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When We Cease to Understand the World
When We Cease to Understand the World | Benjamn Labatut
37 posts | 36 read | 36 to read
A monstrous and brilliant book Philip Pullman Wholly mesmerising and revelatory... Completely fascinating William Boyd Sometimes discovery brings destruction When We Cease to Understand the World shows us great minds striking out into dangerous, uncharted terrain. Fritz Haber, Alexander Grothendieck, Werner Heisenberg, Erwin Schrdinger: these are among the luminaries into whose troubled lives we are thrust as they grapple with the most profound questions of existence. They have strokes of unparalleled genius, they alienate friends and lovers, they descend into isolated states of madness. Some of their discoveries revolutionise our world for the better; others pave the way to chaos and unimaginable suffering. The lines are never clear. With breakneck pace and wondrous detail, Benjamn Labatut uses the imaginative resources of fiction to break open the stories of scientists and mathematicians who expanded our notions of the possible.
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Pinta
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Pickpick

Troubling concepts & troubled minds, math & physics mysteries. Where does history end & fiction begin? Like WG Sebald, trains of thought. Quantum physics & impossibility of knowing. Nitrogen fertilizer & atom bombs. Night gardeners. Sorrowful, arrogant uncertainty. Trans. 2020.

P159 “When Bohr returned from his holiday, Heisenberg told him that there was an absolute limit to what we could know about the world.”
P176 “We should be wary of plants.”

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cant_i'm_booked
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Pickpick

A really unique read - Labatut seamlessly meshes historical fact and some fiction into a riveting set of stories, each detailing a particular troubled genius who contributed to the golden age (and its dark consequences) of quantum mechanics, with side forays into chemistry, mathematics, religion, and psychology. Eg, what to think of Fritz Haber, who harnessed nitrogen to fertilize/feed the world but also introduced poison gas to modern warfare?

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catiewithac
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Pickpick

My dear friend @iread2much sent me this book as a gift. I knew I was going to love it from the first paragraph which wove cyanide, Nazis, and particle physics into a magical tale. I was stunned by depth and beauty of Labatut‘s writing. This book cannot be categorized; not quite fiction, history, science, or biography. It‘s something completely novel. Labatut wrote a fractal or Fibonacci swirl into being! Loved it! 🖤

Ruthiella I really liked this one too! Even though I surely didn‘t get everything. 🤯 1y
Cinfhen This was such a memorable read!!! 1y
BarbaraBB That first story was breathtaking! 1y
iread2much I‘m so glad you enjoyed this book! 1y
57 likes4 stack adds4 comments
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Blaire
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Pickpick

I loved this book - the most interesting and propulsive books I‘ve read in a long time. It goes through the lives and thoughts of famous physicists and mathematicians in the WWI and WW2 time period - Einstein, Bohrs, Heisenberg etc…how their discoveries impacted them, their obsessive thoughts and how their theories changed the understanding of the world and led to unplanned consequences and how they cope.

Hazel2019 Wow, the cover… 2y
BarbaraBB This book was such a surprise! 2y
Blaire @BarbaraBB right! It‘s so hard to describe and I couldn‘t put it down or stop thinking about it. 2y
BarbaraBB I am still thinking about it, especially that first chapter 😱 2y
Blaire @BarbaraBB same!! One of the best first chapters. 2y
50 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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BarbaraBB
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My favorite boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, are touring Europe at the moment. I‘ve been following Flea on Instagram and I love that in between kicking ass on his bass on stage each night, he‘s reading awesome books.

Leftcoastzen 🌶 2y
Cinfhen He‘s truly inspiring 🙌🏻❣️ 2y
TrishB I love it when your rock stars read too ♥️ I recommended a fantasy series to Gary Numan once and next time I saw him he told me he was reading it and it was awesome 😁 best feeling!! 2y
See All 19 Comments
Ruthiella That‘s so cool! 2y
LeahBergen This is awesome! 👏 2y
batsy That's so cool! And I'm thrilled that he found the Labatut stunning 💫 2y
Librarybelle I cannot tell you how excited I am to see Flea reading Jane Austen! ❤️ 2y
BarbaraBB @TrishB Wait a minute. You KNOW him?? 2y
BarbaraBB @batsy Me too!! 2y
TrishB As a super fan 😁 it‘s been a long time. Like 43 years. 2y
Readerann I listened to the audiobook… 2y
BarbaraBB @TrishB How cool! 2y
BarbaraBB @Librarybelle Lovely isn‘t it?! 2y
BarbaraBB @Readerann Yes!! I loved it too. I read it in print but I think the audio edition is even better! 2y
Megabooks Wow!! I‘m very impressed!! 😁😁 his book was fantastic too! 2y
BarbaraBB @Megabooks Impressive, right?! ❤️ 2y
tpixie That‘s awesome! What a coinkydink - you just commented and replied to @Simona ‘s post about another book by benjamin L (edited) 5mo
BarbaraBB @tpixie that‘s a coincidence indeed and it‘s awesome right? 🤘🏽 5mo
67 likes19 comments
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Sophronisba
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Today's quarterfinal match at The Morning News Tournament of Books: No One Is Talking About This vs. When We Cease to Understand the World.

