Skip to main content

Review: Life on the Edge: The Coming of Age of Quantum Biology by Johnjoe Mc Fadden and Jim Al-Khalili




Review: Life on the Edge: The Coming of Age of Quantum Biology
Johnjoe Mc Fadden and Jim Al-Khalili
Crown Publishers
2014

Quantum biology?  I had never seen those two words together before, so I had to read this book.  And now I have and liked many parts of it.  The authors try to explain quantum biology to the lay person, like me, and after reading this I understand at least some of it.  Repeated warnings appear throughout the text that the subject is not really as simple as some of their examples, so there’s much more out there than they included in this book.  Early portions of the book include a history of the development of quantum theory and many notable people related to that. 

How do robins know where to go when it’s time to migrate?  What does that have to do with quantum mechanics?  And what has any of that to do with biology?  It’s quite a task for the reader to keep up with all the dots that must be connected to draw the lines through the robin, quantum mechanics and biology.  One that only the hardy will finish.  

This is not an easy read.  And in my opinion the first half of the book does not make the task any easier.  It is uneven in its presentation, seemingly not able to maintain the level for the uninitiated reader.  The back half makes their case most clearly that quantum stuff can happen in the world of biology.  How the belief otherwise came to be is odd since quantum has to do with atomic, molecular stuff, but the biologic world was formerly off limits because of its squishy, warm environment which makes research much more complicated.  As methods and tools improved in biology, chemistry, and physics, to say nothing of biology and physics actually communicating with each other, some began to look deeper and that is what this book is really about.   

The ideas are challenging, and the applications fuel the stuff of science fiction.  The attempt to define concepts like consciousness and life in a manner that makes them accessible to the science community is still up in the air.  The authors seem to subscribe to a quote from Richard Feynman, “Everything that living things do can be understood in terms of the jiggling and wiggling of atoms…” (59) while they agree that livings things differ significantly from the inanimate.  They practice the quantum idea of being in two places and states of being at once as they try to balance this presentation to the lay person.

I would recommend this book primarily to those that have done some reading about quantum ideas first and to those that are willing to stretch to grasp the idea of a living office building (315).

I received this book from the publisher in return for a review.
 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Review: When God’s Ways Make No Sense by Dr. Larry Crabb

Review: When God’s Ways Make No Sense Dr. Larry Crabb Baker Books 2018 I chose this book because the title intrigued me.   When God’s Ways Make No Sense.    There have been plenty of times when that seemed truer than I’d like to admit.   Are we even allowed to say something like that?   Even if we think it.   So, an author willing to take on that topic had my attention. And mostly because I wanted his take on what to do about it? As it turns out Crabb pretty much gave away his case very early on in his book with a single scripture quote.   The basic idea is God is GOD and we are not.   His motives and actions are incomprehensible to mankind and He owes no explanation for them either.   Crabb admits near the end of his book that he is not a theologian which I knew going into this book, but his arguments are theology.   Or at least I think so.   I found his repeated circling the topic a bit frustrating. ...

Review: The Little French Bistro by Nina George

Review: The Little French Bistro Nina George Crown 2017 I have to admit that I'm not a fan of romance novels, but I think this one goes beyond the boy meets girl idea.   By a bunch.   If adults had coming of age stories this one would fit there.   Marianne travels a road many people I know would love to, but fear taking the steps needed. And that is the basis of this book.   Taking the steps.   Joy, sorrow, whatever comes and keep on taking the steps.    I agree with many of the comments already made about George's ability to build wonderful characters, paint scenes that vibrate with energy, and tell a story too.   Her writing touches the heart and not in some sappy, maudlin way.   A place of real emotions and desire.   Speaking of desire---her intimate scenes are just that, intimate.   In body and mind.   And not for just spicing things up a bit.   She captures the true nature of intimacy...

Buntings and Books

Time to blog says the calendar. So OK let's blog. What about? Oil spills? Court nominees? Euro problems? Weather? The last one is the easiest to go with it looks like. Cold and windy again. What is this about? Not more than a week ago it looked like summer. Even needed fans to cool the place. Well, the fans are off now. Nature has provided some pre-cooled forced air for a few days now, complete with humidity adjustments ie rain. Keeps the ground cold and the urge to garden at bay. Protection for those of us who aren't in the best physical condition. The weather has the birds on the feeder more often and that included a new one in the area. We've decided to call it an indigo bunting. Matches the picture in the book so that's got to be who he is. Pretty little guy, all decked out in his breeding plumage. Haven't seen those colors since the last peacock came around. Just read that cowbirds like to use them to raise their chicks. Yet another reason t...