The Magicians

Leads the reader through many of the wonders of twentieth century physics with a light and sometimes quirky touch ... It is so full of little insights and neat analogies that I found myself folding over the top corners of countless pages containing quotable passages. What is remarkable is the number of new ways Marcus Chown has found to explain difficult and often abstract concepts. This is what good popular science writing is all about.

In this elegantly written book, Marcus Chown takes you to the heart of the most challenging concepts known to man and makes you feel that understanding is truly within your grasp.

A pretty wonderful book.

Lay readers, delighted by Chown's vivid imagery and lively humour, will experience several happy Eureka moments.

For a quick briefing on the biggest ideas behind modern physics you would be hard-pressed to find a better guide than Marcus Chown ... Science doesn't come harder than this but he makes it all look so easy.

Reading a well-written popular science book is one of the great pleasures of modern times, and this guided tour through life, the universe and everything affords that pleasure in abundance.