Book Description
Introduces the embracing world-concept long sought by scientists, mystics, and sages: an Integral Theory of Everything
• Explains how modern science has rediscovered the Akashic Field of perennial philosophy
• Reveals how the universe stores a record of all that is happening and has ever happened on Earth and throughout the cosmos
• Explores the origins, role, and future of life and consciousness in the universe
Mystics and sages have long maintained that there exists an interconnecting cosmic field at the roots of reality that conserves and conveys information, a field known as the Akashic record. Recent discoveries in the new field of vacuum physics now show that this Akashic field is real and has its equivalent in the zero-point field that underlies space itself. This field consists of a subtle sea of fluctuating energies from which all things arise: atoms and galaxies, stars and planets, living beings, and even consciousness. This zero-point Akashic-field--or “A-field”-- is not only the original source of all things that arise in time and space; it is also the constant and enduring memory of the universe. It holds the record of all that ever happened in life, on Earth, and in the cosmos and relates it to all that is yet to happen.
Scientist and philosopher Ervin Laszlo conveys the essential element of this vision of the “informed universe” in language that is accessible and clear. The informed universe lends credence to our deepest intuitions of the oneness of life and the whole of creation. We discover that, as philosopher William James stated, “we are like islands in the sea, separate on the surface but connected in the deep.”
Customer Reviews:
An excellent intro to holistic philosophy.......2007-09-14
A superb book on holistic philosophy. The article by Dr Peter Teiman, "holism and gestaldt"discusses the more philosophical aspects, yet this book looks at holism from the philosophical as well as physics and psychological perspectives.
Dr Peter Teiman
Switzerland
clear, coherent, and concise........2007-06-22
finally, a coherent study of the bridge between the concept of the 'a-field' and the current developments in physics which may support these theories. simple enough to make sense to a non-scientist, but certainly detailed and thorough enough to satisfy an intelligent inquisitor. another excellent work from ervin laszlo.
Revolutionary Thinking.......2007-05-06
Mind-blowing concepts which force us to question our understanding of the "real world."
Technical.......2007-05-06
Not a bad book, but rather technical for my liking. This book is more for the chemist than the alchemist (if you know what I mean). I agree with the reviewer BJ Day, the spiritually esoteric aspects of the Akashic record was not touched upon at all. The closest he came to this, was mentioning how "Native Tribes were able to communicate beyond the range of human eye and ear. At times entire cultures were able to share information among themselves, even though they were not in any known form of contact with each other". Maybe Ervin Laszlo will give more of that in his 2nd edition (May 2007). He has a pretty impressive resume, and a interesting surname.
Why stop at the akashic ?.......2007-05-02
A very great scholarly book but i was a bit dissapointed with the conclusions he reached. he is coming from a scientific background and only very carefully concedes anything that might be labelled spiritualistic. That is fair enough ... keeps us from going off the rails completely but sometimes i wish great scholars wouldn't be so rigid. Sometimes academia gets in the way of other, far more intuitive and (ironically) RATIONAL conclusions. However, he does have the very great virtue of scientific rigour, so that you know if he admits for example telepathy into his discourse, that it must be solid.
He explains how information is transferred instantaneously
during phenomena like the quantum spook 'action at a distance' and telepathy (which he readily admits into his framework), and then poses the question 'how' is the information transferred , given that it must be faster than the speed of light. He also marvels at the level of 'coherence'
between organisms such as ourselves and our envoirnment, and again points to feedback loops and systems theory (covered very well by the way in
fritjof capras 'web of life').
Again the big question is 'how' - how does the information get 'fed back' so quickly on natures broadband, so to speak, in order to maintain such a high level of coherence. This points convincingly to another type of 'connectivity' - not translatory across a surface, but vertically towards a common center (in this case an omnipresent etheric, or common field sustaining and informing the observable world). The idea of the ether raises its head again and, inspite of mitchelson&morley it is very plausable. (incidentally, according to nature magazine, this was revisited in 1986 and traces of etheric wind WERE found, using more sensitive equipment. Where was the huge sensational reaction in the scientific community ? .... this is what i mean about scientific rigidity, or fear of ridicule).
This is how the book starts out, and it is very exciting, and then he goes on to posit the existence of the akashic field (read 'etheric field', vacumn or zero point field) which mystics and spiritual teachers have always maintained.
This field would explain neatly a range of phenomena - just like Lynn
mcTaggarts book 'the field' - in fact, basically, at this point he has just caught up with McTaggart.
I was then hoping he would maybe explore the possibilities of the other fields (or plenums / planes) , just as the esoteric literature tells us - ie. the astral plane, the mental plane, the causal plane etc. but he stops at the akashic. (in fairness, as a scientist he had to).
From there he says it is an information reservoir that 'informs' the physical world of phenomena, storing the information holographically in wave patterns - and that everyones conscious experience is stored there for everyone else to tap into ... (reminded me abit of Carlos Casteneda and the eagle devouring our awareness at the point of death).
The thing that dissapointed me is that he was dismissive of reincarnation and the idea of a soul existing as an entity within the field as 'unlikely' without giving any further explanation. He said that peoples experience of past lives were actually people just tapping into the field of all experience in a manner not unlike radio reception - ie. you pick up on the frequencies that resonate with your own. The consious experiences are recorded there , but there is no trace of the agent who put them there .... abit like the song being immortalised when burned (encoded) onto the cd , but the cd burner (the agent) itself dissapates)...The obvious extension of that analogy is who or what is the listener to the cd's ?
At the end of it all , and after many iterations of universal creation, all of the fields potential gets realised (in the form of these holographic, soliton like, patterns) and this is equivalent to all of the possibilities inherent within the mind of god becoming realised - or god has become self realised through us as his agents (yes ... very like the eagle devouring the awareness at the point of death). All the different possible permutations and combinations , that exist as potential , do eventually get materialised (or 'made observable') and their exact details get recorded in this field. Thus both the being and the becoming are in there (as they would have to be if they exist as potential within the mind of god) ... BUT, here he seems to take the path of the materialist when he seems to suggest that these wave patterns ARE the very mind of god. There is something missing in this picture ... it is like having a cd and no listener.
The esoteric literature would appear to suggest that we may well be thoughts in the mind of god, and that we are exactly as immortal as this gods mind is - no less. We don the clothes of many etheric planes (giving us for example a mental body and an astral body as well as the outward physical body), but we remain that immortal spark, that static point in eternity. The creative forces of the universe are inherent in us as much as in any God - at the level of our eternal core, it is we ourselves (as one) who spin the web of the outer worlds, including the sheath known as the akashic field.
Why can't there be other 'higher' agents, such as the soul and the monad within what the author has termed the akashic field ? Why does he just dismiss the idea of the soul incarnating as 'unlikely', and instead postulate something far more requiring of a leap of faith - ie. the cd's without a listener ? It could be a case of bringing a bit of scientific scepticism to bear , just for the sake of it , in order to compensate for the giant step taken in the direction of spirituality - so as not to TOTALLY alienate himself from his peers.
Its still a great work though - just a pity he restrained himself from going the whole hog.
Esoteric literature on the otherhand seems to maintain that we ARE immortal ... that we form collectively the mind of god, and that these forms are structured in a certain way (for example the numbers 3 and 7 seem to feature pretty heavily in the picture, as well as recursivity (galaxies of galaxies type of thing). The personality is the agent of the soul, and the soul is the agent of the monad. The soul spawns many personalities over many lifetimes(these do dissipate back into the field) and collects the conscious experience of each (this is the eagle). After a while the soul no longer needs the experience of physical matter ... its agent (the personality) is a perfected instrument and carries out the souls purpose in matter - just as the sculptors art eventually takes form through the heavy medium of marble, the souls vibration achieves a true and faithful expression in the world of matter. The personality is dispensed with and you just have a soul operating in the world. Eventually in a similar manner the soul itself is absorbed back into the monad ... and so on as long as there is freedom of thought within the mind of god, the process goes on and on - it is eternity itself. The mortality or immortality of the self would appear to be a question of identification ... if i identify myself with my personality, then i get a different answer than if i identify myself with my soul. In the second case i (soul) will survive death, in the first case (personality) no. Similarly at another level you would need to identify with the monad to get the happy answer. i think jesus identified with the very force of life itself (the father) ... and thus knew for certain that he was exactly as immortal as the creative forces themselves. One thing that can't be created is creativity itself - it has to preceed the creation, and thus the creative forces of the universe are immortal.
