A Map of the Invisible: Journeys into Particle Physics Hardcover – 5 Oct. 2017

The map metaphor does give the non mathematician an overview, but there is no escaping the fact that the subject is complicated. If you come to this with a lot of curiosity and little mathematics it's a good introduction. If you read it and enjoy it you will want (need) to read it again. I think if you are then scratching your head and asking 'But why?' ' But how?', then you are in good company. The best minds in physics are asking those questions. I think it is good to be left a touch unsettled.Probably it's not a good idea to ask philosophical questions like 'What does it all really mean?'. I believe the standard answer to that question is 'Shut up and calculate.' If you really, really want to know, start by doing a maths degree. I suppose, stretching the map analogy still further, this would be like someone in year 1500 asking for a detailed description of America.

Probably the most readable book on this subject that I have come across.The development of the map really helps place and remember the different particles.The book really is a page turner, each chapter is short but each one left me wanting to start the next chapter

Enjoyable informative read.

the ship sailing context does not help the understanding

Fantastic! As a non scientist who relies for his (limited!) understanding on popular science books and public lectures this is a gem. It is extremely clearly written and structured - and witty too! I would recommend it to anyone who wants to understand physics better - and who is fascinated by an exploration of the reality that underpins our world. A joy!

This book has helped me to better understand a subject with which I have struggled.

*I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.A Map of the Invisible: Journeys into Particle Physics was an excellent introduction to some of the most complex ideas in particle physics for a non-expert.As the title suggests the book structures its explanations by using a map metaphor to explain many concepts with each new idea added to the pictured map at the beginning of the chapter. As a physicist this idea of exploring a map sometimes seemed irrelevant but I think it will really help the causal reader to organise the wide variety of particle physic concepts covered and see how they link to each other.I thought the writing style was wonderful and most of the explanations were very clear and well thought out. Some concepts even made more sense to me after reading them in this book. I think that many will take away a better understanding of particle physics after reading this book.I liked the topics that were covered in the book and the order they were tackled in. I think that the parts at the end considering new and as-of-yet unproven theories were the most difficult to understand. But I appreciated the attempts to explain string theory and multiple extra dimensions without a single equation.I would recommend this book to A-Level Physics students with an interest in particle physics for further reading. It would also interest many adults who have a scientific background and want to learn more about this topic.

Firstly, let me say that the way in which the book is written is an interesting one, taking one through a series of maps and land (such as Atom Land). Unfortunately the book could have been much clearer with some diagrams to support the text. On page 50 there is a discussion about energy levels in atoms and the way shells of electrons fill up. I was taught that the inner shell contains 2 electrons, the next 8, etc. Yet on this page the author appears to suggest that there can be only 2 electrons in each energy level which he refers to as shells. Am I reading this wrong?