An excellent book. I read it when it recently came out in 2018, and I will read it again. Dr. Hossenfelder discusses the facets of, what I think is fair to say, a crisis in physics. Her main thesis is that the field is too absorbed in theories and mathematics that appeal to the subjective values of beauty and naturalness. There are a number of interviews with top people in the field discussing these meta issues. My only challenge is towards the end in looking for solutions. I felt Dr. Hossenfelder’s solutions were too inwardly focused and constrained and unimaginative. I think far bolder action is required. Did you know that the field of physics has no overarching body setting goals and suggesting agendas? I would like to see groups focused on looking at more creative and revisionist approaches. Throw out Michelson-Morley and Copenhagen Interpretation from Solvay 1927 as a starter. Provide environments where scientists can brainstorm in psychological safety. You never know what might be ideated in a free thinking environment. In any case, Sabine’s book is a must read/listen.
This was fascinating. The scales are stupendous.
I think I have listened to this at least three times on Audible. Some sections ten times. It seems to me as if Dr. Krauss has a good sense direction towards the grand solution. I particularly enjoyed his discussion of Bose-Einstein condensates. He also has a great reading voice on the Audible version.
Overall, I found “The Quark and the Jaguar” to be somewhat interesting, if rather dryly intellectual and esoterically bland. Written 25 years ago as of my review, the main problems in physics are the same, illustrating the lack of progress in the field. The large majority (~2/3) of the book goes fairly wide into philosophy of science and complexity around the field of physics, reflecting Dr. Gell-Mann’s work at the Santa Fe Institute.
This book is quite amazing. It goes well with Lee Smolin’s 2019 Perimeter talk on YouTube where he said quantum mechanics is wrong. That is bolder than saying it is incomplete. The case Dr. Smolin states was very powerful to me. He also says that Rogen Penrose agrees that QM is wrong. I highly recommend this book.
What a brilliant person. Dr. Wilczek has a wry sense of humor and a practical and careful way of thinking. I enjoyed his book. Also see his videos on YouTube.
Great balance of technical historical progression and history from the genius of Maxwell and Farady. A perfect balance.
Dr. Unzicker definitely has a good sense that something is wrong in physics. He also has some great sense about key moments and the wrong turns that were made. He is also very frustrated that the physicists in the field are not taking the proper actions to get out of the crisis that some of they don’t even realize they are in. This is a well written and insightful book.
I have mixed impressions of Dr. Hawking. It will be interesting to read how science historians assess his impact after 𝗡𝗣𝗤𝗚 is established. In many ways, he definitely set science back by decades with his work on black holes. Black hole science was in its infancy and Dr. Hawking and others essentially simplified black holes to the point that no one dare think about what is happening inside. It’s not really that hard to figure out, don’t get freaked out about the event horizon. Look at the progression of all dense objects and it should be obvious. Then go read up on Planck units. On Hawking’s shaky foundation a rickety body of theory was built. He’s not the only one to find fault with though. It is quite amazing to me that physicists will say that general relativity breaks down at the singularity and NOT realize that means all bets are off. Is it that hard to imagine a Plack core to which gravity and mass do not apply? Really? Look at those jets!
![What Is Real?: The Unfinished Quest for the Meaning of Quantum Physics by [Adam Becker]](https://www.amazon.com/images/I/51EIKQwTb4L.jpg)
Adam Becker’s book is very good from my perspective. He really dives into the history and controversy around quantum physics. For me, understanding the errors made in physics history, this book really brings to life the decisions that were made and how science managed to cement so many incorrect narratives into the GR-QM-LCDM era. I listened to this on Audible and it is perfectly suitable for listening while doing.
J Mark Morris : San Diego : California
Neoclassical Physics and Quantum Gravity 