Book Description
This book describes how understanding the structure of reality leads to the Theory of Everything Equation. The equation unifies the forces of nature and enables the merging of relativity with quantum theory. The book explains the big bang theory and everything else.
Customer Reviews:
The Real Deal.......2006-09-25
Although Mr. Wheatley is a little verbose in sections, his documentation of Zen Buddhistic Principles found throughout the disciplines of Mathematics, Physics, Theology, etc. forms a nice reference guide for anyone tuned into that wavelength. In particular, his explanation of how Godel's Theorem and Cantor's "Confusion" shed great light on the difference between GOD's Logic and Man's Logic should be a revelation to any undergraduate level math students who encounter these ideas for the first time. Curiously, Mr. Wheatley makes many misstatements about both Zen Buddhism Principles and the Bible, however. For example, by accepting the false biblical teaching of Original Sin, he misses the point that eating the proverbial apple gave Adam and Eve the ability to make Moral Discernments in fulfillment of GOD'S PERFECT PLAN. As proof, read Genesis 1 which states that Man and Woman were made in GOD's Image. Genesis 4 shows that Adam and Eve weren't the first humans on Earth at all, there were plenty of others by then. The allegorical meaning of the story of Eden, then, isn't that Adam and Eve were the first humans on Earth, but they were the first humans with the ability to make Moral Discernments (in GOD's Image). In fact, Moral Discernment is God's Unique Gift to Man, which is the basis of consciousness, not some Math Formula. But because the wages of the resulting, unavoidable sin are Death, many people foolishly try to return to Eden by: (1) living a sinless Life (2) by removing choice altogether by passing and enforcing strict Laws (3) by attempting to do away with Moral Discernment and the resulting consequences for our actions altogether by trying to remove Shame from Shameful actions. GOD is not some ethereal Man-In-Space, but is simply the Totality of all Real Things, The Set of All Real Sets. GOD's Love manifests itself from the amazing sub-atomic relationships that underly this magic Life all the way to the grandest of Macroscopic Scales, the Interconnected Totality itself. The Zen Buddhism connection can be found by simply superimposing the 0 symbol and the symbol for infinity (8 on its side) in Mr. Wheatley's supposedly "new" formulation that 1 = 0 x infinity. Superimposing them gives you the yin-yang symbol. A potential disadvantage of artificially separating the infinity from the zero, however, is that Mr. Wheatley is able to equate the entire expression to be equal to 1. This potentially might obscure the fact that the deepest meaning of the yin-yang symbol is that it is both 2 and 1 AT THE SAME TIME. His overall equation does preserve that important meaning by utilizing a single element on one side of the equation and two elements on the other side of his final TOE equation. This may be hard to see for some at first, however, which could potentially obscure the richest meaning of this beautiful symbol/equation. A much more GODLY TOE, in my opinion, comes from Euler, who discovered that e ^ (i * pi) - 1 = 0. When someone can explain that relationship, then they can say they know GOD.
A life changing experience??.......2005-06-13
This book is an easy read and does succeed in being somewhat thought-provoking. However, I am a little surprised at the awesome, "life changing" experience it apparently was for many of the readers. Wheatley's conclusions were interesting but nothing really new. All of his material should have passed through the mind of any thinking person without the aid of this book.
The reason I gave this book three stars is because he uses unneccessarily wordy ways of describing simple things. Also, the author and many other reviewers insist that Wheatley makes only one assumption. Wrong-his whole theory is one big assumption.
Overall though it was a very interesting and worthy book.
Should be Required Reading for everyone.......2004-06-26
This book will change your life. You will never think the same way you did before reading it.
I have a degree in chemistry and I think this book should be read by everyone in the sciences. Without a doubt, the best book I've ever read. Why and what are two of our best friends
A Very Important Book.......2004-01-26
I must preface my review by stating that I have never been so excited and moved by a book that I have wanted to contact the author. That is what I found myself doing upon reading this book. This book is just what its title says. The author does not "miss a beat" describing in great detail using practically every aspect of scientific knowledge from atomic structure through logic to quantum theory---we are even given a valuable explanation of Love. This text may be challenging to read for those unfamiliar with scientific terminology. And it can also be difficult for those with a science background, such as myself. However, for me it is well worth the work necessary to strive to understand the unfamiliar terminology. (I am continually learning from this book. I am presently on my third reread).
One of the author's main messages is "not" to believe anything without first verifying it with reality, as we know it. He calls it the "Personal Explanation Principle". He indicates that religions are just such belief systems that we as people "fall" victims of; because we do not verify the beliefs with the facts, as we know them, of reality. He gives a very detailed explanation of how the New Testament can be explored using his methodology.
The author methodically and meticulously walks us through his thought processes, which took 30 years to assimilate, of delineating the structure of reality and the nature of consciousness. Included in the "walk" are many of reality's phenomena made revelatory. An example of that, for me, would be the dual nature of light. It's particle/wave duality, which is explained as "functions". Also, when the author took me on the mental journey of "Setness" an exhilaration of the magnificence of life swelled up in me.
To me this is a very important book that should be read by all that are seekers of truth. It is for all those wanting to gain an understanding of the purpose for their existence, wanting to know where life is headed towards, and wanting to know who God is.
This book will enlighten and develop one's mind substantially. You will discover that this is our objective.
And yes, I contacted the author and he responded openly.
Illuminating!!!.......2002-12-30
This is a really great book. It combines philosophy and science in order to tackle a multitude of existential problems. The author's style of writing is fresh and alive, I recommend ths book to anyone interested in expanding the fronteirs of their understanding. Books I also liked are a Universe in an Nutshell by Steven Hawkings and Descent into Illusions by Paul Omeziri.
Amazon.com
With a title inspired as much by Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker series as Einstein, The Theory of Everything delivers almost as much as it promises. Transcribed from Stephen Hawking's Cambridge Lectures, the slim volume may not present a single theory unifying gravity with the other fundamental forces, but it does carefully explain the state of late 20th-century physics with the great scientist's characteristic humility and charm. Explicitly shunning math, Hawking explains the fruits of 100 years of heavy thinking with metaphors that are simple but never condescending--he compares the settling of the newborn universe into symmetry to the formation of ice crystals in a glass of water, for example. While he explores his own work (especially when speaking about black holes), he also discusses the important milestones achieved by others like Richard Feynman. Though occasionally an impenetrably obscure phrase does slip by, the reader will find the bulk of the text enlightening and engaging. The material, from the nature of time to the possibility that the universe has no beginning or end, is rich and deep and inevitably ignites metaphysical thinking. After all, Hawking is famous for his "we would know the mind of God" remark, which ends the final lecture herein. --Rob Lightner
Book Description
Based on a series of lectures given at Cambridge University, Professor Hawking's work introduced "the history of ideas about the universe" as well as today's most important scientific theories about time, space, and the cosmos in a clear, easy-to-understand way.
Customer Reviews:
Even if it is unofficial..........2007-10-02
Even if this product is unofficial, and unsanctioned by Stephen Hawking himself, I have to say I enjoyed it.
I liked how its topics were so clearly delineated into thematically cohesive lectures, I liked that the author read them himself using a computer, and I loved the clear and organized way that Hawking laid out topics as complex and unfathomable as black holes and time and the beginning of the universe.
Don't buy this, I suppose, since it's really not sanctioned by Hawking himself, but do buy his other work that basically repeats this same material.
Do buy this, though, if you're a Hawking completist, already have all his other books, and are looking for just a little bit more.
I loved it.
Phoenix Strikes Again.......2007-08-13
When Phoenix did a crummy job on their audio book production of A Brief History of Time, I thought "that seems kind of disrespectful, doing a hack job like that just so they can make money off of a famous book."
