The Cosmic Code: Quantum Physics as the Language of Nature (Dover Books on Physics) by Heinz R. Pagels (PDF)

Description

The Cosmic Code can be read by anyone. I heartily recommend it! — The New York Times Book Review”A reliable guide for the nonmathematical reader across the highest ridges of physical theory. Pagels is unfailingly lighthearted and confident.” — Scientific American”A sound, clear, vital work that deserves the attention of anyone who takes an interest in the relationship between material reality and the human mind.” — Science 82This is one of the most important books on quantum mechanics ever written for general readers. Heinz Pagels, an eminent physicist and science writer, discusses and explains the core concepts of physics without resorting to complicated mathematics. The two-part treatment outlines the history of quantum physics and addresses complex subjects such as Bell’s theorem and elementary particle physics, drawing upon the work of Bohr, Gell-Mann, and others. Anecdotes from the personal documents of Einstein, Oppenheimer, Bohr, and Planck offer intimate glimpses of the scientists whose work forever changed the world.

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: About the Author American physicist Heinz Pagels (1939–1988) was Adjunct Professor of Physics at Rockefeller University as well as the Executive Director and CEO of the New York Academy of Sciences and President of the International League for Human Rights.

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐not very well laid out, the subject matter seems to be adequately presented, but I think the timelines are completely jumbled an unnecessarily repetitive

⭐Excellent classic work that I discovered only recently. It remains highly relevant today taking into account that ‘dark energy’ and ‘dark matter’ where not mainstream considerations in 1980. I have found that reading older texts sometimes helps the layman or beginner understand highly abstract and difficult concepts in science, notably relativity and quantum mechanics. We tend to run to the latest books thinking that “they know best,” but the truth is that quantum mechanics is no better understood today than 1970, and some would say even 1945. This book by Pagels helps non-professional physicists understand topics that real physicists are still grappling with, and I think it helps that it was written at a simpler time in physics.As an aside, academic physics is known for lineages where a famous teacher passes the baton to his later famous students. The most famous lineage includes Bohr, Wheeler, Feynman, and Everett. But I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Pagels in his shortened professional life taught and mentored Seth Lloyd who has certainly continued to carry the baton in “quantum computation” to this day. This knowledge makes me want to read the final work by Pagels, “The Computer and the Rise of the Science of Complexity,” which was written in the pioneering days of ‘natural computationalism’ in physics and has clearly influenced the current work of Seth Lloyd.

⭐Although I did not care for the rambling in the first 60 pages or so, the later pages revealed interpretations and explanations of experiments that I have not seen done so thoroughly and uniquely in several other lay physics books I have read. The problem, though, is that Pagels tends to be highly opinionated and denigrates the positions of others when later research, if what I have read in more recent publications has been properly presented, suggests that the positions of others are vindicated. Nevertheless, Pagels unique way of looking at things and explaining them does add a lot of value and I recommend the book. Another excellent recent publication that covers a huge amount of territory (and seems to disagree with several of Pagel’s conclusions such as “Spooky Action at a Distance”) is Brian Greene’s “Fabric of the Cosmos.” I also have to agree with another commentator that Pagels’ interjection of his opinions on “the God issue” seems unecessary and distracting. After reading numerous physics books, the one thing I have concluded is that no one seems to truly know how things really work despite how dogmatically they present their positions.

⭐Thoroughly enjoyable reading. If you have any curiosity about quantum physics, but don’t know where to begin your exploration, I can think of no better place to start than Pagel’s beautifully written pages. I’ve read many other books on the subject, but none better at revealing the beauty of the science’s insights, without becoming overwhelming. Though published in 1982, The Cosmic Code retains a currency that keeps it remarkably relevant.

⭐Pagels’ book entitled Cosmic Code is one of the most fascinating books on quantum physics I have ever read during the past 30 years.The author’s attempt to explain a highly complex world to the non-initiated, I consider a success which even these days deserves highest recogniton and attention. If every politician, social scientist and educator, at large, especially those of industrial nations, would make the effort of reading this book and genuinely tried to understand the implications of the substance of modern physics, they would, I dare say, begin to question their systems in which they live, lived and operated for so long. They, no doubt, would begin to realize the illusion of mind portrayed realities to some of their obviously non-performing scaffold structures, often deliberately mistaken for sustainable buldings. Too bad it took so long for me to get hold of this book. I highly recommend reading it to anyone.

⭐Heinz Pagels got it right when so many others fell short. I’ve read many books on cosmology and physics where the authors succumb to group think, making assertions that simply don’t hold up to the facts. The Cosmic Code avoids falling into the trap of promoting theories that violate causality, frame independence or both.Pagels has the unique ability to keep his deep philosophical insights grounded in rigorous physical truth and to avoid going into unsupportable flights of fancy like so many other authors do. This book is unusually well-written and is completely accessible to both expert and non-expert alike. It was effortless and a joy to read.I especially liked his treatment of the EPR paper and Bell’s Inequality. This is often very difficult to describe, but Pagels did it brilliantly.I could go on and on about this book with more superlatives, but that wouldn’t do it justice. Just read it and you’ll see.https://sites.google.com/site/amateurscientistessays/

⭐The Cosmic Code (the book) provides a thorough introduction to the field of quantum physics by exploring its historical development over the course of the 20th century, key questions, experimental breakthroughs, most impactful contributing scientists, and future directions.Is it an easy book to read? While it’s supposedly written for the lay person, it does contain a lot of scientific ideas and concepts, and it’s not as easy to follow as say, your typical story book, self help book, or autobiography. But the challenge is rewarding.In all, I highly recommend this to anyone interested in the field.

⭐If you have a grain of interest in cosmology, physics or even biology, you need to read this book. Knowing that the man died climbing, makes it even more interesting when you read what were his final words at the end of the book.I heard about this book while reading Biology of Belief, and it all now makes sense, or more sense than before. It only makes you want to read more on the subject. Highly recommended.

⭐An excellent book, theories made easy to understand with illustrations. Absolutely fascinating read it 20 yrs ago and have returned to it even bought this for my son. Cannot understand why this is out of print as it is still relevant and brings a complex subject to life. would recommend to buy if you can get hold of it.http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0140136886/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_title

⭐Very interesting book but it needs peaceful long timeto read it, to be fully focused on the text and to keep connections to fakts

⭐Brilliant!! It all makes sense. This is a very informative book – everything is based on facts, the author explains and exposes info from his own research. Nothing like the self appointed ‘gurus’ out there who launch books about ‘Quantum physics’ without knowing have ever studied it, filling pages and more pages with general descriptions for desperate people looking for a meaning for life. This is the result of real study.

⭐Brought as a gift so I cannot give a review on its content

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