Breakfast with Einstein: The Exotic Physics of Everyday Objects

Orzel (physics & astronomy, Union Coll.; Eureka: Discovering Your Inner Scientist) explains how quantum physics enables many aspects of our everyday lives. His unique approach to the subject highlights an imagined morning breakfast routine and demonstrates how subatomic particles explain the rising sun, an alarm clock, a smoke detector, the heating of water for morning tea and the release of steam, magnets on a refrigerator door, a toaster oven, aromas in a kitchen, and why a computer works as it does. Orzel manages to explain the underlying subatomic particle rationale for these everyday experiences, including the reason for the illusion of solid objects and why hard objects do not collapse into themselves, and paints a rich understanding of this fascinating field of science. Jonathan Todd Ross's impressive reading maintains listener attention to this intriguing new way of connecting the paradoxical world of subatomic particles with everyday laypersons. The author's amazing introductory explanation of how the sun works is alone worth the time to delve into this accessible work on quantum theory.