06, 2009
Hank
rated it:
I think I liked this book. But I'm not sure.
(Sorry, I can't help it.)
In a futile quest to understand quantum mechanics, I consume every layman's book on the subject that I can find. If you're as obsessed with that mystifying subject as I am -- and if, like me, you lack the serious mathematics and physics background that you'd need to be able to acquire a *real* understanding -- then I think you'll enjoy this book.
"Uncertainty" is more of a history of More...
(Sorry, I can't help it.)
In a futile quest to understand quantum mechanics, I consume every layman's book on the subject that I can find. If you're as obsessed with that mystifying subject as I am -- and if, like me, you lack the serious mathematics and physics background that you'd need to be able to acquire a *real* understanding -- then I think you'll enjoy this book.
"Uncertainty" is more of a history of More...
Sep 28, 2011
Jim
rated it:
A very fast, high level read on the origins and development of quantum mechanics, focusing on the people involved. I think the one thing I'll really take from this book is the author's presentation of the Schrodinger's Cat thought experiment as something Schrodinger proposed to illustrate the absurdity of an opposing theory, not in support of it (Einstein also proposed this thought experiment, in a slightly different form).
I think there were a total of two equations presented in thi More...
I think there were a total of two equations presented in thi More...
Jan 07, 2012
shaz
rated it:
It's more about how the scientists (including some of the greats of the day) wrestled with the new theories (and their implications) than the theories themselves. It's not enough to know that the deterministic gives way to the probablistic on the quantum level, but Lindley's engaging writing makes you wonder if it just might be.
Jan 05, 2010
Sean
rated it:
Can't get enough of this shit. This story has probably been told a hundred times but the advent of quantum mechanics is described lucidly and dare I say enjoyably by lindley.
Jan 03, 2012
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/10362908
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/10362908
Jul 22, 2010
530.12 L746U 2007 - Wil Wheaton recco: http://wilwheaton.typepad.com/wwdnbackup...
Oct 01, 2008
Noah
rated it:
I was disappointed. Not completely, but what's the point of a book on Einstein, Heisenberg, et al without the formulas? Where were the scientific formulas? I'm not going to pretend I would have understood them all (ok or even 97% of them), but I was most interested in how they came up with the theories -- and I got the history and some of the science, but none of the specifics. I wanted to see some of those crazy mathematical symbols that are used in NUMB3RS.
I get that the book was More...
I get that the book was More...
Nov 10, 2008
Alex
rated it:
Promising, but ultimately disappointing. The book paints detailed portraits of Heisenberg and Bohr, and is written at the right level for anyone who didn't venture beyond high-school physics. However, Lindley failed to convey the supposed controversy tied to the breakthrough of the uncertainty principle itself. The conclusion spiraled into a mish-mash of the principle's appearances in the mainstream consciousness, and its near-irrelevance to modern physicists. I am glad to have finished it s
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May 04, 2008
Steven
rated it:
Clear, lively, and succinct, Lindley's story telling makes Heisenberg's discovery an adventure complete with flesh and blood physicists battling to make their views believed. Combine this with that I finally understand "uncertainty" and I can highly recommend this book.
As a side note, I now can see what makes physicists livid about things like What The Bleep's take wherein the mind changes physical laws. At the same time, I found unnecessary Lindley's last chapter wherein h More...
As a side note, I now can see what makes physicists livid about things like What The Bleep's take wherein the mind changes physical laws. At the same time, I found unnecessary Lindley's last chapter wherein h More...
Sep 07, 2011
BAKU
rated it: 
Only read half of this, tell you nothing about Uncertainty, it's just about some of the personalites involved. Avoid Lindley's books.
May 22, 2011
Gendou
rated it:
A good history of the pioneering of QM, focusing on Heisenberg and uncertainty in particular.
Oct 02, 2008
Eric
rated it:
I would never want to read a textbook on quantum mechanics because I would never understand it, but I love reading interpretations of what complicated scientific theories like it and relativity mean, and especially about the amazing people who developed them. This book is a clear and engrossing outline of how quantum theory and specifically the uncertainty principle developed, and how it influenced the science community of the day.
Jul 17, 2008
Nicole
rated it:
This is a biography of quantum mechanics. It covers the men who both supported and opposed the philosophy but still contributed to its progress. The book revealed some lovely minor details about the men and how they interacted politically, technically and personally.
My only complaint was the last three chapters ran out of the specific details and sort of sputtered on in vague metaphysical meanders.
My only complaint was the last three chapters ran out of the specific details and sort of sputtered on in vague metaphysical meanders.
Dec 17, 2009
Daniel
rated it:
Lindley’s brisk and accessible account of the birth of quantum mechanics focuses on personalities and historical context—and, at the conclusion, the philosophical implications—rather than the science or equations. This approach works best as Bohr or Heisenberg are brought to life by Lindley’s prose; readers looking for a deeper understanding of the science itself, however, will be disappointed.
May 06, 2007
keisha
rated it:
I don't know if this book would be interesting to a reader who doesn't already have some exposure to the subject - my guess is 'no'. I'm not a big fan of Lindley's organization. Also, I may just be stubborn, but I think a discussion of quantum theory should have pictures and equations...I miss them. On the other hand, the topic is so exciting and the story is a massive undertaking.
