The End Of Physics: The Myth Of A Unified Theory

by David Lindley

A thought-provoking critique of the search for a unified theory that would define the entire physical world traces the history of particle physics and argues that a unified theory would be untestable, as well as a detriment to modern physics.

Genres: Physics, Science, Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

David Lindley is a theoretical physicist and author. He holds a B.A. in theoretical physics from Cambridge University and a PhD in astrophysics from the University of Sussex. Then he was a postdoctoral researcher at Cambridge University.

Reviews

[Carlos · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were two aspects to this book, one of which I found enlightening and enjoyable and one which I found confusing. The first was Lindley’s marvelous retelling of the history of physics, from the Greek’s abstract reasoning to Einstein’s struggles. This was by far my favorite part. He is not only engaging but amazingly illuminating. Aspects of physics that had eluded me, such as time dilation and length contraction, were made brilliantly clear, as was the whole progression of the mathemati-zation of physics. Lindley is able to trace how physicists transition from finding mathematical innovations neat tricks to facilitate their calculation without giving them any weight as evidence to being completely guided by mathematical simplicity and “beauty”. This is where the second, more confusing part, started. Arriving at the current vogue in physics research, the theory of everything (ToE), Lindley is unable to hold the distance that made the previous tempestuous revolutions in physics so clear, and is left with no choice but to recount all the different tacks taken now in pursuit of ToE. This results in a much more chaotic reading experience for the reader unfamiliar with, or not enthralled by, the back and forth of current research. Theories that would not be worth mentioning in a few decades, let alone in a century, get an inevitable share of the attention as Lindley tries to share with the reader all the current theories that might yet yield something up. While I can certainly recommend the first half of the book, I could not do the same for the second half.

[Vu Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Lindley superbly wrote this great book summing up so much about classical physics and modern physics. I have read it more than 5 times from end to end and still learn new things about it. This is to me a treasure in term of 19 and 20th century physics. General readers may need a little bit of knowledge about physics in order to appreciate it.
I rate it a 6 or 7 stars on my scale.
I also read all of his other books and find them all excellently written.
While he may not be that popular as compared to others but to me in particular he’s a great science writer.
Heartily recommended.

[Stephen Selbst · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing book; partly a history of physics, a review of current theory (partly dated) and part philosophical meditation on the nature of, and limits to, scientific inquiry.

[Marko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I finally know what the string theory is about. Some equations would be handy,

[Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though it's a bit dated, I thought it was very effective in showing how there's a very significant dissonance in the physics world about.. Well. Everything. Quantum theory isn't exactly the saviour it is often portrayed to be (as it clashes with the other big-name theory of Einstein's), and despite the optimistic perspectives held by certain head figures in the industry, it still seems just as confused about the big-picture mechanics behind our universe. Lindley, being a physicist himself, comes to the reader with insightful reflections on the past and raises very good questions about our brash assumption that the big unification is near.

[Erik · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good review of physics regarding grand unification from the earliest beginnings to the mid 1990s. However, the thesis suggested by the tiitle is never really dealt with, other than to say in the last half chapter, look how complicated it has become, and is anyone going to pay for anything more? But perhaps this suffices. It was written well enough, and I will try more of Lindley's books.

[Greg Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reasonably brief and conservative standpoint on the history of physics in the 20th century, and briefing on modern cosmology. Highly readable, and approached from an angle indicative of the author's scientific background.

[Gronum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mnn enjoyed it at the time.. but been to long ago.