In Breakfast with Einstein: The Exotic Physics of Everyday Objects, physicist and professor Chad Orzel (How to Teach Quantum Physics to Your Dog) continues to make quantum physics not only accessible, but immensely enjoyable for non-scientists. "[It] turns out that our everyday world is profoundly influenced by the 'exotic' and 'abstract' phenomena of quantum physics," Orzel declares. And in each chapter he explains the science behind a particular quantum marvel and connects it to an everyday occurrence or object.
He teaches us, for example, how the "dual particle and wave nature of light" are harnessed in digital cameras to produce vivid photos, and how quantum experiments during World War II led to the development of the laser and, later, the Internet. In one amusing chapter, we learn that sharing cat pictures over the Internet has a deeper connection to Schrödinger's cat, one of the most famous physics thought puzzles, than most people realize. Orzel's explanations are sophisticated enough to keep the interest of amateur scientists but also clear enough to fascinate the novice.
Perhaps most impressive is Orzel's talent for captivating storytelling. Throughout the book he takes short but absorbing detours into the annals of scientific history, where the work of long-dead scientists comes alive. In a chapter on the quantum nature of scent, for instance, he relays the origin story of the periodic table--one surprisingly rife with twists and turns. Thought provoking and well written, Breakfast with Einstein is a deliciously fun addition to scientific literature for general audiences. --Amy Brady, freelance writer and editor