Seven Brief Lessons on Physics explained

Seven Brief Lessons on Physics (it|Sette brevi lezioni di fisica) is a short book by the Italian physicist Carlo Rovelli. Originally published in Italian in 2014, by 2021 the book has been translated into 52 languages.^[1] More than a million copies have been sold, of which more than 400,000 in Italy.^[2]

Overview

The book condenses the revelations of post-Newtonian physics – from Einstein's theory of relativity to quantum mechanics – into seven brief, accessible lessons.^[3] These were originally serialised in an Italian newspaper.^[4] Rovelli uses a literary approach, for instance, highlighting a year Einstein spent apparently aimlessly with the comment that those who don't waste time, won't get anywhere.^[5]

The chapters are:

1. The Most Beautiful of Theories
2. The Quanta
3. The Architecture of the Cosmos
4. Particles
5. Grains of Space
6. Probability, Time and the Heat of Black Holes
7. Ourselves

Critical reception

Seven Brief Lessons on Physics was generally well-received. According to Book Marks, the book received "positive" reviews based on 7 critic reviews with 2 being "rave" and 3 being "positive" and 1 being "mixed" and 1 being "pan".^[6]

Notes and References

1. Le Monde, Sept 24, 2021. Carlo Rovelli, rockstar de la mécanique quantique https://www.lemonde.fr/m-le-mag/article/2021/09/24/carlo-rovelli-rockstar-de-la-mecanique-quantique_6095819_4500055.html
2. Web site: Law, Katie. Meet Carlo Rovelli, the scientist behind new cult book Seven Brief Lessons on Physics. Evening Standard. 25 July 2016. 9 November 2015. In his native Italy the book has outsold Fifty Shades of Grey, shifting more than 300,000 copies, and it is now being translated into 28 languages..
3. Book: Seven Brief Lessons on Physics on Google Books. 9780241235973. 24 July 2016. Rovelli. Carlo. 24 September 2015. Penguin Books Limited .
4. News: Davis . Nicola . Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli review – a curious paean to science . 22 January 2023 . the Guardian . 11 October 2015 . en.
5. News: Florio . Maria Louisa . La bellezza della fisica: 7 brevi lezioni di Rovelli - di M. L. Florio . 22 January 2023 . www.bagherianews.com . 2014.
6. Web site: Seven Brief Lessons on Physics. 12 July 2024 . Book Marks.