I can't get into all of my issues with No One Is Talking About This without getting spoilery, but suffice it to say it ultimately felt scattered and shallow to me, and I am puzzled by all the praise for it. Why is it on so many longlists? I cannot tell you.

Sophronisba On the other hand, When We Cease to Understand the World fascinated me. Every year I discover a couple of books that I love that I would never have read without the tournament, and this is one of them.

A victory for When We Cease to Understand the World would be an upset, but I'm rooting for it.
2y
batsy I feel the same about the Lockwood. Wanted Labatut to win! 2y
Ruthiella Count me three. I don‘t feel the magic in No One Is Talking About This. I didn‘t like the first or the second half. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2y
10 likes3 comments
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Sophronisba
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Today at the Morning News Tournament of Books: When We Cease to Understand the World vs. The Book of Form and Emptiness.

When We Cease to Understand the World takes the form of a series of vignettes about real-life scientists -- it is about a quest for knowledge and the unhappiness that an obsessive quest can bring. It was massively interesting but sometimes puzzling as to where the line between fiction and non-fiction was drawn.

Sophronisba The Book of Form and Emptiness is told from the perspective of a sentient book and it is about a boy who can talk to objects, or at least hear them speak to him. Unfortunately this book did not speak to me (see what I did there?); I thought it was kind of a mess, actually, with pacing issues and none of the wit that should have been inherent in the premise.
2y
Sophronisba I'm rooting for When We Cease to Understand the World, but The Book of Form and Emptiness will probably win. 2y
10 likes1 stack add2 comments
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RaeLovesToRead
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BOOKMAIL!!!!!!

Don't think I ever move as fast as when the doorbell rings with a book package! 🥰

slategreyskies 🤣 I get that!! 2y
julesG 😍😍😍 2y
Branwen Book mail is the BEST mail! 📚 2y
See All 6 Comments
RaeLovesToRead @slategreyskies @julesG @Branwen The book buying ban isn't going well.... 😬 2y
aa_guer2021 Some stunning choices, though!! 2y
RaeLovesToRead @aa_guer2021 Thanks! I can't wait to read them 😄 2y
45 likes6 comments
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kwmg40
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Pickpick

This unusual book from the #ToB22 list is a fictionalized account of real scientific discoveries. I loved this novel (though I'm not sure it ought to be called a novel), especially the story surrounding Heisenberg's uncertainty principle.

5th book finished for the #FabulousFebruary readathon. @Andrew65

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Andrew65 Great 👏👏👏🙌 2y
Ruthiella It‘s an odd blend of fact and fiction, eh? I really liked it. 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2y
kwmg40 @Andrew65 @TheAromaofBooks Thanks for stopping by! 2y
kwmg40 @Ruthiella I struggled a bit at first, wondering what was fact and what was fiction, but then became reassured that all the scientific ideas were real, strange as some of them might seem. 2y
35 likes5 comments
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BarbaraBB
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Pickpick

Labatut himself summaries his book as follows: “This book is about what happens when we reach the edges of science; when we come face to face with what we cannot understand. It is about what occurs to the human mind when it pushes past the outer limits of thought, and what lies beyond those limits.”

The result is an intens, uncomfortable and intriguing book.

