Carlo Rovelli has a unique gift for making the universe’s most complex ideas feel intimate and awe-inspiring. But with each of his books building on profound concepts like quantum gravity and the nature of time, where should you begin? In this post we present Carlo Rovelli’s Books in publication order. From his early textbooks to his latest popular science works.
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Carlo Rovelli’s Books in Publication Order
The First Scientist: Anaximander and His Legacy, by Carlo Rovelli
Published in 2005
The First Scientist argues that the Greek philosopher Anaximander (c. 6th century BC) was the originator of scientific thought. He proposed natural, not supernatural, causes for cosmic order and made pioneering claims about the Earth in space and biological evolution. Rovelli places him as a decisive foundation for the scientific revolution, defining science as the continuous redrawing of our worldview.
Reality is Not What it Seems: The Journey to Quantum Gravity, by Carlo Rovelli
Published in 2014
In Reality Is Not What It Seems, Rovelli guides readers on a journey from ancient Greek philosophy to the frontiers of modern loop quantum gravity. He explores profound questions about the nature of space, time, and reality, envisioning a cosmos where spacetime is granular and black holes evaporate.
Seven Brief Lessons on Physics, by Carlo Rovelli
Published in 2014
Seven Brief Lessons on Physics is a bestselling introduction to modern physics’ most profound ideas. In seven concise essays, Carlo Rovelli clearly explains Einstein’s relativity, quantum mechanics, black holes, and the architecture of the universe.
The Order of Time, by Carlo Rovelli
Published in 2017
In The Order of Time, Carlo Rovelli explores the profound mystery of time, revealing how modern physics dismantles our common-sense understanding of it. He explains that at the most fundamental level, time does not exist as we perceive it. Instead, our experience of its flow emerges from our limited perspective, woven from memory, psychology, and thermodynamics.
There Are Places in the World Where Rules Are Less Important Than Kindness, by Carlo Rovelli
Published in 2018
In this collection of essays, Rovelli offers a charming and insightful voyage through science, philosophy, and culture. With his signature clarity, he connects ideas ranging from Newton’s alchemy and Einstein’s errors to Dante’s cosmology and the value of uncertainty.
Helgoland: Making Sense of the Quantum Revolution, by Carlo Rovelli
Published in 2020
Helgoland is Carlo Rovelli’s exploration of quantum theory’s strange beauty, centering on Heisenberg’s breakthrough on the North Sea island. He argues the theory’s unsettling contradictions make sense if we view reality as fundamentally made of relationships, not independent objects. This relational perspective offers a riveting new way to comprehend our place in a mysterious universe.
General Relativity: The Essentials, by Carlo Rovelli
Published in 2021
General Relativity: The Essentials is a concise and clear textbook by Carlo Rovelli. It focuses on conceptual understanding, deriving the theory’s core results in the simplest way. The book explores key applications like black holes and cosmology, and concludes with an introduction to quantum gravity, making it ideal for students and curious readers.
White Holes, by Carlo Rovelli
Published in 2023
In White Holes, Rovelli takes readers on a speculative and poetic journey into a black hole, through its heart, and out the other side into the theoretical birth of a white hole. Blending cutting-edge research with wonder, he explores what might lie beyond our current physics, inviting readers to experience the thrilling uncertainty at the frontier of science.
From the concise beauty of Seven Brief Lessons to the philosophical depth of his later work, reading Carlo Rovelli in order reveals the evolving thought of a scientist-poet. We hope this guide lights your path.
