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My new favorite explanation of the foundations of modern physics for laypeople. If you've got a rusty high school understanding of algebra, geometry, and calculus and an appetite for brain expansion you'll find it very enlightening. What I appreciate from Carroll is that he gives credit to the readers for being capable of understanding anything while simultaneously acknowledging that some of this is hideously mind-bending and anticipating where readers without deep backgrounds will get hung up. He does not give condescending toy examples and IMO successfully communicates in a style that gives insight into the language and equations of working physicists. I had several "Oh shit, NOW I finally get it!" moments around what the speed of light actually means and why it's everywhere and the fundamental relationships between space, time, movement, and energy.
This is part of a series that expands into quantum theory in the next book, which I haven't read yet but I'm looking forward to.