#ToB22 #pop22 #ConstellationOnCover

Ruthiella Excellent review. Such a thought provoking book. 2y
RaeLovesToRead Is it non fiction? 2y
sarahbarnes Such a great review. Still waiting to get this one from the library. I‘m so intrigued. 2y
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BarbaraBB @RaeLovesToRead It is classified as fiction but it‘s about real scientist driven into, well, madness because of science. When I googled them most of what is described in the book did really happen. 2y
Addison_Reads @BarbaraBB great review! I know many people haven't liked this one but I was a fan. 2y
RaeLovesToRead Oh wow! Sounds interesting! 2y
Megabooks I had read a lot of these stories in nonfiction books, and my mind spent so much time trying to match up what I did know as true with fiction, I became frustrated. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2y
BkClubCare @Megabooks - equally frustrating is when readers disparage historical fiction as not enough facts! By which I mean, that this book reads like nonfiction but has so much imagination told in nonfictional “factual-feeling” way. While historical fiction tends to feel like a novel. (Am I making any sense?! 🥴🤣) 2y
BkClubCare Just to say, this book had me confused and unsettled. Which was likely the goal, but I couldn‘t get comfortable. (edited) 2y
Suet624 I‘m glad you enjoyed this. I‘m going to have to give it another go sometime. 2y
Cinfhen Such a great quote!!! And I‘m so glad you loved it too!! I thought print would have been maddening but im really happy you proved me wrong. I don‘t think this is the winner but I‘d like to see it advance. 2y
thebluestocking I‘m so glad you liked this one! I agree with @BkClubCare that it is uncomfortable. And like @Megabooks I did spend a lot of time at first trying to decide what was real and not real. But eventually I just let it wash over me without any internet searching and found I really enjoyed the experience. 2y
Simona This book has the most powerful first chapter that I've ever read … I was curious about scientists/facts too, and I googled a lot, just to found out that everything is true 🤯 I have in my TBR pile… if maybe you are interested in reading about “mad” scientist and science 2y
BarbaraBB @Addison_Reads @Ruthiella I was blown away by that first chapter, just like @Simona mentions. So powerful. A well deserved #ToB book I think. 2y
BarbaraBB @BkClubCare @Megabooks @thebluestocking @Simona I don‘t know enough about the subject to wonder what was fiction or what not. I just let it wash over me and was very surprised so much of it really happened. Wow 😯 2y
BarbaraBB @Simona I did enjoy the part about Helgoland a lot, I looked it up too. That book sounds good indeed. Thanks for bringing it up! 2y
kwmg40 I've started this one and am finding it very intriguing so far. It's hard to think of it as fiction, as so much of it is based on real events. 2y
BarbaraBB @kwmg40 Some people have been struggling with that thin line between fact and fiction. I hope it won‘t bother you! 2y
Mindyrecycles It just wasn‘t for me at all. 😐 2y
84 likes4 stack adds19 comments
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Sophronisba
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Schrödinger published an article showing that his procedure and Heisenberg‘s were mathematically equivalent. Applied to a problem, they gave the exact same results. They were merely two ways of approaching an object, but his had the immense advantage of being intuitively comprehensible. There was no need to tear out one‘s eyes to look at subatomic particles, as young Heisenberg liked to say: all you had to do was close them and imagine.

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Suet624
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Bailedbailed

I really wanted to like this book. It seems like it should have been right up my alley. I wonder if an audio version would work better for me. The font type kept tripping me up! (That's a sentence I've never said before.) The subject matter was dense and the type was squished together. 25% of the way through I had to stop. I also don't see it going far in the #TOB22 so I was fine with bailing.

squirrelbrain That‘s weird about the font. I read this as an e-book on Scribd and didn‘t notice anything out of the ordinary. 2y
Suet624 @squirrelbrain I should have taken a photo of it. My brain couldn‘t handle both the material and the type at the same time. LOL 2y
BarbaraBB I‘ve got your edition too so I‘m scared now whole I was looking forward to it until now. Some of my peers here at Litsy loved it so I was sure I would too. Until now! 2y
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sarahbarnes Interesting - I‘m still waiting on this one from the library and am curious how I‘m going to feel about it. 2y
Mindyrecycles I read it on Kindle and still didn‘t care for it. 2y
Suet624 @Mindyrecycles Hahaha. Thank you! I'm not alone. 2y
Suet624 @BarbaraBB well.... parts of it were fascinating. :) I can't wait to see what you think. 2y
cariashley This wasn‘t for me either. I actually thought print might have worked better for me than audio but maybe not! 2y
thebluestocking I really loved this, but I listened to the audio, so maybe that helped? 🤷‍♀️ But I can‘t see it going far in the tournament either. It‘s a strange little book. 2y
Ruthiella I have this from the library as an ebook, so I‘ll never see the font. I‘m only 10% through it, however- to early to tell. 🤔 2y
Cinfhen I LOVED this one but I did audio and it felt like a series of fascinating podcasts. I‘m 💯 sure I would have bailed in print @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes @Mindyrecycles @cariashley @thebluestocking @Ruthiella I hope it advances past the first round 2y
Suet624 I think I should try audio. I was enjoying bits of it a lot until I couldn‘t handle the actual text. It brought up some fascinating stuff. @Cinfhen 2y
61 likes12 comments
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Sophronisba
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In a medical examination on the eve of the Nuremburg Trials, the doctors found the nails of Hermann Göring‘s fingers and toes stained a furious red, the consequence of his addiction to dihydrocodeine, an analgesic of which he took more than one hundred pills a day.

#FirstLineFridays

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thebluestocking
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This was an excellent start to the year!
8 #tob books
2 book club books
7 audiobooks
7 physical books
1 ebook
3 nonfiction
12 fiction

#januarywrapup #januaryreads #monthlywrapup

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Chelsea.Poole
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Pickpick

I HATE spoilers, so much so that I skim blurbs/reviews. I went in blind to this which quickly became “WHAT in the world am I reading!?” Reviews were read, which then helped my comprehension. Never will I ever understand quantum mechanics, but to imagine the fictional lives of the real people whose brilliance changed the world was a transformative reading experience. The down to earth ending was my favorite part and brought it home for me. #ToB22

sarahbarnes Still on the waitlist for this one. 2y
92 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Davidtk20
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Pickpick

Interesting and gripping book, I couldn‘t put it down when I began to read it. It is packaged like a bunch of essays narrating the journeys of some of the most important discoveries in physics and chemistry by top scientists in the last century. A couple of the stories were really odd but later did I find out that they are part fictitious.

