The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the quest for the Ultimate Theory

Brian Greene

ISBN 10: 0224052993 / ISBN 13: 9780224052993

Published by Jonathan Cape, UK, 1999

About this Item

This book, The Elegant Universe, has boards and binding which are square and tight, the text block is clean and bright and illustrated, the dust jacket is also very good with no tears or blemishes. Book price includes Tracked 48 in UK only.

Seller Inventory # 10182

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the quest for the Ultimate Theory
• Publisher: Jonathan Cape, UK
• Publication Date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0224052993
• ISBN 13: 9780224052993
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Illustrated
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good

About this title

Synopsis

String theory proclaims that all of the wondrous happenings in the universe are reflections of one grand physical principle and manifestations of one single entity: microscopically tiny vibrating loops of energy. This text relates the scientific story and the human struggle behind this theory.

Review

There is an ill-concealed skeleton in the closet of physics: "As they are currently formulated, general relativity and quantum mechanics cannot both be right." Each is exceedingly accurate in its field: general relativity explains the behavior of the universe at large scales, while quantum mechanics describes the behavior of subatomic particles. Yet the theories collide horribly under extreme conditions such as black holes or times close to the big bang. Brian Greene, a specialist in quantum field theory, believes that the two pillars of physics can be reconciled in superstring theory, a theory of everything.

Superstring theory has been called "a part of 21st-century physics that fell by chance into the 20th century." In other words, it isn't all worked out yet. Despite the uncertainties--"string theorists work to find approximate solutions to approximate equations"--Greene gives a tour of string theory solid enough to satisfy the scientifically literate.

Though Ed Witten of the Institute for Advanced Study is in many ways the human hero of The Elegant Universe, it is not a human-side-of-physics story. Greene's focus throughout is the science, and he gives the nonspecialist at least an illusion of understanding--or the sense of knowing what it is that you don't know. And that is traditionally the first step on the road to knowledge. --Mary Ellen Curtin