Many thanks to the author, Carlo Rovelli, NetGalley, and the publisher, Penguin, for an ARC of this 10th anniversary edition of a classic. This edition will be published in the UK on 10 September.

As an introduction to the differences between Newtonian physics and quantum mechanics, a brief description of the latter, and a summary of attempts to reconcile the two systems, this book for the general reader can’t be bettered. Rovelli takes extremely difficult concepts that shook the world of physics and translates them into elegant, easy-to-follow prose, and you don’t really need to know much about science or maths to follow this book.

The book is perfect for someone who wants an overview of twentieth-century physics, and yo'll finish it better informed, and eager to know more. If you studied physics to A-level/for the Leaving Cert/equivalent exam, you’ll probably find it much too basic - although I would still recommend it as an exemplar of how to communicate with a general audience.

If you’re curious about physics but don’t know where to start, this is the book for you. Rovelli has also written more in-depth books on contemporary physics, and I would recommend those after you’ve finished with this one.

Very informative and well written! I thoroughly enjoyed! It had me interested from the get-go and I found myself wanting to keep reading!

This is a very short and accessible book written for a generalist audience that you can read in under an hour.

The physics content constitutes probably less than half the book and the rest is flowery reverie which does not appeal to me (note that the book was originally published in Italian).

I think I am more suited to Very Short Introduction type books such as Physics: A Very Short Introduction (which I haven't read) and this is doing something different which is clearly popular with many people.

I am grateful to have received a review copy from Penguin and NetGalley.

Seven Brief Lessons on Physics is considered a classic on the subject and I would add it is a must read for anyone with a passing curiosity into how the universe around us works.

Carlo Rovelli explains the complexities of time, matter and our mysterious universe, and equally mysterious existence within it, in a simple conversational style that allows easy access to what is often believe the unfathomable preserve of professorship. His analogies are straight forward and easily identifiable and the background information into theories, such as The Theory of General Relativity and Quantum Theory add depth and context.

For me, a layperson, the 'lessons' expanded my understanding and motivated further research into concepts I had previously simply acknowledged as fact without considering the reasoning behind them. I was particularly fascinated by Rovelli's discussion of creation and the concept of a 'Big Bounce' in place of 'The Big Bang'.

My only gripe is, whilst I understand the book is a series of essays, or lessons, the book felt too short. I wanted to know more.

A highly digestible booklet that lays out some of modern physics's most crucial and eye-opening concepts in simple language for anyone to enjoy. It helps that Rovelli injected some humour and context into the discovery and applications of these lessons/concepts, allowing the reader to stew in how revolutionary they are, even if the original theorists didn't get to see their theories be heralded and change physics as they knew it.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Press UK (Allen Lane) for providing me with the e-ARC/DRC of the anniversary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Seven Brief Lessons on Physics is not a jargon or science heavy book, but rather talks about concepts of physics that have impact on our lives.
It is profoundly about our connection and Rovelli makes it all accessible, engaging and relatable.

Seven Brief Lessons on Physics is a short book that explains 7 key interconnected concepts in physics. Rather than providing a scientific primer, Carlo Rovelli has crafted a mixture of historical context and light introduction to these scientific discoveries, as well as placing them within the frame of our everyday life. I found the overall message to be profound and thought-provoking, and I am glad that I finally got around to reading this 10th anniversary edition.

The prose was compelling and descriptive, giving a philosophical impression to the discussions throughout. Even though some ideas could be tricky to grasp, the book is short enough to complete within a day and revisit at another time. Having studied the majority of these lessons at university, I still enjoyed reading about the 7 lessons chosen by Carlo Rovelli. I was reminded of my wonder at first encountering these scientific concepts, as well as the value of remaining curious.