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What We Cannot Know

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What We Cannot Know

By: Marcus du Sautoy
Narrated by: Marcus du Sautoy
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About this listen

Britain’s most famous mathematician takes us to the edge of knowledge to show us what we cannot know.

Is the universe infinite?

Do we know what happened before the Big Bang?

Where is human consciousness located in the brain?

And are there more undiscovered particles out there, beyond the Higgs boson?

In the modern world, science is king: weekly headlines proclaim the latest scientific breakthroughs and numerous mathematical problems, once indecipherable, have now been solved. But are there limits to what we can discover about our physical universe?

In this very personal journey to the edges of knowledge, Marcus du Sautoy investigates how leading experts in fields from quantum physics and cosmology, to sensory perception and neuroscience, have articulated the current lie of the land. In doing so, he travels to the very boundaries of understanding, questioning contradictory stories and consulting cutting edge data.

Is it possible that we will one day know everything? Or are there fields of research that will always lie beyond the bounds of human comprehension? And if so, how do we cope with living in a universe where there are things that will forever transcend our understanding?

In What We Cannot Know, Marcus du Sautoy leads us on a thought-provoking expedition to the furthest reaches of modern science. Prepare to be taken to the edge of knowledge to find out if there’s anything we truly cannot know.

©2016 Marcus du Sautoy (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers Limited
Science String Theory Human Brain Black Hole

Critic Reviews

‘Brilliant and fascinating. No one is better at making the recondite accessible and exciting’ Bill Bryson

‘I felt I was being carried off on a wonderful journey, a thrilling research expedition to the teasing and mysterious boundaries of scientific knowledge, and I never wanted to turn back. Du Sautoy is a masterful and friendly guide to these remotest regions … It is absolutely fascinating throughout, and I really loved it’ Richard Holmes

‘I admire and envy the clarity and authority with which Marcus du Sautoy addresses a range of profound issues. His book deserves a wide readership’ Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal

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You don't need to be a nerd to enjoy this

I've never been any good at mathematics but the topic has interested me for years. Couple that with Marcus Du Sautoy who is one of the best science communicators in business now and you get a thoroughly enjoyable and interesting book and audiobook (I've got both). Authors don't always read/narrate their own works well. However, Marcus does a great job. A well known science communicator who has made some very watchable TV programs on mathematics.
Highly recommended

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