A review by reggiewoods
When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamín Labatut

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I was reminded of Winesburg, Ohio except that the uniting factor of the vignettes are scientific (mathematic) discoveries (mostly related to quantum physics) instead of a small town. The brilliant minds of these characters tend to pay a price for the discoveries they make, a price which many fear will be shared by humanity as well. Labatut’s balletic balance between intense scientific knowledge, the insanity of pure creativity, and the delicacy of the human mind and spirit make this some of the best writing of this decade so far. I loved it so much I immediately went to the store and bought his newest, “The Maniac.” Labatut asks us what if knowledge is not power, but fuel for entropy?