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cariashley
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Panpan

Oof where do I start? I feel like the fact that I didn‘t like this book is a personal failure. It‘s an NYT top 10 and an Obama pick!! Maybe I shouldn‘t have done it on audio, maybe I‘m not smart enough. It seemed like such a great concept, but it was just not for me. Tagging one more nit as a spoiler in the comments.

Bottom of the #TOB22 list for me.

cariashley And WHY was there so much male masturbation?!? Sorry, but ugh. 2y
Megabooks Truth re: spoiler. I wasn‘t a fan either for different reasons 2y
Ruthiella Just got this from the library. I‘ll see if I agree with Obama or you! I‘ll try to keep an open mind. 2y
See All 7 Comments
cariashley @Megabooks glad I‘m not totally alone! 2y
cariashley @Ruthiella I hope you have a better experience than I did! 2y
thebluestocking I‘m sorry you didn‘t like this one! I don‘t think it‘s a personal failure. 💙 It‘s a weird little book. (And I did feel like the audiobook narrator was intense.) 2y
cariashley @thebluestocking thank you for saying that! I hate feeling like I missed something. 2y
34 likes7 comments
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Addison_Reads
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Pickpick

This book is definitely not going to be for everyone. Personally, I loved being unsure at times what might be fact and what might be fiction. With a background in science, a lot of it I knew was real and other parts that I was unsure about I just let myself get caught up in the madness.

There's a genius to the writing style and I feel if you're going to read it, it's best to go in blind and just let your mind unravel as the story does. #ToB2022

vivastory I'm looking forward to reading this one. Great review 👏 2y
Suet624 This is finally waiting for me at the library 2y
41 likes2 comments
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Addison_Reads
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1. I only read on my phone if I'm stuck somewhere without a book. It's a great backup. 😀

2. I won a 7 inch color Nook from my local library's summer reading program in 2012 and I've faithfully used it since. At some point I might need to update, but for now it works. Tagged book is my current ebook read.

#Two4Tuesday thank you for the tag @TheSpineView

Wanna play? @Nute @Nebklvr @TheNeverendingTBR @readordierachel

Nute Thanks for the tag, Cassie ( @Addison_Reads )! 💕I posted just a few minutes before you did!☺️ 2y
Addison_Reads @Nute I just saw that after I posted. 💚 2y
TheSpineView Thanks for playing! Happy reading! 💙📖 2y
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TheNeverendingTBR Thanks for the tag Cas! 🧡 2y
readordierachel Thanks for the tag! How cool that you won your Nook from the library. That definitely makes it better 😊 2y
Nebklvr I very rarely read books on my phone. Usually, I only use my kindle for digital arcs. I prefer print. 2y
31 likes6 comments
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thebluestocking
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Pickpick

I knew nothing about this book (other than it‘s on the #tob shortlist) before I started. I had to stop and check that I had the right book. This is fiction, right?

Starting from true accounts of important discoveries in math and physics, the book then explores via fiction the philosophical underpinnings of science. And how madness can ensue.

Unsure about it until the very end, I realized I loved it. It made me understand the world differently.

Cinfhen Great review 2y
squirrelbrain Great review - such an unusual book. 2y
See All 14 Comments
Megabooks I was not a fan, but great review!! 👍🏻👍🏻 2y
sarahbarnes Great review! I have a hold on this one from the library. I‘m interested to give it a try. 2y
BkClubCare Might have to buy this one. 2y
Simona I love, love this book❣️ 2y
Well-ReadNeck @thebluestocking Yes! I kept googling/fact checking while reading! 2y
ReadingEnvy I loved this one so much and also loved the joureny 2y
BarbaraBB I love your review and the comments. I am very much looking forward to it 2y
cariashley Wow, great review! 2y
Ruthiella Fantastic review. I was already pretty excited about this one. Just waiting for the library hold to come in. 🤞 2y
Suet624 Still waiting forfolks at the library to pass it along. 2y
thebluestocking I hope you get it soon! 💙 2y
57 likes4 stack adds14 comments
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Simona
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When I look back, I'm very happy with my reading year, and yet here's my personal reading canon for 2021. Different stories, different fates, different thinking, styles and depictions of the different worlds … but since I read it, my absolutely favorite still remains When We Cease to Understand the World.

