Theoretical physicist Carlo Rovelli has condensed physics ideas into
this 78 pages book. This work is the result of a series of articles
published in an Italian newspaper. Building basic concepts to comprehend
the nature of reality has not been simple for theoretical physicists,
but the author has spared the narratives for leaner and lucid
descriptions in the hopes that these ideas stir up some interest among
readers. There is no math and no heavy discussion of relativity or
quantum physics. String physics is not included in this discussion. This
is certainly a good way to bring modern physics for general readers.
This reminds me of Nobel Laureate Richard Feynman’s “Six Easy Pieces:
Essentials of Physics Explained.” This book has appeared in many
versions and captured the minds of readers in theoretical physics. But
Rovelli covers only seven topics that include relativity, quantum
physics, particle physics and black holes.
The author is one of
the inventors of loop quantum gravity which says that space is not
continuous but it is made of grains, significantly smaller than an
electron, and they are linked to each other forming a network. Quantum
gravity essentially refers to quantum properties of space-time and not
the quantum behavior of matter in spacetime. But the author has not
discussed loop quantum gravity theory in any depth in this book.
The
author muses on human existence and our perception of physical reality.
It is a song of god in which matter (energy) behave in spacetime in a
certain way, and this guided by a set of physical laws. The Newtonian
physics, relativistic physics, quantum physics and thermodynamics
somehow connect with each other to create the nature of reality. But we
are further away in comprehending it and Carlo Rovelli understands this
better than other physicists.
