An ophthalmologist recounts a very special journey
"Light is the protagonist of this story, which is intended to be the narrative of a journey, not only in space, but also in time. Because the light that we see, or rather, that allows us to see, reflected by everything around us, comes from far, far away. In space and in time. Indeed, in space-time."
Gianni Amerio
Gianni Amerio is an ophthalmologist who loves to write and has just published with the publisher Lindau "In the eye of the photon', a book that raises a number of questions:
What is light? And what is it made of? Particles or waves? And where does it come from? And what is its relation to our eye and to the things it illuminates?
The author builds the book on questions that arouse curiosity and fascinating explanations, ranging from history to philosophy and anatomy, without ever losing the taste for humour and brilliant storytelling, and of course that for quality popularisation.
We quote the Preface by Dario Corradino
Of all the paths you can take, the one along which this book accompanies you is one of the most extraordinary. It begins in the heart of a star and ends at that singular point where you, right now, are paying attention, with your brain, to these very words, written on this page: yes, exactly, the path ends there, inside your mind, in your consciousness.
The journey of light, the one that allows you to see the wonders and miseries of the world, is one of the many trivial miracles that accompany you throughout your life. It is an original and fascinating journey, which In the eye of the photon tells you page after page in clear and patient language, capable at the same time of making quantum mechanics clear and answering the questions you have never dared ask your eye doctor. But you will also find in it the poetry of summer nights, the arabesque of a firefly's flight, the fragrance of mint in a mojito.
Nothing magical: simply Gianni Amerio applies page after page the ancient lesson of the wayfarer, capable of marvelling at the wonders of small things and learning from them with the modesty of intelligence. And then, in the role of popularizer, he reveals to you, with surprising delicacy and ease, scientific realities of unexpected complexity.
You will become attached to that small particle of light, you will follow its vicissitudes between the Sun and a girl's beautiful eyes, you will understand its nature and fascinating mysteries. You will discover how complicated the instinctiveness of a gaze is, how thin the boundary between light and thought is. And at the end of the book, having read the last pages, you will take it back with the feeling that you too have really made the whole journey, right to the end, and that you have done it for a good cause. To bring a little light to those who do not have it.
IN THE EYE OF THE PHOTON - Lindau Publisher € 19:00
http://www.lindau.it/content/keyword/Scienza
 Gianni Amerio
Born in Turin in 1964, he graduated in Medicine with a specialisation in Ophthalmology. He alternates his professional activity with voluntary work in the social-health field. He is the author of numerous articles and scientific publications. He set off a few years ago for the Camino de Santiago and on his return wrote In cammino per Santiago (L'Età dell'Acquario, 2015).
Dr. Carmelo Chines
Direttore responsabile
English 
Italian