A Quantum Life

My Unlikely Journey from the Street to the Stars

By: Hakeem Oluseyi, Joshua Horwitz

Narrated by: Hakeem Oluseyi

In this inspiring coming-of-age memoir, a world-renowned astrophysicist emerges from an impoverished childhood and crime-filled adolescence to ascend through the top ranks of research physics.

Named One of the Best Books of the Year by Kirkus Reviews

“You’ll encounter one extraordinary turn of events after another, as the extraordinary chess player, puzzle solver, and occasional grifter works his way from grinding poverty and deep despair to worldwide acclaim as a physicist.” (Bill Nye, CEO of The Planetary Society)

Navigating poverty, violence, and instability, a young James Plummer had two guiding stars - a genius IQ and a love of science. But a bookish nerd is a soft target, and James faced years of bullying and abuse. As he struggled to survive his childhood in some of the country’s toughest urban neighborhoods in New Orleans, Houston, and LA, and later in the equally poor backwoods of Mississippi, he adopted the persona of “gangsta nerd” - dealing weed in juke joints while winning state science fairs with computer programs that model Einstein’s theory of relativity.

Once admitted to the elite physics PhD program at Stanford University, James found himself pulled between the promise of a bright future and a dangerous crack cocaine habit he developed in college. With the encouragement of his mentor and the sole Black professor in the physics department, James confronted his personal demons as well as the entrenched racism and classism of the scientific establishment. When he finally seized his dream of a life in astrophysics, he adopted a new name, Hakeem Muata Oluseyi, to honor his African ancestors.

Alternately heartbreaking and hopeful, A Quantum Life narrates one man’s remarkable quest across an ever-expanding universe filled with entanglement and choice.

©2021 Hakeem Oluseyi and Joshua Horwitz (P)2021 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Hakeem Oluseyi’s journey to adulthood is not only lyrical but immensely expansive and powerful. Moving across the American West and South, A Quantum Life encompasses with equal grace matters of particle physics and matters of a fractured family, challenges that are self-wrought and challenges inflicted by racism, and triumphs over an academic landscape engineered against poor African Americans as well as triumphs of the human heart.” (Jeff Hobbs, New York Times best-selling author of The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace)

"A Quantum Life is not only a story about resilience but also about the power of science as a transcendent force for personal transformation.... An important book for anyone who wants to understand how the fire of inquiry, the burning demand to know the world and its beauty intimately, can take root in a heart and lift it up to shine brightly with the stars it most cherishes.” (NPR)

“A physicist works with the statistical nature of the cosmos to predict the future - possible outcomes and unlikely ones. In A Quantum Life, you’ll encounter one extraordinary turn of events after another, as the extraordinary chess player, puzzle solver, and occasional grifter works his way from grinding poverty and deep despair to worldwide acclaim as a physicist. As you turn each page, you may not believe this outcome is possible. Read on.” (Bill Nye, CEO of The Planetary Society)

Unique listen

Wild and inspiring story. Couldn’t put it down. I hope he continues to lift POC in the sciences, it is so important. I’m a woman in physics so I can relate to aspects of feeling like an outsider. That he had a black mentor was huge.

I found it odd that he gained such perspective on himself, his childhood, his drug use, and yet seemed oblivious to how poorly he treated his romantic partners. Perhaps he feels remorse but he didn’t mention it in the book, despite the storylines related to his relationships.

Child Boy MAN

I thoroughly enjoyed this work of art. I was taken on such a journey. I could see it and almost feel the texture of the environments. I'm better for reading it. True definition of NOT having to be the product of his environment knowing within himself as well as seeking positive affirmations about the possibilities of his life. Awesome!!

Hard to stop listening to

If you are familiar with Hakeem and his work you can’t help but to wonder how he got to where he is now. Listening to this book put me through a roller coaster of emotions and often found myself going to work late because i just had to hear more. Such an awesome book that can give hope to people who might feel like they are at rock bottom

Riveting and Inspiring

This book is incredible. His life has been a rollercoaster, and he brings you along for the ride while narrating his story in a masterful way. Highly recommended !

Amazing story of overcoming obstacles

This book goes into details about struggles most people don't think about or understand that not only get in the way of someone's educational goals, but also showcases how people do not start life on equal grounds. This book will help open your eyes to diversity, build empathy for others that struggle, and show you to not give up and keep pushing forward.

Fantastic and Inspiring Story

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this story. Dr. Oluseyi and Joshua Horwitz did a great job with composing the content in a way that flowed perfectly. Dr. Oluseyi overcame some incredible obstacles to grow into the man he is today. I cannot think of a biography that I enjoyed as much as this one. I very rarely write reviews, but I felt compelled to do so for this book. I highly recommend this book.

Just WOW

What an unbelievable story of triumph. It's makes me proud to be a scientist. I'll be sharing the story with my students as well.

Amazing

This True Story of making ones way from on the run from a life on the run to a life in academics is truly inspiring! The author is bravely honest about the real lows but I makes one realize that is far down as you may be that realizing your dream IS ATTAINABLE if you continue to put in the work no matter what your starting point is

Very well read by the author

Wow! I am shook.

Shooked in a good way. Absolutely amazing! This book is so good. I am keeping it simple in my description. Just Good!

The story we all need to hear

I was absolutely floored by this story. Hakeem’s journey is so rare but so beautiful! This guy had absolutely everything going against him to succeed but damn, he did it! For every science nerd out there who thinks it can’t be done…give this story a listen!