Quantum theory · History · Reality
In Search of Schrödinger's Cat by John Gribbin — Summary, Key Ideas & Quotes
1984302 pages✦ 3-min Big ideas★ 3.6 (7)
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What is In Search of Schrödinger's Cat about?
Quantum theory is so shocking that Einstein could not bring himself to accept it. It is so important that it provides the fundamental underpinning of all modern sciences. Without it, we'd have no nuclear power or nuclear weapons, no TV, no computers, no science of molecular biology, no understanding of DNA, no genetic engineering. In Search of Schrödinger's Cat tells the complete story of quantum mechanics, a truth stranger than any fiction. John Gribbin takes us step by step into an ever more bizarre and fascinating place, requiring only that we approach it with an open mind. He introduces the scientists who developed quantum theory. He investigates the atom, radiation, time travel, the birth of the universe, superconductors and life itself. And in a world full of its own delights, mysteries and surprises, he searches for Schrödinger's Cat — a search for quantum reality — as he brings every reader to a clear understanding of the most important area of scientific study today — quantum physics. In Search of Schrödinger's Cat is a fascinating and delightful introduction to the strange world of the quantum — an essential element in understanding today's world. --Back Cover
A glimpse inside
Quantum Weirdness and the Measurement Problem
Gribbin delves into the heart of quantum mechanics by exploring its most unsettling feature: the idea that particles exist in multiple states at once until measured. The famous Schrödinger’s Cat thought experiment illustrates this, showing the clash between quantum superposition and our everyday experience. The 'measurement problem'—how and why observation collapses possibilities into a single outcome—remains unresolved, highlighting the philosophical depth and scientific challenge of quantum theory.
The Historical Quest for Quantum Theory
The book traces the development of quantum mechanics through the lives and struggles of pioneering scientists such as Planck, Einstein, Bohr, Heisenberg, and Schrödinger. Gribbin shows how their competing ideas, debates, and experiments led to a radical new framework that overthrew classical physics. This historical narrative emphasizes that quantum theory was not inevitable, but the result of intellectual daring and persistent questioning.
Ratings at a glance
Open Library
★ 3.6 / 5
7 ratings
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6 key ideas, distilled
- 1Quantum Weirdness and the Measurement Problem
- 2The Historical Quest for Quantum Theory
- 3Quantum Reality: Competing Interpretations
- 4Quantum Theory’s Impact on Modern Science and Technology
- 5The Limits of Human Knowledge
Popular quotes from In Search of Schrödinger's Cat
“Quantum theory is magic. It is not black magic, but it is nonetheless magic.”
“The universe is not only stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can imagine.”
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Frequently asked
Quantum theory is so shocking that Einstein could not bring himself to accept it. It is so important that it provides the fundamental underpinning of all modern sciences. Without it, we'd have no nuclear power or nuclear weapons, no TV, no computers, no science of molecular biology, no understanding of DNA, no genetic engineering.
In Search of Schrödinger's Cat tells the complete story of quant