Physical Origins of Time Asymmetry

The interpretation of irreversibility and quantum-mechanical measurement is in the center of interest of many physicists, perhaps since the early days of quantum physics. This question is deeply connected with the so-called quantum mechanical paradoxes. The new book by Grigolini summarizes the state of the art in the field, but on the other hand it presents also an independent fresh approach to the whole problem. The main conclusion derived by the author is, that classical mechanics cannot be recovered from quantum mechanics by simple approximation. Their relation is much more complicated. I have found the book very useful for the preparation of a course on quantum statistics at the Humboldt-University. Among the topics treated in the book in some detail are: Theory of measurement, Schrödingers cat problem, the EPR paradoxon, the role of environment, derivation of master equations, relation of classical and quantum mechanics, relaxation phenomena, quantum chaos. The book is warmly recommended to readers in physics or chemistry and to graduate students but also to researchers working in that field.