Science writers like to suggest that anyone can understand the intuition behind theories such as special relativity and quantum mechanics, if only they will read this book, or that essay. Don’t believe them—I’ve tried. At best I get a bit of the intuition behind relativity, and none at all behind QM. Yes, I hear the words, but I don’t understand enough of the underlying physics and mathematics for the words to form a coherent picture in my mind. I’m too dumb. Some economists believe that the public can understand why protectionism is bad, or why price controls hurt consumers, if only the ideas are explained to them in clear language. I doubt it.
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