Computing with Quantum Cats: From Colossus to Qubits

There is a lot of interesting content in this book but my overarching wish is that it had been written better. The author's skills clearly fall under science rather than writing. Nearly every page has sentences that would receive a good scolding from a decent high-school English teacher. I wish an editor had provided the book with more attention, as these problems could easily be fixed. For example, the author litters the book with run-on sentences and sloppy use of passive voice on nearly every page. Additionally, the phrase "I will not go into it here..." appears throughout the book, every few pages, which is an unfortunate expression to use in the context of a history book, and unnecessary. The overall tone of the text feels a bit like the author is writing you a personal email, with all the casual oversights that such hurried writing entails.Regardless, the book is a decent history of quantum mechanics and computers. But as other reviewers have noted, it is not really a book about modern quantum computing, but rather a smorgasbord of anecdotes from various fields in the 20th century that had some impact on the nature of the topic.You can achieve a less frustrating survey of this topic by instead reading a book specifically on the history of the quantum theory, and then another on the history of computers: both would cover the same material as this item, but with more solid footing.

This book was not at all helpful, buttended to focus just on people and historicevents while saying next to nothing aboutthe computer, neither classical nor quantum.One might complain that nothing is said aboutthe nuts and bolts of the clasical computer.One might also make the samecomplaint about the quantum computerBut things are even worse. One might expect perhaps,at least some more general information.. Perhaps, for example,how many atoms on average make upclassical bits of a computer in the 1950's versus,say that 1990's, and then how many atoms ( essentiallyone ) make up one qubit, i.e., one bit in a quantum computer.The author seemed to feel no obligation to offer anythingconcrete at all regarding the quantitive parametersor logical or arithmetic functioning of thecomputer.I am trying to think of what audience would benefitfrom this book but its hard. Any scientificallyliterate audience would be amazed by the lack ofsubstance. I can't imagine any novice getting thesense that he has gained much, either.I strongly recommend that you ignore this book,in favor, for example of  A Shortcut Through Time: The Path to the Quantum Computer Also, another good book on entanglement technology is  Teleportation: The Impossible Leap by David Darling. Darling offers plenty of insight into q entanglement, and ensuing technologies, suchas cryptography and teleportation. His coverage of the q computer in chapter 8 is excellent.If you want to "take the plunge" into a more philosophical outlook onquantum and the laws of physics and their relation to the quantumcomputer, you may go to the grand master of quantum computingDavid Deutsch and his book  The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World

This book is a useful addition or starter to anyone who loves the writing of John Gribbin or is intrigued by the topic of quantum computing. A background in physics or would be helpful to make this an easy read. But overall an excellent book and would also make an interesting gift to anyone interested in computing as well

I originally gave this three stars, but after I completed reading the book I changed my mind. There is a lot of useful information on quantum computer in this book that a layman can access. It's presented in a non-mathematical treatment.I find the presentation of information wrapped up in biographies not to be of my taste, but it is a style many would like. It emphasizes British accomplishments to the studies, and those accomplishments have been fundamental.Keep in mind that this book was written in 2012, and that quantum computing has come a long way since it was written.Overall, I enjoyed reading this book, and I think most people would. With that in mind I give this book my highest recommendation.

A bit Brit-no-centric (the British invented everything don't you know) but a compelling and interesting read. It is drenched in the history of the participants. I find this one aspect wonderful in any book on technology. Written for the educated in science it is none-the-less not overwhelming by any means and contains very little mathematics. It is an historical approach to the subject.One small drawback (hence 4-stars instead of 5) is the lack of an ending that offers a closure to the topic. Since the topic is continuing and isn't complete this is not surprising but the worth of an author is in the beginning, middle and the end. The end is sloppy compared to the rest of the book. This in no way detracts from the readability nor from the wealth of information conveyed in competent prose.I liked it!

I'm hardly a good reviewer of John Gribbon: I've devoured every book he"s ever written. This book goes one step farther, into a world of practical mechanics which still lays beyond us. In some ways this was his best book ever. . But the non-academic is left in suspense. Which augmentation of computing will have the greatest impact upon us? He speaks of applications which are probably beyond our lifetimes. Gribbon is a great teacher for the enlightened layman, he is often present on the BBC. I would love a follow-up book in this vein. We're ready for the practical application

読み物現代科学史である．Alan Turing, John von Neumann, Brian Josephsonなどの簡単な伝記が書かれている．von Neumannについてちょっとマイナス・イメージが強くなった．一般的な量子論の説明については詳しいが，その後の発展や解釈上の進展については少し物足りなさがある．そのため量子コンピュータについてももう少し詳しいところが知りたい．ただ，量子テレポーテーションについては，急速に進歩しているようである．この本が書かれている段階でもどんどん状況が変わってきている．Shorのアルゴリズムについても原理的なものの解説はあってもよかった．だた，この本がめざすところは，科学的な原理や論理の解説というよりは，科学史である．(ヒ)ストーリーとして楽しく読める本なのである．

Loved the basic grounding in the history - it reads like a deep, but well writtedn adventure story with exactly enough depth to keep it on topic and rich but still moving forward.Minimal pure maths and calc - although not shy to go where it needs to go.Will read again several times - has provided a great jumping off point to go on into the subject.

I enjoyed the way the chapters took the reader through historical aspects of computing evolution

Reads very well.This book provides a good overview of the history of classical computers, the development of quantum mechanics, and how quantum computers can overcome some of the limitations faced by classical computers. John Gribbin's style of writing is, as always, very well suited for conveying complex information in a readable and engaging manner.

Very good read and my kid who is year 24 enjoyed it very much