Review: Minds, Machines and the Multiverse. ***** An accessible guide to Quantum Computers. Some books are just out there like a beacon. And obviously Julian Browns Minds, Machines and the Multiverse is such a book. If you want an accessible guide to the rapidly evolving field of quantum computers, this is the book to buy. Brown bedazzle the reader with the number of ideas he comes up with on almost every page. All ideas somehow connected under the headline Quantum Computers. Quantum computing seems to connect computing and physics in an explosive way. Thought, life and knowledge these are computational things, whereas the universe in at its most fundamental level is physics. So obviously there is a lot to talk about. And the book does so very elegantly, without ever loosing track of the fact that this is a book about quantum computers. Starting the book I was a bit worried that the book wouldn't provide a sufficient level of detail about the quantum computers and instead indulge in too much speculation. After reading the book I think it balances factual information with speculation just right. Ok, Some might want to obtain additional details on Peter Shors way to factor numbers efficiently on a quantum computer. The intricacies of NP-complete problems and quantum computers could have been explored more. Some of the circuit analysis could have been dealt with in even greater detail. And why not write a complete book on competing technologies for how to build an actual quantum computer with actual live qubits? But I guess the book wouldn't have been such a fine introduction then. Now, The presentation is well balanced and demonstrates a thorough grasp over all the many details in the field of quantum computing. Fascinating general insights on math, computing and physics makes it a great and insightful read. Oct. 30th 2001 -Simon Laub