Seek inspiration and intellectual stimulation?
Like books that are easy to read?
Want to better understand how progress in science comes about?
Enjoy humor and anecdotes?
Like analogies & thought experiments?
Fancy exploring new ways of thinking and creativity?
How many times did you say “yes” to the above?
2x
Nice, the book may offer you some value. Get it now and read it whenever you find the time.
3x
Cool! You’ll like the book, check it out soon.
4x
or more
OMG, stop doing whatever you’re doing right now and get the book!
No! Or let’s say: not only. The book’s main purpose is to analyze how progress in physics came about, and what we can learn from it. Today, this aspect is often neglected; the focus is solely on the outcomes. Yes, the outcomes are what counts at the end of the day. But if we only have a superficial understanding of the path toward them, we’ll never get to the big new discoveries.
The book also analyzes a few specific theories. However, the purpose is not to argue that any of them are true (or false). Instead, they should only illustrate how the identified principles of progress in physics could be applied.
Ultimately, the book seeks to unravel novel approaches to problem-solving in physics, providing plenty of inspiration for the reader. And even if it fails at that, at least it’s a fun read.
The book delves into many thought-provoking questions such as:
These questions are discussed in an easy-to-follow dialogue format between A(lice) and B(obby). To get a taste of it, please have a look at the OPIP blog.
You guessed it, N. Otre Le Vant is a pen name. Why use that? A key statement in the book is that arguments should be assessed by their merit, not by who made them. Just because a likable person says something doesn’t make it true, and the opposite holds as well. We must separate the art from the artist. Therefore, my name is also not relevant. With a little tweak in spacing, it transforms into the French- and smart-sounding (at least to my ear) pseudonym N. Otre Le Vant.
That said, I also don’t want to come across as hiding or being a coward. I’m this guy, founder of Inisev, a company running various online tools and software, including several WordPress plugins, a news platform, and a non-profit initiative to increase global happiness. Though I’m not a physicist by training, I believe that significant contributions often come from outsiders with fresh perspectives. I make the case for this here.
As for the domain extension Opip.lol, there were two reasons for choosing it. First, the domain name was still available. Second, another key idea in the book is that we should maintain an ambivalent stance toward our thoughts and theories. On the one hand, if they resonate with us, we should stick with them and develop them further. On the other hand, we must never forget that they may also be utter baloney. Only this mindset keeps us capable of dismissing incorrect theories and spending our time on more promising ones. The .lol (laugh out loud) extension captures this idea well.
Some love it, and all others should go to hell!
On a more serious note, you can find the book’s ratings and reviews on RateItAll.
The book is available in digital and printed versions, starting from 15.98 USD. See all options here.
What are the characteristics of top physicists? Are there common traits?
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