How The Hippies Saved Physics: Science, Counterculture, And The Quantum Revival (2011) - Plot & Excerpts
Since quantum physics challenges our intuition and basic physics laws alike, it's no wonder most of what went on around this group of countercultural freethinkers had to be played out on the fringes. They advocated contemplation and philosophy against an all too goal oriented/rational take on knowledge and Kaiser is very convincing in pointing all this out. How the Hippies Saved Physics is a great read and a passionate reminder that "pointless" speculation sooner or later can bear fruit. It is also a truly entertaining book, especially the eerie chapter on the metaphase typewriter and how this invention was used as a medium in a séance when some of them tried to get in touch with Harry Houdinis soul on the anniversary to mark his 100th birthday I learned a lot from this book, although I'm not sure it lives up to it's title, it really did help me understand a lot of things about the culture of physics from the 60's through the 80's. It's mostly a biography, not a physics book, but the point of the author is a good one, and we do owe a lot to people willing to think outside the norm, and sacrifice years of their life to working out these ideas, even though some of them seem kind of wacky. I love the cover, I was totally sucked in by it. And it was written in such a compelling way, that I didn't pick up any other book until it was done.
What do You think about How The Hippies Saved Physics: Science, Counterculture, And The Quantum Revival (2011)?
Couldn't get into it, so will attempt to read in the future.
—emiri
The roots of the "New Age" movement. Excellent book.
—dimps
I was into it, but didn't finish the last third.
—shawnlatigre
