When the Uncertainty Principle Goes to 11

Or How to Explain Quantum Physics with Heavy Metal

By: Philip Moriarty

Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds

There are deep and fascinating links between heavy metal and quantum physics. No, there are. Really.

While teaching at the University of Nottingham, physicist Philip Moriarty noticed something odd, a surprising number of his students were heavily into metal music. Colleagues, too: a Venn diagram of physicists and metal fans would show a shocking amount of overlap.

What's more, it turns out that heavy metal music is uniquely well-suited to explaining quantum principles.

In When the Uncertainty Principle Goes to 11, Moriarty explains the mysteries of the universe's inner workings via drum beats and feedback: You'll discover how the Heisenberg uncertainty principle comes into play with every chugging guitar riff, what wave interference has to do with Iron Maiden, and why metalheads in mosh pits behave just like molecules in a gas.

If you're a metal fan trying to grasp the complexities of quantum physics, a quantum physicist baffled by heavy metal, or just someone who'd like to know how the fundamental science underpinning our world connects to rock music, this book will take you, in the words of a pioneering Texas thrash band, to A New Level.

For those who think quantum physics is too mind-bendingly complex to grasp, or too focused on the invisibly small to be relevant to our full-sized lives, this funny, fascinating book will show you that physics is all around us.... and it rocks.

©2018 Philip Moriarty (P)2018 Recorded Books

enjoyable and informative

this is a novel idea to get across the core concepts of advanced physics. I know there is a lot more to it, but I can speak intelligently about these topics now.

I had to do a double take when I first started playing the book since it is the same narrator from the fantasy series I was just reading (the cycle of arwan/galand). the voice of a particularly snarky character kept sneaking through, and I really didn't mind after getting used to it.

Helps Humanities Guy Learn Some Physics

Although the mathematical equations discussed are just about impossible to visualize and comprehend via audio, the overall lessons are communicated wonderfully. I found myself laughing out loud several times at the author's wit and corny sense of humor. I learned a lot and it was a fun introduction to physics.

Physics Background Required

First let me say the reader of this was one of the best I've heard.

The subject matter was way too involved for someone who isn't a physics major. While I enjoyed the few references to music, the majority was way too technical and really didn't integrate music enough. This is not to say some parts weren't interesting to the layman....I did learn a thing or two.