How to Teach Physics to Your Dog Is Out Today!

Today is the official publication date for How to Teach Physics to your Dog!

I’ve got another reason or two why dogs should love quantum physics that I’ll probably post later, but if the ones posted so far haven’t sold you on the book, how about a really nice review from Cory Doctorow at Boing Boing:

Chad Orzel’s How to Teach Physics to Your Dog is an absolutely delightful book on many axes: first, its subject matter, quantum physics, is arguably the most mind-bending scientific subject we have; second, the device of the book — a quantum physicist, Orzel, explains quantum physics to Emmy, his cheeky German shepherd — is a hoot, and has the singular advantage of making the mind-bending a little less traumatic when the going gets tough (quantum physics has a certain irreducible complexity that precludes an easy understanding of its implications); finally, third, it is extremely well-written, combining a scientist’s rigor and accuracy with a natural raconteur’s storytelling skill.

Woo-hoo! (This wasn’t a surprise, as Cory wrote a cover blurb for the book, too, but it’s really cool to see it live on the blog.)

There’s still time to pick up a copy as a gift for the winter solstice observation of your choice…

I haven’t seen a copy in stores yet, because it’s 8 am, and even during December the stores aren’t open this early. I’ll be going to some stores today, after I get the oil changed in my car, because, really, how could I not? This will be another of the rare cases where I regret not having a camera phone, because I’d like to be able to take a picture of the first time I see it on the shelf, but I’m not dorky enough to drag my great big DSLR to Barnes and Noble. Of course, I’ll also be awfully dispirited if none of the local stores has it out, so maybe it’s better not to have a camera, just in case…