Conjuring the Universe

The Origins of the Laws of Nature

By: Peter Atkins

Narrated by: Chris Sorensen

The marvelous complexity of the universe emerges from several deep laws and a handful of fundamental constants that fix its shape, scale, and destiny. There is a deep structure to the world which at the same time is simple, elegant, and beautiful. Where did these laws and these constants come from? And why are the laws so fruitful when written in the language of mathematics?

Peter Atkins considers the minimum effort needed to equip the universe with its laws and its constants. He explores the origin of the conservation of energy, of electromagnetism, of classical and quantum mechanics, and of thermodynamics, showing how all these laws spring from deep symmetries. The revolutionary result is a short but immensely rich weaving together of the fundamental ideas of physics.

With his characteristic wit, erudition, and economy, Atkins sketches out how the laws of nature can spring from very little. Or arguably from nothing at all.

©2018 Peter Atkins (P)2018 Tantor

Sleep-Inducing Narration

Reminds me that, when writing, to never end a sentence in a vowel, or this narrator will abuse it with a long unnatural trailing off (into sleep land) with some kind of 1940's affectation.

The book is otherwise well written, but posits some questionable speculations and claims, which adds to the book's burden on the listener. You will need frequent breaks from the peculiar droning.

Stick to the King James Version

A real smart ass, Bullsh!t artist. Very misleading for young scientists. High grade science fiction. For the timebeing stick to God.