sphinx reviewed The Einstein Paradox: And Other Science Mysteries Solved by Sherlock Holmes on + 97 more book reviews
A very enjoyable educational read! This book brings its reader up to speed on the basics of modern physics, in a step-by-step process, without a prerequisite knowledge of mathematics. I learned a lot from this book and had fun doing so, as the narrative portion of the story is well-written and sufficiently Holmesian to satisfy a fan of the Great Detective.
Every so often a word or turn of phrase will remind the reader that the book was not written in the 1890s, but that is a minor quibble, as the author does an admirable job overall of evoking Arthur Conan Doyle's Victorian London and its colourful characters.
Besides illuminating the fascinating world of quantum physics in easy-to-comprehend terms, you will also see homeopathy neatly debunked herein (I am shocked this practise still has actual believers, despite the clear and obvious evidence that it is nothing more than placebo effect! As valuable as placebo may be for those who experience it, it is nevertheless not real medicine).
The cases feel a bit rushed at times, without the fully satisfying conclusions we would expect from a Sherlock Holmes story, but the science is satisfying enough as to make up for this, in my opinion. Quantum physics, as far as we know it, is truly weirder than anything a fiction writer could imagine!
If you love both science and Sherlock Holmes, or simply one or the other, this will be a uniquely valuable and worthwhile read. I especially recommend it to anyone who missed out on university-level science and math classes, as it will fill you in on many of the fascinating details you've been craving.
Every so often a word or turn of phrase will remind the reader that the book was not written in the 1890s, but that is a minor quibble, as the author does an admirable job overall of evoking Arthur Conan Doyle's Victorian London and its colourful characters.
Besides illuminating the fascinating world of quantum physics in easy-to-comprehend terms, you will also see homeopathy neatly debunked herein (I am shocked this practise still has actual believers, despite the clear and obvious evidence that it is nothing more than placebo effect! As valuable as placebo may be for those who experience it, it is nevertheless not real medicine).
The cases feel a bit rushed at times, without the fully satisfying conclusions we would expect from a Sherlock Holmes story, but the science is satisfying enough as to make up for this, in my opinion. Quantum physics, as far as we know it, is truly weirder than anything a fiction writer could imagine!
If you love both science and Sherlock Holmes, or simply one or the other, this will be a uniquely valuable and worthwhile read. I especially recommend it to anyone who missed out on university-level science and math classes, as it will fill you in on many of the fascinating details you've been craving.
