It is a shame that this book is out of print. Pagels lucid explanations of the quantum world are the best within lay science publishing. I also believe that Pagels rational approach is far and away a better introduction/exploration than the Eastern Mysticism-based books like Zukav s "The Dancing Wu Li Masters" or Fritjof Capra s "The Tao of Physics." Of course, those books are useful as entertainment (as exotic Parallelism) but it should be noted that the connections between Eastern Mysticism and Quantum Mechanics in regards to questions of conciousness and reality are not accepted as valid by any but a minuscule minority of thinkers. Pagels approach is much more true to the thinking in new physics circles. In regards to a second edition that Mr. Beagle is hoping for, it will not be forthcoming due to the untimely demise of Pagels in a mountaineering accident in the late 80 s. He is sorely missed! Also, for the very best in Computer Culture-related lay science (even though it is somewhat dated) I can t recommend his "The Dreams of Reason" highly enough - especially to those familiar with his other works! I ve seen both books in used book shops many times.

作者：（美国）海因茨·R·帕格尔斯（Pagels.H.R.） 译者：郭竹第 注释 解说词：赵凯华

海因茨·R·帕格尔斯（Heiilz R.Pagels，1939-1988）美国物理学家、科普作家。获斯坦福大学物理学博士学位，曾任纽约科学院执行主席、洛克菲勒大学客座教授。主要研究领域为粒子物理、量子场论、宇宙学和混沌理论。他著有多部高级科普著作，除本书外，尚有《完美对称》、《理性之梦：计算机和复杂性科学的兴起》等。

郭竹第，辽宁绥中人，1935年生。1958年毕业于莫斯科大学地质系。回国后任教于北京地质学院；1965年调入地质部教育司，曾任高教处处长；1985年调入中共中央引进国外智力领导小组办公室，曾任中国国际人才交流协会驻澳大利亚和新西兰办事处总代表、京港人才交流中心总经理。

赵凯华，浙江杭州人，1930年生。1950年毕业于北京大学物理系后留校任教，1958年获莫斯科大学数理科学副博士学位。长期从事物理学教学和科研工作，曾任北京大学物理系主任、中国物理学会副理事长、《大学物理》杂志主编。与人合编的《电磁学》、《光学》、《新概念物理学教程》均为通行多年的教材，并著有《定性与半定量物理学》等。