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| Published Retail Price: $27.95 | Barnes & Noble Price: $19.56 |
| in-Stock: Ships within 24 hours | Hardcover, 448pp |
| Published: Norton, W W & Co. February 1999 | ISBN: 0393046885 |
Synopsis
Through the
masterful use
of metaphor
and analogy,
"
The Elegant
Universe
"
takes
readers on a
fascinating and
thought-provoking
journey through
the mysteries of
space,
time, and matter.
In an effort to reconcile the naggingly incompatible worlds of quantum mechanics and general relativity, Brian Greene explores and explains superstring theory, which holds the promise of applying to all matter in all conditions.
Quotes
Greene does a
masterful job in
presenting complex
materials in a
lively, engaging
manner. Highly
recommended.
(Michio Kaku,
Author of
Hyperspace)
Michio Kaku
Everyone who is curious about the horizons of theoretical physics, past, present, and future, will greatly enjoy t his book. (Edward Witten, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton University) ‹ Edward Witten
Reviews and
Commentary
This Book was
reviewed by:
The Publisher,
Library Journal,
George
Johnson, Chris
Quigg, New
York Magazine,
Publisher's Weekly -
Publishers Weekly,
and Kirkus
From The Publisher:
In this refreshingly
clear book, Brian
Greene, a leading
string theorist,
relates the
scientific story
and the human
struggle behind
the search for
the ultimate
theory. String
theory, as the
author vividly
describes, reveals
a vision of the
universe that
is sending
shock waves
through the
world of physics.
Thrilling and
revolutionary
ideas such as
new dimensions
hidden within
the fabric
of space, black
holes transmuting
into elementary
particles, rips and
punctures in
the space-time
continuum,
gigantic universes
interchangeable
with minuscule
ones, and a
wealth of others
are playing a
pivotal role as
physicists use
string theory to
grapple with
some of the
deepest questions
of the ages.
With authority
and grace,
The Elegant Universe
introduces us to the
discoveries and the
remaining mysteries,
the exhilaration and
the frustrations of those
who relentlessly probe
the ultimate nature of
space, time, and
matter.
From Library Journal:
Scientific advances,
the domains of
researchers and
subject
specialists, for the
most part elude the
general public. Greene
illuminates here superstring
theory, one of the most
exciting developments of
modern physics. The
twin pillars of modern
physics ‹ quantum
mechanics and relativity ‹
appear to be at odds with
each other. Uniting these
two divergent theories has
been the holy grail of
physicists for more than
50 years. Many researchers
see string theory as the
grand unification theory
they have been seeking.
They believe these tiny
vibrating strings, a
billionth of a billionth
the size of an atom,
are the fundamental
building blocks of nature.
Greene (mathematics
and physics, Columbia
and Cornell
universities)
should be
commended for
his lucid account
of this development. James Olson,
Northeastern Illinois
University, Chicago
From George Johnson:
Greene explores the ideas
and recent developments
with a depth
and clarity I would not
have thought possible.
He has a rare ability to
explain even the most
evanescent ideas in a
way that gives at least
the illusion of understnding.
He developes one fresh
new insight after
another in the
great tradition of
physicists writing f
or the masses,
The Elegant Universe
sets a standard that
will be hard to beat.
The New York Times Book Review
From Chris Quigg:
String theory is a
beautiful dream,
beautifully told in
"
The Elegant
Universe.
" Scientific American
From New York Magazine:
Compulsively readable.
Greene threatens to
do for string theory
what Steven Hawking
did for black holes.
From Publisher's Weekly:
One of the more compelling
scientific (cum-theological) questions
in the Middle Ages was: "
How many angels can
dance on the head
of a pin?" Today's
version in cutting-edge
science is, "How many
strings... ?" As posited
by string theory
physics, strings
are furiously
vibrating loops
of stuff. The
concept of strings
was devised to help
scientists describe
simultaneously both
energy and matter. The
frequency and resonance
of strings' vibration,
just like those of
strings on an instrument,
determine charge, spin
and other familiar
properties of energy ‹
and eventually the
structure of the universe:
a true music of the
spheres. There's a
chance that strings are
themselves made up
of something still
smaller. But scientists
canprove their existence
only on the blackboard
and computer, because
they are much too tiny ‹
a hundred billion billion
times smaller
than the nucleus of an
atom ‹ to be observed
experimentally. Brian
Greene, professor of
physics and mathematics
at Cornell and
Columbia universities,
makes the terribly
complex theory of strings
accessible to all.
He possesses a
remarkable gift
for using the
everyday to illustrate
what may be going
on in dimensions beyond
our feeble human
perception. Just when
we might be tempted to
dismiss strings as grist for
the publish-or-perish mill,
Greene explains
how they have demonstrated
connections between
mathematics and
physics that have
helped solve age-old
conundrums in each field.
This book will appeal to
astronomy as well as math
and physics fans
because it probes
the important insights
string theory gives into
hotly debated issues in
cosmology. Later chapters
require careful attention
to Greene's explications,
but the effort will prepare
readers to follow
the scientific advances
likely to be made in the
next millennium
through application of
string theory.
From Kirkus:
Superstring theory
may provide the
long-sought unification of
physics for which Einstein
sought in vain. Here is a
look at the
current state of the quest.
Greene (a professor of
physics and
mathematics at
Columbia and Cornell)
begins by pointing out the
central problem of modern
physics. Quantum mechanics and
general relativity both work
perfectly, and they cannot
both be right.
Relativity works for large,
massive objects; quantum
theory for tiny
ones. Normally, the two
realms can be kept
separate. Yet
increasingly, physics
deals with phenomena
such as black holes,
where the conflicts are
impossible to avoid.
