Book Review: The Elegant Universe

Author: Brian Greene
Spiritual Bias: Unknown
Origins Bias: Unknown
Rating: Top Shelf
Level: Advanced

Comments: With extreme clarity Greene tells the story of the evolution of one of the most exciting theories in the realm of physics - string theory. String theory is great because it resolves a fundamental incompatibility between relativity theory and quantum mechanics to the satisfaction of many physicists. And while string theory is built upon mind blowing concepts, Greene does a great job (perhaps the best possible job even) at explaining aspects of the theory. He even provides a historical context in which to understand string theory by discussing the ideas and accomplishments of Newton, Einstein, Feyman, and Bohr. In total, the book is tremendous and I cannot say enough good things about it. Enough said then, get this book.


Summary Quote(s): "The unified framework that string theory presents is compelling. But its real attraction is the ability to ameliorate the hostilities between the gravitational force and quantum mechanics. Recall that the problem in merging general relativity and quantum mechanics turns up when the central tenet of the former - that space and time constitute a smoothly curving geometrical structure - confronts the essential feature of the latter - that everything in the universe, including the fabric of space and time, undergoes quantum fluctuations that become increasingly turbulent when probed on smaller and smaller distance scales. On sub-Planck-scale distances, the quantum undulations are so violent that they destroy the notion of a smoothly curving geometrical space; this means that general relativity breaks down."

"..from an aesthetic standpoint, physicists find it hard to believe that nature would respect almost, but not quite all of the symmetries that are mathematically possible. Of course, it is possible that an incomplete utilization of symmetry is what actually occurs, but it would be such a shame. It would be as if Bach, after developing numerous intertwining voices to fill out an ingenious pattern of musical symmetry, left out the final, resolving measure."