Simona The cropped book is The Magicians by Colm Toibin. 2y
batsy So glad to see the Labatut in there 😍 2y
BarbaraBB I‘m hoping to get to the Labatut soon! 2y
See All 9 Comments
Suet624 I really hope I get to your tagged book sometime soon. I've heard wonderful things about it. 2y
Simona @batsy I remember that your review was also very praising, and how glad I was because of that.😁 2y
Simona @BarbaraBB @Suet624 It is unusual story about science, on the border between fiction and nonfiction, but written with such a force, especially first chapter, that it is worth the time and effort, even if you're not interested in quantum physics at all. 2y
BarbaraBB I‘m glad you hear that! 2y
Suet624 I love quantum physics conversations. 2y
Simona @Suet624 Then this book is perfect pick for you 👊👍 2y
53 likes9 comments
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Kazzie
Mehso-so

Interesting book, I thought it would be more of a novel. Certain chapters are stronger than others

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Cinfhen
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Pickpick

This is pretty freaki‘ brilliant. You know that game two truths and a lie…well this is it‘s literary equivalent. I see a comparison to the Lockwood novel Nobody is Talking About This, and I‘m a fan of both. In a world of skewed reporting and all types of social media evils this quiet book has a lot to say buried under all the scientific jargon. While you may feel enlightened by this book you need to stop and wonder, what more do I really know?

Cinfhen #ToB22ShortList #Hoopla #Audio - I‘m not sure I would have made it through in print. Audio narration was excellent 2y
squirrelbrain Great review Cindy! 2y
Megabooks I‘m glad you weren‘t as frustrated as I was! Great review! 2y
See All 9 Comments
Cinfhen Not frustrated , but I do see the problem when you blur fact & fiction @Megabooks but this was cleverly done. I‘m happy it‘s advancing @squirrelbrain 2y
sarahbarnes Oh, great review - now I‘m even more excited to get to this one! 2y
BarbaraBB Me too! 2y
Ruthiella Excellent review! So looking forward to this one. 😀 2y
thebluestocking I agree with brilliant!! 💙 2y
Cinfhen This book is my second favorite @thebluestocking I hope it finds its place!! 2y
81 likes9 comments
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Hooked_on_books
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Pickpick

What a fantastic, unusual book! This reads as a series of essays about the lives of scientists as they are making discoveries, among other things, all while blurring the lines between fiction and fact. It‘s completely fascinating and I‘m delighted it‘s on the NBA shortlist for translated lit. It belongs there!

Ruthiella Looking forward to reading this one soon! 2y
batsy I greatly enjoyed this, too. Find it hard to classify or box into any particular genre and I appreciate that! 2y
Hooked_on_books @batsy I noticed on goodreads they have so many descriptors attached to it that it‘s almost funny! If a less deft author tried to do what he did, I think it would drive me crazy, but he really nailed it. 2y
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Chelsea.Poole Oh nice! I just read @Megabooks ‘s review and I‘m intrigued! 2y
bnp This just came in for me at my library. May be a plane read next week 2y
BarbaraBB I‘m so intrigued too. Reviews vary wildly! 2y
Hooked_on_books @Chelsea.Poole @BarbaraBB I can see how it may not be for everyone, but Obama put it on his best books list this year, which is an endorsement I respect! 2y
57 likes1 stack add7 comments
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Megabooks
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Mehso-so

Total mind**** for me!

This book takes major scientific discoveries and fictionalizes some stories about their founders. That said, I have done enough science reading over the years to know that some of the more outlandish stories are actually TRUE. So this book had me connecting and processing until I went mad. Perhaps someone coming in cold would enjoy it more. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Interesting but VERY frustrating.

The #audiobook narration is great!