Out of the search for a
more complete explanation
came string theory. Its
foundations were
laid down some 30 years
ago by Gabriele Venizano,
who found that
a two-century-old
formula by Leonard
Euler described subatomic
particles more elegantly
than existing theory.
The relationships
would make sense
if elementary particles
were not pointlike, but
elongated and vibrating,
like tiny musical strings-
in one sense, a
modern version of the
ancient metaphor of the
music of the spheres.
It took a while for
physicists to embrace
string theory; for one thing,
it seemed to predict things
nobody had ever seen.
And despite its
formidable explanatory
power, its mathematical
expressions were
often even more
formidable-Greene
describes some of
the equations
as nearly impossible
to understand, let
alone solve. Still,
it has the
right look about it,
and two waves of
enthusiasm (one in the
mid-1980s, the other
ten years later) have
convinced many
physicists of the
theory's probable
validity. Greene
deftly summarizes
these findings, in
areas from
subatomic-particle
theory to cosmology,
with occasional forays
into deeper waters such
as the ten-dimensional
structure of the universe,
with several dimensions
folded undetectably back
into themselves. A final
chapter forecasts
that string theory will
become the standard
physical model in the
next century. Entertaining
and well-written-possibly
the clearest
popular treatment to date
of this complex subject.
From Reader Reviews:
From an
"
amateur scientist
"
in California March 19, 1999:
One of the best science books!
I enjoyed this book immensely.
It is wonderful to have a book that
explains such complicated concepts
in such simple terms.
My four favorite science
books are
"
The Elegant Universe
"
,
"
The Bible According to Einstein
"
,
"
The Character of Physical Law'
"
(by Feynman) and
"
The Meaning of Relavity
"
(by Einstein).
From
Steven M. Christensen
(steve@smc.vnet.net) March 11, 1999
Perhaps the best
theoretical physics
book for a general
audience yet.
Brian Greene's book
on string theory is
the first book that
should be
purchased by anyone
interested in modern
theoretical physics and
the extraordinary search
for Einstein's dream of
a unified theory.
Many books have
tried to do this,
sometimes in
fluffy self-absorbed
ways, but Greene's
book does it right.
It is clear why he
has recently
been speaking to
standing room only
crowds on his book tour.
Audiences and readers
actually learn something!
From Michael, a
physicist at Cal
Tech, February 25, 1999
Dazzling!
As eloquent a treatise
on these abstract
ponderings as has ever been
scripted. Much like Erik
Quisling's classic THE
ANGRY CLAM,
the insights are
no less than profound.
I also recommend
THE ANGRY CLAM
by Erik Quisling
From a reviewer at Bohemia123@aol.com
"fascinated by mysterious realms"
February 17, 1999
A Super Book on Superstrings!
Other books on string theory
promise fascinating revelations and
plod on without delivering.
"
The Elegant Universe
"
offers up mesmerizing
bombshells quite casually:
A reality made up of
"
nothing but music
"
ultramicroscopic,
vibrating strings. Hidden
dimensions wrapped up by
these strings. Potential
alternate universes
within these hidden realms.
It is a radically different way of
conceptualizing all physics--and
I think it will become the basis of
many of the dominant metaphors
of the 21st century.
"
The Elegant Universe
"
is simply written,
easy to understand,
and quite exciting in
what it implies about
our potential to decode
many of the mysteries
of the universe.
I also recommend
"
Genius
"
by James Gleick
and
"
Schrödingers Kittens
"
.
From a novelist who loves physics
writing at duvv@aol.com) February 17, 1999
The Magic of String
Theory Made Easy,
Fascinating and Fun!
"
The Elegant Universe
"
reveals, without jargon
and in plain English,
that the frontiers of
physics have reached
where only mystics dwelt
before. That the secrets
of physics are hidden
within extra
dimensions may be only
the beginning: Other
universes may be
under our noses!
Remember the scene
in 'Animal House' in which
the college student
contemplates, for the
first time, whether a whole
universe could reside in
a speck on his finger?
Well, according to
author Brian Greene,
a young physicist and
string theorist, that
could literally be true.
The mathematics of
the theory establishes
that there is a minimum
possible length (and it's
supersub-microscopic).
Smaller than that, and
things actually become
larger! This means that,
in effect, once we enter
the tiniest realms,
the world turns inside
out: Entire universes
can exist absolutely
everywhere. Fortunately,
"
The Elegant Universe
"
explains these
concepts without inducing
vertigo. Oh, and he also
explains how
string theory reconciles
the major problems
between relativity and
quantum mechanics
too, without a single
equation (although there
are some in the end notes,
for those who can
understand them). This
is an extraordinary
book, which may
well change how we all think
of our world forever onwards.
|
Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| ||
| 1 | Tied Up with String | 3 |
| 2 | Space, Time, and the Eye of the Beholder | 23 |
| 3 | Of Warps and Ripples | 53 |
| 4 | Microscopic Weirdness | 85 |
| 5 | The Need for a New Theory: General Relativity vs. Quantum Mechanics | 117 |
| 6 | Nothing but Music: The Essentials of Superstring Theory | 135 |
| 7 | The "Super" in Superstrings | 166 |
| 8 | More Dimensions Than Meet the Eye | 184 |
| 9 | The Smoking Gun: Experimental Signatures | 210 |
| | ||
| 10 | Quantum Geometry | 231 |
| 11 | Tearing the Fabric of Space | 263 |
| 12 | Beyond Strings: In Search of M-Theory | 283 |
| 13 | Black Holes: A String/M-Theory Perspective | 320 |
| 14 | Reflections on Cosmology | 345 |
| | ||
| 15 | Prospects | 373 |
| Notes | 389 | |
| Glossary of Scientific Terms | 413 | |
| References & Suggestions for Further Reading | 427 | |
| Index | 429 | |
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