# Any new books about quantum mechanics...
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-books-about-quantum-mechanics/283425
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [January 6, 2005, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-books-about-quantum-mechanics/283425 "2005-01-06T18:44:23Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Claude\_Remains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claude_Remains)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2005, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-books-about-quantum-mechanics/283425/1 "2005-01-06T18:44:23Z")
That are geared for the layperson? Back in the 80’s I realy ejoyed books like “dancing wu li masters” and such. I took a look at two local bookstores but found nothing. I would be very thankfull for a nod in the right direction.
Thanks
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### Author:  [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2005, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-books-about-quantum-mechanics/283425/2 "2005-01-06T19:42:09Z")
You mean a real book on quantum mechanics and not one those philosophical new age books claiming to be about quantum mechanics.
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### Author:  [@Claude\_Remains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claude_Remains)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2005, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-books-about-quantum-mechanics/283425/3 "2005-01-06T20:02:04Z")
Yup, I like the nuts and bolts approach and the last few books I read were by heinz pagles and only left my wanting a lot more.
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### Author:  [@haardvark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/haardvark)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2005, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-books-about-quantum-mechanics/283425/4 "2005-01-06T20:11:56Z")
It’s somewhat dated now in terms of the fate of Fermilab and the SSC, but I have always been tremendously fond of _The God Particle_ by Leon Lederman.
Also, Richard Rhodes’ _Making of the Atomic Bomb_ has marvellous history of the development of quantum theory, in loving detail and with all the personalities fleshed out, throughout.
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### Author:  [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2005, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-books-about-quantum-mechanics/283425/5 "2005-01-07T21:49:27Z")
John Gribbin’s book [In search of Schroedinger’s Cat](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0553342533/qid=1105134700/sr=2-2/ref=pd_ka_b_2_2/103-2811133-8127033) is pretty good. It was written in the early eighties, but is mostly still relevant, I think. Warning: IIRC He is really into the “many-worlds” idea, and comes close to presenting it as fact, which it isn’t.
J.C. Polkinghorne wrote [The Quantum World](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0582446821/103-2811133-8127033?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) which is very very good, but dry and difficult. (Polkinghorne was a student of Dirac. He left physics for the Anglican priesthood.)
Brian Greene’s[The Elegant Universe](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0375708111/qid=1105134800/sr=2-2/ref=pd_ka_b_2_2/103-2811133-8127033) relates Quantum Mechanics and Relativity to the new, controversial, idea of strings.
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### Author:  [@shamrock227](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shamrock227)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2005, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-books-about-quantum-mechanics/283425/6 "2005-01-07T22:13:00Z")
I second _The Elegant Universe_. I find it very easy to follow and understand.
I’m glad to see you recommending _In search of Schroedinger’s Cat_, that was the next one on my list.
I am currently reading [Who’s Afraid of Schrodinger’s Cat : All The New Science Ideas You Need To Keep Up With The New Thinking](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0688161073/qid=1105135845/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/103-9275047-3851819?v=glance&s=books&n=507846). It is not strictly Quantum Mechanics, it branches into Chaos Theory and Relativity and others and is in the form of short essays. But, I am enjoying it so far.