Megabooks I think I‘m forgetting to tag someone. If so, I‘m sorry!! 2y
Ruthiella I don‘t have your science background but suspect I‘m going to be googling a lot! 😆 Great review! 2y
squirrelbrain I definitely don‘t have a science background, but actually I let the really science-y stuff just go over my head. @Ruthiella 2y
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Cinfhen Curious how I‘ll respond to this book, since I have zero scientific background but I HATE when fiction and NF is blurred. Distortion is a #PetPeeve 2y
sarahbarnes Crazy! Great review. I‘m on the list for this one at the library, and as a total non-science person it will be interesting to see how it reads. 2y
BarbaraBB I‘m a non-science person too and curious how I‘ll think of this book. Thanks for the honest review 🤍 2y
Megabooks @Cinfhen the first section “Prussian Blue” is about the guy who invented nitrogen collection from the atmosphere, BUT he also invented chlorine gas (this is true). Anyway, it has fairly graphic descriptions of Jewish people dying in gas chambers. Just wanted to let you know as far as a CW. It‘s not in any other place besides that section. 💜 I‘m interested to see what you think, especially since you also hate distortion!! (edited) 2y
Megabooks @Ruthiella it may spark you to find out the truth about these discoveries, but you can just let the most science-y parts go like @squirrelbrain said. There are some REAL wacky stories about science, which is definitely cool! 2y
Megabooks @sarahbarnes @BarbaraBB thanks! I‘m really curious to see what the non-science readers have to say for sure! 2y
Cinfhen The audio is available on #Hoopla @sarahbarnes in case you have that library service!! Thanks for the heads up, Meg. It‘s a short listen so I think I‘ll add it to my #WeeklyForecast ❤️ 2y
Megabooks @Cinfhen cool!! Really curious to see what you think!! I should‘ve checked hoopla before I bought it, but you know I‘m not a hoopla fan! I listen at 2.25 and that‘s not an option on hoopla. 👎🏻👎🏻 2y
Cinfhen Just as a heads up @Megabooks Hoopla now offers a custom speed setting and it goes up to 4.0 😘 2y
Megabooks @Cinfhen finally!!! Now if they‘d only put chapters in their back catalogue! Or have they done that too? 2y
sarahbarnes Thanks @Cinfhen! I wish I was better at books on audio. I apparently don‘t have an attention span for it - I get distracted and realize I missed the last five minutes of what was playing. 😂 2y
Cinfhen Chapters are back, too!!! Or at least they are in some of the last few I listened too!!! 2y
Megabooks @Cinfhen yayayay!! I‘ll definitely check it out. It‘ll save me some 💰 2y
Mindyrecycles Not my cup of tea. 😬 2y
Megabooks @Mindyrecycles it was weird AF for sure! 2y
73 likes18 comments
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Hooked_on_books
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I‘m really enjoying seeing everyone‘s #Top21of21! Thanks so much for the tags @squirrelbrain , @Graywacke , and @merelybookish ! This was REALLY hard to whittle down to 21 ( I started with 53), and I‘m cheating a little, since I‘m not quite done with the tagged book, but it would absolutely be on this list if I were (and now I don‘t have to figure out who to boot off).

@Librariana I‘d love to see your favorite reads of the year!

LeahBergen Great list! I‘ve so enjoyed seeing everyone‘s favourites. 2y
squirrelbrain Some great books on here… I just got approved for Du Bois on #netgalley. (edited) 2y
Megabooks Fantastic list several of those were top 50/506 for me but didn‘t quite make top 21! 2y
See All 21 Comments
TrishB That‘s the second time in 24 hours How the Word is Passed has been brought to my attention. I think that means I have to buy it 😁 2y
Hooked_on_books @squirrelbrain It‘s long but so, so good! I actually wanted it to keep going when I was done. 2y
Hooked_on_books @Megabooks I found the same to be true for me of your list! 2y
Hooked_on_books @TrishB It does mean that! You won‘t regret it—it‘s phenomenal. 2y
TrishB It was only Qa.99 on kindle ? 2y
Chelsea.Poole Lovely list 😊 I am planning to get to The Echo Wife soon! 2y
Soubhiville @TrishB it‘ll be on my list as well. 2y
Graywacke A lot here I want to read. Glad to see Bewilderment because I‘m hoping to read it soonish. 2y
merelybookish Great list! I've seen The Secret Lives of Church Ladies on a few lists! Been wanting to read it and Monogamy! 2y
bnp Several on here that I would like to read. 2y
Ruthiella So many great books here! I also want to read The Secret Lives if Church Ladies. So many have included it in their best of 21 lists! 2y
rsteve388 I don't know who created this trend but it is my favorite. You have books I have read and enjoyed and books I have but haven't read. I will need to move then up my.TBR. 2y
BarbaraBB What a superb list. I‘m making notes of the ones I haven‘t read yet! (edited) 2y
Flaneurette @Ruthiella @merelybookish I was thinking the same about Church Ladies! On the list it goes! 2y
Soubhiville There are so many on here I haven‘t read yet but want to! Church ladies was so close to making my list…. It was a 5⭐️, uncommon for short stories for me too. 2y
Hooked_on_books @Soubhiville I agree with you on short stories. Though I did have Filthy Animals on my longlist before whittling down. I actually thought I‘d read Church Ladies last year, but nope! It‘s really stuck with me, which is a criterion I reply upon heavily. 2y
Cinfhen I‘ve taken a screenshot for #FurtherInspiration 🥰 2y
Librariana I can see at least 8 or 9 titles right off the bat that are currently on my TBR so that is a pretty faboo feeling! 😁😊 And since I know you have impeccably thought-provoking taste, Holly, I'm eager to look into more of these titles 💜📚 Thanks for the tag! I'll be sharing my embarrassingly smaller list shortly 😆 2y
74 likes21 comments
review
squirrelbrain
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Pickpick

I think that this has to be one of the most intelligent, challenging and unusual books that I‘ve ever read. There were parts that I didn‘t understand, and didn‘t dare to look up in case I felt even more stupid (!) but I still really enjoyed it.

I can completely see how it has made the #ToBshortlist. It‘s not my ‘favourite‘ in terms of reading enjoyment but I‘m interested to see what it comes up against and how far it goes.

