Q Is for Quantum : Particle Physics from A to Z

by John Gribbin

The quantum world is the world of the very small - the micro-world ('quantum' means the smallest component of a system or the smallest change a system can make). Q IS FOR QUANTUM is about the inner structure of everything, a quest which, like the quest for an understanding of the Universe at large, goes back to the ancient Greeks and touches all of scientific and philosophical thought since then. Historical highlights include Newton's work on particles and Maxwell's work on waves. The longer biographies in the book include Rutherford, Feynman, Crick and Watson. An extended Introduction, which sets out the present state of knowledge, is followed by the main A-Z section, and then by 'Timelines' to indicate what was discovered when.

Genres: Science, Physics, Reference, Nonfiction

688 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

John R. Gribbin is a British science writer, an astrophysicist, and a visiting fellow in astronomy at the University of Sussex. His writings include quantum physics, human evolution, climate change, global warming, the origins of the universe, and biographies of famous scientists. He also writes science fiction.

Reviews

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally bought this book for university on somebody's recommendation. But it is so informative and so easy to read, that I carried it everywhere with me for quite some time. It was just fun to open it up somewhere and read a few pages, start to look up cross-references and come away with new knowledge on your bus ride home.

This has got to be my all-time favourite non-fiction book of all times.

[Tue Le · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is indeed an encyclopedia of a great variety of terms in particle physics, which can be a rather confounding subject. It is largely readable and engaging throughout, with the occasional defects. Gribbin's take on John von Neumann is a bit off, and his discussion of Simeon-Denis Poisson seems too abrupt.

[Alberto · Rating 5 out of 5]

BEST BOOK EVER READ

[Mauricio Cardona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book full of information a fellow scientist will like to learn especialy if you know something and you would like to learn more about it. Electric Constant
F=k/P nice equation

[Awesomov · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not meant to be a be-all, tell-all, but is still extremely informative. For what it is and for its purpose, I can't help but recommend it to anyone attempting to understand quantum physics.