Ha! Do I feel like a fool now!
Oh yeah, and of course I am obligated to add this little bit from Hawking's website:
IMPORTANT NOTE
It has come to our attention that the book "The Theory of Everything: The Origin and Fate of the Universe" has been published. Professor Hawking would like to make it clear that he has not endorsed this book. The text was written by him many years ago, however the material has already been published in books such as 'A Brief History of Time'. A complaint was made to the Federal Trade Commission in the US in the hope that they would prevent the publication. We would urge you not to purchase this book in the belief that Professor Hawking was involved in its creation.
Question the publiser.........2007-07-05
IMPORTANT NOTE
It has come to our attention that the book "The Theory of Everything: The Origin and Fate of the Universe" has been published. Professor Hawking would like to make it clear that he has not endorsed this book. The text was written by him many years ago, however the material has already been published in books such as 'A Brief History of Time'. A complaint was made to the Federal Trade Commission in the US in the hope that they would prevent the publication. We would urge you not to purchase this book in the belief that Professor Hawking was involved in its creation.
In a nut shell.......2007-06-10
The toughts of the supposed beginings of the universe are thought provoking. The book was easy to read, in fact this book took me no time at all, but has left me with a life time of knowledge.
There is not comparison.......2007-04-27
This book PALES in comparison with A Brief History of Time and A Briefer History of Time.
I highly recommend either of those two books over this one.
Book Description
The concept of multiple unperceived dimensions in the universe is one of the hottest topics in contemporary physics. It is essential to current attempts to explain gravity and the underlying structure of the universe. The Great Beyond begins with Einstein’s famous quarrel with Heisenberg and Bohr, whose theories of uncertainty threatened the order Einstein believed was essential to the universe, and it was his rejection of uncertainty that drove him to ponder the existence of a fifth dimension. Beginning with this famous disagreement and culminating with an explanation of the newest "brane" approach, author Paul Halpern shows how current debates about the nature of reality began as age-old controversies, and addresses how the possibility of higher dimensions has influenced culture over the past one hundred years.
Download Description
The fundamental conundrum in physics today is the incompatibility of Einstein's theory of general relativity with quantum mechanics. To bridge the gap between the two theories, a number of physicists have posited novel solutions involving hyperspace dimensions beyond the four that we can perceive and, most recently, branes, or membranes that exist in the fifth dimension and beyond. This lively account describes, in plain language, the history of hyperspace theory.
Customer Reviews:
History of Multidimensional Theories.......2006-09-14
This is a book about the history of multidimensional theories. The focus of the book is not on the theories themselves, but on how they developed. It is very well written. It is entertaining, and has good rhythm. It was not what I expected, but anyway I enjoyed the book.
Curiously, the best part of the book, in my opinion, is the one that is farthest from the own subject of the book, where the development of the Relativity and Quantum theories are explained, in the context of multidimensional theories. It is just close to having five stars, but I think that the last part of the book is weaker; too many names, in comparison with the excellent first two thirds of the book, where a hard selection of scientists is done.
Big disappointment.......2006-07-28
I just bought this book and I have to be honest that it really disappointed me. All the material inside is already known and has been explained from some other book like "Hyperspace" by Michio Kaku. The book just repeats some fact about kaluza-klein, flatlanders, mobius strip, supergravity or relativity theory of Einstein. It does not even consider explaining in detail the latest advancement in theoretical physics that explore the possibility of higher dimension or theory of everything as its title would suggest.
If you are looking for some introduction to popular science of space-time, matter and the universe in general, MAYBE this book will be suitable for you (even though I would advice you to get it from another book such as "Hyperspace" or "Parallel Worlds" by Michio Kaku). But if you are looking for some "advance" information in these area or the latest information in theoretical physics concerning the development of the Superstring, M-Theory, Brane Worlds and so on, this book is definitely NOT for you.
Out of this world. And that one. And that one........2006-04-02
I don't know about you, but I'm getting freaked out. It's this new theory of parallel worlds. Imagine: infinite universes out there, many of them with near identical copies of you. They say every possible outcome in your life will occur in another universe.
So, you're a dismal failure who never achieved anything. Don't fret. In a parallel universe, you might be drinking expensive champagne on your yacht and talking shop with Donald Trump.
So, your wife ran off with your brother and took the truck and the dog to boot. Take heart. One universe over, the shrew is serving you drinks and vacuuming floors in your palatial estate. Your dog watches over your fleet of trucks and your brother is in prison.
So, the Red Sox finally win a World Series after 86 years of heartbreak. It's been year after year of thwarted hopes, for as long as you can remember. But somewhere in the multiverse, the Sox have won so many championships, it's sickening.
Every possible outcome. Those horrible mistakes you made here never happened there. You ate right, exercised and took vitamins every day in some other universe. You are buff and not ashamed to take your shirt off on the beach in another dimension.
The multiverse has its privileges. And it is scientists who claim it as fact, not tabloid writers drunk on cheap wine. To account for errors in the math of quantum physics, some say the existence of multiple universes is the only possible solution.
"The Great Beyond" was one of several books I read on the subject during a recent quantum binge. Halpern writes with a style that will be appreciated by non-PhDs like myself. He uses analogy and visuals to bring his ideas home. He explains the science calmly, without the hysterical, desperate lunge toward the theory of everything so many other physicists succumb to. By the time you read the last page, you'll be wondering what other versions of you are doing in other worlds.
So really, man. It's time to relax. String theory dictates that our time here is really not that important. We're just an insignificant speck in an infinitesimal bubble in the froth of a sea of universes. Stop hollering and worrying all the time. Chill out and let some other you do all the heavy lifting.
I'm getting carried away. I know I am. People who don't absolutely love books like "Parallel Worlds" back slowly away from me when I start talking about the multiverse. My wife doesn't allow words like singularity or participatory anthropic principal around the house. Not in this world, anyway.
-- Mark LaFlamme, author of "The Pink Room," about, what else? A leading physicist who attempts to use the science of string theory to bring his daughter back from the dead.
Elegant explanation of the theory of relativity.......2006-01-04
The physic community was confident with Einstein's theory of relativity.
Contributions and foundations for relativity:
Gauss provided the matrix rotation mathematics.
Reimannian Geometry provided a more flexible structure called a manifold. A manifold is a collection of points each characterized by a set of coordinates. If the manifold is two or three dimension then each point may have two or three coordinates. Manifolds described the notion of curvature and embedding. Einstein was able to construct a four-dimensional model of the theory of relativity.
William Clifford wondered if he use non-Euclidean geometry and higher dimensions expressed in terms of his matrix algebra and encompass both the physical and mathematical world.
Stringham's hypercube demonstrated the possibility of four-dimensional objects: 1. a point moving out from a point into space forms a line 2. A line segment parallel to itself with same length form a square. 3. Moving the square in similar manner produce a cube.
Maxwell turned his attention to electricity and magnetism. Maxwell thought about Faraday observations charges, currents, and magnetic dipoles. Maxwell set out to create a mathematical language to explain Faraday's experimental discoveries. Maxwell applied the theories of hydrodynamics of water to the structure of electric fields and the result was a technique describing magnetic fields as electric fields. Maxwell's field theory replaced Newton's force theory. Maxwell's four equations explained the how electric and magnetic fields affect each other and how electric currents produce magnetic fields. Maxwell discovered electromagnetic waves produced from electric and magnetic fields travel at the speed of light. Maxwell arrived at the conclusion that light was an electromagnetic wave.
Newtons law of motion required that the speed that an object appears to move depends on the speed of the person doing the observing. In 1887, Michaelson and Morely built a device to measure the speed of light over exactly same distances, oriented perpendicular to each other taking advantage of the speed of the earth moving through space. The discovery was that the light velocities were identical, no difference in the speed of light.
Einstein's theory of relativity did not sacrifice the constancy of light speed nor the notion that light speeds are relative. Time dilation stats that the faster the observer travels, as they approach the speed of light, the slower their clocks move relative to those set on the ground. Special relativistic effect suggests a spaceship traveling close to the speed of light might seem 30 yards long for those on board, but only 10 yards long according to someone on earth.
