Product Description
Taking readers to the cutting edge of physics, mathematics, and computer science, Julian Brown tells the dramatic story of the groundbreaking efforts to create a fundamentally new kind of computer that would be astronomically more powerful than today's machines. In 1998, a team of researchers announced they had produced the world's first quantum computer in a cup of chloroform. In fascinating, fully accessible detail, Brown explains the ideas that led up to this accomplishment and explores the mind-stretching implications of this leap into the bizarre world of quantum physics. The Quest for the Quantum Computer is a riveting look at what promises to be one of the most important scientific and technological ideas of the twenty-first century.

Amazon.com Review
Just how smart can computers get? Science journalist Julian Brown takes a hard look at the spooky world of quantum computation in Minds, Machines, and the Multiverse--and his report is optimistic. Based in large part on the groundbreaking work of David Deutsch, the book mostly sidesteps the shouting matches of the AI debate and instead explores the history of computation and quantum theory before turning to the exciting advances likely to come out of their merger. While some readers might cringe at the blithe dismissal of classical computing as a relic, Brown shows us why quantum computing is faster and more powerful, and is a good candidate for replacing its predecessor.

The author doesn't pull any mathematical punches, but injects enough humor and personalization into his writing to keep the book from crumbling to dust. Indeed, portraits of such luminaries as Deutsch and Feynman are more engaging than those found in some biographies and are enlightening on their own. But the real power and charm of Brown's prose lie in its straightforward explanation of the arcane details of the multiple-worlds theory, "qubits," and quantum logic in language any informed reader can understand. There are more questions than answers in Minds, Machines, and the Multiverse, but the questions are profoundly satisfying all by themselves. --Rob Lightner

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 23 reviews)

Weakly glued collection of stories

While reading it I couldn't help having the feeling that the book is written by a journalist with superficial knowledge of the field. The books seems to be a collection of interviews and quotes, weakly woven. It was a pleasant easy reading though.
September 17, 2008

nice rundown of quatum computing

This book is both a good introduction to quatum computing, and quantum mechanics in general. The only knock against this book, is that the author sometimes gets confused as to who his audience is. This book is on the one hand written in a 'popular' style (eg, "Brief History of Time"), but is also very challenging and techincal. I'd say the intended audience people have a strong background in computer science. Without any technical background, you'll get lost very early on, as your eyes glaze over reading his descriptions of public-key cryptography, and diagrams of quantum algorithms (complete with reversible controlled-NOT gates). A working knowledge of logic and discrete math will help a lot here. Not a simple book to digest, but because it's written in the 'popular' style, it is immensely enjoyable and satisfying, *if* you're interested in the topic, and have the proper background to absorb it.
March 14, 2006

The best overview of Quantum Computing I've seen...

In The Quest for the Quantum Computer, Julian Brown takes a look at the emerging field of Quantum Computing, a field that could potentially revolutionize many fields of computing and far-edge technology, such as cryptography, information theory, higher mathematics, and nanotechnology.

So what is a Quantum Computer, anyway?

A Quantum computer, in Brown's term (derived from the work of David Deutsch and Richard Feynman), is a computer based on an atom-scale architecture that, rather than using standard digital logic gates, uses logic gates based on "qubits", or quantum bits, that can carry a bit with a value of 1, 0, or any position that could theoretically exist in between. Such a computer could be used to process massive matrices of information in paralell, and solve mathematical problems previously thought impossible to answer.

Still following?

If not, the book isn't for you. It's quite dense, and filled with logical and mathematical jargon- it was clearly intended to be a "popular" book for a select audience- people with physics, engineering, mathematics, and computer science backgrounds. But if you're interested in "the new physics", on-the-edge computing, or future technologies in general, pick this book up.
July 31, 2003

Almost perfect

This is the book I recommend to all my technical friends who are wondering what quantum computing is about. Brown writes with astonishing lucidity and an intense focus on what he's trying to communicate. If this book has a flaw, it's that I think it gives Deutsch and the many-universes interpretation of QM a bit too much airtime. Deutsch's views are well-presented in many other places and it dilutes this book somewhat to spend so much time on him when it really isn't necessary.

I don't understand the review that said this book wasn't technical enough. Yes, it's not a textbook for learning how to write quantum algorithms. But it does have detailed quantum circuit diagrams for a number of useful or interesting ones. When I read this book I finally saw enough of the details to "get it". I launched from this directly into the scientific literature without getting too terribly lost.

I would recommend this book over Milburn's "The Feynman Processor". Milburn knows his material but he tends to wander a lot. His book is OK and useful, but this one is better. I'd put it in the same class as Gleick's "Chaos".
November 24, 2002

Could be interesting, but WAY over my head . . .

The idea of a quantum computer is quite fascinating. Since a colleague of mine studied quantum computing at Oxford, I thought I might read up on the subject. My expectations were that "The Quest" would be something that would get the lay reader up to speed. I don't mind being stretched a bit (I have a Ph.D. in chemical engineering), but the book was just way too over the top for any not intimately familiar with quantum physics. The book contains a lot of interesting information, but it is sandwiched between some very difficult concepts and nomenclature. Remember, "know your audience . . ."
November 01, 2002

SIMILAR PRODUCTS

The Fabric of Reality: The Science of Parallel Universes and Its Implications
by David Deutsch

A Shortcut Through Time : The Path to the Quantum Computer
by George Johnson

Programming the Universe: A Quantum Computer Scientist Takes on the Cosmos
by Seth Lloyd

The Trouble With Physics: The Rise of String Theory, The Fall of a Science, and What Comes Next
by Lee Smolin

Quantum Computation and Quantum Information
by Michael A. Nielsen, Isaac L. Chuang