From ancient myths and quantum physics to cosmology and dark matter In The Shortest History of Reality, the idea of 'what's real' is traced from its everyday, common-sense beginnings to the mind-bending discoveries of modern physics. Along the way, we encounter the great shifts in thought that reshaped our view of existence - from ancient philosophy to the rise of science, from Newton's universe to the strange probabilities of the quantum world and beyond. Blending science, history and philosophy, this is a brisk and lucid tour through humanity's changing grasp of reality. With clarity and wit, it introduces key thinkers and turning points, revealing how each era has deepened - and complicated - our understanding of what's really out there. Rather than an encyclopaedia of everything that exists, this book is the compelling story of how we've tried to make sense of it all. With a foreword by Derek Muller (Veritasium) 'This book takes you from the tiniest quantum quirks to the grand sweep of the cosmos, all in one exhilarating ride.' -Dr Karl Kruszelnicki 'The Shortest History of Reality is more than history or science - it is a journey of humanity's attempts to answer one simple question- Is this real?' -Brad Tucker, astrophysicist, Australian National University Table of Contents Timeline Foreword by Derek Muller (Veritasium) Introduction PART 1- EARLY IDEAS OF REALITY 1. What Was Reality? 2. The Nature of Reality PART 2- REALITY IN THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION 3. The Rules of Reality 4. Light, Colour and the Illusion of Reality 5. The Stuff of Nature PART 3- REALITY IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY 6. What Is Reality Made Of? 7. The Second Theory of Relativity 8. The Biological Revolution 9. The Quantum Revolution 10. The Particle Zoo PART 4- EXPLORING THE QUANTUM WORLD 11. What Is a Quantum Wave Really? 12. The March of Unification 13. Symmetry and Antimatter PART 5- THE FUTURE OF REALITY 14. Where Is My Mind? 15. The Unfinished Symphony 16. Where and When Is Everything? 17. Closing Thoughts

Details

ISBN13: 9781760645656
Format: Paperback / softback
Number of Pages: 272
Edition:
Publication Date: 30 Jun 2026
Publisher: Black Inc.
Publication City, Country: Melbourne, Australia
Dimensions (cm): 19.6(H)x12.9(L)x2.5(W)242
Weight (gm): 242

Author Biography

Geraint F. Lewis is a professor of astrophysics at the Sydney Institute for Astronomy, part of the University of Sydney's School of Physics. He has published more than 500 papers across cosmology, galactic archaeology, gravitational lensing and the fundamental nature of the universe, and four books of popular science, including The Cosmic Revolutionary's Handbook and Where Did the Universe Come From?

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