-
Your next favorite book
is waiting.
Consciousness and the Everything of Physics
by Ulf Danielsson
There is a wonderfully weird but real world out there, and we are a part of it. It is time for physics to take life seriously.
Can we ever truly comprehend the universe before we fully understand consciousness and the wonders, and limits, of the mind? Ulf Danielsson, an acclaimed theoretical physicist who has dedicated his career to probing the deepest mysteries of nature, thinks not. As he dismantles the arguments of esteemed mathematicians and scientists, who would substitute their mathematical models for reality and equate the mind to a computer, he makes a lucid and passionate case that it is nature, full of beauty and meaning, which must compel us. In challenging established worldviews, he also takes a fresh look at major philosophical debates, including the notion of free will.
Fearless, provocative, and witty, The World Itself is essential reading for anyone curious about the profound questions surrounding life, the universe, and everything.
"Engrossing.... Danielsson's clarity of thought and expression and his use of illuminating literary and historical references are equal to the quality of his writing. Science 'popularizing' doesn't get much more comprehensible, or provocative, than this." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Danielsson takes readers on an odyssey through the width and depth of his field, and it is truly a fascinating journey. Touching on subjects as diverse as evolutionary biology, philosophy, and even popular culture, Danielsson makes his topics both appreciably substantial and approachable." - Library Journal (starred review)
"There are some mind-bending ideas and the philosophical reflections on math and physics are stimulating.... This pensive take on physics has much to offer." - Publishers Weekly
"Danielsson is Sweden's most important public writer on the implications of natural science. His lucid, powerful, passionate, and engaging work advances original arguments of great importance. The World Itself is destined to become a modern classic as it upends many of the received wisdoms about the scientific worldview." - Martin Hägglund, author of This Life: Secular Faith and Spiritual Freedom
"Danielsson displays a remarkably broad understanding of science and philosophy, and dispenses with false notions about the world in this brief, yet provocative book. I hope it stimulates lots of discussion and debate, as it should. For those who have thought about these issues, there is much of interest here. For those who haven't, this is a great place to start." - Lawrence M. Krauss, author of A Universe from Nothing and The Known Unknowns
This information about The World Itself was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Ulf Danielsson is a prize-winning physicist with a PhD from Princeton University whose research concentrates on dark energy and string theory with a special focus on applications in cosmology. A member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and professor of theoretical physics at Uppsala University, he has delivered lectures throughout the world based on his award-winning popular science books, which have been translated into several languages. The World Itself: Consciousness and the Everything of Physics is his first book to appear in English.
If you liked The World Itself, try these:
by Lisa Kaltenegger
Published 2025
Riveting and timely, a look at the research that is transforming our understanding of the cosmos in the quest to discover whether we are alone.
by Philip Plait
Published 2024
A rip-roaring tour of the cosmos with the Bad Astronomer, bringing you up close and personal with the universe like never before.
by Guido Tonelli
Published 2022
A breakout bestseller in Italy, now available for American readers for the first time, Genesis: The Story of How Everything Began is a short, humanistic tour of the origins of the universe, earth, and life - drawing on the latest discoveries in physics to explain the seven most significant moments in the creation of the cosmos.
Poetry is like fish: if it's fresh, it's good; if it's stale, it's bad; and if you're not certain, try it on the ...
Click Here to find out who said this, as well as discovering other famous literary quotes!
Can you name the title?
Test your book knowledge with our daily trivia challenge!
Your guide toexceptional books
BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction—books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
