Fields of Color: The theory that escaped Einstein

by Rodney A. Brooks

Fields of Color explains Quantum Field Theory to a lay audience without equations. It shows how this overlooked and misunderstood theory resolves the weirdness of Quantum Mechanics and the paradoxes of Relativity.

Genres: Physics, Science, Nonfiction, Popular Science

175 pages, Paperback

First published December 15, 2010

Reviews

[Jimmy Ele · Rating 5 out of 5]

The simplest book that I have come across explaining Quantum Field Theory. My favorite parts were the appendixes in which the author explains how Quantum Field Theory automatically spews out the equations behind Einstein's big breakthroughs. The idea that all particles are not really particles but actually discrete fields that travel in field form yet can only be absorbed as one unit made so much sense in reconciling the seemingly dual particle wave nature of light and other phenomena. The main idea is that all of the forces are fields and they have a discrete unit or amount of information that travels in a spread out fashion, but when the respective field is absorbed by other fields (atoms absorbing photons for instance) they are absorbed in discrete units. That is why we register discrete units in our observations yet observe the photon traveling as a wave between both slits (in the famous 2 slit experiment). Had to place this on my foundation list for being a great primer in my quantum field theory research.

[Julián Hidalgo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate the effort to write a book that explains the concepts in an easy way and without using math, but I found the explanations too shallow for me to feel I understand even the basics of the theory, or to convince myself that the author is right in some of his claims.
Some ideas seemed plainly wrong, like saying that the speed of light being finite makes sense from the point of view of QFT. It's logically plausible to me that a field could move at infinite speed just like a particle, so in both cases there must be a reason of why in practice there's a limit.
The use of color for each type of field didn't really add much value, except maybe for visualizing a little bit how far each field extends, but I got that from the text anyway.
I did enjoy many of the historical anecdotes in the book, and it did succeed in getting me curious about QFT and wanting to learn more about it.

[Ben Zimmerman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fields of Colors is a great book for introducing an intuitive view of physics through theories of fields. Thinking about the big force fields is already pretty intuitive, but thinking about matter fields and smaller scale force fields as properties of space is cool and trippy. I sat waving my hand around my face for several minutes, imagining that rather than my hand moving through space, the matter fields in space were updating themselves as they interacted with other forces. I enjoyed discussions on the relationship between energy, mass, and c (which is the speed of light, but also the speed at which any field interactions with no mass occur). I also liked the clear description of the limitations of quantum field theory.

There were two major weaknesses to the book, in my opinion. First, the author often goes on with a somewhat arrogant air about how intuitive and obvious things become in physics if you take the field point of view. This didn't seem true at all in many of the cases the author provided. The fact that the propagation of interactions in fields have speed limits doesn't seem obvious at all, for instance. The idea that waves in fields with quantum collapse does not, in fact, seem much easier to accept than wave/ particle duality.

The second weakness is that the math is too shallow. I understand that the author is avoiding mathematical descriptions, but it's hard to be convinced of some argument's beauty or intuitiveness when all you're told is, "if you understood the math, you would see that it was intuitive and beautiful." This also takes away from the quality of the writing. There are long passages about the history of QFT and the contributions of certain major theorists, but as a reader, you are left with hardly any understanding of what the theorist actually did, and it contributes to some of the passages being very boring.

[Asher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderful book opened my eyes to an entirely new theory. The book introduced me to Quantum Field Theory. The name itself is intimidating, but the way the author explained the theory was very clear. The theory is that the universe is made of fields. To make things clearer, the author assigned a color to each field. Thus the title. There are five different fields: gravity, electromagnetic forces, the strong force, the weak force, matter. This theory is different from Quantum Mechanics in many ways. For starters, this theory is elegant and straightforward. It puts Quantum Mechanics to shame in terms of simplicity. I definitely recommend it to anybody who is interested in reading about physics.

[Gerald Beckman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond interesting

I'm a lawyer and (and if I brag just a little) an author, but the greatest and most fascinating topic I've come across is the physics of the very large and very small. I wish I was smart enough to understand all I've read on the topic, which is a lot, but I'm not. I therefore have to rely on guys like Brooks to help me see what I have to see. The idea of QFT takes some of the magic out of the topic as expressed by the particle/wave view, but it reintroduces common sense, and in the end, Ochem's Razor says common sense has to trump magic. I recommended the book to a physics teacher friend, and he's eager to read it. I'm equally eager to hear what he has to say about it. .

