Summary

Preface:

Rovelli explains that the book gives an overview of twentieth century physics for those who do not know much about it. Its chapters explore relativity, quantum mechanics, the cosmos, elementary particles, quantum gravity, and black holes. And, finally, he ties these findings back into modern life.

First Lesson:

Einstein spent a year in Italy, after abandoning his high school, largely aimless, reading, and going to some university lectures for fun. After that, he began studying physics and soon wrote three major theories: one was about atoms, one on quantum mechanics, and the other about (special) relativity. Because of a flaw in his piece on relativity, he was inspired to write his theory of general relativity, which has been called the “most beautiful of theories.”

Rovelli tells of a summer he spent in Calabria, Italy by the ocean. He was reading...