Scott Aaronson is a [[Americans|American]] [[physicist]] at [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]] in the field of quantum computing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=123406|title=NSF Honors Two Early Career Researchers With Alan T. Waterman Award {{!}} NSF - National Science Foundation|website=www.nsf.gov|language=en|access-date=2017-09-10}}</ref>
== ReviewsReception ==
[[Michael Nielsen]],author of the classic [[quantum computing]] text ''[[Quantum Computingcalled and Quantum Information]]'' reviewed the book, saying, “This book isit "a beautiful synthesis of what we know about some of the most fundamental questions in science. [...] Highly recommended.”",<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scottaaronson.com/blog/?p=1277#comment-66937|title=Comment by Michael Nielsen on Shtetl-Optimized Quantum Computing Since Democritus: The Buzz Intensifies|last=|first=|date=|website=www.scottaaronson.com|language=en-US|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2017-09-09}}</ref> while [[Seth Lloyd]] praised it as "lucid", describing Aaronson as a "tornado of intellectual activity".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cambridge.org/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9781107302105|title=Quantum Computing since Democritus - Cambridge University Press|website=www.cambridge.org|language=en|access-date=2017-09-09}}</ref>
OtherThe reviews[[Journal wereof notthe asAmerican positiveMathematical - [[Stephen WolframSociety]] saidconsidered aboutit theto bookhave "much insight, wisdom, and fun"I, thinkbut Scottconceded Aaronsonthat hasit delusions"is ofnot grandeurfor [...]everyone',<ref>{{Cite Mr.journal|last=Wigderson|first=Avi|date=|title=Quantum AaronsonComputing thinksSince heDemocritus canBook writeReview|url=http://www.ams.org/notices/201410/rnoti-p1218.pdf|journal=Journal aof reallythe fatAmerican bookMathematical aboutSociety|volume=61, everythingNumber under10|pages=1218-1220|via=}}</ref> thewhile sun[[Stephen andWolfram]] thataccused everyoneAaronson isof goinghaving to"[[delusions rushof tograndeur]]" readfor everyassuming wordthat ofthe itbook would be popular."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://qbnets.wordpress.com/2013/04/13/stephen-wolfram-reviews-quantum-computing-since-democritus/|title=Stephen Wolfram Reviews “Quantum Computing Since Democritus”|date=2013-04-13|website=Quantum Bayesian Networks|access-date=2017-09-09}}</ref> [[Luboš Motl|Luboṥ Motl]] saidpraised aboutAaronson's thewriting book on his blog, in a review that gave it a so-so rating,as "Atvery the endwitty, the scientific claims on quantum mechanics in the booknarcisistically (so far[[sic]]) are badwitty", but they aren't that bad. He wantsconsidered the informationbook to becomebe thescientifically central playerdubious. It's just fine with me."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://motls.blogspot.com/2013/04/scott-aaronson-prototype-of-some.html|title=Scott Aaronson: a prototype of some confusion of IT scientists about physics|website=The Reference Frame|access-date=2017-09-10}}</ref>▼
[[Seth Lloyd]] said about the book, "I laughed, I cried, I fell off my chair - and that was just reading the chapter on computational complexity. [...He] raises deep questions of how the physical universe is put together and why it is put together the way it is. While we read his lucid explanations we can believe - at least while we hold the book in our hands - that we understand the answers, too."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cambridge.org/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9781107302105|title=Quantum Computing since Democritus - Cambridge University Press|website=www.cambridge.org|language=en|access-date=2017-09-09}}</ref>
The [[Journal of the American Mathematical Society]] says, "It is not for everyone, but I guarantee that there is much insight, wisdom, and fun in these pages to amply reward those who will put in the individually required effort (possibly to fill in some blanks or stomach the style, depending on your knowledge and taste)."<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Wigderson|first=Avi|date=|title=Quantum Computing Since Democritus Book Review|url=http://www.ams.org/notices/201410/rnoti-p1218.pdf|journal=Journal of the American Mathematical Society|volume=61, Number 10|pages=1218-1220|via=}}</ref>
▲Other reviews were not as positive - [[Stephen Wolfram]] said about the book, "I think Scott Aaronson has delusions of grandeur [...] Mr. Aaronson thinks he can write a really fat book about everything under the sun and that everyone is going to rush to read every word of it."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://qbnets.wordpress.com/2013/04/13/stephen-wolfram-reviews-quantum-computing-since-democritus/|title=Stephen Wolfram Reviews “Quantum Computing Since Democritus”|date=2013-04-13|website=Quantum Bayesian Networks|access-date=2017-09-09}}</ref> [[Luboš Motl|Luboṥ Motl]] said about the book on his blog, in a review that gave it a so-so rating, "At the end, the scientific claims on quantum mechanics in the book (so far) are bad but they aren't that bad. He wants the information to become the central player. It's just fine with me."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://motls.blogspot.com/2013/04/scott-aaronson-prototype-of-some.html|title=Scott Aaronson: a prototype of some confusion of IT scientists about physics|website=The Reference Frame|access-date=2017-09-10}}</ref>
