Quantum Physics Made Me Do It

by Jeremie Harris

Quantum Physics Made Me Do It: A Simple Guide to the Fundamental Nature of Everything from Consciousness and Free Will to Parallel Universes and Eternal Life.

Genres: Science, Physics, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Philosophy, Neuroscience

Hardcover

Reviews

[Maria Clara · Rating 5 out of 5]

SI ES QUE YA LO DIJO JÉRÉMIE HARRIS, LA CULPA FUE DEL CACAHUETE🤭!
Y es que se necesita ser mucho cacahuete para liarla de esta manera!

(Ay, santa Cachucha, con lo tranquilitos que estábamos antes del gato zombie🥴)

🌸Y, sí, agárrate, porque se avecinan unas curvas que no te las puedes ni imaginar. Te lo digo porque a mí me hablan de física cuántica y, oye, la última vez que se me vio estaba tratando de cruzar el charco rumbo a un paradero desconocido...

🌸Pero empecemos a ordenar ideas!

🌸El cacahuete no tiene la culpa de nada, pero alguien tiene que ser el malo de la historia, ¿no?

🌸El gato zombie existe! Y por más que sé que me vas a decir que aún no has visto ninguno, te aseguro que existen. Es más, en este divertido y doblemente divertido libro, verás cómo esta raza de vivo/muerto es una realidad en nuestro día a día. Es más, quizás hasta nosotros mismos seamos parte de esta ecuación... (siempre y cuando seamos un observador sin conciencia de ser un observador y de que la va a palmar🤭)

¿Rebuscado🤔?

🌸Para nada, porque Jérémie te explica tan bien los últimos descubrimientos de la física cuántica y de dónde nace la teoría del gato zombie, que no puedes soltar este libro🤩! Y es que, al leerlo, te das cuenta de la enormidad y del gran avance que supone la física cuántica para la ciencia y para nosotros, aunque los científicos no estén bailando precisamente de alegría🤭.

🌸Es más de los mases, también habla de la AI que nos viene, con sentimientos😯, y del multiverso.

PD: Hay que hacerle un hurra a la teoría del "porque sí", oye, nunca el pasotismo fue tan divertido🤭

[8stitches 9lives]

So far this is a fantastic guide to the most relevant notions proposed throughout the last century regarding the quantum world. A lot of books talk about how user-friendly they are and how they cut out the unnecessarily complex way of explaining concepts, but this one really hits its mark in terms of being the perfect introduction to quantum mechanics and the questions that arise from it for complete novices or for those looking for a lighthearted, sardonically-tinged science tome but that also happens to be packed with science and excellent discussions on the repercussions for humanity if certain theories are in fact correct.

It can become a little juvenile in places, but it is a long time since I have read such an intriguing and relatively wide ranging assortment of issues propagated by quantum mechanics and it's intended, I mean REALLY intended, for the layperson. Amongst the issues discussed: quantum superposition, Schrödinger's cat, collapse of the wave function, collapse of the (universal) wave function, Bohr and The Copenhagen Interpretation, Goswami, (universal) consciousness, quantum immortality, quantum suicide, free will, identity, legal punishment, Everett's multiverse, and religious implications.

[Jorge Zuluaga · Rating 5 out of 5]

¡Excepcional!

Es difícil encontrar un libro de divulgación de la teoría cuántica que no caiga en algunas explicaciones e historias clásicas y que en su lugar aborde temas realmente relevantes, incluso para la vida en sociedad o para el futuro.

Este libro lo hace, y mejor aun, lo hace con humor, con honestidad intelectual, con provocación —al arriesgarse poniendo ideas que muchos consideramos están tan lejos de la ciencia que no merecen siquiera mencionarse en un libro de divulgación científica— y por supuesto con el suficiente grado de rigor.

Por supuesto, no contiene todo lo que debería contener. Tampoco se puede y es por eso que hay que leer definitivamente otros textos de divulgación en el área, aunque sean más convencionales —y para mi más aburridos—.

En fin, si eres una persona apasionada por la divulgación científica o una verdadera nerd, corre ya a leer el libro de Harris.

Reseña en extenso en cocción.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friends didn’t believe me when I said I found a funny book about quantum physics, but then I started quoting passages at them, and they got it. This is such an entertaining and educational ride that I would recommend it to anyone even remotely interested in physics, whether they think they’re “smart enough” for it or not.