Minkowski rewrote the equations of special relativity into four dimensions in an amalgamation called space-time manifold, also known as the continuum. The space-time continuum includes everything that has ever happened or will ever happen through eternity. The basic units of relativity are events and each event represents the location and time of a physical occurrence (x,y,z,t) Minokowski reduced Maxwell's four equations into one called the electromagnetic field tensor described in a four by array. The entire spectrum of light and the full scope of electricity and magnetism are all expressed in the equation. Einstein began too ponder the role of four-dimensional geometries in helping to expand special relativity into a comprehensive theory of dynamics and Einstein came to realize he need to employ the power of higher mathematics. The general theory of relativity is extraordinarily elegant set of equations that describe gravity by relating the mass and energy in any region of the universe to the structure of space-time in that sector. Stress energy tensor describes the material properties at a certain point and the Einstein curvature tensor conveys information about the geometry of the space-time at the same location. Trajectory through space-time has different outcomes "space-time tells matter how to move and matter tells space-time how to curve".
Einstein rejected Weyl non-Riemannian rewrite of the theory of relativity because Weyl injected a gauge term into the metric of the theory of relativity. Einstein found these variations in length and time scales troublesome and unphysical. Kuluza became acquainted with Weyl.
Kuluza came to a startling conclusion that he could discover Maxwell's equations if he extended Einstein's theory of relativity to the fifth dimension. Einstein initially rejected Kuluza fifth dimension because it lack physical proof.
Einstein considered Klein to be brilliant and began pondering the possibility and acceptance of Klein/Kuluza five dimensional Universes. The particle accelerator has revealed more subatomic particles and the current M-model uses String theory and 11-dimension higher dimensional mathematics to explain the Universe. 3D space is called the 3-Brane. Between the 3-Brane and another 3-Brane spans a four dimensional space called the Bulk. In the bulk there are compactified regions called the Calabi Yau strings all twisted and beyond all possible detection. The Calabi Yau sector house symetries of the standard particle model. There are 6 Calabi Yau strings in the 3-brane; open string attach to the 3-brane; close strings are allowed to move freely through the Bulk; and Gavitons, the carriers of gravity are model by closed strings.
As Good As Elegant.......2005-09-07
If you like Brian Greene's `The Elegant Universe,' you should like this book too. Both books are very comparable in coverage and readability. While Greene's occupies 448 pages, Halpern's does it in 326 pages. Main differences between them are in the compassion toward and the coverage thoroughness of inspiring/taunting and for/against views, persons and incidents. In these respects, I enjoyed reading Halpern's more. Greene tends to write like a story of `String Theory & Einstein;' thus omitting a lot of views, persons and incidents that were or have been inspiring/taunting and for/against Einstein and/or string theorists. Those omitted by Greene; for examples, how Einstein came to think seriously about the four-dimensional space-time approach developed by Hermann Minokowski, and how several other scientists (in spite of Einstein) followed Kaluza-Klein theory in adding the fifth and more dimensions; are well covered in Halpern's − together with the `flesh & blood' stories of persons involved and their plights during Nazi's tyranny − even of Einstein. Compassionately, Halpern tells stories of Edwin Abbott Abbott, Nima Arkani-Hamed, Valentine Bargmann, Peter Bergmann, Niels Bohr, Louis de Broglie, Charlie Chaplin, William Klingdon Clifford, Eugene Cremmer, Stanley Deser, Bryce Seligman DeWitt, Savas Dimopoulos, Paul Dirac, Georgi (Gia) Dvali, Arthur Eddington, Paul Ehrenfest, Albert Einstein, Richard Feynman, Abraham Flexner, Carl Friedrich Gauss, Murray Gell-Mann, Howard Georgi, Sheldon Glashow, Michael Green, Werner Heisenberg, David Hilbert, Charles Howard Hinton, Banesh Hoffmann, Pascual Jordan, Bernard Julia, Theodor Franz Eduard Kaluza, Immanuel Kant, Oskar Benjamin Klein, Hendrik Kramers, Hendrik Lorentz, James Clerk Maxwell, Walther Mayer, Hermann Minokowski, Gunnar Nordström, Wolfgang Pauli, Lisa Randall, Georg Friedrich Bernhard Riemann, Abdus Salam, Joël Scherk, Erwin Schrödinger, John Schwarz, Julian Schwinger, Raman Sundrum, Richard Tolman, Steven Weinberg, H.G. Wells, Hermann Weyl, John Wheeler, Edward Witten, Chen Ning (Frank) Yang, Hideki Yukawa, Johann Zöllner, etc. Having gone through similar `publish or perish' experience, though likely in a much less fierce arena, I can imagine their - like stated by Einstein − "the years of anxious searching in the dark, with their intense longing, their alternations of confidence and exhaustion, and final emergence into the light." Ironically, Halpern even covers the first and second superstring revolutions better than Greene. But one should not overlook the fact that Halpern, writing after, had about five years to improve on Green's. Another major difference between these two books, that one may pick up as a criticism against Halpern's, is in the explicit mentioning of the successes of string theory, so far. Rather explicitly, Greene claims successes of string theory in: solving the conflict between Einstein's general relativity and quantum mechanics, settling that the fabric of space can tear, solving a central puzzle concerning Bekenstein-Hawking entropy of black holes, and rationally modifying the conclusions of cosmic origins. But, my guess is that Halpern - unlike Greene - apparently belonging to an impartial party needs not feel obliged to try hard to sell the product, string theory.
Average customer rating:
- Irritating and pointless
- Lots of speculation, no substance
- Know it's place
- Long, empty, boring, not worth the time
- Muddled, inaccurate, overblown, and poorly written
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Beyond Chaos: The Underlying Theory Behind Life, the Universe, and Everything
Mark Ward
Manufacturer: Thomas Dunne Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Chaos & Systems
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ASIN: 0312274890 |
Book Description
We are surrounded by order that-until now-physics has been unable to explain.
The spread of veins in the back of our hands mirrors the spread of branches on a tree; fern fronds bear a resemblance to the outline of fjords; the best-loved classical music echoes the patterns of our heartbeats.
The theory of Universality is using fractal patterns to explain much of the world around us. Could it be that the same laws that govern systems in their critical states also govern some of the most unpredictable events such as earthquakes, avalanches, the growth of cities and stock market crashes-even the way businesses are run and the way fashions come and go? Is there a common principle, a universal affinity that binds us to the forces of nature?
A consensus is emerging on how complex structures grow and sustain themselves; phenomena that were once thought to be unique now appear to have a great deal in common. Mark Ward examines these theories, explores how they fit into an age-long quest to discover how the universe works, delves into their possible limitations and asks what we can do with this new knowledge.
While identifying patterns does not mean that we can always predict what will happen next, some of the trends scientists are noticing prove that life is not a series of random events. Universality deepens our understanding of natural phenomena and our place in the physical world.
We are surrounded by order that-until now-physics has been unable to explain.
The spread of veins in the back of our hands mirrors the spread of branches on a tree; fern fronds bear a resemblance to the outline of fjords; the best-loved classical music echoes the patterns of our heartbeats.
The theory of Universality is using fractal patterns to explain much of the world around us. Could it be that the same laws that govern systems in their critical states also govern some of the most unpredictable events such as earthquakes, avalanches, the growth of cities and stock market crashes-even the way businesses are run and the way fashions come and go? Is there a common principle, a universal affinity that binds us to the forces of nature?
A consensus is emerging on how complex structures grow and sustain themselves; phenomena that were once thought to be unique now appear to have a great deal in common. Mark Ward examines these theories, explores how they fit into an age-long quest to discover how the universe works, delves into their possible limitations and asks what we can do with this new knowledge.
While identifying patterns does not mean that we can always predict what will happen next, some of the trends scientists are noticing prove that life is not a series of random events. Universality deepens our understanding of natural phenomena and our place in the physical world.
Customer Reviews:
Irritating and pointless.......2004-05-23
After reading the first three pages of the introduction, I thought "this must get better". I skipped to chapter 1 and read two more pages of vague, disconnected repetition. So I turned to Amazon reviews to see if it was worth my while to persist. It isn't. On to the next book...
Lots of speculation, no substance.......2004-03-14
The book is disjointed and speculative so that it is hard to take any of the arguments seriously. It is strange to find this in a book about science, but then perhaps it is not a science book! Some remarks comparing scientific research today with demonology several hundred years ago make you wonder. It is almost as bad as `The Web of Life' by Fritjof Capra (conversely if you liked that book, you will like this one too). Oddly enough, although the book claims not to be about Chaos but about `Universality', it is Chaos that appears in the title. I am fairly familiar with the research into chaos theory, but having read this book I still cannot really tell you what `Universality' is, other than that it seems to involve everything (!). In any case, the book presents even the better data on the subject poorly.
On a general note, in thinking of fractals (discussed extensively but loosely in the book) I wonder if we are not over-interpreting the data. After all, mathematicians have known all along that mathematical models can represent a variety of natural processes and yet have no causal relation to them. Similarly, when we see fractals in a wide variety of biological structures and processes, is it because fractals are fundamental to them, or because, as I suspect, a fractal can be used to model anything? Is it the chicken or the egg?
Know it's place.......2003-11-23
Understanding why you're reading this book makes all the difference. I used this book as a carefree nightly read around an interesting topic, and it worked! Using this book to solve problems would be a mistake. There's not enough detail and it won't work.
The author approached Universality from enough angles to brighten my world to possible unexplored connections. Unfortunately, the author's light dimmed a bit when he didn't stay "on-message" 15% of the time, wherein I skipped forward some pages. Hense, the 3 stars.
Overall, read this book as an intro, and lighten up!
Long, empty, boring, not worth the time.......2003-05-31
One would think that 300 pages discussing science theory would have some substance but this book could have been edited down to an eight page magazine article with little loss of content. And not a "heavy" magazine for scientists but a "popular" type magazine. I forced myself to stay with it hoping that the author would eventually get serious but the book stayed chatty and anecdotal to the end. According to the bio Mr. Ward is a science writer for the BBC and I did get the feeling of a TV narration purposely kept light in order not to scare off any viewers.
I found myself rereading series of pages because I had the feeling that I had missed something and then finding that I hadn't missed a thing, there was simply no content to retain. This happened repeatedly and made this book a real chore to finish and ultimately unrewarding. A shame too because the premises Mr. Ward teases the reader with are intriguing but the book fails miserably to live up to the promises made on the dust cover. Budding authors should seek out his agent however, that individual is well worth his fee!
Muddled, inaccurate, overblown, and poorly written.......2003-05-15
British journalist Mark Ward's exposition of the theory of Universality and self-organized criticality (SOC) is little more than breathless hype purporting to show that fractal patterns and SOC are present in virtually every aspect of the biological and physical world. While this may or may not be true, Ward's largely anecdotal presentation, with its at times almost-mystical (although nonreligious) tone, unfortunately arouses the suspicion that the theory rests on a shaky scientific foundation. It should also not be too much to expect that a book devoted to the theory of Universality actually give an explicit definition of Universality, which Ward consistently fails to do. The book is introductory and nontechnical, so it is perhaps unfair to expect him to give a solid theoretical foundation to the theory, but the reader is left with an uneasy feeling that the gentleman "doth protest too much." Those interested in chaos theory, emergent phenomona, and SOC would do much better to read the books of Stuart Kauffmann and John Holland or the older nontechnical classic "Chaos: Making a New Science" by James Gleick.
The book is also plagued with numerous factual errors. (His reference to Beethoven's Eroica Symphony as a late work, produced in the same general period as the Ninth Symphony and the Diabelli Variations, has been cited in another review.) Additionally, Mr. Ward's writing style and his many lapses in grammar, syntax, and punctuation make the book irritating to read and make one wish that a good editor had taken the manuscript firmly in hand. Awkward shifts in tense within a single sentence, lack of subject-verb agreement, and Mr. Ward's apparent disdain for commas make what is actually a simple book a chore to read.
Average customer rating:
- Unsatisfying
- High standard radio program.
- Good introdution, a bit dated.
- A step beyond "The Elegant Universe"
- If you missed the show, read this
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Superstrings: A Theory of Everything? (Canto)
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
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Superstrings and the Search for the Theory of Everything
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ASIN: 052143775X |
Book Description
Geared to the layperson, a clear, concise, non-mathematical explanation of the "Theory of Everything" and its profound implications is followed by transcripts of interviews with most of the physicists involved in its development.
Download Description
Geared to the layperson, a clear, concise, non-mathematical explanation of the "Theory of Everything" and its profound implications is followed by transcripts of interviews with most of the physicists involved in its development.
Customer Reviews:
Unsatisfying.......2003-01-10
Following the introduction, each chapter is an interview with a string-theory advocate (and non-advocate: Feynman) recorded for the BBC in 1987. If Davies actually did the interviews, he plays the role of interested layman well.
But there is a limit to what you can do in words to convey mathematical ideas. A book on physics with no mathematics at all CAN work if the subject treatment is broad rather than deep, and good metaphors employed. By contrast, the focus of this book is narrow and shallow. There is no mathematics, and not too many metaphors to help us bridge the gap. Plus, on occasion, the interviewees sound pompous and patronizing. A major part of the problem seems to be that the interviews are mostly statements of personal position on the nature of strings, and personal role in their development, rather than an attempt to educate. Anyhow, I was left hungry and disappointed that I had not learned more.
I recommend the introduction (70-pages - presumably by Davies). It is a very well written and educative layman's survey of modern physics leading up to strings. The book may be worth buying just for that.
High standard radio program........2002-09-30
BBC program consisting of interviews with well known physicists about 'superstrings'.
This book contains a very good introduction of the quantum theory and of supersymmetry/superstrings for the layman.
Most of the interviewed (John Schwarz, Edward Witten, Michael Green, David Gross, John Ellis, Abdus Salam, Steven Weinberg) agree with the theory of superstrings, mainly because it is the only theory that could solve certain mathematical problems (infinities), without violating the laws of quantum mechanics and gravity.
Two disagree (Sheldon Glashow and Richard Feynman), mainly because the existence of strings in nature can not be tested.
For the moment (see among others, 'The elegant universe' by Brian Greene) it seems that superstrings is the only way to get forward in the search for a 'theory' of everything.
Not to be missed. Congratulations to the BBC.
Good introdution, a bit dated........2002-04-05
This little book is a must for those interested in superstring theory. Those who have read books like "the elegant universe" should complement with this one. It gives a historical prespective, but unfortunately is a bit dated, given that it was originally published in 1988. String theory moves real fast, and a lot of things viewed as problems in the book are now somewhat clarified.
The book starts with the best crash-course I have read of modern physics. In just 60 pages, you are introduced to supersymmetry, relativity theory, quantum mechanics, particle physics, superstrings, and other conceptual issues. The main body of the book however, involves interviews with various physicists concerning superstrung theory. Green, Gross, Witten, Feynmann, Salam, weinberg among others all give their points of view of this putative "theory of everything". They talk about the structure of the theory, its limitations in experimentation, its main obstacles, and their personal views of what lies in the future for superstrings.
Some main issues come up regularily, like the multidimensional aspect of the theory, the fact that there are various diferent superstring theories, and issues on topology. Unfortunately this was before some very interesting results that clarify some of these issues. For example, Calibi-Yau spaces were not in the spotlight, as they currently are. Also, all of this is pre "M-theory". That is, the 5 kinds of theory described (E8*E8 for example) are now linked through "M-theory", so there is no real problem of unification anymore (aty least one could see how it comes together, but this issues are still controversial).Also, current theories sometimes use 11 dimensions, whereas in the book 10 dimensions seemed to be the standard. Holographic principles could also enlighten some of the discussed problems in the book.
