The Plucky Programmer

“Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration Into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel” by Michio Kaku

My rating: 8.5/10

I saw this book in Crossword (New Delhi), was not very sure if I would be able to/wanted to read it, but picked it up anyway because since it had already been recommended to me by more than one person and I had liked the author’s show on TV, there was no harm in trying.

The book is just what the cover says, though at first glance even I didn’t think that is what it meant. No, it doesn’t mean that the book is 400 pages of impossibly drab physics, but it is infact a book that examines the technologies that we call impossible today, and how they can be achieved in the future. Call it a book about future tech, if you would in simpler terms. But the genius of this book is that it tells you all this in a very real manner, citing a vast array of popular science fiction, including Star Wars, Arthur C. Clarke numerous times and even Douglas Adams on an occasion. Also, the author delves very deeply into each of the technologies and examines all the possible versions and means of getting there.

He has classified impossibilities into three types. Class I impossibilities are the technologies that are impossible today, but that do not violate the known laws of physics. These include force fields, phasers (this chapter includes light sabers and fusion tech too), invisibility, etc. Technologies that sit at the very edge of our understanding of the physical world are classified into Class II, such as time travel, parallel universes, etc. And the technologies that violate the fundamentals of physics are Class III: perpetual motion machines, precognition, etc.

Over the course of 15 such chapters, the author has examined these technologies along with their many variants and all their hurdles (including energy sources, etc). Also, he has very aptly explained all the advancements in string theory, quantum theory, etc that come into play.

My favourite are definitely the technologiess in Class II, as time travel and parallel universes have never failed to amaze me. The ones on starships and invisibility are also very intriguing. However, the book’s rating has been brought down by the chapters on telepathy and psychokinesis which are, according to me, a bit drab and slightly not in accordance with the theme of the book.

This book is a must read for all sci-fi and future tech lovers, as even though today we deem these technologies as impossible,  and many scientists dismiss them as unthinkable, schroodling blasphemy, they will be the ones saying “I told you so” in the future. Here’s a taste of some of the ideas presented in the book: