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Reality Is Not What It Seems / The Order of Time / Seven Brief Lessons on Physics
Please Note That The Following Individual Books As Per Original ISBN and Cover Image In this Listing shall be Dispatched Collectively:
Carlo Rovelli Collection 3 Books Set:
Reality Is Not What It Seems:
Do space and time truly exist? What is reality made of? Can we understand its deep texture?Scientist Carlo Rovelli has spent his whole life exploring these questions and pushing the boundaries of what we know. In this mind-expanding book, he shows how our understanding of reality has changed throughout centuries, from Democritus to loop quantum gravity.
The Order of Time:
Time is a mystery that does not cease to puzzle us. Philosophers, artists and poets have long explored its meaning while scientists have found that its structure is different from the simple intuition we have of it. From Boltzmann to quantum theory, from Einstein to loop quantum gravity, our understanding of time has been undergoing radical transformations. Time flows at a different speed in different places, the past and the future differ far less than we might think, and the very notion of the present evaporates in the vast universe.
Seven Brief Lessons on Physics:
These seven short lessons guide us, with simplicity and clarity, through the scientific revolution that shook physics in the twentieth century and still continues to shake us today. In this mind-bending overview of modern physics, Carlo Rovelli explains Einstein's theory of general relativity, quantum mechanics, black holes, the complex architecture of the universe, elementary particles, gravity, and the nature of the mind. Not since Richard Feynman's celebrated Six Easy Pieces has physics been so vividly, intelligently and entertainingly revealed.
Carlo Rovelli Collection 3 Books Set:
Reality Is Not What It Seems:
Do space and time truly exist? What is reality made of? Can we understand its deep texture?Scientist Carlo Rovelli has spent his whole life exploring these questions and pushing the boundaries of what we know. In this mind-expanding book, he shows how our understanding of reality has changed throughout centuries, from Democritus to loop quantum gravity.
The Order of Time:
Time is a mystery that does not cease to puzzle us. Philosophers, artists and poets have long explored its meaning while scientists have found that its structure is different from the simple intuition we have of it. From Boltzmann to quantum theory, from Einstein to loop quantum gravity, our understanding of time has been undergoing radical transformations. Time flows at a different speed in different places, the past and the future differ far less than we might think, and the very notion of the present evaporates in the vast universe.
Seven Brief Lessons on Physics:
These seven short lessons guide us, with simplicity and clarity, through the scientific revolution that shook physics in the twentieth century and still continues to shake us today. In this mind-bending overview of modern physics, Carlo Rovelli explains Einstein's theory of general relativity, quantum mechanics, black holes, the complex architecture of the universe, elementary particles, gravity, and the nature of the mind. Not since Richard Feynman's celebrated Six Easy Pieces has physics been so vividly, intelligently and entertainingly revealed.
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About the author
Carlo Rovelli
48 books3,906 followersCarlo Rovelli is an Italian theoretical physicist and writer who has worked in Italy and the USA, and currently works in France. His work is mainly in the field of quantum gravity, where he is among the founders of the loop quantum gravity theory. He has also worked in the history and philosophy of science. He collaborates regularly with several Italian newspapers, in particular the cultural supplements of Il Sole 24 Ore and La Repubblica.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 17, 2022
an eloquent philological and philosophical romp through fantastic physical phenomena
July 3, 2021
I am cheating with this review by addressing three books at the same time. True, they came together as a bundle but that doesn't really count. Carlo Rovelli is an Italian theoretical physicist who is looking hard at the concept of Quantum Gravity as one of the missing pieces of knowledge that are needed to explain the bits of Einstein's Relativity that don't work properly. He also writes beautifully in almost poetic terms. He refers constantly to philosophical works and poetry of yesteryear.
Seven Brief Lessons is a sort of preface, outlining how physics has got to where it is right now. It is almost a bullet point slideshow explaining Newton, Einstein, Bohr in almost lyrical terms. In spite of the beauty of the writing, it is dense and detailed.
Reality is not what it seems is the first volume in which he explains how quantum theory has disturbed our concept of space and time. Everything is explained with clarity and precision.
