Preview
  • The World According to Physics

  • By: Jim Al-Khalili
  • Narrated by: Jim Al-Khalili
  • Length: 6 hrs and 35 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (105 ratings)

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The World According to Physics

By: Jim Al-Khalili
Narrated by: Jim Al-Khalili
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Publisher's summary

Quantum physicist, New York Times best-selling author, and BBC host Jim Al-Khalili offers a fascinating and illuminating look at what physics reveals about the world.

Shining a light on the most profound insights revealed by modern physics, Jim Al-Khalili invites us all to understand what this crucially important science tells us about the universe and the nature of reality itself.

Al-Khalili begins by introducing the fundamental concepts of space, time, energy, and matter, and then describes the three pillars of modern physics - quantum theory, relativity, and thermodynamics - showing how all three must come together if we are ever to have a full understanding of reality. Using wonderful examples and thought-provoking analogies, Al-Khalili illuminates the physics of the extreme cosmic and quantum scales, the speculative frontiers of the field, and the physics that underpins our everyday experiences and technologies, bringing the listener up to speed with the biggest ideas in physics in just a few sittings. Physics is revealed as an intrepid human quest for ever more foundational principles that accurately explain the natural world we see around us, an undertaking guided by core values such as honesty and doubt. The knowledge discovered by physics both empowers and humbles us, and still, physics continues to delve valiantly into the unknown.

Making even the most enigmatic scientific ideas accessible and captivating, this deeply insightful audiobook illuminates why physics matters to everyone and calls one and all to share in the profound adventure of seeking truth in the world around us.

©2020 Jim Al-Khalili (P)2020 Princeton University Press
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Critic reviews

"A clear, simple, and fascinating account of what physics tells us about our universe, and - crucially - what evidence supports that view, from one of the most talented, inspiring, and informative popularizers of science. A triumph!" (Ian Stewart, author of Do Dice Play God?)

"Clearly written and inviting, even to readers who may not at first consider themselves scientific, The World According to Physics is a book that should be read and appreciated by many." (Jocelyn Bell Burnell, University of Oxford)

"So much science packed into such a tiny package! Jim Al-Khalili manages to give an accessible overview of an enormous amount of modern physics, without it ever feeling rushed. This book will be enjoyed by anyone who wants a glimpse of how modern physicists are thinking about some of the hardest problems in the universe." (Sean Carroll, author of Something Deeply Hidden: Quantum Worlds and the Emergence of Spacetime)

Editor's Pick

Physics for everyone! —no, really
"Whether we acknowledge it or not, the underpinnings of our day-to-day lives are determined by the oft invisible force of physics. As someone who has an insatiable thirst for knowledge, this mysterious determiner of fate has always piqued my interest (and scared me just a little bit). Admittedly, as someone without a science background, it was a difficult subject to just pick up and immerse myself in, which is why I think The World According to Physics works as the perfect launching point for those interested in learning a bit more about why our world works the way it does. Written and narrated by quantum physicist (so you know he knows what he’s talking about) and New York Times bestseller Jim Al-Khalili, The World According to Physics takes a look at some of the most significant and awe-inspiring concepts in physics and breaks them down in an easy-to-digest way, no physics degree required; all while Al-Khalili’s calm narration acts as the perfect buffer for these larger-than-life concepts. Regardless of whether or not you’re familiar with concepts such as relativity and thermodynamics, Al-Khalili convinces the listener that we should all know, appreciate, and be curious about this unseen force that affects so much of the world around us." —Luis G., Audible Editor