Interview With Author Frank Lad

 

1. What inspired you to write this book?  

About ten years ago I met up with an old friend from graduate school days who told me ... "Shooting the shit with a bunch of engineers, we realised that none of us knew anything at all about quantum physics, so we decided to start a study group to sort it out.  I drew the topic of the defiance of Bell's inequality by quantum probabilities.  It is a fairly interesting problem, and you should look into it.  I have reviewed the literature, and I'll send you my notes."  Completely naive at the time about quantum theory myself, I did. It took me some ten years of study in all, and disrupted my life. 

2. What exactly is it about and who is it written for? 

On the face of it, the book concerns the mechanics of particles of light and electric energy with respect to polarising material and magnetic detectors. In the larger scheme of theoretical physics, it concerns a challenging argument of Einstein that quantum theory is incomplete in specifying probabilistic behaviour of the smallest particles of matter. John Bell had tried to revitalise this viewpoint from its mainstream dismissal, but was puzzled by the apparent defiance of standard rules of probability by quantum theoretic specifications, if Einstein were right.  Bell suspected that something was wrong with his famous result, and I have found out what it is!   ... along with further egregious errors of quantum theorists deriving from shoddy mathematics. 

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? 

The generally educated reader, interested by the foundations of science, should learn specifically that the mysterious claims of quantum theorists, widely propagated on educational videos such as You Tube as well as in leading academic journals, are based on mathematical error.  On a grander scale, that widely acclaimed propositions of scientific authorities can be mistaken.  Scientific theory must be recognised as disputable, and the disputation must be recognised and addressed.  Of course the leading lights of the profession will try to protect themselves and their constructs from attack by benign dismissal, but the truth should win out in the end. 

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? 

I was amused by Paul Dirac's line that an argument he disdained was so far off the mark that "it's not even wrong".  The shocking mathematical errors I found in my investigation of quantum theoretic claims were just plain wrong.  Plain and simple.  Thus, my title.  The dazzling light of a fire pit underlying the cover title seemed appropriate illumination.  The painting of "The Enlightened Woman" on the rear cover by my departed wife, Belle Melzer,  is a tribute to her supportive satisfaction, when she checked out of our sphere,  that this book would be completed. 

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!? 

Rock 'em, bust 'em, that's our custom.  Let it roll, and revise it to make it palatable if you have to.  Write for yourself to clear your mind.  If you decide to publish it, that is when work begins 

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? 

The only trends I know are what I read.   ...  and I find Alexander McCall Smith really fun, enlightened, and enlightening.  Taking over from Robertson Davies, Paul Auster, Margaret Atwood, Thomas Hardy, and Jane Austen as my go to authors. 

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? 

My easy disdain of academic snobbery. 

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? 

Go with the flow, and remember to breathe and to smile.  I focus on my content, not on the style of my exposition.  But I pay staid attention to grammar, especially during revisions.  Say exactly what you want to say. 

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book?  

Exhaustion, and the relentless attentions of the muses who drove me to continue my research through my dreams. 

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? 

Maybe borrow it from a library, though it is not expensive.  It might need to lie around for dipping into.  Maybe aside your toilet where you can really think.  You need to be interested in a serious study of a scientific dispute.  If you are, and might be intrigued by some mathematics, go for it.  You won't find another. 

About The Author: Long story short, I am a mathematician long concerned deeply with foundational matters.  I have already published a controversial book with John Wiley entitled Operational Subjective Statistical Methods: a mathematical, philosophical and historical introduction,  New York: John Wiley, 1996, as well as a myriad of academic articles pertinent to probability theory. Educated, world traveler on the road years ago, India, Africa, Europe, Brazil, multi-lingual,  Hindustani, French, Italian.  Free wheeler.  Now living in New Zealand, tutoring neighborhood children in arithmetic, and tending my garden.  This latest book is the result of ten years research on a very famous problem regarding the physics of light that stems from a proposition of Einstein that quantum theory is incomplete in its formulations.   Not much of a personal bio, but that would be way too long.

 

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About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.9 million pageviews. With 4,900+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.