Book cover of Thirty Years That Shook Physics: The Story of Quantum Theory

Book description

"Dr. Gamow, physicist and gifted writer, has sketched an intriguing portrait of the scientists and clashing ideas that made the quantum revolution." — Christian Science Monitor
In 1900, German physicist Max Planck postulated that light, or radiant energy, can exist only in the form of discrete packages or quanta. This…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Thirty Years That Shook Physics as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Gamow, one of the greatest popularizers of science and a leading nuclear researcher, clearly describes for non-scientific audiences the drama of the early evolution of quantum theory.

For those who think, based on current popularization, that quantum mechanics is akin to mysticism, this book shows how the quantum debates evolved in real life. Gamow, unlike current popularizers, does not assume that the debates have been resolved in favor of some nonsensical obscurantism.

From Eric's list on demystify science.

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A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.

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