When Einstein Walked with Gödel audiobook cover - Excursions to the Edge of Thought

When Einstein Walked with Gödel

Excursions to the Edge of Thought

Jim Holt

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When Einstein Walked with Gödel
Einstein & Gödel's Bond+
The Nature of Mathematics+
The Concept of Infinity+
Alan Turing's Legacy+
String Theory+
The End of the Universe+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8
Why did Albert Einstein become somewhat alienated from the scientific community later in his life?
  • A. He refused to accept the expanding universe model proposed by his peers.
  • B. He believed the implications of quantum mechanics were too 'spooky' to be true.
  • C. He abandoned physics entirely to focus on pure mathematical logic.
  • D. He claimed that the speed of light was relative rather than absolute.
Question 2 of 8
How did Kurt Gödel expand upon Einstein's theory of relativity?
  • A. He proved mathematically that time travel is impossible under any circumstances.
  • B. He demonstrated that gravity is the result of vibrating strings of energy.
  • C. He proposed a rotating universe where time travel is possible, concluding that time itself does not exist.
  • D. He showed that the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate.
Question 3 of 8
What did neuroscientist Stanislas Dehaene conclude after studying a patient with a brain injury who struggled to process numbers?
  • A. Humans possess an innate 'number sense' that allows for rough estimations, preventing wildly inaccurate answers.
  • B. Higher mathematics requires the use of language centers located exclusively in the right hemisphere.
  • C. The human brain cannot process prime numbers without visual or linguistic aids.
  • D. Dyscalculia is a purely psychological condition unrelated to physical brain structure.
Question 4 of 8
According to the text, what is a primary motivation for mathematicians working in 'pure mathematics'?
  • A. Finding practical solutions to complex engineering and commercial problems.
  • B. Developing algorithms to advance modern computer science.
  • C. Discovering mathematical proofs that possess beauty, simplicity, and strangeness.
  • D. Winning the million-dollar reward associated with the Millennium Prize Problems.
Question 5 of 8
How was the concept of the 'infinitesimally small' rehabilitated in modern mathematics during the 1960s?
  • A. Physicists discovered that quarks could be divided infinitely using particle accelerators.
  • B. Abraham Robinson used Gödel’s completeness theorem to prove the logical consistency of calculations involving infinitesimals.
  • C. Benoit Mandelbrot used early computers to generate infinitely small and self-similar fractal patterns.
  • D. Isaac Newton's original calculations for planetary orbits were finally proven to be entirely accurate.
Question 6 of 8
What theoretical concept did Alan Turing develop during his time at Princeton that laid the blueprint for modern computing?
  • A. The Enigma machine, a complex device used for encryption.
  • B. A machine consisting of a scanner moving over an infinite tape of squares to implement logical algorithms.
  • C. The incompleteness theorem, which proved that no logical system is entirely airtight.
  • D. A counter-coding machine called the Bombe used to decipher messages.
Question 7 of 8
What is a major criticism of string theory mentioned in the text?
  • A. It fails to account for the macro-forces outlined by the general theory of relativity.
  • B. It requires the universe to be rotating rather than expanding.
  • C. It completely contradicts the foundational principles of quantum mechanics.
  • D. It currently lacks empirical proof and comes in so many variations that it can predict everything and nothing.
Question 8 of 8
Which of the following describes the 'big chill' scenario for the end of the universe?
  • A. The universe collapses back onto itself, producing massive amounts of energy for infinite computation.
  • B. The universe expands faster and faster until protons decay and matter dissolves entirely.
  • C. The universe expands forever until particles are spread too far apart to sustain life as we know it.
  • D. The universe freezes abruptly due to the sudden cessation of vibrating strings of energy.

When Einstein Walked with Gödel — Full Chapter Overview

When Einstein Walked with Gödel Summary & Overview

When Einstein Walked with Gödel (2018) is an excursion through both the fabric of our reality and the limits of scientific imagination. Combining math and physics with history and philosophy, it sheds light on some of the most important scientific theories of the last three centuries – and examines the turbulent lives of the geniuses who conceived them. 

Who Should Listen to When Einstein Walked with Gödel?

  • Laypeople who’d like to understand more about math and physics
  • Critical thinkers interested in the history and philosophy of science
  • Anyone who’d like to leave a big impression at their next cocktail party

About the Author: Jim Holt

Jim Holt is an American journalist and essayist whose work focuses on popular science. His writings have appeared in the New York Times, the New York Times Magazine, the New Yorker, and Slate. He has published several books, including Stop Me If You've Heard This: A History and Philosophy of Jokes and the New York Times best seller Why Does the World Exist?

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