Quantum theory cannot hurt you

Stranger than fiction

My latest read was part of my research into parallel universes. These figure highly in my own anarchic sci-fi writing although most of my limited knowledge of the subject had been gleaned from Douglas Adams.

I am also planning my Meet The Author video. Looking at the other contributors I met Marcus Chown talking about this book, liked what he said and now I've read his book.

With Quantum Theory cannot hurt you, Marcus Chown has achieved almost the impossible. He doesn't need to resort to a single equation or diagram to explain E=MC squared since he makes the subject so accessible and easy to understand. That's even when hyper-intelligent mega-beings like Einstein say that the only thing anyone understands about quantum theory or relativity is that nobody understands it.

So after reading this book do I understand more than Einstein? I doubt it although this book might have convinced me that I do. In fact, in a parallel universe, I do understand more than Einstein. Great. Right me, wrong universe. But this book has made up for the difference as much as anything abiding by the current rules of physics can.

This is a book I can see myself going back to again and again. I was so impressed I've just bought The Universe Next Door - not literally you understand, it's another of his books.