BarbaraBB You‘re raving through the shortlist! I have this one lined up too. But first Matrix and Libertie! 2y
Chrissyreadit I suspect I would struggle with quite a bit of it but your review makes me want to try. 2y
Cinfhen I have this to read too but I need to be in a good quiet headspace. I might wait till January 2y
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batsy I really liked this one! 💜 2y
TrishB I don‘t think my brain could take this at the moment. 2y
squirrelbrain @Chrissyreadit @Cinfhen - although it‘s very ‘clever‘, it‘s not inaccessibly so. I think you‘ll both like it. 2y
squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB - you know me…put a challenge in front of me and I race off at 100mph! 2y
rockpools Great review! Apparently I plan to read this again with looking up time scheduled in at some point (never gonna happen 🤦🏻‍♀️) - I enjoyed it though! 2y
Cinfhen Oh, good to know 🤩🙃‼️ 2y
BarbaraBB I know and I love it. It‘s so recognizable! 2y
squirrelbrain Yeah, that‘s not gonna happen, is it? @rockpools 🤣 2y
alisiakae I can‘t wait to read this! 2y
Megabooks Wow! You‘ve really piqued my interest. 2y
Ruthiella Really looking forward to this one. Hopefully it will be the mix of humor, weirdness and intellectual stimulation I was looking for in Binet‘s Civilization but didn‘t quite get? 2y
squirrelbrain I‘m not sure I saw too much humour @Ruthiella , but a definite yes to weirdness and intellectual stimulation. I‘m reading this one now and it‘s *very* witty. 2y
KarenUK Definitely intrigued! 💕 2y
75 likes4 stack adds16 comments
review
ReadingEnvy
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Pickpick

I didn't catch this book when it was on the International Booker list, but when it was named a finalist for the translated lit category of the National Book Award, I finally decided to give it a go, especially once I found the audio in Hoopla and it was under 6 hours.↘️

ReadingEnvy At first, it feels like non-fiction, well researched information about science and math, death and destruction, the usual. It slowly morphs to include details about the characters that might be true, I guess, but would he unlikely to be known without a detailed journal or analysis records. And as it nears the end, the stories start linking and it feels more like a fictional experience.↘️ 2y
ReadingEnvy I always enjoy books that take me on a journey. The characters do not have to be on a journey, but I like the author to have a clear goal in mind even if I don't know what it is... It's one of those undefinable things that I like and is present here. I also am a sucker for books about math and mathematicians and boy did this qualify. I wish it had won the International Booker and I hope it wins the National Book Award for translation. 2y
Cathythoughts Great review 👍🏻❤️ 2y
52 likes3 comments
review
Bookboss
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Pickpick

I listened to this on Hoopla, and although the narrator was excellent, I still would like to reread it in print. The author tells stories of famous scientists and their discoveries. Parts of the stories are true, but other parts are invented. I kept wanting to stop and search for the factual stories. The author‘s method does have much to say about the pursuit of knowledge. Very absorbing.

review
batsy
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Pickpick

I wasn't quite sure how to review this book or even explain what it's about. A nonfiction novel? Novelised nonfiction? I have no idea, but it is extremely my shit. The prose is rhythmic and compelling; a jolt to the mind. You follow the unpredictable path of the narrative that takes you through groundbreaking scientists and mathematicians who found that getting closer to the truths of existence also means playing a part in destroying it.

batsy It's extremely pertinent to our times, while bringing home the realisation that "our times" have been going on for much longer than most realise. Something about the shapeshifting nature of this book reminds me of books like Annihilation or Piranesi; all completely different books, but each in essence about some unknowable mystery. The author writes about the theory behind computers, for example, like "it had fallen to earth from another planet". 3y
batsy Attempted to read through the #internationalbookerprize2021 before the winner is announced and I didn't quite make it but right now this book, or the one I'm currently in the middle of (The Employees), both seem like strong contenders. 3y
Cathythoughts What a brilliant review! ✨ 3y
See All 11 Comments
Chelsea.Poole Ok, stacked 3y
nathandrake1997 Brilliant review ❤️ Dying to read this book since the longlist was announced, but can't find it anywhere 😓 3y
Freespirit Great review.. as always 😘😘 3y
TrishB Great review ❤️ 3y
batsy @Chelsea.Poole @nathandrake1997 Look forward to your thoughts when you're able to get to it. It's certainly very different from most contemporary novels & I'm very glad this was translated into English :) 3y
Simona ♥️ your review! I‘m hoping that this book is the winner.🤞 3y
batsy @Simona Thank you 😘 I haven't made my way through the whole shortlist but this is definitely deserving! 3y
81 likes8 stack adds11 comments
review
rockpools
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Pickpick

I finally settled down and read this. I rarely agree with cover quotes, but ‘monstrous and brilliant‘ may be a pretty good description!

