Through two doors at once
by Anil Ananthaswamy · first published 2018
5mentions
4recommended by
4HN commenters
2018–2025first – last mentioned
100% recommend
"It's the story of quantum mechanics told through the lens of the 'double-slit' experiment, showing how light passing through two slits cut into a cardboard sheet first challenged our understanding of light and the nature of reality almost two hundred years ago--and continues to do so"--
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'Through Two Doors At Once' by Anil Ananthaswamy https://www.amazon.com/Through-Two-Doors-Once-Experiment/dp/... 'Beyond Weird' by Philip Ball https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Weird-Philip-Ball/dp/184792458... There's some overlap…
on “Ask HN: Great books you read in 2018?” ↗…Going through all the comments a few days after the question was asked is very rewarding ! So many books marked as 'to read' :) My contribution: If you're not familiar with Quantum Physics, do check out 'Through Two doors at once'. There were numerous instances while reading the book that I had to just put it down and think deeply - mostly philosophical thoughts around what we are and how magical nature is. The subject matter…
on “Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same as before?” ↗…you're joking, Mr Feynman" is light but profound. Max Tegmark's "Our Mathematical Universe" is great. "I am a strange loop" by Douglas Hofstadter will connect many dots. If you want to peek deeper - "Through two doors at once" describes experiments at the edge of our reality. "The singularity is near" is a good perspective that connects dots through time back many years to many in the future. These are just some incomplete…
on “Ask HN: Good books on philosophy of engineering?” ↗For those looking for a good pop-sci introduction to these sort of quantum effects and why demonstrating macroscopic quantum effects is a big deal for the foundations of the field I recommend “Through Two Doors at Once” by Anil Ananthaswany.
on “Nobel Prize in Physics 2025” ↗…top reads this year: - How to Tame a Fox - great popsci history of a genetics experiment - "The Sixth Extinction" and "Not the end of the world" - compelling but contrasting takes on climate change - Through Two Doors at Once - posci history of the double slit experiment - Alvarez: Adventures of a Physicist - Luis Alvarez should get just as much attention as Feynman does IMO! - A Matter of Death and Life - the last book…
on “Ask HN: What did you read in 2025?” ↗