book review: On The Equality of All Things by Carlo Rovelli

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 4/5

Thank you Scribner for providing an ARC for review consideration via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

I discovered another great writer in Carlo Rovelli to continue learning about physics through his approachable teachings. On the Equality of All Things was a quick read focusing on the immense discoveries seen in quantum theory, general relativity, observers, time, space, existence, and morality.. Rovelli pushes thinkers to be open to adjustments to our beliefs as once-inconceivable ideas come to light. He also warns that the concepts we use on Earth to measure time and space simply do not apply in the broader vastness of the universe. 

Even having learned this in similar works, I still cannot get over the craziness of it. As Rovelli writes, “On Earth gravity is more or less the same everywhere... This is not the case in the wider universe. Time passes at different speeds for different travelers: when they meet again, they have generally not aged by the same number of years." Equally eerie is how general relativity describes reality as a set of fields that define spatial extension and time themselves, rather than sitting inside them. As he notes, "The location of an event only makes sense in relation to others. There is no 'where' or 'when,' except in a relative sense.”

While the book does discuss theories and their relationships, I found that as it progresses, it primarily makes a case for Rovelli's personal stances on how much value should be placed on each. I was interested in his perspectives on the flow of time and whether the future is open or fixed. However, I lacked the background in the intricacies of many other theories to fully engage with his arguments. Readers with a deeper understanding of physics will appreciate these perspectives, but I was hoping for more instruction on actual physics rather than debates on nuanced details. Even so, it successfully opened my eyes to what is important to consider so as not to fall into the trap of hyped-up theories pertaining to the flow of time and the Observer Effect.

Due to this, I found the concluding paragraph in lesson 5 gives a better synopsis of the book's true heart than the publisher's summary: “The reasonable question, it seems to me, is to ask what, given the current state of our knowledge... are effective concepts for thinking about the world, accounting for it, and navigating it?... Things all exist equally, in relation to others, each in its own way — a way that evolves as we learn.”

I highly recommend picking up this book if you have a foundation in physics and philosophy and want to engage in a discussion about the importance of certain areas of the field. The detailed footnotes are also a major benefit for those looking for a heavily researched work. I will certainly be picking up more of Rovelli's books.

The Story Graph challenge

Since joining The Story Graph, I have discovered countless new books and authors. While the platform lacks a heavy social aspect -- you can't comment or discuss new reads yet -- simply following users has expanded my TBR. I followed a few readers who highly rated my favorite books and shared my reading taste. Now, as they review books, my community feed fills with hidden gems I would never have heard of otherwise. These feel like genuine recommendations, unlike social media book influencers whose hyped titles often come with an incentive to push them.

Because they are not "pushed," many of these amazing books have very few reviews. It is such a stark contrast between books that become the "it" book to read and those that don't get the same word by mouth spread. This has made me very intrigued to find as many amazing hidden gems as I can. So, I created a challenge "5 Star Hidden Gems With Less Than 100 Reviews." I added The Truth of Time by Bryan Whelan which I absolutely loved, yet I am the only reviewer on every site I checked. So sad that clearly I was one of the few people who had the joy of reading this great book! If you have some hidden gems of your own, please share them through this challenge if you like!

book review: Fold Catastrophes by Peter Watts

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 3/5

Thank you Tachyon Publications for providing an ARC for review consideration via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

As a lover of hard science fiction -- frequenting both Cixin Liu's fiction and Carl Sagan's non-fiction -- I was incredibly excited to dive into Fold Catastrophes, my first read from the acclaimed Peter Watts! However, I left this collection of short stories and novellas feeling deeply conflicted. While each storyline offers a highly unique take on complex scientific ideas and theories, and Watts uses an exceptionally precise vocabulary to establish his settings, I ultimately struggled to get past the prose style. 

Watts writes in sharp fragments, stripping his sentences down to their bare bones, forcing the reading to constantly piece his thoughts together. Normally, I can devour hard sci-fi novels because the underlying concepts fascinate me, but Watt's narrative structure made it difficult to actually enjoy his brilliant ideas. His writing relies heavily on the reader filling in what is missing, leaving no room to breathe. The prose results in a confusing paradox: it is densely descriptive, yet simultaneously sparse. Just as a new thought takes shape, the text abruptly shifts without any narrative transition to set up the change. As a result, I probably only fully comprehend a quarter of what I read, making the experience exhausting.

Based on pure conceptual ingenuity, Fold Catastrophes would easily be a five-star read for me. Unfortunately, I have to give it a three-star rating because the unapproachable prose made the journey a chore rather than an enjoyable read. That said, Watts has an undeniable fallowing, and I am still intrigued enough to try his famous novel Blindsight. My hope is that a longer, continuous piece will allow me to settle into his unique style.