Book Review of The Age of Uncertainty, How Physics Changed the Way We See the World (1895 - 1945)

The book by Tobias Hürter takes the reader back into a past that is both, long gone and strangely familiar. It introduces the physicians with their personalities and embeds them into a setting around the most famous universities of Europe at the time. Their relationships, families, friendships and disagreements bring them to life.

The rise and fall of the atomic and quantum physicians within their scientific community is astonishing to learn about. The book does not fail to describe the complex ideas behind modern quantum physics with their often times philosophical implications without overburdening with details and formulas.

It targets non physicians with a curiosity about the history of physics and particularly the circumstances in which the theories evolved. For me it was fascinating to learn about the interaction and close collaboration between scientists in a Europe that will soon be struck by two world wars. It hurt to see how open exchange of ideas and the freedom of speech was shut down by growing nationalism, racism and a society deluded by war.

After a sudden end the book leaves the reader curious about the advancement of quantum physics after the year 1945. I still enjoyed the book and can recommend it if this sounds compelling to you. I read the book in the german original (Das Zeitalter der Unschärfe). At the time of writing there is no english translation available yet.