"101 Quantum Questions" by Kenneth W. Ford, Harvard University Press 2011

Cover Image Harvard University Press

Quantum Physics studies the extremely small aspects of our universe.  Throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, a plethora of discoveries has been announced from quantum physicists. Scholarly books accessible to the public on quantum physics are rare, though Kenneth W. Ford  created an   accessible quantum physicists books, 101 Quantum Questions published by Harvard University Press.  Dr. Ford retired as the director of the American Institute of Physics in 1993 and has worked at several universities in the United States including: Indiana University, University of Massachusetts at Boston, University of California, Irvine, Brandeis University, and was President at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. Ford was educated at some of the best universities in the world by obtaining his A.B from Harvard University and his PhD from Princeton University.

Dr. Ford illustrates the complicated nature of Quantum Physics by setting up his book in question form, as seen in the title. Each aspect of Quantum Physics is isolated with its own question to help illustrate the complex and exciting particle world. Ford’s writing style guides the book along nicely with an even balance of science and history of each section of Quantum Physics.

At the end of Ford’s book he illustrates the remaining questions in Quantum Physics that need to be answered, although, since the book has been published one of the questions has been answered. The Higgs boson in Quantum Mechanics is one of the questions remaining in Ford’s book but as of 2012 research has been published that the Higgs boson particle revealed itself. As soon as more studies confirm the Higgs Boson particle, a question Dr. Ford illuminates in his book will be answered with concrete evidence after just one year of his book being published. The new discovery highlights the growing research in Quantum Particle Physics throughout the world.

101 Quantum Questions by Dr. Ford enhances the particle world to the public with excellent figures to help illustrate and understand his points throughout his book. In addition to the well produced figures, Ford’s writing style will be a treat to anyone interested in Physics, Quantum Mechanics, or Science whether the person is a part of the science community or a lay person yearning for knowledge on Quantum, Physics.

Grade: B+