Helgoland, written by Carlo Rovelli, is a breathtaking work of non-fiction that will captivate readers with its profound and thought-provoking ideas. Rovelli's writing is elegant and insightful, offering readers a journey into the mysteries of quantum physics and the nature of reality.

The book is a remarkable exploration of the evolution of modern physics, from the discoveries of Galileo and Newton to the breakthroughs of Einstein and beyond. Rovelli's unique perspective and clear explanations make the concepts of quantum mechanics accessible to readers of all backgrounds.

The book also delves into the philosophical and cultural implications of modern physics, challenging readers to consider the fundamental questions of existence and our place in the universe.

In the past, I haven't reviewed books that I haven't read. But, I have changed my mind. Firstly, I think that the fact that I couldn't finish a book is a valid criticism, and this is where we give feedback to the publisher. Secondly, I need to get my score up. I will not post this anywhere else but here. My rating will be based on what other people would think about this work.

I got about 30% into this book. I couldn't get into it.

I have read quite a few books on quantum theory but this one brought up some interesting points. It reads more like philosophy than physics and I saw some correlations between what he was saying about interconnections and the Buddhist teaching of dependant origination.
It wasn't an easy read and for a short book it took me a long time to read but I am glad I have read it.

This book started in a very promising fashion, with very accessible explanations of the various aspects of quantum mechanics, including those with seriously mind boggling implications. So far so very good; unfortunately, for this reader at least, the meandering away from the scientific aspects into areas of philosophy that are clearly of significant interest to the author left a sense of being somehow short changed from the book the reader might expect to enjoy from the information provided. This is not to say it wasn’t interesting, and there are obvious cross linkages between the esoteric aspects of quantum theory and approaches to interpreting the world that are at the heart of the various philosophical models. Sadly, for me, the book didn’t do justice to either subject area.

For most in the west, the human race has built a comfortable civilisation where the everyday occupation for many is not survival but a variety types of work which are unlikely to lead to an early death. For those still struggling, the benefits of our technical civilisation are gradually spreading across the globe. But this civilsation is based on a mechanistic, positively, Victorian understanding of science and can only be sustained for a short while. A society powered by fossil fuels must necessarily be a brief stage before moving onto a better ubderstanding of the universe which will enable us to live in an abundant and sustainable world. To do this the old mechanistic understanding of science must move on. Innovators and scientists will have to adapt to a world not based on measurement and cause and effect but a far more intellectually challenging world of probability and uncertainty where the old rules simply don't apply. Carlo Rovelli understands this and does his best, with humour, illustration and allusion to introduce us to the challenges of this often strange and unpredictable world and to convince us of its importance to the future of our planet.

Quantum physics is exciting and while probably finally inexplicable, Rovelli makes it clear enough .. and the story of its development is well set out: the young ish scientist who encounters difficulties and overcomes them is engaging and Rovelli's own enthusiasm shines through and give the book much energy to gallop through the denser sections (not many of those, but essential boost)

Typical of Rovelli’s narrative style, ‘Helgoland’ is a brief but beautifully-written volume on quantum physics. Possibly his best yet, although I am particularly fond of ‘The Order of Time.’

At the opening of the book, Rovelli provides a brief contextual overview of key developments in quantum physics, with a focus on Heisenberg and Schrödinger’s contributions. He then briefly outlines the familiar interpretations of quantum physics, prior to introducing his own relational interpretation of quantum physics.

The opening portion of the narrative provides an excellent clear and accessible introduction to quantum physics. However, I found the more philosophical approach to the remainder of the narrative a source of frustration, as this transition made for a rather disjointed read. Moreover, whilst Rovelli’s characteristic literary style often makes for a beautiful read, it can at times obscure key points, rendering them less accessible to readers lacking a physics background. I would also have preferred a longer volume with more time dedicated to Rovelli’s interpretation of quantum physics.

Nevertheless, I would certainly recommend ‘Helgoland’ to anyone with an interest in quantum physics.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the author for a copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.

Helgoland by Carlo Rovelli is a rare find, a book about the history of science that is an exhilarating read and teaches the uninformed something about a complex science.

