Quantum Physics: A Beginner's Guide (Beginner's Guides) Paperback – July 1, 2005

I've read a number of beginners' books, most with mixed experiences. As an engineer, I'm not afraid of math, but am unable to do much of what is needed to quantum physics. I enjoyed this book very much. There are other books that provide deeper understanding for the layperson, but this is as advertised; a beginner's book. It covers all important aspects with enough explanation to follow along. It also provides good ties into the practical applications of each idea. It packs a lot of punch for a book its size. Money well spent!

Ok so I have zero background in physics or Math. I'm 40 and pretty high up in the technology field so I'm a pretty smart man. I wanted to learn more about Quantum Physics and decided to get this book. I'm still reading it but as of now I would say that anyone that doesn't have a general background into Classical Physics should start their first. For the most part this book isn't too terribly hard to follow but as with most subjects as diverse as this there's just too much information to cover in the short chapters. This book will give you a general overview of things but no real in-depth insight. The first chapter goes through the units of measure used frequently throughout the book and if you have a hard time grasping those concepts (as I did) you are going to feel lost quite a bit in the later chapters. I've found over the years that most people who do understand these subjects have no clue how to translate that knowledge to the average person. If you're like me and you want a more detailed understanding of things from the bottom up you'll want do a little more research. I give the book a great rating but I would strongly recommend that if you are truly a beginner in the world of physics that you start with classical physics first and then step into the realm of Quantum Physics. If you already have a good understanding of things like gravity, magnetism, and electricity and are looking for a good starting point for quantum physics then this isn't a bad starting point.

I read a review in which the reviewer said he reads 5 books a year and that makes him an authority. That made me chuckle. I think Einstein himself said, he was no Einstein.I've read about 3 dozen books on math and physics in the last 2 years and I'm not even close to being an authority, but this is another book I am happy to add to my list. Alastair Rae has the gift of not talking down to the reader. What I particularly like are the summaries and notes at the end of each chapter; it just seems to tie everything together. The book has mathematical boxes throughout, which can be skipped by the reader and still manage to get the over-all message.All in all, Rae offers a good introduction to quatum for those who are new to the field, as well as a refresher for anyone with experience.

Of all the physical manifestations of quantum physics what jarred me the most were related to energy creation and global warming. The most important problem for us to solve is outlined in this book. This should be a must read for every high school chemistry student with the hope that a few will be encouraged enough to want to be part of the team to help turn our current course around.

I picked up this book in hope of enlighten me, who is not familiar with science, physics especially, upon Quantum physics. Chapter one was easy to understand; I gladly breezed though. But I have to admit that the rest of the chapters in the book were confusing and very hard to understand the concepts that the author was kindly describing.I did get what I wanted from the book. One of which was being enlightened. I did, forsooth, learn many things. Along with the text, I had to look up some youtube videos and articles available online. wave-particle dulaity traits of many particles including light and electrons; the nuclear fission and fusion for energy and bomb; superconductivity; semi insulator's utilization in computer chips; maxwell's formula; and so on.I wish I could have understood the book more than I did. I felt like I got about 40% of what the author wanted me to understand. Still, I feel like I gained much insight on Quantum physics. I will come back to this book, maybe after a number of books regarding Quatum physics and see if I can understand more.I feel like the book could have been written in friendly manner and more warmth to it. However, it served its purpose.

An excellent book for people who don't have a background in physics.Step by step in a simple way the author explains Quantum Physics.I recommend it to all the people who want a basic knowledge in the Quantum Theory.

Focuses mainly on quantum effects and applications. A relatively small book, it's a pretty easy read, though it does get somewhat technical at times. Simplified math is typically put in as optional sidebars. It is written in a fairly straight forward way. I felt it tended to "jump around" a bit, on occasion mentioning an unexplained term or fact, which might or might not be expounded on later, though this was rather minor. It has one chapter on underlying reality interpretations.

It's written by a British man. They have a different way of phrasing things than Americans do. It tends to loose me at times. I was also surprised that he wrongly labeled carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. Carbon monoxide is deadly, which is what results from burning fossel fuels. Carbon dioxide is what we exhale, plants absorbe and give off oxygen. He based an entire therory on the wrong chemical, which brings into question other therories he stated. I would not recommend this book.