Reviews
"Part physics primer, part fantastic adventure...Steinhardt's affection and admiration for the journey's colorful cast of characters infuse every page. Although his excitement is palpable, he is also careful and methodical, often reminding himself that he could be wrong. The Second Kind of Impossible shows the benefit of a slow and steady approach to science, where determination and luck are just as important as insight." -- Science News, "A truly amazing adventure story, full of twists and turns, right up to the very end. It has my strongest recommendation." --Sir Roger Penrose, author of The Emperor's New Mind, "An epic account of two scientific triumphs: a thirty-year theoretical search for understanding and a real-world expedition into the wilds of Kamchatka. It is as if The Origin of Species and The Voyage of the Beagle had been published together in one volume." --Freeman Dyson, author of Maker of Patterns, "A rare and compulsively readable blend of science and thriller, The Second Kind of Impossible tells of the quest to find a new type of matter that would rewrite the rules of reality. Paul Steinhardt, one of the world's leading theoretical physicists, takes readers on a wondrous odyssey across multiple decades and continents as, against all odds, he helps to topple scientific orthodoxy." --Brian Greene, author of The Elegant Universe "Scientists, smugglers, and spies--this book is an exciting and enlightening scientific detective story. The tale is about far more than a new form of matter; it is also a thrilling and wonderfully written look at how science works." --Walter Isaacson, author of Einstein "An epic account of two scientific triumphs: a thirty-year theoretical search for understanding and a real-world expedition into the wilds of Kamchatka. It is as if The Origin of Species and The Voyage of the Beagle had been published together in one volume." --Freeman Dyson, author of Maker of Patterns "A truly amazing adventure story, full of twists and turns, right up to the very end. It has my strongest recommendation." --Sir Roger Penrose, author of The Emperor's New Mind "An intriguing blend of science and international adventure. [Steinhardt] takes readers on a wild ride in search of a new kind of matter...full of intrigue and adventure, culminating with the epic Kamchatka journey....A general audience can and should enjoy this original, suspenseful true-life thriller of science investigation and discovery." -- Publishers Weekly "A gripping scientific quest...an admirable popular account of the quasicrystal, an oddball arrangement of atoms that seems to contradict scientific laws....Steinhardt [is] a pioneer in the field and a fine writer." -- Kirkus Reviews "[A] memoir and rollercoaster adventure, packed with discovery, disappointment, exhilaration and persistence...This book is a front-row seat to history as it is made." -- Nature Magazine "Part physics primer, part fantastic adventure...Steinhardt's affection and admiration for the journey's colorful cast of characters infuse every page. Although his excitement is palpable, he is also careful and methodical, often reminding himself that he could be wrong. The Second Kind of Impossible shows the benefit of a slow and steady approach to science, where determination and luck are just as important as insight." -- Science News "A thrilling mix of scientific memoir and true detective story." --Physics Today "A rip-roaring adventure tale...a book that I could not put down because it was fast-paced and had genuine surprises in every chapter. Steinhardt deserves his place on the A-list." -- Physics World, "A rare and compulsively readable blend of science and thriller, The Second Kind of Impossible tells of the quest to find a new type of matter that would rewrite the rules of reality. Paul Steinhardt, one of the world's leading theoretical physicists, takes readers on a wondrous odyssey across multiple decades and continents as, against all odds, he helps to topple scientific orthodoxy." --Brian Greene, author of The Elegant Universe, "An intriguing blend of science and international adventure. [Steinhardt] takes readers on a wild ride in search of a new kind of matter...full of intrigue and adventure, culminating with the epic Kamchatka journey....A general audience can and should enjoy this original, suspenseful true-life thriller of science investigation and discovery." -- Publishers Weekly, "Scientists, smugglers, and spies--this book is an exciting and enlightening scientific detective story. The tale is about far more than a new form of matter; it is also a thrilling and wonderfully written look at how science works." --Walter Isaacson, author of Einstein, "A gripping scientific quest...an admirable popular account of the quasicrystal, an oddball arrangement of atoms that seems to contradict scientific laws....Steinhardt [is] a pioneer in the field and a fine writer." -- Kirkus Reviews
