Synopses & Reviews
A mesmerizing trip to the strange world of white holes from the bestselling author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics and The Order of Time
Let us journey, with beloved physicist Carlo Rovelli, into the heart of a black hole. We slip beyond its horizon and tumble down this crack in the universe. As we plunge, we see geometry fold. Time and space pull and stretch. And finally, at the black hole's core, space and time dissolve, and a white hole is born.
Rovelli has dedicated his career to uniting the time-warping ideas of general relativity and the perplexing uncertainties of quantum mechanics. In White Holes, he reveals the mind of a scientist at work. He traces the ongoing adventure of his own cutting-edge research, investigating whether all black holes could eventually turn into white holes, equally compact objects in which the arrow of time is reversed.
Rovelli writes just as compellingly about the work of a scientist as he does the marvels of the universe. He shares the fear, uncertainty, and frequent disappointment of exploring hypotheses and unknown worlds, and the delight of chasing new ideas to unexpected conclusions. Guiding us beyond the horizon, he invites us to experience the fever and the disquiet of science — and the strange and startling life of a white hole.
Review
“Rovelli writes for non-physicists, so that anyone interested in cosmology, whether they have a science background or not, will appreciate his clear, straightforward style.” Booklist
Review
“This mind-bending outing by physicist Rovelli (Anaximander) explores the possibility of the existence of white holes, the hypothesized inverse of black holes.” Publishers Weekly
Review
“The bestselling author and theoretical physicist looks at "the elusive younger siblings of black holes." Heavy-duty popular science not for the faint of heart.” Kirkus Reviews
Review
"White Holes edifies, excites, and even transforms me. Rovelli summons us to novel forms of knowledge while also breathing life into questions that affect all sentient beings, such as: how do we proceed when our guides no longer suffice? I'm grateful for the warm invitation to the journey." Maggie Nelson
About the Author
Carlo Rovelli is a theoretical physicist who has made significant contributions to the physics of space and time. His books, including Seven Brief Lessons on Physics, The Order of Time, and Helgoland, are international bestsellers translated into more than fifty languages. He has been included among the 100 most influential Global Thinkers by Foreign Policy magazine, and among the world's top 50 thinkers by Prospect magazine. Rovelli has worked in Italy, the United States, and France, and currently resides in Canada.