The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory | 
| Author: Brian Greene
Publisher: Vintage
Category: Book
List Price: $15.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  496 reviews
Sales Rank: 3148
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 464
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8 x 5 x 1
ISBN: 0375708111
Dewey Decimal Number: 539.7258
EAN: 9780375708114
ASIN: 0375708111
Publication Date: February 29, 2000
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Amazon.com
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
Product Description
"[Greene] develops one fresh new insight after another...In the great tradition of physicists writing for the masses, The Elegant Universe sets a standard that will be hard to beat." --George Johnson, The New York Times Book Review
In a rare blend of scientific insight and writing as elegant as the theories it explains, Brian Greene, one of the world's leading string theorists, peels away the layers of mystery surrounding string theory to reveal a universe that consists of 11 dimensions where the fabric of space tears and repairs itself, and all matter-from the smallest quarks to the most gargantuan supernovas-is generated by the vibrations of microscopically tiny loops of energy.
Green uses everything from an amusement park ride to ants on a garden hose to illustrate the beautiful yet bizarre realities that modern physics is unveiling.Dazzling in its brilliance, unprecedented in its ability to both illuminate and entertain, The Elegant Universe is a tour de force of science writing-a delightful, lucid voyage through modern physics that brings us closer than ever to understanding how the universe works.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 491 more reviews...
 Useful but Quite Limited March 23, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book has drawn a great deal of praise, but I think that praise tends to mainly come from two audiences: (a) knowledgable physicists who are already sold on string theory and don't really need to read the book, and (b) lay readers who are excited about getting a lengthy introduction to string theory, and feel they've considerably advanced their understanding in the process.
In actuality, string theory is very complex and the mathematics involved are way beyond the capacity of lay readers, and probably even a large percentage of physicists (look at a real string theory book or paper to see what I mean). True to the popular physics genre, Greene pretty much totally sidesteps the mathematics, instead relying on simplified explanations and analogies which leave out many important details. As a result, in my opinion, the book fails to give lay readers a meaningful understanding of string theory, even at an introductory level -- you will get the illusion of understanding, but not real understanding. I think that some math, additional technical details, and a lot more graphics would have really helped.
Considering these serious limitations, the main value of the book is that it gives readers a general feel for the types of problems string theorists are trying to solve, the general (and wild) character of the potential solutions they're coming up with, and how they're going about all of this.
Summing up, even though the book may fail to provide an adequate introduction to string theory, a general feeling for the subject is still useful and interesting, so the book still warrants three stars.
Average writing style and terrible analogies January 22, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
The book has the merit of being one of the first books to explore and to try to explain superstring theory to the layman. In this regard it is a fair try. Otherwise, 1/3 of the book is wasted trying to explain what special relativity, general relativity and quantum mechanics are all about, and here the author is only mediocre in his enterprise. Anyone who has already read popular level books on these subjects, like the classics by Gamow or Feynman or Joseph Silk or Weinberg, will feel uncomfortable. The analogies the author uses are also terrible, almost nonsense, like when he compares the input of parameters in the Standard Model with the input of the value of an initial investment in the stock market. Geeez... Finaly, I do not like Greene's writing style: the reading simply does not flow. Compared to, e.g., Alan Guth on the equally aethereal subject of inflationary universe, Greene's writing style sucks. Wellllll, at least Guth is talking about something that bears a possible connection with reality...
 Great Introduction to String Theory December 31, 2007
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a very good book for learning about superstring theory. I was motivated to read this book after seeing the associated NOVA documentary (a documentary which I actually thought was extremely repetitive and somewhat cheesy, though the presented ideas and interviews with various physicists were quite interesting). Greene is obviously a very talented science writer and manages to present a highly technical subject in a way that is intelligible to the non-physicist. In addition to string theory, this book provides some very clear introductions to special relativity, general relativity and quantum mechanics.
While the theories presented in this book are exciting from the standpoint of their potential to unify quantum mechanics and general relativity, it would be nice if the superstring theorists could eventually find an empirical backing for the results stemming from their "elegant" equations. It is not that the elegant-math argument is without merit but it would be more convincing if the theory could make some predictions that were actually falsifiable. Arguments stating that the extra dimensions are extremely tiny since we would have otherwise noticed them or that superpartners are extremely massive since we would have otherwise noticed them, etc., are not entirely convincing for me in the absence of empirical evidence. (As an aside, string theory is, apparently, not without its critics in the physics community judging from some of the new books being published such as Woit's Not Even Wrong: The Failure of String Theory And the Search for Unity in Physical Law and Smolin's The Trouble With Physics: The Rise of String Theory, The Fall of a Science, and What Comes Next.)
Greene does concede the need for falsifiable predictions and he seems forthright in pointing out issues that string theorists still need to address. Perhaps Greene is right in stating that this lack of falsifiable predictions is simply a consequence of the theoretical physicists outpacing the experimental physicists; perhaps superstring theory will eventually obtain the empirical evidence necessary to appease the skeptics. Whatever the ultimate fate of string theory/M-theory, I found this book to be both enjoyable and informative and I would definitely recommend it for those who are interested in superstring theory.
 Einstein Plus Two December 31, 2007
2 out of 26 found this review helpful
I started reading this book this week and had a hard time accepting Einstein's Theory of General Relativity. It almost sounds as if he accepts as truth the optical and mechanical illusions of motion, either by a shortening of matter along its axis of motion or a delay in clock time by a pull of gravity on its mechanics. It almost seems that space and time, under the theory of general relativity, can be mathematically manipulated to save his theory that light travels at a constant velocity. Of course, light does not travel at a constant velocity. This was proven in experiments documented in Petr Beckmann's book "Einstein Plus Two" which held that in order for light to travel in waves, it must have a medium upon which to oscillate. That medium can either speed up or slow down the velocity of light depending upon its local gravitation field. For example, light traveling from Washington D.C. to Los Angeles travels faster than light traveling from Los Angeles to Washington D.C. This demonstrates that what actually happens in the experiment observed may be different than the optical illusion being observed. Einstein simply didn't have the necessary tools to overcome the limits of observation relative to his day.
Full handy explanation of relativity, quantum mech., & Superstring theory December 25, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I had seen this book before in a bookstore years ago, but I did not buy it. Big mistake. Greene explains the workings of the universe in down to earth terms (no small feat). Expand your brain a Large notch, if you are not scientifically inclined, as to the modern ideas circulating over the all important Superstring theory - without being a mathematician or physicist!
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