Another great aspect of the book is that it includes internal critics as well. Richard Feynmann for exaple, does not feel superstring is going to save physics, and does not share the same kind of enthusiasm as say, Edward Witten. The main points are the fact that superstring theory is so far from being directly testable (PLank lenght experiments would require 10 light year long particle accelerators!), and other philosophical issues. Of course, there is circunstancial evidence, but some see that superstring theory resembles pseudo-science in not being directly testable. This is certainly an issue.
Wether theory of everything or not, superstring theory is here to stay, so one might as well read this book to get a larger scale view of the field, before reading more modern or popular texts.
A step beyond "The Elegant Universe".......2002-02-28
A marvelous summary of varying viewpoints on Superstring Theory and the work that led up to it. I think many readers of "The Elegant Universe" by Brian Greene will find this a natural follow-up, because, though there are no math formulae, it is pitched at a somewhat higher level.
Unlike another reviewer, I would highly recommend this to Physicists, aspiring or otherwise, and lay readers with a strong exposure to Physics. Notwithstanding an excellent, lengthy essay by Paul Davies on the history of modern physics up to superstrings, the lay reader who hasn't already taken several runs at quarks, gluons, weak bosons, and the Standard Model of particle physics, is not ready for this. This book is valuable because it displays the creative principles that guide the endeavours of 9 outstanding Physicists.
The presence of speculation is not a defect but a stirling virtue of this account. How otherwise can we peer in on gifted minds as they attempt to appraise or develop a pioneering theory at the frontiers of knowledge? They have little to go by except their previous experiences in field theory and core principles such as elegance and self-consistency, or, for some of them, a distrust for wild flights untethered to experiment.
Only two of the nine (Glashow and Feynman) sound a strong note of caution and skepticism toward the theory. Feynman as usual is wonderfully thought-provoking, Glashow unexpectedly witty and acerbic, delivering many a shrewd observation. Though a numerical minority, they cast enough doubt to save the reader from uncritical worship at the altar of the pro-string ideology.
If you missed the show, read this.......2001-08-24
This book is the collection of interviews with famous individuals on this subject i.e String Theory. Narrative of the BBC show, all usual suspects are here and their responses on same or similar questions on the origins of the Spring Theory, status of the theoty and future of the theory. There is no mathematics, it is interview for general public. Although there are concepts or rather english words floating around and if you do not know what it is you do not understand the pohysics behind it but for layman this book gives a good insight into what is going on in new physics and who has what opinion. Suspects include geen, Feynman, Witten, Weinberg, Glashow, Salam and some more. Interesting reading.
Book Description
For fans of Brian Greene and Stephen Hawking, a guide to the most important theory in modern physics, in a tour de force of science writing
There are two scientific theories that, taken together, explain the entire universe. The first, which describes the force of gravity, is widely known: Einstein's General Theory of Relativity. But the theory that explains everything else—the Standard Model of Elementary Particles—is virtually unknown among the general public.
In The Theory of Almost Everything, Robert Oerter shows how what were once thought to be separate forces of nature were combined into a single theory by some of the most brilliant minds of the twentieth century. Rich with accessible analogies and lucid prose, The Theory of Almost Everything celebrates a heretofore unsung achievement in human knowledge—and reveals the sublime structure that underlies the world as we know it. BACKCOVER: “This highly accessible volume explains the Standard Model to the everyman, using literary references and easy-to-follow analogies to make clear mind-bending physics principles.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Accessible and engaging…This book is for anyone interested in modern physics and ultimate answers about the universe.”
—Science News
Customer Reviews:
Best introduction for a layman.......2007-06-14
"The Theory of Almost Everything" is an excellent book, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The early parts may seem a little turgid for anyone who has already encountered the subject, but Oerter's approach justifies the reading.
I am particularly impressed with the way Oerter establishes the equivalence of the Schwinger and Feynman approaches, and then moves seamlessly between them to explain various aspects of the Standard Model.
Oerter's description of the Lagrangian and its role - potentially difficult stuff, is presented with great clarity and finesse.
His dispassionate coverage of the limitations of the Standard Model, towards the end of the book, is also highly commended: For all of its accomplishments, the Standard Model clearly is only a step along the way.
Having previously read recent works by Bruce Schumm and Martinus Veltman (both of which I also enjoyed), I would recommend Robert Oerter's book, "The Theory of Almost Everything," as the best layman's introduction to the Standard Model that I have encountered.
useful, but uneven.......2007-01-08
The early chapters of the book are so condescending that I nearly put the book down. The author's needlessly lowbrow examples include soccer moms, ants on rollerblades, and pandering digs at Republicans. Corny humor abounds-- high school computer nerd humor. It really gets annoying, so be forewarned.
But if you stick it out until the middle chapters, the book starts showing a bit more respect for the reader (though the corny humor continually remerges every 10 pages or so). After beginning too simply, the book almost becomes too dense and difficult by the end, but there's a nice middle ground about halfway through where everything starts to come together.
In intellectual terms, what I like best about this book is that it does teach the reader many things that are not to be found in other popular physics books. What I like least, other than the condescending jokes and politically correct grandstanding, is the lack of any sense of drama in the book. The author states from the start that he is giving a systematic overview of the standard model, not a history. But oftentimes it's difficult to give the former without a good dose of the latter (see the brilliant and ultra-dramatic history of nuclear physics in the first several hundred pages of Richard Rhodes, *The Making of the Atomic Bomb*. I wish Rhodes had written a history of the standard model.)
I'd recommend browsing this book in a library, since it's a good quick read but not one that you're likely to consult multiple times. I already feel kind of dumb for buying it so trustingly. But in all fairness, you'll learn something here. Just be ready to hold your nose now and then.
Interesting and readable.......2006-10-27
I found this book to be an interesting and readable introduction to the modern theory of particle physics. One does not have to be a professional physicist to understand this book, and I came off with a lot of useful understanding, much more than I had when I first opened the book.
There is one serious criticism I have of the book, which occasions my giving it only four stars and not five. The author seems not to have a clear picture of the level of reader he is writing for. He introduces equations, which may put off a total novice, although he doesn't really USE the equations, and might as well leave them out and be more inviting to such a novice. But for someone like myself, with a background in a related subject (quantum chemistry), a little more delving into the equations and their consequences might be useful. It has been said that each quuation added to a book cuts its potential audience by half; the author almost deliberately flouts this dogma, while not taking advantage of any additional understanding that might be gained by going into the equations.
But the writing itself is very readable, and I recommend this book.
thrilling!.......2006-09-28
I'm a physicist, but not a particle physicist. I like reading books written for the layperson. I can broaden my knowledge a bit, and for topics I know well I can enjoy reading how someone else explains these topics. It's always helpful to have a background in physics when reading these kinds of books, but I think this book would read well for any curious reader.
It seemed like a fascinating mystery novel to me. Even though I knew what the book was building up to (the Standard Model), I was excited to see how the plot unfolded. The writing is very smooth and comfortable. I had a hard time putting it down. I brought it to the beach with me.
I recommend reading it twice. If you read it carefully the first time and are still confused, then a second read might straighten much of that out. You may find that some topics are still confusing. With this subject, you can't expect miracles!
I'm glad the author mentioned string theory. Some particle physicists are so defensive about the Standard Model that they wouldn't mention string theory. For further study on string theory, read Elegant Universe by Brian Greene.
Overall, a great book! Well written, and fun to read.
Good, clear book.......2006-03-26
I write this review as a frequent reader of physics books, not a professional of physics. I have found the book very clear. It gives a good overview of the Standard Model, avoiding the most speculative and innovative theories that are the focus of most of the best-seller books in the last years. It is easy to understand, although you need to have certain knowledge in particle physics, and provides with a good introduction to the main "confirmed" theories in this field.
I have not awarded the fifth star because I think there are other books that are superior to this, such as "Deep Down Things" or "The Fabric of the Cosmos" (with a different scope). Anyway, my global perception is that it is a very good book.
Average customer rating:
- Fantastic Text
- My favourite text of all time (so far)
- An excellent book !
