Why Nobody Understands Quantum Physics - by Frank Verstraete & Céline Broeckaert

About the Book

Book Synopsis

The International Bestseller
A Waterstones Best Popular Science Book 2025

'Ambitious . . . pleasingly full of cutting-edge topics' - New Scientist

Quantum physics is the cornerstone of our world. Yet, at the same time, it's one of the hardest subjects for ordinary mortals to grasp.

In Why Nobody Understands Quantum Physics, a husband-and-wife team - renowned physicist Frank Verstraete and writer Céline Broeckaert - demystifies this essential branch of science. Together, they unravel the reasons the universe behaves in its weird ways - and just why it's so important to understand them.

In this book, you will discover:
How symmetry governs the universe.The untold stories of pioneering women in quantum science.How quantum principles power our gadgets and lives.The real essence behind quantum puzzles and discoveries.
Part-history and part-popular science, Why Nobody Understands Quantum Physics serves as a bridge between the complex world of quantum physics and the curious mind.

'A physics book unlike any other . . . breathtaking' - John Preskill, theoretical physicist and Feynman Professor of Theoretical Physics at Caltech

'Quantum physics has long been mysterious, yet [the authors] succeed, often with brilliance, in making its history and mind-blowing ways accessible to lay readers' - Nature

'Entertaining, unorthodox and highly readable' - Professor Ian Stewart, bestselling co-author of The Science of Discworld

'A delightful book for all those who do not speak the language of mathematics but are curious about the most beautiful of theories and their impact on our lives' - Barbara Terhal, theoretical physicist

Review Quotes

"A physics book unlike any other. The scope, depth and artistry are breathtaking" --John Preskill, theoretical physicist and Feynman Professor of Theoretical Physics at the California Institute of Technology

"Quantum physics has long been mysterious, yet [the authors] succeed, often with brilliance, in making its history and mind-blowing ways accessible to lay readers" --Nature

"This book will get you up to speed on the weird and wonderful subatomic world that surrounds us . . . will not only give you a grounding in the fundamental laws that govern our world, but an appreciation for them" --The Standard

"Ambitious . . . pleasingly full of cutting-edge topics" --New Scientist

"An entertaining, unorthodox and highly readable presentation of one of the most curious and counterintuitive scientific theories ever conceived. A must read for anyone who wants to gain insight into the science behind the devices that now underpin every aspect of daily life" --Ian Stewart FRS, bestselling author of The Science Of Discworld

"A delightful book for all those who do not speak the language of mathematics but are curious about the most beautiful of theories and their impact on our lives" --Barbara Terhal, theoretical physicist

"A charming, stimulating and beautifully written book in which a scientist and an artist revel in their shared wonder for the world. It's really a gorgeous book!" --Professor David Tong, theoretical physicist

"A clear, pleasantly-written book . . . After reading this book, you will have gained a better feeling for that wonderful, counter-intuitive quantum world" --NRC

About the Author

Frank Verstraete is the Leigh Trapnell Professor of Quantum Physics at the University of Cambridge. He has received several prestigious prizes for his research, including the Lieben Prize (also known as the 'Nobel Prize of Austria') and the Francqui Prize. He is among the leading researchers in the world on quantum physics.

Céline Broeckaert is a Romance languages scholar, playwright and author. She co-founded Filmpact, the first impact organization in Belgium, which uses documentary film as a tool for social change and ecological awareness.

Why Nobody Understands Quantum Physics is their first book together.