leblon | (no subject)

I am reading a popular book on quantum mechanics called "Where does the weirdness go?" by David Lindley. Beautifully written, with a nice sense of humor, and exceptionally clear! In fact, the most lucid exposition of this difficult subject I have ever read. No formulas, which is a plus for a lay reader. In the beginning there is a charming list of "Dramatic Personae", including:

"Albert Einstein - physicist, father of relativity, godfather of quantum mechanics, though later estranged therefrom

Erwin Schroedinger - owner of a cat, though not necessarily a cat-lover

Copenhagen - city of Denmark; also, a stern philosophy"

Later one reads:

"Pragmatically, physicists understand measurement just as lawyers understand pornography and philistines understand art: they can't define it, but they know what it is."

There is also a great quotation from Niels Bohr, which is as obscure as anything by Derrida. The corresponding chapter is called "In which Niels Bohr is obscure, even by his own standards".