Absolutely Small - by Michael D Fayer (Paperback)

About the Book

Physics is a complex, even daunting topic, but it is also deeply satisfying---even thrilling. Absolutely Small presents (and demystifies) the world of quantum science like no book before. It explores scientific concepts in considerable depth, but using examples from the everyday world.

Book Synopsis

Absolutely Small presents (and demystifies) the world of quantum science like no book before.

Physics is a complex, daunting topic, but it is also deeply satisfying?even thrilling. When liberated from its mathematical underpinnings, physics suddenly becomes accessible to anyone with the curiosity and imagination to explore its beauty. Science without math? It's not that unusual.

For example, we can understand the concept of gravity without solving a single equation. So for all those who may have pondered what makes blueberries blue and strawberries red; for those who have wondered if sound really travels in waves; and why light behaves so differently from any other phenomenon in the universe, it's all a matter of quantum physics.

This book explores in considerable depth scientific concepts using examples from everyday life, such as:

• particles of light,
• probability,
• states of matter,
• what makes greenhouse gases bad

Challenging without being intimidating, accessible but not condescending, Absolutely Small develops your intuition for the very nature of things at their most basic and intriguing levels.

From the Back Cover

What gives objects their color? Why does copper conduct electricity, but glass does not? Why is carbon dioxide a greenhouse gas while oxygen and nitrogen are not? These are basic questions about how our world works that can't be answered with the usual explanations. Instead, we must turn to the fascinating field of quantum theory. "Absolutely Small" investigates the counterintuitive world of the tiniest particles on earth--photons, electrons, atoms, and molecules--that act nothing like objects in our human-sized world and actually upend conventional notions of physics. "Absolutely Small" opens up this extraordinary field to nonscientists, as it presents complex ideas without the complex equations. You'll finally "get it" about quantum physics and quantum chemistry, now made accessible and understandable like never before--the math-drenched bestsellers of Stephen Hawking don't even come close! Advance Praise for "Absolutely Small" "There are a few books that I always keep near at hand, and constantly come back to. "The Feynman Lectures on Physics" and Dirac's classic textbook on quantum mechanics are among them. Michael Fayer's wonderful new book, "Absolutely Small," is about to join them. Whether you are a scientist or just curious about how the world works, this is the book for you." -- Leonard Susskind, Professor of Physics, Stanford University; author of T"he Black Hole War: My Battle With Stephen Hawking to Make the World Safe for Quantum Mechanics" (Professor Susskind is widely regarded as one of the fathers of string theory.) ""Absolutely Small" by Professor Michael Fayer provides us with a clear way of visualizing the strange world of the quantum, and provides a deep understanding of many of its bizarre features; features that often on first encounter seem to defy our everyday experiences."-- Richard N. Zare, Professor in Natural Science at Stanford University; and Chairman, Department of Chemistry, Stanford University (Professor Zare is renowned for his research in the area of laser chemistry, resulting in a greater understanding of chemical reactions at the molecular level. He has received numerous honors and awards.) "Most lay readers think of the world of quantum mechanics as abstruse stuff accessible only to highly trained scientists. In this absolutely terrific book, Michael Fayer seemingly breaks one of the iron laws of science by making this material both lively and accessible."-- Richard A. Epstein, James Parker Hall Distinguished Service Professor of Law, The University of Chicago

Review Quotes

..". illustrates the ways in which 'the natural world is driven by quantum phenomena' with a serious, accessible treatment of a complex and fascinating subject."" --Publishers Weekly"

..".appeal to anyone with a curious mind who has ever wondered what all the quantum mechanics fuss is about, and to those who simply want to understand the everyday world." --"ForeWord"

..".interested in physics and the fundamental understanding of many pheonomena explained in laymen's terms, this book wil be the most valuable asset you will ever read." --"IEEE Electrical Insulation "

..".lively with amusing and useful examples, analogies, and descriptions of scientists and experiments...introduce nonscientists to quantum mechanics...useful for advanced graduate students and professional scientists." "--Choice"

..".one of the most intriguing books about quantum science currently on the market...must-read for those who want to learn more about quantum theory." "--NSTA Recommends"

"Favouring everyday examples over formulae, he makes quantum mechanics palatable, from wave-particle duality to the uncertainty principle... book provides a useful overview." "--Nature Magazine"

"Finally, someone caught up with the importance of explaining Quantum Theory in layman's terms...does a marvelous job at uniting the various aspects of matter and energy." "--Sacramento Book Review"

"From why everyday mysteries have quantum roots to how to understand quantum mechanics without the math... an invaluable guide..." --"The Midwest Book Review"

About the Author

MICHAEL D. FAYER, PH.D., (Stanford, CA) is the David Mulvane Ehrsam and Edward Curtis Franklin Professor of Chemistry at Stanford University and a member of the National Academy of Sciences. He has won major prizes and honors in the fields of physics, chemistry, and molecular spectroscopy. He is the author of "Elements of Quantum Mechanics."