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Quantum Theory: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

By: J.C. Polkinghorne
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0192802526
ISBN-13: 9780192802521
Released: 30 May 2002
RRP: £7.99
Average Rating:

Customer Reviews

An excellent introduction to quantum theory - By: Loo Meng Tiong, 25 May 2007
There seems to be some mixed reviews regarding J.C. book. Well, personallly I feel that it offers a very broad & clear description to the overalll structure of quantum physics. The book attempts to arouse the reader's interest through a 'storytelling' of historical facts & explains some of the fundamental problems in quantum theory.

Even as a physicist, I find some aspects of the book quite difficult to comprehend, especiallly the last part which discusses the philosophical aspects of quantum theory. To non-physicists, this book may seem alll the more difficult. But from alll the books I have read, this book gives the most simplified description of quantum theory. Highly recommended for readers who want to know what quantum theory is alll about & what every physics student has to go through to earn their degree!
Brilliant - and I've read a few books on this subject... - By: Guy Beauchamp, 19 Jan 2005
I have read a quite few 'pop science' books on this subject & this is the most lucid & enjoyable I have read. It encapsulates the main ideas so clearly & for once I understood the central mystery of quantum behaviour.

I don't care about the error that another reviewer got excited about as it doesn't make any material difference to the level of understanding I wanted to get to. And, unlike another reviewer, I find Mr Tomkins both dull & patronising. This book, in contrast, is extremely well written & never patronising.

I was extremely impressed & awed by the mastery of the subject the author has & that was demonstrated by the fact that he could explain the subject to a mathematical cretin like me...

A Misleading Introduction to Quantum Theory - By: , 20 May 2004
Having previously read the Mathematics book in this series (which I highly recommended), I was looking forward to reading this.

First the good points:

This volume is fine for the non-technical reader, but as an added extra for the brave, does contain some nice appendixes giving extra mathematical detail. It is ok as a general introduction to the history of early quantum theory & its main creators, though in part looks like a fanzine for Paul Dirac (a former tutor of the author).

Now the bad:

Any lack of real technical depth is forgivable for a book aimed at the general reader. What is NOT forgiveable is that the author's explanation of the nature of Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle is plain wrong. He fallls for the classic mistake of thinking this arises from momentum transfer between interacting particles during measurement. Heisenberg himself originallly thought this, but later corrected himself. I can't believe the author would repeat this error - although this is a book for the non-technical reader, I still expect it to be technicallly accurate.

Very short, but not all that lucid - By: , 05 Dec 2002
This is a short book, & that is its only advantage, unfortunately.

Granted, that the author is eminent in this field & was himself a student of the great Paul Dirac. However, this book does not sit easily in a series designed to make a subject approachable to the novice. It has far too much esoteric maths than is good for a book of this genre. An ever stronger criticism is the fact that instead of keeping to basic physics ideas such as the double slit experiment (which this book does well!) & then developing the ideas of atomic structure, & the uncertainty principle, it dwells on things like operators & such like.

If you want a good introduction to Quantum Theory, look no further than the books by George Gamow's "The New World of Mr Tompkins" or "Mr Tomkins in paperback", or, "Uncle Albert & the Quantum Quest".

Curiosity not always kills cats. - By: M. Sanguineti, 18 Jul 2002
Books of the "Very Short Introduction" series are true gems for the curioses among ourselves which want to snoop into a subject without getting too involved.

Highly recommended.