Einstein and the Quantum

The Quest of the Valiant Swabian

By: A. Douglas Stone

Narrated by: Gabriel Vaughan

Einstein and the Quantum reveals for the first time the full significance of Albert Einstein's contributions to quantum theory. Einstein famously rejected quantum mechanics, observing that God does not play dice. But, in fact, he thought more about the nature of atoms, molecules, and the emission and absorption of light - the core of what we now know as quantum theory - than he did about relativity.

A compelling blend of physics, biography, and the history of science, Einstein and the Quantum shares the untold story of how Einstein - not Max Planck or Niels Bohr - was the driving force behind early quantum theory. It paints a vivid portrait of the iconic physicist as he grappled with the apparently contradictory nature of the atomic world, in which its invisible constituents defy the categories of classical physics, behaving simultaneously as both particle and wave. And it demonstrates how Einstein's later work on the emission and absorption of light, and on atomic gases, led directly to Erwin Schrodinger's breakthrough to the modern form of quantum mechanics.

The book sheds light on why Einstein ultimately renounced his own brilliant work on quantum theory, due to his deep belief in science as something objective and eternal. A book unlike any other, Einstein and the Quantum offers a completely new perspective on the scientific achievements of the greatest intellect of the twentieth century, showing how Einstein's contributions to the development of quantum theory are more significant, perhaps, than even his legendary work on relativity.

Download the accompanying reference guide.©2014 Princeton University Press (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Simply outstanding

A wonderful journey through the struggles, successes and failures, and neglected accomplishments of the great man.

educational and fun

Any additional comments?

Great book. Actually explains enough physics to get what Einstein did in areas such as thermodynamics, specific heat, light quantization, the derivation of the Plank law, ...etc. This was the companion book I was looking for to go along with Manjit Kumar's "Quantum" (another great book). The two should be read (or heard) one after another.

Best Audible on modern physics

I just listened to this again after cycling through as many other physics Audibles as are available, and I can say without hesitation that this one is the best in terms of modern physics concepts that all undergrad physics students learn. Nothing too complicated, but plenty of useful conceptual discussions.

Wonderful book

I thought I'd read every important on the origins of quantum mechanics, but Doug Stone's book opened my eyes to Einstein's centrality in the development. It is great having a book like this written by an eminent physicist such as Prof. Stone. The book doesn't shy away from describing the basic physics, and it comes across very well even without pictures. I love the description of Bose-Einstein condensation in terms of throwing two identical vs. distinguishable dice. The narration was generally great, but the narrator pronounced some of the names (such as de Broglie) differently than what I'm used to.

Great book!

This is a great book everybody should read or listen. Can be a eye opener to how the universe around us is in reality!!!