- Perfect
- Worth its weight in gold!
|
Gauge Fields, Knots, and Gravity (Series on Knots and Everything, Vol. 4)
John C. Baez , and
Javier P. Muniain
Manufacturer: World Scientific Publishing Company
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ASIN: 9810220340 |
Book Description
This is an introduction to the basic tools of mathematics needed to understand the relation between knot theory and quantum gravity. The book begins with a rapid course on manifolds and differential forms, emphasizing how these provide a proper language for formulating Maxwell's equations on arbitrary spacetimes. The authors then introduce vector bundles, connections and curvature in order to generalize Maxwell theory to the Yang-Mills equations. The relation of gauge theory to the newly discovered knot invariants such as the Jones polynomial is sketched. Riemannian geometry is then introduced in order to describe Einstein's equations of general relativity and show how an attempt to quantize gravity leads to interesting applications of knot theory.
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic Text.......2005-07-18
I really enjoyed reading this book! A must have if you are interested in mathematical physics. Every page is a pedagogical masterpiece.
My favourite text of all time (so far).......2003-09-14
This book should be at the top of anyone's reading list who is planning to get into serious mathematical physics. It deals with a good deal of complex material, but the presentation is easy to follow, and shouldn't be beyond most advanced undergraduates. There are a lot of good exercises which fill in most of the gaps. (If you want a book heavy on detail, this book may not be for you. If you want a book that gives you all the tools you're going to need to get start understanding quantum gravity and other areas in a short time, get this book immediately!) It's a shame the paperback edition doesn't seem to be available anymore; it's half the price, and checking with the publisher reveals that the paperback edition is still in print.
An excellent book !.......2002-12-21
Covers many topics in Mathematical Physics with great clarity. Highly recommended for those who are interested in a modern approach to Mathematical Physics.
Perfect.......2000-07-29
A beautifully written book which should be entitled "quantum gravity primer for the practical man". Clear and self-contained, this book will serve aa a small survey of mathematical physics, giving the reader tools in particle physics and gravity. Excellently motivated topics. Compact enough to bring with you anywhere. The only thing it fails at is dicing a proper tomato.
Worth its weight in gold!.......1999-06-24
I think the review above by J. Pullin puts it very well. This is a great book, and a good place to get started (it also provides suggestions for further reading). The authors have done a fantastic job, and I highly recommend the book!
Book Description
In books such as The World Within the World and The Anthropic Cosmological Principle, astronomer John Barrow has emerged as a leading writer on our efforts to understand the universe. Timothy Ferris, writing in The Times Literary Supplement of London, described him as "a temperate and
accomplished humanist, scientist, and philosopher of science--a man out to make a contribution, not a show." Now Barrow offers the general reader another fascinating look at modern physics, as he explores the quest for a single, unifying theory that will unlock nature's secrets.
Theories of Everything is more than a history of science, more than a popular report on recent research and discoveries. Barrow provides a reflective, intelligent commentary on what a true Theory of Everything would be--its ingredients, its limitations, and what it could tell us about the
universe. Never before, he writes, have physicists been so confident and so eager in the hunt for this "cosmic Rosetta Stone," as he calls it: "a single all-embracing picture of all the laws of nature from which the inevitability of all things seen must follow with unimpeachable logic." He lays
out eight essential ingredients for a Theory of Everything and then explores each in turn, tracing how our knowledge has developed and how scientific discovery relates to our changing philosophy and religious thought in each area. Some of these ingredients are obvious--the laws of nature must be
explained, for example, as well as its organizing principles--but others may be surprising, such as broken symmetries and selection biases. A Theory of Everything must account for the fact that the universe is "messy and complicated," he tells us, and for the limitations imposed by the questions we
ask and the information we can obtain. The key lies in the remarkable capacity of mathematics to express the fundamental workings of the physical world--a language that the human mind is uniquely equipped to understand and manipulate. Barrow examines what mathematics actually is and describes how
it makes the universe intelligible and provides a path to the underlying coherence in nature--which has led, in fact, to arguments that the universe itself is a vast computer. Yet even the most complete theory, even the most comprehensive mathematical explanation, cannot account for the
uncomputable varieties of human experience and thought. "No non-poetic account of reality," he writes, "can be complete."
In a field where the authorities converse in equations and mathematical notations, John Barrow speaks with the voice of thoughtful and knowledgeable humanist. Written with eloquence and expertise, Theories of Everything establishes a new perspective on humanity's efforts to explain the
universe.
Customer Reviews:
Now I've seen everything..........2003-06-05
'Science is a differential equation. Religion is a boundary limit.'
- Alan Turing
My first academic love was theoretical physics. I was going to be a astrophysicist; when I arrived at university, however, the department told me that I knew too much for the introductory courses, and to come back in a few years to take the advanced courses. Alas, I studied on my own and never returned officially (still an honourable course in astronomy, which has a great love and need of the dedicated amateur), and went professionally in different directions.
However, I should have known even back then what my ultimate directions would be (as John Barrow's book, 'Theories of Everything' has as a subtitle 'The Quest for Ultimate Explanation', I may slip into a lot of 'ultimates' here), for when I picked up the book in the shop and began reading the first page, I knew I had to read it (and read it right away) when I came across the following quotation:
'Suddenly scientists are asking such questions in all seriousness and theologians find their thinking pre-empted and guided by the mathematical speculations of a new generation of scientists. Ironically, few theologians have an adequate training in physics to keep abreat of the details, and few physicists have a sufficient appreciation of the wider questions to make a fruitful dialogue easy.'
The idea in physics of The Theory of Everything is the quest for that single, all-encompassing, simple set of principles by with all other laws, actions, and outcomes can be explained (and possibly predicted) with unerring logic. Some physicists of late have begun to have confidence that human progress is very close to this.
Perhaps this is a misplaced confidence; one is reminded of the Director of the Prussian Patent Office a century ago who stated that the office might as well close soon, since everything that was going to be invented probably already had been. There was a confidence in Newtonian-based world views that was very strong indeed (a mighty fortress, one might say, to support the altar of physics) -- this was discovered to be a golden calf, which was in turn melted by Einstein et al. It the 'Theory of Everything' another idol?
'Our monotheistic traditions reinforce the assumption that the Universe is at root a unity.'
So much of mathematics, physics, philosophy, and other disciplines have, even if it is unspoken, a sense of unity at heart, in which this belief plays a part.
'Indeed, the concept of a Supreme Being is in all cultures a more primitive and natural notion than that of laws of Nature. It could well be argued that no culture arrived at a robust concept of the latter without a preliminary concept of the former.'
The book quickly becomes more theoretical and scientific in nature; this is not a text for the faint hearted. This is what Barrow meant by theologians (and, by extension, the general public) not being aware or familiar with the details. In discussing symmetries in the universe and the idea of creation ex nihilo, Barrow brings in ideas of overall net roation and electric charge to the universe (where is the evidence for these?), and basic conservation principles, in part to dispute the idea that creation ex nihilo somehow violates a cosmological principle.
'The total mass-energy of all the constituents of a finite Universe appears to be always equal in magnitude but opposite in sign to the total gravitational potential energies of those particles. It could suddenly thus appear spontaneously without violating the conservation of mass-energy.'
This is beyond any systematic theology text I've ever encountered.
The science is sound, and fair in presentation. Barrow presents opposing viewpoints with clarity and critique. Barrow expands into mathematics (of course, incompleteness theorems, that gem of philosophical speculation that is so often misapplied beyond its narrow purview, is here), biological ideas of organising principles (is this natural or a fluke, or did it require an outside intervention?), time and space difficulties and paradoxes, and more.
Of course, there is a caution in the 'Theory of Everything'. This is not, in fact, meant to explain everything. It will not explain human inspiration (i.e., the Homeric epics, Shakespeare's plays, or Mozart's Requiem); it will not explain emotions; ultimately, it will not explain God.
'There is no formula that can deliver all truth, all harmony, all simplicity. No Theory of Everything can ever provide total insight. For, to see through everything, would leave us seeing nothing at all.'