It did leave me wanting more, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing—it just means it succeeded in piquing my interest and making me want to read more about quantum physics. That makes it 5 stars, not 4, because it seems like it does everything it sets out to do—entertaining and accessible introduction to quantum physics—and it’s done very well, with clarity and insight.

[HoardingDragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do tej pory myśl o fizyce, była myślą z lekka nieosiągalną. Wiedziałam, że chciałabym ją zrozumieć, ale materiały które czytałam bardziej przypominały na myśl pisemną instrukcję złożenia mebli IKEA w Klingonskim.
Ta książka jest napisana z takim humorem i polotem, że pomimo przyswojenia teorii z fizyki kwantowej bawiłam się jak na lekkiej powieści humorystycznej.
Moim skrytym marzeniem jest by w podobny sposób przedstawiać literaturę naukową dla początkujących z danego zakresu, po to by mogli zobaczyć, jak interesująca jest to dziedzina, bez odbijania się od nieprzystępnych słów i terminów, które z czasem przypominających kult.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

hilariously written and at the same time the concept he addresses are totally mind boggling and i had about 3 identity crises (do i have free will or are my electrons decising for me??). also interesting how he highlighted the politics within academia and how petty even physicists can be.

[asagao · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Norma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Uffff duro

[Neil Wiltshire · Rating 1 out of 5]

Throughout the book the author attempts to be "cool" by making sarcastic and derogatory remarks about some of the physicists who developed quantum physics. Especially annoying was the author's sanctimonious attack on the great Niels Bohr, who spent a lifetime attempting to understand what quantum physics "means". While the Copenhagen Interpretation has many faults, it is still widely regarded as one of the best "interpretations" we have. Much has also been added to our understanding of quantum physics since Niels Bohr's time - it is easy to criticize with hindsight. If the author had credentials of a similar kind to Bohr, I may take him seriously. I get the impression that he does not. Instead of using his book to convey information and understanding, the author seems to be more intent on being flippant and facetious, with the result that the book contributes nothing to anyone's understanding of the subject that is not done far better in other popular books on the subject. I found the attempted humour offensive and childish, and the whole book ultimately worthless.

[Evelina | AvalinahsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

How I read this: Free audiobook copy received through Libro.fm

Enjoyable audiobook. Just a weird bit about AI at the end.

I thank the publisher and libro.fm for giving me a free copy of the audiobook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.

[Jenna Wathier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well I just finished this mind boggling book and I must say, in a more general sense, I believe this book made me realize I maybe like non fiction books better than fiction ones, or maybe it’s just because it was quite an entertaining and humorous non-fiction read.. who knows!

On a more specific note, I absolutely loved this book. It made me think about quantum physics in new ways, it taught me new theories about the world of quantum physics that I hadn’t known before and most importantly it made me laugh along the way.

Although I say this book made me think of quantum physics in new ways, it was also surprisingly similar to how I tried to teach myself some of this content (very dumbed down, almost child like way).

Ultimately, this book felt like reading an adult version of a children’s book. It included cute drawings and silly tactics to explain complex theories in simpler ways.

If you wanna think about the world we live in and how we operate (in a much more physics and science like sense) I’d highly recommend.

10/10.

[Agnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okładka książki w cudowny sposób nawiązuje do wrażeń, które miałam podczas jej czytania. Jérémie Harris stał się dla mnie swoistym filozofem, na którego opowieści o wszechświecie czekałam z niecierpliwością każdego wieczoru, trzymając gorący kubek w rękach. Pełen humoru i bezpośredniości styl sprawia, że świat kwantów, a przynajmniej jego minimalne podstawy, stają się dostępne DOSŁOWNIE dla każdego. Jednak najlepsze jest to, że autor niczego nie narzuca. W towarzystwie kotów zombie, cierpliwie prowadzi nas przez kolejne teorie, pozwalając dostrzec ich plusy, minusy oraz potencjalne konsekwencje, dzięki czemu stwarza czytelnikowi idealną przestrzeń do samodzielnego myślenia.

