Spooky Action at a Distance takes on one of the most mystifying, mind-boggling phenomena in physics: entanglement. It describes very clearly what is going on in entanglement and what the consequences are for the nature of the universe.

The consequences are earth-shattering--or, rather, space-shattering. Leading us through the maze of theories and speculations that attempt to explain entanglement, the author, George Musser, arrives at a position that is highly contentious within the physics community but that seems likely to be the best explanation, howsoever counter-intuitive it may seem: nonlocality. Nonlocality is the notion that space is ultimately not a fundamental aspect of reality: some might call space an illusion, or others might call it derivative or an emergent property, but in any case, at the fundamental ontological level, space does not exist.

Spooky Action at a Distance is very well written: the average layperson should be able to grasp most of the science that Musser explains. And the book provides a great education and discussion about possibly the most fascinating and strange thing in physics: nonlocality.

Did not finish.
This book was fascinating. But also boring. Does that even make sense?

Like, these concepts are mind-blowing because they are so incomprehensible to me. Fun ideas to toy with and try to understand, but a whole big-ass book on this matter was too much for me, with only a layman's passing interest in physics, but no depth of understanding or ability.

Anyway, I know more now than I did before. So it was worthwhile. Not every book needs finishing to have been valuable.

Great overview and non-technical (for the most part) explanations. Loses a bit of steam in the history, and near the end as it approaches known knowledge, but I guess that's not too much or a surprise. We don't know how this story ends quite yet.

Very good book which delves into modern physics, both quantum entanglement and locality. To do that, the author starts with an accessible history of these (and related) concepts. When he comes back to the present focus, the going gets tougher... and stranger.

Partly that's because we don't have the answers. One major point is that science is about debate, with the most progress made by discussion between champions of ideas. In this book, the author mentions some of those champions and the ebb and flow of their cases - and that can require a deeper understanding of physics than I possess.

The author does attempt to put these ideas in easier terms, and frequently returns to earlier metaphors with new wrinkles. In the earlier part of the book, this works very well. For an excellent explanation of Einstein's "Spooky Action at a Distance", this can't be beat. Another major plus is the excellent bibliography.

In conclusion, there's no consensus yet. I plan to read more about gravitational waves before returning to reread this book, and possibly expand my review. Until then, a solid 4 stars.

Sometimes it's good to read things you only partially, barely, understand.

"A molecule of water is not wet, an atom of carbon is not alive, but lots of them, coming together in the right way, can be. Likewise, space might be built of pieces that are not themselves spatial."

"The universe we see playing out in space may be just the surface level, where we float like little boats while leviathans stir in the deep."

Smart and well organized if a bit jargon-y at times. Theoretical physics is so fascinating and mind-boggling.

I've loved the books I've read on the topic so far. They've made me feel awe and excitement and a hunger for more knowledge in general. However, this one in here, with its descriptions of theories that take the concept of space out? Wow, I'd feel embarrassed saying this at any other time, but they arouse such at feeling in me, I had to squeal for a couple minutes. It's not the first time I wish I had people interested in listening or talking about the subject, but it's definitely the first time thinking of theories as incredibly beautiful and wanting for people to see the same as me.

I just want to keep going deeper and deeper into this.