Now I've seen everything..........2003-05-27
`Science is a differential equation. Religion is a boundary limit.'
- Alan Turing
My first academic love was theoretical physics (which some of you may have discerned from my reviews; although my life has gone in a different direction, occasionally a book with the title `Introduction to Cosmology' pops up). I was going to be a astrophysicist; when I arrived at university, however, the department told me that I knew too much for the introductory courses, and to come back in a few years to take the advanced courses. Alas, I studied on my own and never returned officially (still an honourable course in astronomy, which has a great love and need of the dedicated amateur), and went professionally in different directions.
However, I should have known even back then what my ultimate directions would be (as John Barrow's book, `Theories of Everything' has as a subtitle The Quest for Ultimate Explanation, I may slip into a lot of 'ultimates' here), for when I picked up the book in the shop and began reading the first page, I knew I had to read it (and read it right away) when I came across the following quotation:
`Suddenly scientists are asking such questions in all seriousness and theologians find their thinking pre-empted and guided by the mathematical speculations of a new generation of scientists. Ironically, few theologians have an adequate training in physics to keep abreat of the details, and few physicists have a sufficient appreciation of the wider questions to make a fruitful dialogue easy.'
The idea in physics of The Theory of Everything is the quest for that single, all-encompassing, simple set of principles by with all other laws, actions, and outcomes can be explained (and possibly predicted) with unerring logic. Some physicists of late have begun to have confidence that human progress is very close to this.
Perhaps this is a misplaced confidence; one is reminded of the Director of the Prussian Patent Office a century ago who stated that the office might as well close soon, since everything that was going to be invented probably already had been. There was a confidence in Newtonian-based world views that was very strong indeed (a mighty fortress, one might say, to support the altar of physics) -- this was discovered to be a golden calf, which was in turn melted by Einstein et al. It the 'Theory of Everything' another idol?
`Our monotheistic traditions reinforce the assumption that the Universe is at root a unity.'
So much of mathematics, physics, philosophy, and other disciplines have, even if it is unspoken, a sense of unity at heart, in which this belief plays a part.
`Indeed, the concept of a Supreme Being is in all cultures a more primitive and natural notion than that of laws of Nature. It could well be argued that no culture arrived at a robust concept of the latter without a preliminary concept of the former.'
The book quickly becomes more theoretical and scientific in nature; this is not a text for the faint hearted. This is what Barrow meant by theologians (and, by extension, the general public) not being aware or familiar with the details. In discussing symmetries in the universe and the idea of creation ex nihilo, Barrow brings in ideas of overall net roation and electric charge to the universe (where is the evidence for these?), and basic conservation principles, in part to dispute the idea that creation ex nihilo somehow violates a cosmological principle.
`The total mass-energy of all the constituents of a finite Universe appears to be always equal in magnitude but opposite in sign to the total gravitational potential energies of those particles. It could suddenly thus appear spontaneously without violating the conservation of mass-energy.'
This is beyond any systematic theology text I've ever encountered.
The science is sound, and fair in presentation. Barrow presents opposing viewpoints with clarity and critique. Barrow expands into mathematics (of course, incompleteness theorems, that gem of philosophical speculation that is so often misapplied beyond its narrow purview, is here), biological ideas of organising principles (is this natural or a fluke, or did it require an outside intervention?), time and space difficulties and paradoxes, and more.
Of course, there is a caution in the 'Theory of Everything'. This is not, in fact, meant to explain everything. It will not explain human inspiration (i.e., the Homeric epics, Shakespeare's plays, or Mozart's Requiem); it will not explain emotions; ultimately, it will not explain God.
`There is no formula that can deliver all truth, all harmony, all simplicity. No Theory of Everything can ever provide total insight. For, to see through everything, would leave us seeing nothing at all.'
Impossible search........2002-09-06
The author believes that it is beyond the human reach to find a 'Theory of Everything', in other words an abbreviated representation - an algorithm or formula - of the logic behind the Universe's properties. A theory that unites the four fundamental forces.
His reasoning is solid, but sometimes difficult to follow. Not an easy read.
Here are a few of his arguments: (1) the world (e.g. chaotic processes) is not totally algorithmically compressible. (2) many constants of Nature got their values in the earliest stages of the universe. From the predictions emerging from the 'Theory of Everything, we should arrive at the current structure of the universe. This is nearly impossible. (3) If random elements of the Universe, inherited from its quantum origins, differ significantly from place to place, the knowledge of its global structure from our point of view will be incomplete. (4) Superstrings and its corollary 'many dimensions'. What happened with the vanished dimensions?
To the bargain, the author believes that even if we should find this theory, the factual impact on our life would be very limited.
Why then are all members of the physicists guild searching fot it? And why writes the author such a challenging book about it? It is like the quest of the Holy grail in the Middle Ages. The sheer beaty of Einstein's simple formula left everybody dumbfounded, but the person who will find a new equation 'for everything' would provoke a long lasting general silence followed by a burst of applause nearly as loud as the Big Bang.
By the way, I am not so sure that the impact on our life of this theory would be limited. The theory of general relativity and his counterpart 'quantum mechanics' had an immense impact on our daily lives, for the good and the bad.
A must read for everybody interested in the fate of the universe, or better multiverse.
Not so much about the ultimate theory but what it should be.......2001-02-15
This was not quite what I expected it to be, which was an overview of the latest ultimate theories of physics. The book does go into that topic to some extent, but it is as much about the philosophy of science as about science itself: not just the ultimate theories, but what constitutes a successful theory and what characteristics an ultimate theory should have. As such, it addresses such topics as symmetry (especially the broken symmetry believed to explain the four basic forces), compressibility (the capability of a simple theory to explain complex consequences), constants, laws, the anthropic principle, initial conditions, and much more. It's difficult going at times, and I can't pretend that I understood all of it. However, I think it's a book that will bear rereading, which I will plan on doing. Oh, and the quotes at the beginning of each section are great!
Entertaining, Educational and Not What I Expected.......1997-11-04
I expected a book that would focus on Theories of Everything that have been proposed to date-- a history of Grand Unified Theories, their proposers, to what extent they have been correct and have unified previously disparate theories, and to what extent they are not really Grand Unified Theories.
That is not what I got. I got something not necessarily better than described above, but different; certainly not worse. To highlight the difference from what you might expect, during one early chapter, I thought I had started rereading Roger Penrose's The Emperor's New Mind by mistake. And the Penrose is about consciousness and Artificial Intelligence. (Also a very good book, by the way.)
Theories of Everything is more of a cookbook. Whether you will come out with a cake at the end is doubtful, but it gives you what the necessary ingredients are to bake a successful theory of everything.
You need some universal principles or laws, some logic, some math, some chaos/complexity theory, the initial conditions of the universe (possibly quantum), some time theory, some elementary particles, a bit of gauge theory, possibly some wormholes and parallel universes, some questionable constants, some symmetries and symmetry breaking, an absence of theoretical bias (probably an impossible ingredient), and a philosophical mathematical basis. And that is exactly what you get.
Barrow seems to love philosophy as much as he loves physics, math and logic. That makes me like this book even more, as those are the fields of my concern, as well.
My one area of contention with Barrow is that he is ultimately a dualist, I am a physicalist. I disagree with him that a theory of everything could not contain music, poetry, consciousness, etc.
An alternate reading from the cookbook reading is that this book _is_ theories of everything--not a unified singular one, but it contains theories on all of the topics mentioned above and then some. Barrow is an extremely intelligent man and a very entertaining writer. Don't pass this book up.
Average customer rating:
- Very little information about strings
- Decent, but outdated and rambling
- A good book but not for beginners
- Overview of particle (not astro) physics since quantum
- Well written and informative
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The Search for Superstrings, Symmetry, and the Theory of Everything
John Gribbin
Manufacturer: Back Bay Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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The Field: The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe
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The Chaos Point: The World at the Crossroads
Entangled Minds: Extrasensory Experiences in a Quantum Reality
The Biology Of Belief: Unleashing The Power Of Consciousness, Matter And Miracles
