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  • Fundamental

  • How Quantum and Particle Physics Explain Absolutely Everything (Except Gravity)
  • By: Tim James
  • Narrated by: Tim James
  • Length: 5 hrs and 1 min
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (175 ratings)
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Fundamental

By: Tim James
Narrated by: Tim James
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Summary

Fundamental does for physics what Tim's first book, Elemental, does for chemistry: it demystifies the topic in his trademark humorous, engaging style, including the most recent developments in the field. 

At the start of the 20th century, science appeared complete and the laws of nature were almost all discovered, but then we woke a sleeping giant - we discovered quantum mechanics. 

In the quantum realm, objects can be in two places at once. It's a place where time travel is not only possible, but necessary. It's a place where cause and effect can happen in reverse and observing something changes its state. From parallel universes to antimatter, quantum mechanics has revealed that when you get right down to it, the laws of nature are insane. The scientist J. B. S. Haldane once said, 'Reality is not only stranger than we imagine...it's stranger than we can imagine.' Never is this more true than with quantum mechanics; our best, most recent attempt to make sense of the fundamental laws of nature. 

Fundamental is a comprehensive beginner's guide to quantum mechanics, explaining not only the weirdness of the subject but the experiments that proved it to be true. Using a humorous and light-hearted approach, Fundamental tells the story of how the most brilliant minds in science grappled with seemingly impossible ideas and gave us everything from microchips to particle accelerators.  

Fundamental gives clear explanations of all the quantum phenomena known to modern science, without requiring an understanding of complex mathematics; tells the eccentric stories of the scientists who made these shattering discoveries and what they used them for; and explains how quantum field theory (a topic not covered in detail by any other popular-science book) gave rise to particle physics and why the Higgs boson isn't the end of the story.

©2019 Tim James (P)2019 Hachette Audio UK

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Succinct, full of physics, utterly brilliant

I have read 57 physics books, but have not come across one like this before. It explains physics across the board, taking nothing for granted. It is lively, funny, and fulfils every aspersion of one who is hungry for knowledge.

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7 people found this helpful

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A truly superb book.

Loved this book. Really interesting tour of the ideas and experiments that led to the development of quantum theory and quantum mechanics.
Couldn't put it down and very accessible - highly recommended!

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4 people found this helpful

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Great explanation of a complicated subect

f f f f ff f f f f f f ff f f f fr r r r renew s t

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3 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Fascinating & very entertaining narration (apart from some of the jokes!)

Guessin it was anyone’s best attempt to do quantum physics in an understandable manner, but defo a little ‘heavy’ in places 🤯

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1 person found this helpful

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Wonderful.

A book that is well written and read with clear passion. It made a subject I would have walked past in the store into a delight to listen to.

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1 person found this helpful

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Really simple explanations

Rekindled my interest in the topic
Good for bedtime listens
Obligatory extra words to hit minimum

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Clear & concise

Clear and concise, mind boggling stuff. I always get lost once spin and color get introduced in these kinds of books - but this was the least lost I've ever found myself.
Only thing I'd change is to drop the unfunny cringe jokes!

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A humourous approach to physics

This was so much fun! This book talks about physics in a very entertaining and really easy to comprehend way. I feel like I finally starting to understand what's all the fuss about quantum physics. There's a ton of puns, jokes and popular culture references to make you giggle. The book isn't long and spend a lot of time talking about history of physics and how did it end up in its current state. The author made a great work explaining basics and complicated theories so even people with almost nonexistent prior knowledge can understand everything and enjoy it.

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Brilliant !

Can't rate this book high enough. Explains complex ideas in the simplest way possible and with humour. Ok, I've still struggled to understand the second half of the book, but it's so easy to listen to I'm going to go through it again, and maybe again and again after that ! Also intend to pick up the other books by Tim.

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Amazingly presented

I really enjoyed going "back to basics". Tim has a gift of explaining unimaginable things in a very funny way.

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