The New Scientist Book Club has been testing its collective brain power in September with Chanda Prescod-Weinstein’s The Edge of Space-Time. Subtitled “particles, poetry and the cosmic dream boogie”, this sees the columnist and theoretical physicist set out to explain our universe, from the quantum to the inner workings of black holes.
That’s a lot to get through, but as Chanda writes in her book, it is worth the effort: “We should bother with physics because it is, in part, how we as a species learn to use our minds.” She went further in an exclusive essay for book club members, challenging us to get to grips with the quantum nature of space-time. “Spending time with what feels strange about physics can help prepare us to better reckon with difficult political questions,” she wrote. “Given the crises we face – genocides, climate change, attacks on transgender people – we need our critical faculties now more than ever.”
Starting with a careful deconstruction of why we need to think hard about the metaphors we use in science writing to make sure they are helping rather than hindering readers in understanding non-intuitive concepts in science, Chanda goes on to take us through some of the most abstract areas of theoretical physics. It is, as member Dee55 put it, a “wild ride”, in terms of both the physics and the in-depth conversation that members have been having about the book over on our Discord channel.
I really enjoyed this book. I am someone who didn’t manage to finish Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time, but who, thanks to Chanda’s friendly, encouraging and (most importantly) clear writing, emerged at the end of this book a little more knowledgeable about physics. I liked how Chanda slipped in multiple references to literature and popular culture to help make her points, as well as how she told us firmly: “This is supposed to be fun, and there is no test at the end.” She reiterated this in our interview: “[Part] of welcoming people into the material is saying, this isn’t something that only… a lone genius can think about. You’re entitled to this as well. This is your universe, too.”
Many book club members were similarly enamoured. “One of the earliest statements in this book which blew me away (there have been many) was ‘Humanity has only been aware of this cosmic light[from the beginnings of the universe]for sixty-two years,” wrote Melissa on Discord. “Just the incomprehensible fact of cosmic light from the unimaginable ancientness of the beginning of the universe—which is just but people have only found out about it in the space of less than one human lifetime ago.”
Jodie has been “enjoying it a lot, even if it does make my head ache at times!” – I think that’s fair, Jodie! – while Dee55 has also found Chanda’s explanations mind-expanding: “For years I have been making periodic attempts to understand Quantum Stuff and always come away fairly befuddled but also intrigued – and this time feels just a little different, as if I am not exactly grasping something but perhaps catching fleeting glimpses of it (we don’t get far without metaphors, I find).”
“The wonderful gift this book gives us is the opportunity to spend time in practicing feeling unsettled, sometimes even bewildered, as we experience the strangeness of quantum physics,” added Laura Akers. “It’s several hours, in my case over many days, of practicing the acceptance that science and reality are strange, bizarre… rather than simple and reassuring – and it’s really okay.”
“I’ve really enjoyed The Edge of Space-time,” wrote DavidCl on Discord. “About half way through I realised what my perspective of reading it was like. It’s like sitting down and spending time with a good friend who is way cleverer and more intelligent than I am while she tries to explain what it is she does, why she does it and what drives her onwards.”
This book is packed with literary allusions, and with Chanda’s strongly expressed political perspectives – not everyone appreciated this. “I am not really enjoying this book, to be honest. I prefer straightforward scientific information and explanations,” wrote Lowenna, while Katita2026 found that Chanda’s politics and her subjective takes intruded on the physics a little too much. “Dr. Prescod-Weinstein is an incredible storyteller. I absolutely love how she brings the cold, intimidating world of astrophysics right down to earth. Explaining cosmic inflation through a TR-808 drum machine, or bringing Missy Elliott and Wu-Tang Clan into a physics book, is just brilliant science communication,” wrote Katita. But “as much as I’m enjoying the read, I find myself struggling when she tries to make the physics fit her politics”.
This was a question picked over with great sensitivity by book club members. “I do agree that some of the connections are bit forced, but I think the author is trying to show not only how physics says that the universe is, but also how she from a particular background visualises that,” wrote Alan_P. “We all bring our own experiences and backgrounds to any field of knowledge and view things through that prism – she’s just giving us her prism. She many times explains the sheer wonder and joy that she experiences as a physicist, and that this is finding out about an objective reality.” DavidCl felt similarly: “The explanations are peppered with her personal viewpoints and politics but that’s ok because her passion and occasionally sweary outbursts are all part of painting a compelling picture.”
All in all, I think this was a (challenging) hit with book club members – on to the next one.
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