[John McNair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent overview of a lot of modern physics concepts

The book would benefit from more neutral language. It’s not problematic that the author expresses an opinion. It detracts from the book that this opinion is expressed so frequently as “obvious” while opposing opinions are somehow lesser. All physics theories provide an incomplete model of reality. Our understanding continues to evolve. I think a softer view of some of the greatest scientists in history is warranted. They advanced our understanding to the extent they could. I don’t believe any incompleteness is or was due to willful obstinance.

[Dennis Ashendorf · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unusual, but an important and SURPRISING book. Quantum Field Theory QFT presents a more coherent view of reality than Quantum Mechanics QM. Heisenberg's Inditermancy principal, Wavicles, et al, all fit quantized fields. Case closed, but.

All of the years and thought I, and EVERYONE else, spends on paradoxes, that still work in calculations is and was crazy. QFT is from the 1940s and 1950s. I do recall its extra work called Quantum Chromodynamics, but that's about it. The subtle change to a person's worldview isn't subtle.

An exceptionally easy-to-read short book. If you think you remember your first years of physics, you're in for reflective learning.

[Antony Mcphee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear and easy to understand

Very refreahing and illuminating read on how the quantum world does actually make sense, for example showing that concepts like wave particle duality and the requirenent of an observer are unnecessary.
The book uses historical quotes to demonstrate that physics is not the absolute dogma we think it is but the result of a battle of great minds disagreeing, and sometimes rethinking their positions.
Recommended for anyone who doesn't quite swallow the usual explanations we get for quantum behaviour.

[Pablo Arce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente libro, recomendado. La QFT y otros conceptos físicos explicados en forma clara.

Es un libro que casi no tiene formulas pero el autor se las ingenia para explicar los hitos más importantes de la física teórica y como va llevando cada descubrimiento a la teoría de la relatividad, la QM y la QFT. Al no usar fórmulas el autor se mantiene en lo conceptual en todo momento. Hace buena defensa de la QFT y da una explicación lógica a cada paradoja de la física actual desde el punto de vista de la QFT.

[Marc Wojciechowski · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not worth reading g

The author is enamored with a disputed theory the is well outside the mainstream and has multiple problems with reality. He claims that it was discarded because one physicist was more outgoing and persuasive that the "genius" . I'm sorry. There have been generations of physicists that have looked at and discarded QFT. It just does not answer all the problems. I have read hundreds of popular physics books and this will lead you down a dead path.

[Hope Tavani · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely written for people without classical training in physics.

My favorite portion of the book was the section on Schrödinger’s cat; I haven’t come across a better explanation thus far. My least favorite portions were related to the author explicitly stating not to question the information he was putting forth… Rather, he wanted the audience to blindly trust him.

Overall, I learned a lot, but I don’t think I’d reread.

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tries to force (get the pun) the reader in accepting a alternatove quantum view of the world without actually using any proofs or grounded argumentations. Not my cup of tea. The writer is very persuasive (in a pedantic way) but never really gets to the bottom of his rather shallow arguments. Perhaps quantum fields are really important...but this book won't sell it in my opinion.

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall it was a useful and easy read. It should be, the author uses virtually no mathematics and treats all topics superficially. There is a fair amount of repetition in the discussion.

In trying to defend his favored theory, Brooks does a fairly good job of pointing out differences in various theories, and in particular theories that disagree with QFT. It actually would have been nice if my professors had done a better job of delineating the difference between theories. I can't say his arguments were convincing, but that shouldn't be surprising for a book written for the general public.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview of quantum field theory for the non-physicist

If you’d like to learn about an alternative to the often paradoxical theory of quantum mechanics, then this is the book for you. Quantum field theory answers the same questions, but requires no weirdness and allows for a rational view of reality.

[Alexander Temerev · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book gives a nice overview of quantum field theory approach and why there is no such thing as a “particle” (there are field quanta), and I agree with that, it is not a learning text — it is a collection of advocacy rants and some homage to Julian Schwinger.

[David P. Myers, MD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for making complicated physics less mathmatical

The best book that explains difficult mathematics behind modern physics without using one equation but even so it’s complicated. Having basic calculus helps with dealing with abstractions presented.

[Sami Al-Suwailem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

This is one the best science books I have read ... and I have read many such books over the past 15 years. Well-researched, well-argued, lucidly presented. Truly enjoyable!

[Walt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice attempt to explain quantum mechanics and relativity - without math. It moved me closer to a decent level of understanding.

[Kathi Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fairly easy-to-follow explanation of quantum field theory by using colors to depict the various fields in physics.

[R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The concept of colors used by the author is an ineffective teaching tool. Other than that, it is an OK layman’s introduction to QFT.

But these intros are so unfulfilling! Now that I’m old, I chide my younger self for taking the easy credits at college rather than more math and science. Without them you’re always looking in through the partially open door, but never getting to see what really goes on inside.

On second reading I’m adding an extra star.

[Ted · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciated the fact that Brooks avoided proving everything mathematically as the fact of the matter is the math is beyond my understanding anyway. But, and this is not the author's fault, despite what I think is my curiosity about physics, I often find the books somehow beyond my interest. I did not find myself thinking "but who cares? this is really only of interest to a few physicists". However, I also was not swept away by what Quantum Field Theory might represent - not being well versed in physics to begin with, the real nature of the controversy the book represents escapes me. What I walk away from the book thinking is that in the same way that the assumptions of the ancients that the universe was somehow "perfectly" made (within their concept of perfect - symmetry, circles, even numbers, etc)was proven false (365 1/4 days for the earth to orbit the sun, not 360; pi; zero; elliptical orbits; etc), so too Newtonian physics has been shown to be based in philosophical assumptions about the empirical universe. And even now Quantum thinking shows the universe at that Quantum level is "more weird" than even many physicists imagined or are willing to admit. There is mystery in the universe no matter how much we gain in knowledge about it. We know through science a great deal about the universe, but we also know that at some levels and in some areas there is a logic at work that escapes us - or is beyond our grasp, no matter what math we use.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not for everybody, but if you have some knowledge of physics, its history, its theories, and its notable characters, you should find it interesting.

For the past century, we have heard about 'a grand unification theory' of the universe to explain interactions between the smallest pieces of matter or the largest celestial bodies. This book presents an explanation I (as a layman with a university level physics & chemistry background) found to be quite plausible. I am still struggling with the notion that all matter (atoms, sub-atoms, molecules, earth, plants, and animals) are composed of fields. But according to the author, so are a majority of physicists.

I can imagine a future day when widespread adoption of these concepts breakthrough barriers now thought to be impenetrable: 'Beam me up'.

[Ross Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well referenced wild ride

There are eye opening eureka moments in this book if you stick with it. I am not sure one comes away with the conclusion that the sources of reality have been finally described to the non-physicist. Rodney's passion is infectious if not all-pervasive and persuasive. My clearest thought is that gravity is not a dimple in space-time, but a field. That was worth the read.

Three weeks later, I am still thinking about this book. Consciousness is exceedingly hard to define but if everything is really a field, then it is much easier to see how consciousness actually affects reality. Pure anthropomorphic principle as the reason that a hundred subatomic particles exist in such complicated relationships is a form of faith. Fields are easier to fathom as the interrelatedness that connects us all. I am going for 5 stars.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure this is really for a lay reader but it was at a good level for a scientist who doesn't study physics. So now I want to read a more text book explanation of QFT however that is more due to the holes in the explanation here.
First, I think having field collapse in chapter 2 (especially not really explained) made me fight against buying the following explanations. Second, not explaining where the charges and spins of the fields come from seemed like a big hole. What do these mean how do they relate to other theories, are they intuitive? Third, the last chapter about what QFT can't yet explain would have benefited from quick references to how the more common theories do or don't deal with these.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great starter book for someone interested in learning more about: the fundamental physical forces, an intro into quantum and field theory, and the amazing history behind these developments. NO FORMAL MATH NEEDED! :-)

I am apprehensive to hastily take the author's view that QFT is the cure-all for physics as we know it, but intuitively it all follows all well and good.

Interestingly, even since first learning physics as an undergraduate, I have wondered if the consequences and paradoxes that permeate the many domains of physics could be explained by the nature of wave propagation within a complex fabric of fields. Enjoy!

[Hendrick Mcdonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Very a Good Intro to Quantum Field Theory

Easily laid out in small bit sized chunks, the book presents a very accessible introduction to quantum field theory. The author describes the fields role with history and backstory for each of the four forces (gravity, electromagnetic, strong, weak) and the very helpful is the chapter on matter as its own fields. The appendixes on relativity though I felt were lacking.

[Gene Solloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

History of physics interestingly told

I appreciate the author's clarity. Quantum field theory benefits in showing another view was fairly represented. Am I satisfied? Not yet. But I'm enjoying the quest! I recommend you read this if you ever pondered schrodinger's cat.

[Mills College Library]

530.143 B8736 2011

[Sandra Mann · Rating 4 out of 5]

The latest book in my quest to understand the workings of nature-Brooks presents quantum field theory for the layman and does a good job of it.