My first "hard science" read, but had me immediately inspired to learn more about physics.

I really enjoyed this book - and I loved the science it discussed. It got me watching youtube videos on physics and asking questions about how things work and made me want to learn more.

The story itself spanned a full lifetime, starting around the 1960s (in fact earlier) and follows through to (what I presume) is modern day. The book is full of historical references (and my Chinese knowledge is practically nil, so this was great) and chock full of amazing, believable physics questions that had me pondering over between reading sessions.

Great stuff.

9 Highlight(s)

Location 22

She could no longer feel grief. She was now like a Geiger counter that had been subjected to too much radiation, no longer capable of giving any reaction, noiselessly displaying a reading of zero.

Location 62

Shi's questions irritated Wang again, not unlike the feeling a man has upon finding out that he has swallowed a fly with his meal.

Location 132

I'm a simple man without a lot of complicated twists and turns. Look down my throat and you can see out my ass. Naturally, I don't know how to make my bosses like me.

Location 180

I thought that life was truly an accident among accidents in the universe. The universe was an empty palace, and humankind the only ant in the entire palace.

Location 193

the dance did possess a rhythm; it was just that its period of repetition was infinitely long.

Location 194

Yes, I know that someone studying math should know about a master like Poincaré, but I didn't worship masters and I didn't want to become one, so I didn't know his work.

Location 266

No matter how historians and writers later tried to portray the scene, the reality at the time was completely prosaic.

Location 271

She didn't find him unpleasant, but her heart was like ashes from which the flame of love could no longer be lit.

Location 324

YE: I started the fire, but I couldn't control how it burnt.

Others I've read in the "Remembrance of Earth’s Past" series: