Reviews

Reality is Not What it Seems: The Journey to Quantum Gravity by Carlo Rovelli

phemb_72's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

4.75

cintia_nagy's review against another edition

informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0

iproduit's review

5.0

I stumbled upon this little gem of a book called "Reality Is Not What It Seems" while exploring the streets of Rome. As an avid reader and lover of all things science-related, I was immediately drawn in by the intriguing title and couldn't resist diving into its pages.

From the beginnings of ancient philosophy to the complexities of quantum gravity in modern times, the book takes readers on a fascinating journey through the history of science. The author weaves a red thread through the centuries, making the material both captivating and easy to follow.

I must admit, some of the mathematical concepts presented were a few steps beyond my understanding, but fear not my fellow readers! Google came to the rescue and helped fill in the gaps of my knowledge. While I didn't understand everything, I was mesmerized by the complexity and sheer magnitude of the theories presented.

Overall, "Reality Is Not What It Seems" is a fantastic read for those who have a solid foundation in higher-level math and are ready to challenge their brains. This book will leave you with a newfound appreciation for the intricacies of our universe and the human mind's ability to unravel them. So, grab a cup of coffee, curl up with this book, and get ready for an exciting journey through the mysteries of science!

a_bolla's review against another edition

adventurous challenging informative inspiring mysterious relaxing fast-paced

4.25

woody4595's review

adventurous informative fast-paced

4.25

kristianawithak's review against another edition

3.0

There is so much packed into this small volume. I perhaps understood 17% of it, that might generous. It is definitely a stretch to wrap my mind around ideas of physics, reality and time, but it is thought provoking and challenging.

Rovelli does a good job trying to make his ideas accessible to all.

giant_crab's review against another edition

5.0

Amazingly well written even when the subject matter became extremely opaque and felt like it was sometimes slipping through my fingers. There were some points where I was feeling like I didn’t fully understand, but then, to my surprise, afterwards I was able to recall quite well what was meant and how the concepts fit together. Really genuinely great book which totally challenged my world-view and made me feel like I understood a hell of a lot more. Quantum mechanics seems fundamentally un-understandable, but this book made me feel like I at least had a sort of analogic grasp. Is that a real word? It is now.

fractaltexan's review against another edition

informative inspiring fast-paced

3.5

This is an easy-to-read book that discusses the journey to Quantum Gravity. This is NOT an in-depth or "for the beginner" book of Quantum Gravity, but instead, a history of how Science went from its beginnings to the understanding that Science has, which is still evolving, of quantum gravity. With chapters devoted to Einstein and other scientists, this is a good book to really understand how we got to where we are, written in an inviting, layperson readable book.

beaa_reads's review

5.0

I love Carlo Rovelli. His writing is so beautiful, and this book was a great explanation of the history behind quantum gravity.

saspell's review against another edition

hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

4.25