DJ's review
The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory by Brian Greene
DJ's review
rating:
bookshelves: popular-physics
recommended for: anyone who wants an introduction to string theory but is willing to read critically
status: Read in June, 2008
rating:
bookshelves: popular-physics
recommended for: anyone who wants an introduction to string theory but is willing to read critically
status: Read in June, 2008
I cannot imagine a better spokesperson for string theory. Brian Greene writes of string theory like a Shakesperean poet might write of roses. He is a fervent believer and weaves a sweet tale that may very well convince you that we are on the doorstep of the Grand Unified Theory.
A through, mostly accessible, and always biased intro to string theory. Some concepts are merely described without any attempt at proof or background, but perhaps this is inevitably in a book trying to introduce laymen to the vanguard of complex mathematics. Consider balancing Greene’s staunch pro-string theory attitude with something a bit more conservative, such as Lee Smolin’s ‘The Trouble with Physics.’
Questions
# How gravitons mesh with the warping of spacetime?
# What’s renormalization and how does it eliminate infinities?
# Why is energy related to mass by c? Is it functioning as time here or a deeper constant that happens to restrain light propagation and relate energy and...more
A through, mostly accessible, and always biased intro to string theory. Some concepts are merely described without any attempt at proof or background, but perhaps this is inevitably in a book trying to introduce laymen to the vanguard of complex mathematics. Consider balancing Greene’s staunch pro-string theory attitude with something a bit more conservative, such as Lee Smolin’s ‘The Trouble with Physics.’
Questions
# How gravitons mesh with the warping of spacetime?
# What’s renormalization and how does it eliminate infinities?
# Why is energy related to mass by c? Is it functioning as time here or a deeper constant that happens to restrain light propagation and relate energy and...more
