📚 Reality Is Not What It Seems

Carlo Rovelli's *Reality Is Not What It Seems: The Journey to Quantum Gravity* explores the evolution of our understanding of the universe, arguing that our perception of reality is often an illusion based on limited senses. The book guides readers through the history of physics, from the ideas of ancient Greek philosophers like Democritus to the revolutionary theories of the 20th century and the ongoing search for a unified theory of quantum gravity. Rovelli, a theoretical physicist, begins by showing how many of our past certainties have been overturned. We once believed the Earth was flat and the center of the universe, but science continually dismantles preconceived notions to reveal a more complex and beautiful reality. The book delves into the two major discoveries of 20th-century physics: Albert Einstein's general relativity and quantum mechanics. It explains how these theories challenge our intuitive understanding of the world, suggesting that space is curved, time flows at different speeds, and the present is not a universal concept. The central theme of the book is the journey toward quantum gravity, which attempts to synthesize relativity and quantum theory. This research points to a "strange new world" where: * Reality is a network of granular, probabilistic quantum events. * Space and time do not exist at the most fundamental level but are woven from vibrating quantum grains. * The universe is made of quantum fields that draw space, time, and matter by exchanging information. Rovelli writes for a curious reader with little or no background in modern physics, aiming to share the "breathtaking beauty" of the panorama that science reveals. His style is often described as poetic, exploring the wonder and mystery of the cosmos while making complex topics accessible. Ultimately, the book is an account of an ongoing scientific adventure, emphasizing that our knowledge is incomplete and that this very uncertainty makes the pursuit of understanding a precious and interesting endeavor.