This takes a mainly-fictional look at the scientists and mathematicians working at the edge of knowledge in the early 20th century; their impact on war and life and death; and the impact of science and war on

rockpools them. It‘s by no means an easy read, and I suspect a stronger knowledge of/interest in the problems they‘re tackling would have helped. But the writing is excellent, the structure is so neatly plotted, the content is fascinating (I kept stopping to see if that really happened. It did.), and it‘s quite a unique way of telling a story. I‘m not sure that this will win the #InternationalBookerPrize2021, but I won‘t be upset if it does. (edited) 3y
Simona Your review makes me smile 😊 and I couldn‘t agree more with you about structure, especially first few pages are so strong and breathtaking, real tour de force. I‘m planning to read it again this summer - without googling. Thank you for your review 🤗 3y
Simona ... and now you can read whatever you want 😘😘😘 3y
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squirrelbrain Great review- and well done for finishing! Love you @Simona for giving @rockpools permission to read what she wants now! 🤣 (edited) 3y
TrishB Great review 😁 3y
Simona I was harassing @rockpools about this book! That isn‘t permission @squirrelbrain it‘s a reward 😘😘😘 3y
batsy Nice review! I just finished this one, too. I thought it was really brilliant. And the way the grim start of it just sweeps you in... 3y
rockpools @Simona 🤣🤣 Thanks Simona! I probably need to read it again with extra googling - but not just yet! 3y
rockpools @batsy I spent that first chapter going 😧 Surely I should know about this 😧 3y
49 likes9 comments
review
ClairesReads
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Pickpick

Translated lit is alive and well. When We Cease to Understand the World is a clever, moving collection of stories about science, math, and the existential crisis of what it‘s like when we reach the edge of our ability to comprehend the world around us. I won‘t pretend to have understood all the quantum mechanics, but I loved the blurred lines between fact and fiction. These stories captured in a very real way the anxiety of a world in crisis

rockpools Great review! 3y
26 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
BookwormM
Pickpick

#BookerInternationalShortlist2021

Liked but didn‘t love despite theoretical physics being my thing. I will say the way the story is told has the potential to generate interest in physics and understanding the world.

For me the takeaway message was humans as a race are not capable yet of understanding how the world works and it may be better all round if we never do.

rockpools Interesting! I‘m not sure why I‘ve kept delaying this one - this week! 3y
BookwormM @rockpools 🤣🤣I can no longer delay War of the Poor so that is my next one not sure I will get to Dangers or Employees as can‘t find cheap copies anywhere 3y
rockpools @BookwormM You‘re very nearly done then - WotP won‘t take long. And that‘s a shame, they‘re both good. I ended up buying those two on kindle at which point my library unexpectedly bought the whole shortlist. 3y
33 likes1 stack add3 comments
blurb
Simona
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April was dedicated to the Booker longlist. One book, which was also my doublespin, didn‘t arrived in time ... It was good reading month, and my favourite is the tagged book.
#bookspin https://litsy.com/p/aGpUdGNjamw2

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Great month!!! 3y
41 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
Simona
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My official #InternationalBookerPrize2021 shortlist before the official judges shows their selection 🤓

rockpools You‘re good! 😂😂 3y
rockpools And I‘m sure Employees would‘ve been on there if your copy had arrived! 3y
BarbaraBB You ARE good!! 🤩 3y
Simona @BarbaraBB Thanks 😊 3y
48 likes5 comments
review
Simona
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Pickpick

The content of this book revolves around quantum physics, mathematics, and complicated minds/geniuses that have pushed the boundaries in understanding the world. The first chapter, about various inventions, leaves a bitter taste - the question of human nature, which manages to turn almost all inventions into something bad. In the following chapters, the focus is on individual important personalities from science and on the birth of ... 👇

Simona ... quantum physics. Most of these peculiar minds ended up on the brink of insanity, or at least opted for a remote, solitary life. While reading these short fictionalized biographies - I‘ve been wondering all the time what did scientists saw/see behind these numbers, waves, light/darkness ... and what did they understand that we ordinary mortals cannot comprehend. 👇 3y
Simona The last chapter, which is entirely fictional, offers a 'lesson' on humility through the character of the 'night gardener', and humility is what may save us from destruction. Fascinating topic and fascinating execution. I think that the construction/flow of the story in this book is really enormous achievement. #InternationalBookerPrize2021 3y
BookwormM Great review makes me want to read it 3y
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rockpools Wow! I agree with @BookwormM 3y
BarbaraBB Great review. Might be your cup of tea @Megabooks ! 3y
Megabooks Wow! Thanks for the tag @BarbaraBB ! 3y
Simona @BookwormM @rockpools @BarbaraBB @Megabooks The narrative isn‘t straightforward, it is story without story and with a lot of names ... quite a few factors that aren‘t popular with readers. 3y
49 likes7 comments