A Quarter of Technical Reading: A Mixed Bag of Physics, Fiction, and Productivity
Between April and June, a curated stack of books spanning quantum mechanics, military history, children’s fiction, and career advice crossed the desk. The results were strikingly uneven—ranging from a deeply flawed attempt at explaining quantum computing to one of the clearest technical primers encountered in recent months.
Quantum Computing: The Gap Between Explanation and Jargon
Two contrasting books highlight the chasm between teaching a subject and simply teaching its vocabulary. “Quantum Computing for Everyone” by Chris Bernhardt stands out as a model of effective technical communication. It methodically builds the fundamentals of quantum computing from basic linear algebra, moving at a pace that is brisk yet digestible. The prose is described as terse, logically organized, and remarkably simple—reminiscent of the Simple English version of Wikipedia—free from digressions or unnecessary embellishments. The only criticisms are that it feels too short and occasionally simplifies too much, such as omitting complex numbers. The author’s talent for demystifying math-heavy material serves as a fantastic stylistic example for anyone writing in this genre.
At the opposite end of the spectrum lies “Quantum Computing Explained – for Beginners” by Pantheon Space Academy. This book is called the worst read in over a year—a tedious, repetitive jumble of ever-changing analogies that never actually explain anything, instead offering superficial familiarity with the jargon. It contains not a single equation, algorithm, circuit, or line of code. The review is blunt: it suspects a mistake or a scam, noting that a modern LLM offers far more useful information in ten minutes than this book does in its entirety.
A third title, “Something Deeply Hidden” by Sean Carroll, aims to explain the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics. While it succeeds reasonably well, the supporting material feels poorly organized and loosely connected to the core thesis. The first third is insightful, but the remainder fails to maintain that standard.
The Quantum History Beat
For those preferring the human story of physics, “Quantum: Einstein, Bohr and the Great Debate about the Nature of Reality” by Manjit Kumar delivers a historical account centered on the philosophical clash between Einstein and Bohr. It is praised for its portrayal of the key scientists and events, without shying away from presenting actual physics. Similarly, “We Have No Idea” by J. Cham and D. Whiteson offers a whimsical, introductory survey of modern physics—what is known and, more importantly, what remains unknown. The content is solid, but the constant schoolboy humor and near-ubiquitous comic drawings distract rather than inform, a choice apparently made to court younger readers.
From Battlefields to Boardrooms
Outside the lab, “Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War” by Robert Coram provides a fascinating biography of John Boyd. The narrative covers his career as an Air Force pilot and his later, significant influence on the design of the F-15 and F-16, as well as on military theory. The book is noted for its insights into how large organizations function.
Guy Gavriel Kay’s “The Lions of Al-Rassan” offered a fictional change of pace. Though loosely based on the Spanish Reconquista, the world is deliberately altered, with changed names, religions, cosmologies (two moons), and a light seasoning of magic. While praised as a dynamic, high-paced read, the protagonists are considered excessively idealized and some dialogue feels long-winded.
On the non-fiction side, Cal Newport’s “Slow Productivity” is characterized as a rehash of his earlier “Deep Work” ideas. Filled with cherry-picked anecdotes about notable figures, the advice is deemed too general to be of practical use, a suspicion the author himself concedes late in the book. It is currently ranked as his least favorite Newport book. “Die With Zero” by Bill Perkins presents an affluent society’s dilemma: using savings earlier in life rather than hoarding them for old age. While the “peak savings” premise is interesting, the practical framework needs more development and skews towards inspiration rather than actionable steps.
Robots, Psychology, and History
“Interplanetary Robots” by Rod Pyle provides a competent overview of robotic space missions up to the Perseverance rover era. It is praised for solid writing and sufficient technical depth. Jonathan Haidt’s “The Anxious Generation” presents troubling, compelling evidence linking the sharp post-2010 decline in adolescent mental health to smartphone and social media use. The observations regarding broader challenges faced by Gen Z are deemed insightful.
Away from non-fiction, “The Working Poor: Invisible in America” by David K. Shipler, “The Magic of Reality” by Richard Dawkins, “A Philosophy of Software Design” by John Ousterhout, and “All Quiet on the Western Front” by Erich Maria Remarque were all revisited.
“The Anxious Generation” was not the only read addressing crucial societal shifts. Meanwhile, Candice Millard’s “River of the Gods” on the search for the Nile’s source proved a disappointment, as it centers on personality clashes and feuds rather than the exploration, geography, and history promised. Finally, “Mr. Popper’s Penguins” by Richard and Florence Atwater, while a silly and good-natured children’s story, is a rare case where the film adaptation is preferred despite a very different plot.
