The Elegant Universe
Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory
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4.2 • 120 Ratings
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
The international bestseller that inspired a major Nova special and sparked a new understanding of the universe.
Brian Greene, one of the world's leading string theorists, peels away layers of mystery to reveal a universe that consists of eleven 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. The Elegant Universe makes some of the most sophisticated concepts ever contemplated accessible and thoroughly entertaining, bringing us closer than ever to understanding how the universe works.
Customer Reviews
Well written, but not for everyone
Greene is a very good writer who can convey complex ideas with simple analogies. In this book he explains Relativity and Quantum Mechanics in about as understandable way as I've ever read (I'm not a scientist or mathematician). Unfortunately, String Theory is so mathematically complex that even Greene is left to merely give a very general description. In addition, there have been some advances since this book was published in 2003.
Having said that, this is a great book to start with if you are interested in what may become the standard for Physics. Greene admits that there is still a lot of work and it may turn out to be wrong, but I enjoyed the blend of science and the history of its development.
Mind blowing
Took me about 3 months to get through this book. It's really not something you can read straight thorough. It'll will make your head explode if you try. Lol. I sometimes had to take several days off from reading this book because my brain just could not handle or process anymore. I am glad I am finally done reading this book but know that I will have to read it a few more times before I can even grasp the basic concepts of M-theory.
Must read
Greene's style makes understanding these concepts manageable even in the face of the incomprehensible. The book starts with a basic review before moving into the daunting concepts of string theory. In short, his work is elegant and informative.