Penguin Books Australia

What's the meaning of it all? Or rather: what exactly is 'it'?  Here Frank Wilczek, Nobel Prize-winning physicist and science legend, examines the very nature of reality itself, showing how almost everything we think we know about 'it' is wrong.

Physicists' understanding of the essential nature of reality has changed radically over the past quarter century. The Lightness of Being unwraps these exciting new ideas, exploring fundamental questions about space, mass, energy, and the longed-for possibility of a fully unified theory of Nature.

Providing a visionary context for the experiments in CERN, Wilczek points to where the next great discoveries in physics will be.

'The Lightness of Being takes the reader on a mind-stretching journey, providing a revolutionary new vision of the universe. Frank Wilczek is an extraordinarily accomplished and creative scientist who has the rare ability to communicate scientific ideas and insights with exceptional clarity - but also with a delightful playfulness'
JEROME I. FRIEDMAN, NOBEL LAUREATE, MIT

'Deep, simple and incredibly well-written . . . Professor Wilczek leads the reader to an understanding of the most profound ideas and accomplishments in physics today'
T. D. LEE, NOBEL LAUREATE, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

''The Lightness of Being is a delightful celebration of the wonders of physics, told by one who has helped define the current frontiers. Wilczek's lightness of touch and wry humour make this book a joy to read'
FRANK CLOSE, AUTHOR OF THE VOID

'Vintage Wilczek - fun, simple and right'
ROBERT LAUGHLIN, AUTHOR OF A DIFFERENT UNIVERSE