In 1925 Werner Heisenberg has retreated to Helgoland, an island in the North Sea, there he formulates the basis of quantum physics. Helgoland describes the contributions of the numerous young scientists and their interactions and disputes which changed our understanding of matter and energy and underpins much of modern physics and philosophy.

This is a great read although I did find myself losing the thread as the science becomes more abstract towards the end.

This is a short, but very dense book that attempts to explain quantum mechanics to a science enthusiast, who doesn't have to be an expert. Instead of merely advancing theories, Rovelli goes back to the very beginnings of quantum theory and explains all the experiments and observations that happened, and how generations of physicists tried to reconcile conflicting observations and come up with theories to explain those. Those sections of the book are very well-written, and absolutely compelling-you get to properly understand what those quotes about God and dice were actually referring to. Rovelli interweaves the influences of physicist-philosophers on the development of study in the field-specially Ernst Mach. While ROvelli's attempts at connecting the studies of quantum theory to the natural world, and human behaviour are a bit of stretch and don't flow very organically, his musings on unrelated topics are so interesting, that you go along with it-there's a great chapter on the life and work of Alexander BOgdanov that he uses to expand on his views of the need for accepting that for some theories, it's more important to accept that someone will come along and improve on it. It's an important theme for now, when political views specially seem to be solidifying and not allowing for any differences. This is a compelling book, and is well-written, but it's not a light read at all.

(Twitter)
The beautiful confusion of reading and every now and again feeling you know what’s going on! 🤔 @carlorovelli Helgoland and the mysterious world of quantum theory

Physics is not within my gift. It is by far the most difficult thing for me to grasp, and yet Carlo Rovelli's discussion about Quantum Theory totally makes sense to me. Or at least, his perspective on perspectives does - I'm beginning to realise that the more you think about Quantum Theory and question the components of it, the more of a mystery it becomes!

So I don't pretend to understand it all, and in contrast to other reviews I actually really appreciated the slightly purple prose approach he took to dressing it up for a more marketable audience and a less physics minded reader. I also really like that it isn't overwhelming large - most physics tomes or indeed a tome! But Rovelli's pocket sized books really do serve as the discussion and thinking points that this sort of topic needs - if it's about perspective, it's mostly your own brain doing the work to ask the questions!

I think this is a good book. About physics. I shock myself.

ARC provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is astonishingly good. Elegant and engaging, it made me - a woman guided as a teenager towards humanities but long-intrigued but baffled by physics - thoroughly revel in the easy, inviting tone of Rovelli's voice and explanations. I would read anything he wrote, and trust him to guide me through difficult, important subjects with kindness, clarity and enthusiasm.

I have to be honest, I’m not academic enough to totally grasp everything discussed in this book but that didn’t stop me from thoroughly enjoying it. I was able to gain a bit more knowledge and would definitely read further writings from this author, on the subject.

Carlo Rovelli is a great populizer and he's able to keeps you hooked while you're reading about quantum physics.
It's a gripping, informative and highly entertaining book that made me understand something more about this topic and the seminal scientists who worked in this field.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Despite the fact that I have absolutely no physics background whatsoever (unless you count a CSE grade 1 in 1983!) I have read plenty of books on quantum physics and find the subject endlessly fascinating. This book is definitely at the more readable end of the spectrum. Rovelli's writing is very approachable for the lay reader BUT the author has his own beliefs and pretty much dismisses anything that he disagrees with in a couple of paragraphs. The book is well worth reading but it needs to be read in conjunction with other books which explore other theories.

‘Helgoland’ is the latest book by theoretical physicist Carlo Rovelli. In it he explores the topics of quantum mechanics and relational interpretation.

I should state immediately that I have not enough knowledge to review the information itself contained in the book (I’ve never formally studied physics and am just very interested in the subject). However that aside I thoroughly enjoyed this book. When a writer is passionate about their subject and can articulate that through the work then they are able to enthuse their reader with a spark of that same passion. This book definitely did that for me. Rovelli does a good job of explaining what seemed previously seemed unexplainable (well as much as can be) to his audience. He weaves in with his explanations and hypothesis philosophical arguments, asides about his own writing process and digresses at times to information about scientists and philosophy, that I especially enjoyed. I definitely shall be reading this one again!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rovelli once again puts masterful artistry into something many find complex and presents an emotional and musical story that make quantum science understandable to the masses.

As a long time fan of Rovelli's (translated) work, Helgoland is as equally wonderful to read as his prior books. With a greater focus on the history and then current theories of quantum physics, Helgoland slots into the timeline of his other works but is easily understood as a separate entity for the first time reader. It is also particularly nice to read a piece on Rovelli's own field of interest more definitively as the other works in his collection have been more broad in scope.

While I evidently have an interest in physics and certainly learnt a lot while reading Helgoland, I'm equally enthralled my Rovelli's style and mastery of language (and that of his translators, whom undoubtedly brings forth the author's tone in the same way as the original Italian intended it). Rovelli has always made science magical and, in my opinion, is one of the best non-fiction writers I have come across. His explanations sing from the pages and his metaphorical connections aid the reader's understanding wonderfully. Largely, I think it is the great connection to people, to morality and to history that sets his writing aside. Each step of the equation is linked to its context in the world, its creators and how it has gone on to impact the way we understand our world today. I continue to be enchanted by his work.

As an arc, my only criticism is the use of diagrams and interjections. From reading Rovelli's published works, his use of diagrams really help to illustrate (quite literally) his points. Through the formatting, some of these images were missing - possibly to be included later - but it did make his reference points somewhat confusing. Likewise, the formatting also meant that the asides were jumbled into the text and somewhat interfered with this flow of the writing. As an arc, this is only something I wanted to raise for future formating and does not impact my experience of the book.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Rovelli's latest instalment and look forward to what he will share next.

"In June 1925, twenty-three-year-old Werner Heisenberg, suffering from hay fever, retreated to a treeless, wind-battered island in the North Sea called Helgoland. It was there that he came up with the key insight behind quantum mechanics."

Yes, this is where Quantum Theory got its start. This book was written for non-Physicists and is easily accessible. It's written well and tells the story of this significant moment in history in a way that would make good fiction, if it wasn't all real life!

I found it intensely interesting and easy to follow. I also like that the author changed Shrodinger's Cat to sleeping or awake for its dual state as he didn't want to deal with dead cats! I think I would like this guy.

I found the book infinitely fascinating and took it one chapter at a time to try to fully absorb the concepts, which make sense despite the oddities of Quantum. I will probably read it again, maybe even several times to let it sink in.

The subject is pretty amazing and this book explains it very well. Definitely recommended for anyone who has a curiosity either about Quantum Physics or generally how things work.

Let me preface this review by saying that while I love physics and had some aptitude with the theoretical parts, my mathematical ability fell rather short, relegating me to the position of hobbyist. However, I can certainly appreciate good texts on the subject and far more inaccessible ones than Rovelli’s works. This is a very short, introductory work on the subject of quantum physics. Rovelli packages it neatly and makes it easy to swallow for the lay person. There is nothing wrong with that. I can see that actual physicists who read this may become annoyed because this is to quantum physics what describing the colour red to someone born without eyes would be like. I mean no disrespect and I am certainly not an expert. But that very over simplification to make it digestible for the lay person is likely what will annoy serious physicists. It’s not a digestible subject if you don’t have the education and aptitude for it and when you simplify anything – history, philosophy, politics, nineteenth century literature – in order to make it accessible for more people, then you lose something. So I get where those who are annoyed by this book are coming from. On the other hand, the target audience of this book is likely not serious scientists of any stripe and certainly not anyone looking for a career in physics. I am slightly irked by the over simplification; I am impressed at how readable this book will be for non science readers. Like Schrodinger’s cat, I am both things simultaneously – at least until someone opens the box and decides the matter.

I loved this book ( if it is possible to love a book while barely understanding its subject matter!) But the author tells us that if we do understand hen he is getting something seriously wrong. Sumptuously written and hugely energetic. I have signed up for an online lecture with the author as a result of reading this, though I'm sure I will be none the wiser.