Description

One of our most beloved scientists, a fearless free spirit, Carlo Rovelli is also a masterful storyteller. In this collection of writings, the logbook of an intelligence always on the move, he follows his curiosity and invites us on a voyage through science, literature, philosophy and politics.

Written with his usual clarity and wit, these pieces, most of which were first published in Italian newspapers, range widely across time and space: from Newton’s alchemy to Einstein’s mistakes, from Nabokov’s butterflies to Dante’s cosmology, from travels in Africa to the consciousness of an octopus, from mind-altering psychedelic substances to the meaning of atheism. Charming, pithy and elegant, this book is the perfect gateway to the universe of one of the most influential physicists of our age.

Publisher Review

A global superstar. . . Rovelli is making the grammar of the universe accessible to a new generation * Chanel 4 News * Rovelli is a brilliant and lucid teacher who uses his understanding of theoretical physics and the quantum world to talk about the complexity of our everyday reality -- Russell Brand A joy of a book - enriching, illuminating, eclectic and far from a conventional science read. . . showcases the light and shade of Rovelli's writing, and the passion for knowledge and curiosity that make him such an engaging writer . . . We need more Rovellis -- Richard Webb * New Scientist * The man who makes physics sexy. . . the new Hawking. . . His writing is luminous. By the time I had finished reading Seven Brief Lessons on Physics I was in serious awe of the author -- David Aaronovitch * The Times * The most fun physicist to be with -- as well as the greatest explainer of physics -- Bryan Appleyard * Sunday Times * Modern physics has found its poet. . . Rovelli is a wonderfully humane, gentle and witty guide for he is as much philosopher and poet as he is a scientist -- John Banville * Irish Times * The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius for our age -- Robert Fox With the publication of his million-selling book Seven Brief Lessons on Physics, Rovelli took his place with Stephen Hawking and Richard Feynman as one of the great popularisers of modern theoretical physics -- Sam Leith * Spectator * Superb. Rovelli's journalism is an expression of the scientific desire to know and understand the world. Beautifully translated by Erica Segre and Simon Carnell, There Are Places in the World Where Rules Are Less Important than Kindness continues a tradition of jargon-free popular scientific writing from Galileo to Darwin that disappeared in the academic specialization of the last century -- Ian Thomson * Evening Standard *