[Izz MR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Podría darle un 5, pero siento que un 4 está bien así que

Me ha encantado.
Me parece que explica todo lo suficientemente sencillo como para que cualquiera pueda acomodarse y (tal vez tengo el humor roto, pero) me ha parecido muy gracioso casi todo el rato jj

Me alegro mucho de haberlo comprado y qué ganas de seguir aprendiendo cosas

Chicas es que... entendéis la ansiedad que supone valorar la posibilidad de que la explicación cuántica de los multiversos sea cierta? Nananana mañana me hago religiosa o algo así

[Julio Marchena Medina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un recuento histórico de la búsqueda de una teoría que permita entender el comportamiento de las partículas diminutas llamada Física Cuántica. El libro explica de manera didáctica los posibles resultados relacionados al movimiento de partículas pequeñas, hace una introducción a la notación Ket (que no es más que el estado cuántico de las cosas) y analiza las diferencias entre las perspectivas de Bohr, Goswami, Everett, Einstein, David Bohm y ejemplifica sus diferencias entre ellas. Finalmente se aborda el desafío de la IA y el entendimiento de cómo modelar la consciencia en esta.

[Maja · Rating 5 out of 5]

po raz pierwszy wciągnęłam się w książkę popularno-naukowa, dlatego nie mogłam dać innej oceny. wszystko da się łatwo zrozumieć, autor ma super poczucie humoru i nawet zahacza tematyką o ai i filozofie, więc tak idealnie się wpasowuje w moje studia XDD. a moje zainteresowanie fizyka z dnia na dzień wzrasta doslownie

[Yamal · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Por capricho y sin investigar, establecemos controversias en nuestras mentes y empezamos a olvidar la poca información que nos ha servido para formar nuestras opiniones. Con el tiempo, estas opiniones se convierten en artículos de fe y forman parte de nuestra identidad. Se convierten en trampas mentales de las que no podemos escapar porque ni siquiera las vemos. Con el tiempo, basamos en ellas nuestra visión del mundo, nuestras instituciones e incluso nuestras leyes....A no ser que nos empeñenos en alejarnos de vez en cuando y preguntarnos: ¿Es posible que yo sea el Bohr [alquien que no acepta no llevar razón] de esta historia?"

[Trina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to this (thank you to Libro.FM), but as it is far from my area of expertise I would have to read it too! I was pleasantly surprised how much philosophy was mixed in. My only real negative was some (imo) unnecessary repetition.

[Kaitlyn (ktxx22) Walker]

DNF’d at 42%. Let me be as succinct as possible. If you are interested heavily in Quantum physics but don’t want to go to school for it or do the math. Read this book everyone else skip it. It’s like a text book with a quirky spin and while a bit of the information shared was interesting it’s. DULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL 😴

[George Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great non technical introduction to what quantum physics might be. A great explanation of it's history and how it might affect our collective future.

[Łukasz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bardzo szalony esej na temat konsekwencji mechaniki kwantowej - jak wpływa na nasze postrzeganie wolnej woli, życia po śmierci, świadomości, czy wiary. Nieoczywiste połączenie fizyki i filozofii

[Cholerny Świstak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dużo przydatnych informacji, chociaż przedstawionych nieco chaotycznie

[ReadingwithDandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the funniest book about quantum physics that exists.

[Ariel.P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zaśmiane wielokrotnie, czego się nie spodziewałam, ale więcej filozofii (a mniej fizyki) czego również się nie spodziewałam, ale fajne.

[Emi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Divertido, sencillo y claro.

[Marifer Palma · Rating 5 out of 5]

La neta está tan bueno que leí hasta los agradecimientos del final. Yo diría que es más un libro de filosofía que de física pero enfocado en la historia del desarrollo de diversas teorías del mundo cuántico. Muy ameno de leer y digerible.

[Manu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una lectura muy entretenida que te da una visión de la física cuántica, del cómo es o puede ser el universo.
Muy recomendable

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

[Juan Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic! The concepts are tangible and relevant, and most of all this book is fun to read. While learning a lot about quantum physics I didn’t feel like this was homework or took effort to read. The illustrations are a very helpful approach for building up the explanations of quantum physics, and the jokes, anecdotes and historical facts offered nice variety.

As someone who likes to read a lot of philosophy, this book was great for getting me to think about what science has and hasn’t figured out yet in terms of our place in the universe. I like pondering the “big questions” and this book helped to me this from a fresh angle.

