The Unconscious Quantum
Concerned that mysticism seems to be invading physics, physicist Stenger embarks in this book on a voyage to debunk quackery in the quantum world. Heading his New Age opponents off at the pass, Stenger devotes a hefty chunk of his text to the experiments in which the behavior of electrons is interpreted as a wave/particle duality. According to his presentation, some mystics seize on that indeterminacy of the quantum world as evidence that hidden, supernatural forces seethe beneath the quantum world. Since electrons apparently move around regardless of time and space, surely the consciousness can, too? Stenger may have to tolerate such assertions when nonphysicists like Deepak Chopra write best-selling proclamations that the human mind is immortal. However, when esteemed collegial physicist-authors (e.g., Roger Penrose and Paul Davies) also see proofs of God in quantum theory or a purposefully designed universe, poor Stenger's patience runs out. His goal is to warn off readers of those authors. He also hopes to keep current physics students from making the same error, and libraries may consider acquisition with them in mind.Gilbert Taylor