We’d be happy to answer questions on our book’s use (or its subject matter). We also welcome suggestions or comments. Our contact information is at the bottom of this page below comments by students who have used the book.

Using Quantum Enigma in classes

Quantum Enigma has been effectively used in descriptive physics classes for liberal arts majors, both by us and by others.

I used Quantum Enigma for the last few weeks of a conceptual physics course. The students’ enthusiasm made it the most exciting class I have ever taught.

– Carlos Figueroa, Cabrillo College

It is a remarkable fact that the quantum enigma can be fully grasped by students without previous physics background. It is therefore also appropriate for courses outside a physics department. For example, in a course addressing the philosophy or psychology of mind.

Quantum Enigma would be stimulating supplementary reading in any physics course addressing quantum mechanics. While the actual physics issues in the book are quite elementary, the broader consideration of the meaning of quantum mechanics, which is the emphasis of the book, is most often missing in quantum mechanics courses from the freshman level to the graduate level.

Quantum Enigma straightforwardly, but provocatively, treats the nature of reality (with a version of the 2-slit experiment) and entanglement (with a version of Bell’s theorem). It emphasizes in readily understandable terms the human-scale philosophical problem posed by quantum mechanics (which in technical terms is called the “quantum measurement problem”).

…Rosenblum and Kuttner manage to convey much of the exquisite subtlety of quantum mechanics without ever resorting to an equation. Their treatment of two-slit interference ranks right up there with (but differs interestingly from) Feynman’s famous “comes in lumps” approach, and their nontechnical description of Bell’s theorem is one of the best I’ve seen, and by far the least mathematical.

– N. David Mermin in the American Journal of Physics

You can get an examination copy of the book from Oxford University Press on our BUY THE BOOK page. But it’s only $12.91 from amazon.com on that page, and probably faster. (Note on Amazon’s “Kindle”: At present the Kindle electronic book version is not the newly revised paperback. Oxford is working to correct this. When this is corrected, the Kindle version will no doubt display the paperback cover instead of the older hardback.)

Our Goals

With Quantum Enigma we are trying to present a humanly meaningful aspect of physics. We deal with something that is still not understood by physicists. This material can even be embarrassing to some physicists. It’s been called “the skeleton in our closet.” Presenting it can be controversial. Some colleagues even think presenting it is dangerous. (Click on the link Sample Pages to see why.)

A related goal of our book is to counter the proliferating quantum pseudo-science. (Click on the link “A Social Responsibility” to see our take on this.)

In the social science and the humanities, an instructor is frequently not merely explaining a point to students but is engaging them in a discussion where different opinions are expressed and challenged. This is often considered the most stimulating aspect of teaching. Too bad it’s rare in a physics class. With Quantum Enigma as a text or supplementary reading, a back and forth dialog with students and instructor, and between students, is unavoidable.

Coming

In the near future we intend to add to this page references to the modest amount of technical material, in addition to our book, that is covered in our course, “The Quantum Enigma” at the University of California, Santa Cruz, the most popular course in our physics department. It’s on the conceptual physics level and taken by liberal arts majors. The course satisfies a “science breadth requirement” on our campus.

Some student comments:

Quantum Enigma was used at the University of California at Santa Cruz in the 2006 spring term as the text, along with a bit of more technical material, in a physics course for liberal arts students. Students filled out a questionnaire with optional signature (not seen by instructor until grades were in).

To the statement: “I’d recommend this book to a friend…”

• 57 out of 68 responses checked “strongly” or “yes.” 7 “maybe,” 1 “no,” 2 no response.

To the statement: “I could basically understand…”

• 58 checked “all” or “mostly,” 7 “some,” 3 no response.

Signed “brief comments” from these students included:

• “Kept me up at night.”
• “Explains wonderful complexities in clear and simple language.”
• “I love the humor.”
• “My dad even enjoyed it.”
• “I have a few phil majors back home who can’t wait to borrow my book.”
• “The book has changed the way I look at life.”
• “I recommend that every undergraduate student read this book.”
• “For somebody with no physics background, this book was highly informative
• and constantly interesting.”
• “I’ve never written in the margins of a book so much.”
• “I have grasped quantum mechanics, but have lost some grip on reality.
• It’s kind of better this way.”

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Contact Us

We’d be happy to answer questions about our book, discuss its use, or hear comments, or questions on the material. We can be contacted by email at brucero@ucsc.edu or by phone at 831-459-2326, or by post: Bruce Rosenblum or Fred Kuttner, Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064.