[Yanina Patricio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Si todavía no te das por vencido por entender qué es la física cuántica y su mundo subatómico. Este libro te ayudará a sentir que no tienes la batalla perdida. "Fue culpa de la física cuántica" está escrito para curiosos que seguimos preguntándonos cómo funciona todo en el universo, o mejor aún, ¡quién lo creó! El autor logra hacer accesibles conceptos difíciles como las teorías cuánticas, el icónico experimento de la doble rendija, reflexiones sobre el libre albedrío y la conciencia, hasta llegar a la intrigante idea de los multiversos, todo esto sin perder el rigor científico. Te garantizo que después de leerlo, no miraras la vida de la misma manera.

[Echo · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a beginner at quantum physics, this book is for you! Funny and informative, this book has taught me a lot. Before getting into the review, let's think about the zombie cat problem, the central issue being explained by each theory presented throughout Quantum Physics Made Me Do It.

Imagine that a physicist is performing an experiment in a box. We have an electron, which will spin either clockwise or counterclockwise; a detector of which direction the electron spins; a gun, which will go off if the electron is spinning in the correct direction; and a cat, which will be either shot or not shot based on which direction the electron spins. If the electron spins clockwise, the detector will go off, sending a signal to the gun, which will go off and kill the cat. In other words, the cat will die if you run the experiment with an electron which spins clockwise. If the electron spins counterclockwise, the detector will not go off, the gun will remain not triggered, and the cat will survive the experiment.

However, the electron would be spinning both clockwise and counterclockwise according to quantum physics. Would the cat survive or die, in that case? The answer is complicated. Based on quantum physics, this is what we'd say happens:
1. The electron has a version spinning clockwise and a version spinning counterclockwise.
2. The detector must split into a version that goes off and a version that does not go off.
3. The gun splits into a version that fires and a version that doesn't fire.
4. The cat is left both dead and alive.

But has anyone ever seen a zombie cat, or a zombie version of anything else, for that matter? The answer to this question is, of course, no. No one has seen a real-life zombie creature. The math says that the cat in this case would be both dead and alive, though, so physicists are left with the question of why no one in the world has ever seen a zombie. Unfortunately, there is no actual evidence to point at a specific reason yet, which means there are many different theories that people choose to believe based on -- as Jérémie Harris points out -- aesthetic preferences. All the theories we have about why, exactly, we don't see zombie cats are based on physicists' random preferences for order vs. disorder, and whether consciousness has a scientific enough definition (it doesn't have a clear definition, even from philosophers, so the answer is consciousness doesn't have a scientific definition).

Each chapter of the book explores a new theory that has been proposed over the more than one hundred years of trying to explain the zombie cat problem scientifically. From Bohr's collapse theory to Everett's theory of multiple universes, Harris explains the theories clearly and humorously, whether that means sharing funny anecdotes, commenting his own opinions, joking about dead physicists (such as calling Einstein a walking hair conditioner ad), or making sassy comments about particular theories. Harris doesn't take himself or physicists in general too seriously. He willingly jokes about the field of physics and honestly describes the problems that afflict the quantum physics field at the moment.

Harris doesn't push readers to listen to or believe one particular theory too hard. He points out issues with each theory and makes sure to acknowledge that we don't have enough evidence either way about any theory. He makes sure to point out that none of the theories can be fully discounted, and no theory is completely free of bias, especially when there isn't enough evidence either way. Theories can't be properly debated at the moment because it's all down to personal preference in aesthetics of the universe (or multiverse).

Harris also points out how our opinions of which theory seems most realistic are based on our personal biases. In illustration, you are probably less likely to believe in Everett's multiverse theory if you're religious because it suggests that your god allows innocents to go through some very terrible things, worse than you can even imagine. If you are panpsychist (believing everything in the world is somehow conscious), any of the theories could be just as true. Materialist people might be more inclined to believe Everett's theory, for example.

I found Quantum Physics Made Me Do It fascinating, easy to understand, good for people who are new to the topic of quantum physics, and amusing. I don't know how many times I laughed while reading this book, but I'm sure it was many times. I highly recommend this book, and it easily receives five stars. I would like to add, as a final note, that I thought it interesting how Harris explored religious themes in terms of physics -- including free will, eternal life, and the existence of gods.

- Echo (they/it/he)