Finally comes The Order of Time. The key here is the role of entropy as an explanation of how we tell the past from the present and the future.
So, what have I learned? That Rovelli writes beautifully - certainly. That there is a new writer on physics who is well read and able to take the most abstruse physicial arguments and turn them into something comprehensible to the ordinary mortal - definitely. After a first reading, have I grasped the intricacies that have led to the theory of quantum gravity - probably not.
Seven Brief Lessons is a sort of preface, outlining how physics has got to where it is right now. It is almost a bullet point slideshow explaining Newton, Einstein, Bohr in almost lyrical terms. In spite of the beauty of the writing, it is dense and detailed.
Reality is not what it seems is the first volume in which he explains how quantum theory has disturbed our concept of space and time. Everything is explained with clarity and precision.
Finally comes The Order of Time. The key here is the role of entropy as an explanation of how we tell the past from the present and the future.
So, what have I learned? That Rovelli writes beautifully - certainly. That there is a new writer on physics who is well read and able to take the most abstruse physicial arguments and turn them into something comprehensible to the ordinary mortal - definitely. After a first reading, have I grasped the intricacies that have led to the theory of quantum gravity - probably not.
February 5, 2021
Highly technical and almost incomprehensible at times. Rovelli centers his argument around the idea of time beyond the flat and one-directional variable we use to differentiate our past from our future. A concept that many of us have likely never entertained, but that is subject to debate and experimentation within the narrow niche of those who have committed their lives to the study of quantum physics.
What we have come to know as time is merely the result of our own limitations, anchoring our perception to the narrow scale of our existence, unaware of its true nature. From its pace to it’s direction, we’ve adopted it and have let it dictate our lives for centuries even before mechanical clocks began marching in the 14th century.
The book covers in excruciating detail the physics behind time (at the expense of our sanity... or so it can feel at times). You’ll learn that there isn’t such thing as a single time, but rather a legion of them, pacing at different rhythms according to space and speed. And it’s forward direction it’s only a symptom of the entropy of the universe and our blurred perception it.
The book itself is full of poetic digressions which at times makes you feel as if you are reading an academic textbook, and others an ekphrastic piece describing the artistic beauty of the subatomic world.
Our understanding of time has changed drastically over the past hundred years, and much of it still subject to debate. And that hints to Rovelli’s true message behind all his euphuisms. A message that does not go unnoticed and that goes beyond the main theme of the book. Our understanding of the world is ever-changing, ever-growing. From Copernicus to Einstein we see proof of the powerful nature of our scientific curiosity and the overall reach of our imagination.
Overall it is an insightful yet forgettable read.
Enjoy it while it lasts and let time consume your memory of it.
What we have come to know as time is merely the result of our own limitations, anchoring our perception to the narrow scale of our existence, unaware of its true nature. From its pace to it’s direction, we’ve adopted it and have let it dictate our lives for centuries even before mechanical clocks began marching in the 14th century.
The book covers in excruciating detail the physics behind time (at the expense of our sanity... or so it can feel at times). You’ll learn that there isn’t such thing as a single time, but rather a legion of them, pacing at different rhythms according to space and speed. And it’s forward direction it’s only a symptom of the entropy of the universe and our blurred perception it.
The book itself is full of poetic digressions which at times makes you feel as if you are reading an academic textbook, and others an ekphrastic piece describing the artistic beauty of the subatomic world.
Our understanding of time has changed drastically over the past hundred years, and much of it still subject to debate. And that hints to Rovelli’s true message behind all his euphuisms. A message that does not go unnoticed and that goes beyond the main theme of the book. Our understanding of the world is ever-changing, ever-growing. From Copernicus to Einstein we see proof of the powerful nature of our scientific curiosity and the overall reach of our imagination.
Overall it is an insightful yet forgettable read.
Enjoy it while it lasts and let time consume your memory of it.
May 13, 2020
Brilliant and fun, the philosophy of science and the bending of physicality. Best done as audiobooks.
October 31, 2020
marvelous book
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews