The Road to Reality: A Complete Guide to the Laws of the Universe

Amazon.com

If Albert Einstein were alive, he would have a copy of The Road to Reality on his bookshelf. So would Isaac Newton. This may be the most complete mathematical explanation of the universe yet published, and Roger Penrose richly deserves the accolades he will receive for it. That said, let us be perfectly clear: this is not an easy book to read. The number of people in the world who can understand everything in it could probably take a taxi together to Penrose's next lecture. Still, math-friendly readers looking for a substantial and possibly even thrillingly difficult intellectual experience should pick up a copy (carefully--it's over a thousand pages long and weighs nearly 4 pounds) and start at the beginning, where Penrose sets out his purpose: to describe "the search for the underlying principles that govern the behavior of our universe." Beginning with the deceptively simple geometry of Pythagoras and the Greeks, Penrose guides readers through the fundamentals--the incontrovertible bricks that hold up the fanciful mathematical structures of later chapters. From such theoretical delights as complex-number calculus, Riemann surfaces, and Clifford bundles, the tour takes us quickly on to the nature of spacetime. The bulk of the book is then devoted to quantum physics, cosmological theories (including Penrose's favored ideas about string theory and universal inflation), and what we know about how the universe is held together. For physicists, mathematicians, and advanced students, The Road to Reality is an essential field guide to the universe. For enthusiastic amateurs, the book is a project to tackle a bit at a time, one with unimaginable intellectual rewards. --Therese Littleton

Book Description

Roger Penrose, one of the most accomplished scientists of our time, presents the only comprehensive and comprehensible account of the physics of the universe. From the very first attempts by the Greeks to grapple with the complexities of our known world to the latest application of infinity in physics, The Road to Reality carefully explores the movement of the smallest atomic particles and reaches into the vastness of intergalactic space. Here, Penrose examines the mathematical foundations of the physical universe, exposing the underlying beauty of physics and giving us one the most important works in modern science writing.

Customer Reviews:

Really good!.......2007-09-19

If you are mad about science that a book you MUST have. I am an electrical engineer and at least 60% of the book had new contents for me so.... READ IT!

The Road to Reality: A Complete Guide to the Laws of the Universe.......2007-09-04

This is a book over one 1000 pages! My daughter asked me: Is the road to reality indeed so long? We both laught...and after a while I braged about it: With Roger Penrose help, the 1000 pages road to reality may be the shortest! However, I found out later on, that it may indeed be the shortest, but only if you have your own five stars shining above you...

Great to read, recommended to re-read.......2007-08-26

This is an excellent book, if you take the time to understand the material. In my opinion it is well worth the time reading every page.

Sir Roger is as Confused as the Rest of Us.......2007-08-15

Roger Penrose feels comfortable in his Platonic mathematical world and he recognizes how useful complex analysis is to quantum theory. But, like everyone else, he is at a loss to explain things just when they become interesting.

He cannot explain to his own satisfaction how that the universe came to be so specially ordered at the moment of the big bang. He cannot explain in a mathematically elegant way how or why that the wave function collapses upon an observation being made, with a new wave function being thus created. He seems mystified by complex numbers in a way that is reminds one of Pythagoras. He speaks in a gushy way about how "magical" they are. Nevertheless, he cannot even be sure that perfect circles or pi or straight lines exist in reality. He is Platonic, despite modern philosophy's rejection of Plato's theory of forms. He gingerly avoids any metaphysics and/or religion. And, he feels that one can learn about our universe by studying pristine mathematical models, despite the fact that R. Feynman and others have said that the only road to truth (the real road to reality) is through experimentation. Feynman wisely stated that he could calculate things very precisely, but he could not explain things in common sense, everyday terms. Are we really going to do better than him?

Perhaps things are as one physicist said " ..not only strange, but stranger than we can contemplate". We are physically not equipped to explain things.

A book with a message.......2007-07-11

Other reviews focus on whether the book is easy to understand or not, or wheter it is too big or not. And it would seem that
the only purpose of the book is to put all togheter the physical laws mankind knows.

But this is a book with a message. A message that takes very long to transmit and Penrose chose to start from the very begining.
A significant part of the physics as it is known today is exposed in a long (900 pages) preamble, but Penrose wants to tell
us that he believes that the road to the Theory of Everything that is standard in today's physics leads nowhere.

If you have read "The Emperor's new mind" you know that Penrose's ideas are not mainstream in today's physics. But if you are
interested in cutting edge physics you'll also know that there is a growing number of physicists that believe that the field is on crisis. Let me sumarize Penrose views:

- The standard interpretations of quantum mechanics are wrong. Even the decoherence approach.
- Infactionary cosmology cannot be right.
- Superstring theory is just a beautiful mathematical construction with no connection to the physical world. His point of view is similar to Smolin's ("The trouble with physics").

I'm not at all an expert on the field, although I studied quantum mechanics in the University, and I'd say that at least Penrose has a very strong point. He is not able to provide but hints of alternative theories but this does not lower the merit of the book.

He also explains standard areas of mathematics and physics such as complex number calculus, Maxwell fields or group theory in a non-conventional but brilliant way. For example, it includes a beautiful demonstration of Pythagoream theorem. The chapter about the standard model of particle physics is particularly helpful; nowhere else can be found a concise and understable explanation of it.

And yes, the book is difficult, but if you don't understand the mathematics, just keep reading.

Average customer rating:

Creationism vs. evolution
Very Easy Book To Read
Very good book and CD
Nice edition, but it is really necessary?
From the Viewpoint of a Freshman High School Student.

The Physical Universe
Konrad B Krauskopf , and Arthur Beiser
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0073014656

Book Description

This is an outstanding text with a long history that has been updated and given a fresh look, including worked examples pulled out of the text into numbered boxes. The text is now also accompanied by stronger media support with "CPS" eInstruction student response system questions, more extensive online quizzing, and PowerPoint lectures. Aimed at presenting the essentials of physics, chemistry, earth science, and astronomy in a clear, easy-to-understand way, The Physical Universe shows students how science works, how scientists approach problems, and why science constantly evolves in its search for understanding. The text can also be packaged with its long time companion student study guide, which includes a review of chapter terms and concepts; self quizzing for extra practice; and solved problems from the text.

Customer Reviews:

Creationism vs. evolution.......2007-06-05

If you believe in creationism then read this book with caution. This book tries to brainwash you into thinking that evolution is based on solid foundation and creationism is quack. Buyer beware. I would not buy this book for someone under 18 years of age.

Very Easy Book To Read.......2006-02-25

This book is self explanatory and easy to read. I use this book for my SC 102 class. I'm a senior non-science major and it is really a good book.

Very good book and CD.......2005-09-24

The book is very good and the merchant was excellent in service and delivery.

Nice edition, but it is really necessary?.......2004-04-16

For over thirty years, McGraw has been putting out various editions of this highly successful textbook. Now in its tenth iteration, McGraw has made an important extension. It added a CD (which was long overdue). Plus, the book gives access to an online resource called PowerWeb. Pretty snazzy! You can access whole bunches of material there which is simply not in the book.

Hopefully, this may help motivate some students to learn more effectively. But a disquieting counterargument has arisen in some quarters. Is a new edition really needed? Perhaps an earlier edition would suffice for most students. If so, this would let several buy second hand versions far more cheaply. But if the publisher goes to this edition, and it is made mandatory by a school, then it is far harder for students to find used versions. At least for a few years. And later? When those used editions start circulating, what if the publisher and school then go to a newer edition?

From the Viewpoint of a Freshman High School Student........1998-11-30

This title is a comprehensive look at many aspects of science. Its Study guide is very helpful in preparing for examinations. The book, however, has a complicated way of explaining material. This slight defect may be reduced with the help of the useful appendixes, and study guides.

Average customer rating:

the best textbook on modern cosmology
Congratulations!
Understanding the new theories of inflationary cosmology
excellent textbook

Physical Foundations of Cosmology
Viatcheslav Mukhanov
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Book Description

Download Description

Inflationary cosmology has been developed over the last twenty years to remedy serious shortcomings in the standard hot big bang model of the universe. Taking an original approach, this textbook explains the basis of modern cosmology and shows where the theoretical results come from. The book is divided into two parts; the first deals with the homogeneous and isotropic model of the Universe, the second part discusses how inhomogeneities can explain its structure. Established material such as the inflation and quantum cosmological perturbation are presented in great detail, however the reader is brought to the frontiers of current cosmological research by the discussion of more speculative ideas. An ideal textbook for both advanced students of physics and astrophysics, all of the necessary background material is included in every chapter and no prior knowledge of general relativity and quantum field theory is assumed.

Customer Reviews:

the best textbook on modern cosmology.......2006-08-21

With the rising importance of cosmology has come an increasing flood of textbooks on modern cosmology. While I have not surveyed all the textbooks out there, many of those I have looked at suffered from serious problems. Recently, I had the opportunity of looking at Slava Mukhanov's new book on cosmology and I was so struck by its excellence that I am moved to post a review on Amazon, something I am not in the habit of doing. The bottom line is that I heartily recommend to any student or physicist serious about mastering modern cosmology. Mukhanov is one of the earliest pioneers in inflationary cosmology and a towering figure over the whole field, particularly when it comes to actual calculation, as compared to mere talk, of the density fluctuation spectrum.

Different people have different criteria for an outstanding textbook. I like a textbook to slice away all the obscure and unnecessary formalism shrouding the subject and to get through to the underlying concepts and the important physical ideas. So, dear reader, if you love heavy dry formalism that does not help you understand physics, then this book is not for you. (An aside: from a cursory glance at some of the reviews of physics books posted on Amazon I was amazed by the number of readers, apparently misinformed and misguided, more interested in mathematics and formalism than in understanding physics.)

There is a whole spectrum of books on cosmology. There are the giant compendia of every imaginable topic, but with almost nothing really derived, such as the book by Peacock. Then there are those books notorious for the amount of hype and hot air they blow. Such books apparently really appeal to people who want to "grasp" cosmology without doing any work; they could just read the hype and "be happy." On the opposite end of the spectrum is the book by Scott Dodelson, which is full of nitty gritty, the real stuff that you need to do detailed cosmic microwave background calculations, and which for that reason I highly recommend to students wanting to become professional cosmologists.

I have not read Mukhanov's book in its entirety. I read the parts on inflation and looked at his treatment of density perturbations. I really like his discussion of inflation, which carries the stamp of authority and deep understanding associated with a master who invented the subject. He cuts to the essential physics of the different approaches and wisely refrains from presenting the one thousand and one inflationary scenarios that have flooded (some would say, polluted) the literature. When he comes to density perturbations, he does it as simply as possible, and most importantly, correctly. Students should be aware of the fact that many of the well-known papers on the subject contain errors, as Mukhanov points out in a very helpful and biting footnote.

I recommend this book enthusiastically to all those serious about modern cosmology.

Congratulations!.......2006-07-27

I think this is the best conceptual book in cosmology,
I truly enjoy reading it.

Understanding the new theories of inflationary cosmology.......2006-03-21

Theories are written to explain observed phenomenon. They are then used to predict future discoveries. So long as the theory continues to work, it is accepted by the scientific community at large. Up until thirty or so years ago the model of the Cosmos was a fairly well agreed upon theory. Then slight problems began to appear, until in 1980-81 the author of this book conducted some experiments and developed theories that applied quantum fluctuations to the large scale structure of the universe.

This began the theory of inflationary cosmology that remedied several annoying little problems in the standard big bang model of the universe.

This is a textbook suitable for students in theoretical cosmology, physics, and astrophysics. It might be suitable for advanced undergraduates, but is more likely to be used in graduate level study. Some knowledge of general relativity and particle physics (and quantum field theory) is said by the author to be helpful but not necessary. I suppose that that's true, but by the end of the book you will certainly have some knowledge in this area. I'd recommend a bit of study in other books before tackling this one.

This book is a good single volume work on the modern view of cosmology. It can be used as a text on the subject. Further it contains a lot of information that will be very useful for even the best experts in the field.

excellent textbook.......2006-02-02

Long-waited excellent textbook on phyical cosmology.
Contrary to many other texts on cosmology, which report
numerous facts, this one is self-consistent and derives
results from the first principles, economically
and often neatly. It covers main topics where
theoretical physics operates in cosmology.

The Constants of Nature: From Alpha to Omega--the Numbers That Encode the Deepest Secrets of the Universe

Average customer rating:

Historical and Baffling at times!
Are there any constants in the universe?
Good book
ARE FINE-TUNED CONSTANTS EVIDENCE OF GOD?
Barrow embraces change.

The Constants of Nature: From Alpha to Omega--the Numbers That Encode the Deepest Secrets of the Universe
John D. Barrow
Manufacturer: Pantheon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Book of Nothing: Vacuums, Voids, and the Latest Ideas about the Origins of the Universe
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ASIN: 0375422218
Release Date: 2003-01-14

Book Description

A major contribution to our understanding of the basic laws of the universe -- from the author of The Book of Nothing.

The constants of nature are the fundamental laws of physics that apply throughout the universe: gravity, velocity of light, electromagnetism and quantum mechanics. They encode the deepest secrets of the universe, and express at once our greatest knowledge and our greatest ignorance about the cosmos.

Their existence has taught us the profound truth that nature abounds with unseen regularities. Yet while we have become skilled at measuring the values of these constants, our frustrating inability to explain or predict their values shows how much we have still to learn about inner workings of the universe.

What is the ultimate status of these constants of nature? Are they truly constant? And are there other universes where they are different?

John D. Barrow, one of our foremost mathematicians and cosmologists, discusses the latest thinking about these and many more dramatic issues in this accessible and thought-provoking book.

Customer Reviews:

Historical and Baffling at times!.......2007-08-27

Barrow's has a good humour about philosophy but also takes it seriously enough to explain all concepts clearly. Numbers are not my thing but this one pulled me in pretty tight. This bloke knows his stuff but the book is very readable. If you're interested in math and M Theory stuff, this a good one. It starts from the beginning when measurements were first used and numbers' significance in the universe, thus spiralling into some fairly complex and modern issues.

Are there any constants in the universe?.......2007-02-23

In considering physics, Einstein once asked whether God had any choice in laying out the rules.

After discussing the history of human measurements (historically a product of chance), Barrow turns his attention to the so called physical constants of measurement and ultimately asks the question of whether they too are a product of chance (albeit on a different scale).

Though admittedly he makes errors along the way (like saying it takes 3 seconds for light to reach Earth from the sun instead of eight minutes), Barrow nonetheless manages to create a physics book that accessible makes cutting edge insights available to the casual reader.

And what Barrow has to say about the "constants of the universe" and perhaps their ultimately changeable nature speaks mightily to the boundless enigma that is the universe (perhaps one of many) in which we live.

Good book.......2007-01-13

This was an entertaining book but a little tedious at times. Also it was not exactly what I expected. I thought it would be more of a description of different physical phenomena, while this is more like a survey of different historical approaches to uniting all constants with one theory, which constantly failed but shed light on many side issues along the way.

ARE FINE-TUNED CONSTANTS EVIDENCE OF GOD?.......2006-09-30

As one who believes that life is a natural property of the universe, I am intrigued by the concept that the constants of nature seem to have been fine-tuned to make life possible. The conservative Patrick Glynn asserts, in God: The Evidence, that they constitute essentially incontestable evidence for what was once merely a matter of faith: "the existence of soul, afterlife, and God." The notion that the universe is really an infinite multiverse, and that we just happen to inhabit one of the infinitesimal few whose constants make the wildly improbably string of coincidence leading to our existence possible, is dismissed as far-fetched nonsense propagated by atheistic scientists desperate to find some way to justify their materialist dogma.

While I once considered the notion of a multiverse to be unlikely, further study has convinced me this is not so. However, even if the multiverse is a fact, the theory offers no more support for materialism than fine-tuned constants constitute evidence for a God whose existence is completely external to the universe. We have no way of examining these other universes, and hence no way of knowing that they have constants incompatible with the evolution of life and intelligence. If consciousness is intrinsic to physical existence, and there is no compelling reason for insisting that it is not, then the constants of nature would necessarily have "fine-tuned" values.

It is odd that John Barrow's interest in this possibility arouses such animosity and ridicule in some people. Is the idea that our existence might not be an accident really so distasteful? There are those who argue that the anthropic principle should instead be called the insectoid principle since the constants are also fine-tuned to produce insects. True enough, but insects are unable to discuss the matter. We are.

Dr. Barrow's book is an excellent choice for anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of some of the intriguing coincidences of nature, and of the myriad ways in which these coincidences have been interpreted by scientists of different historical eras. There are some minor errors in the book, such as the sun being three light-seconds from Earth instead of eight light-minutes, but these are really important. The one question I have is the claim that human behavior, even if free will is illusory, is unpredictable in principle because if people are aware of the predictions made about their behavior, then they can act to falsify those predictions. But if free will really is illusory, why should the scientist not be able, in principle, to predict that behavior also?
(Peter Payne, author of CAPTAIN CALIFORNIA BATTLES THE BEELZEBUBIAN BEASTS OF THE BIBLE)

Barrow embraces change........2005-10-03

Interesting and topical to a discussion on the possibilities of existence. Barrow explores the difficulties of objective measurement, Einstein's fascination with what the universe could have been, Eddington's strange love of theory over experiment, the position of Dirac in the coincidence vs. consequence of habitable places, and the unexpected finding of possible variance in the fine structure constant from the worlds earliest known nuclear reactor.

The Universe and Multiple Reality: A Physical Explanation for Manifesting, Magick and Miracles

Average customer rating:

The Universe and Multiple Reality, by M R Franks
I Question Some of the Concepts
Very Interesting..But...
Galileo or Einstein
I couldn't agree more...

The Universe and Multiple Reality: A Physical Explanation for Manifesting, Magick and Miracles
M. R. Franks
Manufacturer: iUniverse.com
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0595294723

Book Description

Understand the nature of your mind and exactly how it interacts with matter at the quantum level to produce manifestations, magick and miracles.

Learn the nature of the universe in which we live and the exact process by which you can change your destiny by mere faith and imagination.

Understand how modern physics demonstrates the absolute immortality of your consciousness, your mind, your spirit.

The Universe and Multiple Reality presents a viewpoint dramatically different from the currently fashionable scientific interpretation of modern physics, an interpretation that denies the most important part of recent scientific discoveries: the mind and its effect on reality.

The Universe and Multiple Reality explains the exact physical processes by which paranormal events operate, including how miracles, magick and manifesting occur.

This book is a must for any person curious about the place their mind occupies in the cosmic scheme of things.

The Universe and Multiple Reality breaks new ground. There are a great many books on "parallel universes," on quantum physics and multiple reality--but none that proffers an understandable theory on how the human mind interacts with multiple realities at the quantum level to produce palpable physical effects.

Customer Reviews:

The Universe and Multiple Reality, by M R Franks.......2007-09-04

It deseves one star, at the most, compared to other books published on the same subject.

I Question Some of the Concepts.......2005-05-31

I had a very mixed reaction of this book, which served as the catalyst for my recent paper on parallel universes and found it to be a very interesting read. What I most appreciated however was that when I asked M.R. Franks about some details in his book he sent me three articles within about two hours. What disappointed me however was the shortness of the book and the focas on cited works from other authors and I don't really buy the andriod therory persented at the end of this book.

Very Interesting..But..........2004-08-03

Let me first say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book..but I have a few questions.

The basic idea behind the theory is that any two contiguous frames differs by ONE quantum state. There are infinite number of such frames through which consciousness traverses contiguously.

Then Mr.Franks writes that the case is so becoz nature doesn't like voids and hence creates all permutations and combinations of frames possible.

So my question is that if nature doesn't like voids then why accept quantum states as constant. In other words why can't nature create and fit in another infinite set of frames between the two quantum states by which any two contiguous frames differ as postulated by this theory? Isn't the gap between the two quantum states a "void"?

Galileo or Einstein.......2004-04-21

"Postulates with no explanation" is also what critics said of Galileo and Einstein. Such criticism usually comes from those heavily invested in the current orthodoxy, from those unable or unwilling to see beyond the box.

Genius, it is said, instantly recognizes genius, while mediocrity knows nothing better than itself.

This book is BRILLIANT!

Recall Occam's Razor: The simplest explanation is probably the correct one. Einstein's General Theory of Relativity didn't drone on for hundreds and hundreds of pages. Those who fault brevity should spend their money on longer, more expensive, but far less insightful works.

This book, however, can change your view of the universe and even of life itself. It's a must for those with the courage to view things differently but far more clearly.

I couldn't agree more..........2004-04-05

I agree completely with the previous reviewer - postulates with no explanations - is what you will find in this short book, filled mainly with quotes from other authors & experts. I was also inclined to read the book since it received such a positive online rating. However, further inspection of the reader reviews show they are redundant, lacking real substance, and biased. Why else would a reader seek to criticize all other similar titles (ex. The Elegant Universe, The Theory of Everything and even Deutsch's great writing) with the same useless lingo of 'bunny fluff', 'puffery', etc. only to recommend this book in each? I am sorry, the only thing PUFFED up, are some of the reviews.

As an intelligent reader and theorist who has studied parallel universes and quantum physics, I prefer a text that answers what it claims to, not a brief with quotes from authors, whom have ironically been bashed. I was left more confused than satisfied and asked myself "what IS the purpose of this book"?

Although a bit disappointing, it remains a good read but is much better as an extensive editorial. I gave the author an extra star for creativity, intellect and excellence in writing but would have really preferred to read about his own perspectives/theories to offer an explanation to the postulates put forth in the book.

Secrets of the Universe: Discovering the Universal Laws of Science
Average customer rating:

a great introduction to science for an adult without the mat

Secrets of the Universe: Discovering the Universal Laws of Science
Paul Fleisher
Manufacturer: Atheneum Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Customer Reviews:

a great introduction to science for an adult without the mat.......1999-08-25

the concepts are clearly,step by step,explained. as an adult who has no background in science , this book has taught me the laws of motion;from newton to quantom. the basics of physics were well done. if an understanding of the ideas behind the science is what you seek then this is your book.

Time Travel in Einstein's Universe: The Physical Possibilities of Travel Through Time

Average customer rating:

The story behind the hand of the moving finger that writes
A thrilling journey deep into the strangeness of cutting-edge physics
Good for this type of content
Science Fiction and Real Quantum Time
Stick to time travel and lose the statistics next book

Time Travel in Einstein's Universe: The Physical Possibilities of Travel Through Time
J. Richard Gott
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
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Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0395955637

Book Description

Time travel in Newton's universe was inconceivable, but in Einstein's universe it has become a possibility. J. Richard Gott III, a Princeton astrophysicist who is a leading researcher in the field, gives readers a guided tour of the potential of traveling through time. Although scientists such as Stephen Hawking and Kip Thorne have previously considered the topic, the delightfully refreshing but scrupulously careful Gott goes light-years beyond them in his exploration of this exciting idea. Gott begins by describing how the finest science fiction about time travel has inspired some of today's top scientific ideas on the subject. He goes on to explain how travel to the future is not only possible but has actually happened (astronauts have aged a bit less than we whose feet have stayed solidly on earth), and he examines whether travel to the past might also be possible, given certain physical conditions. He then offers up his most stunning material: the study of time travel can be used to discover whether the universe could have created itself. Finally, asserting that no book on time travel would be complete without a report from the future, Gott predicts the span of human existence, based on a scientific technique he has developed. His conclusion is humbling but wondrous: just in the short time we have lived so far, consider how much we have already learned about the universe. TIME TRAVEL IN EINSTEIN'S UNIVERSE is a book to read not only for its extraordinary subject matter and scientific brilliance but for its joyful writing.

Customer Reviews:

The story behind the hand of the moving finger that writes.......2007-01-22

"The moving finger writes and then moves on, nor all your piety can lure it back to retrace a line nor your tears wash out a word of it."

John Donne

Perhaps if Donne had written his immortal words AFTER having read this book, he MAY HAVE SAID "...unless of course, you have your Richard Gott time machine handy."

And like many other serviceable entries in the time machine genre of scientific speculation (like Paul Davies "How to Build a Time Machine"), Gott uses plain simple English with great illustrations to explain the three traditional theories of how time travel could be accomplished as well using the idea of time travel itself to speculate on the origins of the universe.

As to the three potential theories, Gott makes some good points:

1) Kurt Godel's suggestion that IF this were a rotating static universe, then time travel would be possible simply by going far enough into the future. Significantly, Godel was friends with Einstein over the course of the last fifteen years of Einstein's life. So, while Godel knew both Einstein and Einstein's physics, unfortunately his theory doesn't comport with physical observations that our universe is not rotating is expanding and not static as his theory would require. However, his theory does show that Einstein's physics do allow time travel, just not in the way Godel suggested.

2) The Tipler rotating cylinder...Proposed by Frank Tipler, if you could create and infinitely long cylinder in space and rotate it, one could travel along the access of rotation to move forward or backward in time. Unfortunately, to put it mildly, Tipler's cylinder is a tad bit beyond our current financial resources. (Just over a "few" billion, Congress nixed the Supercolliding Superconductor back in 1993 so they probably would be less excited about this project!).

3) Wormholes. The specialty of Star Trek lore wormholes were discussed at length in the Kip Thorne book "Black Holes and Time Warps." And although Thorne was the idea man beyond how Carl Sagan got Jody Foster to the middle of our galaxy in the movie "Contact," for his part Thorne is not optimistic that Black Holes could stay open to actually transport materials beyond a Planck length. In other words, modern string theory talks about basic building blocks of reality -- strings -- that are in size to a neutron as a neutron would be to our solar system. Even on weight watchers, the astronauts ("chrononauts") would have tough going.

Still the same, Gott noted that even though available for only subatomic transmissions, time travel could still explain how our universe was created.

SPOILER ALERT: IF YOU WANT TO HEAR THE GUY WHO INVENTED IT TO EXPLAIN STOP READING NOW.

But if you're willing to let me do it, here goes:

As noted, time travel -- even backwards -- can work at subatomic levels. The technical jargon is cosmic foam and apparently it happens all the time. To create the universe all that would need to happen is for a sufficiently compacted amount of matter to travel back in time so that it could become the Big Bang.

So in other words, depending on how you denominate it, time may be going now, about to begin somewhere or already be thirteen point seven billion years old.

Even if you read my explanation, read Gott's. He's a great accessible writer who has written perhaps the very best book on this issue.

A thrilling journey deep into the strangeness of cutting-edge physics.......2006-07-05

Richard Gott's Time Travel in Einstein's Universe: The Physical Possibilities of Travel Through Time is a thrilling journey deep into the strangeness of cutting-edge physics - a place where beautiful, baffling ideas are sometimes indistinguishable from the utterly crazy. On this journey, we meet a time-travelling brilliant mathematician. The journey ends with a strange and dark conclusion - one which calls into question our very existence. Ever since Einstein showed it was theoretically possible, the quest to travel through time has drawn eccentric amateurs and brilliant scientists in almost equal numbers. The amateurs include Aage Nost, who demonstrates his time machine in front of the cameras. The professionals include the likes of Professor Frank Tipler of Tulane University. His time machine sounds good - but it would weigh half the mass of the galaxy.There is, however, one way that time travel to the past could be possible. And it would be much more convenient. Future civilisations could use computers to create exact replicas of the past. Unfortunately that idea has physics trembling in its socks. Because if you can generate a perfect virtual reality version of the past, who's to say we are not one of the replicas? If your looking for a book that outline's all that latest theories this is about as close as you'll get.

Good for this type of content.......2006-06-26

I searched extensively for a book that would explain current theories of time and the implications thereof that could be understood by a non-mathematical mind and one not trained in physics, and it was extraordinarily difficult. I ended up choosing this book, which is probably as close as one will get to what I was hoping for. The first and last chapters are actually the most accessible and interesting, the first being an overview of many fictional accounts of time travel (both movies and books) and the last a treatise on future prediction and probability, which I found most interesting and consoling. The chapters inbetween were the denser material in which the author discusses whether or not time travel to the past or the future could work and, inevitably, it deals with the theory of relativity, wormholes, black holes, etc. and how all that would function, all of which is confusing for a layperson like me. Nevertheless, this is, as I mentioned, the closest thing to a non-scientific explanation of what are at base purely mathematical constructs. It does get one thinking philosophically about what "time" is and about time travel in general. For example, if one can travel to the future, doesn't that imply that the future already "exists" as a "place" which one can visit? Mindbending reading and worth it for that reason alone.

Science Fiction and Real Quantum Time.......2006-02-08

Gott explores the current possibilities for actual time travel in light of current physics and quantum mechanics. He summarizes the history of quantum physics, as providing insights into the concepts of time, and possibility of wormholes and other perturbations of Spacetime that might allow time travel. He reports on various experiments and lines of enquiry by various physicists, like Kip Thorne, who have investigated time and practical factors in time relationships and travel into the future or past. The concepts of relativity and war speed (speed of light) come into view here. Gott correlates various areas of current enquiry, including a rich survey of contributions science fiction has made to actually enquiry in quantum physics.)

Stick to time travel and lose the statistics next book.......2006-01-18

Summary: Interesting read but when Gott left time travel physics to discuss statistics and probability theory the book became bland like author was padding his essential [time travel, nature of the universe, beginnings, etc & TOE-chasing] published papers with his other non-essential statistical theory work.

The Conscious Universe: Parts and Wholes in Physical Reality

Average customer rating:

Fuzzy writing reflects fuzzy thought.
Looking forward to this 2nd edition
Improvement over the original
Responsible, speculative synthesis
SCIENTIFIC METAPHOR

The Conscious Universe: Parts and Wholes in Physical Reality
Menas Kafatos , and Robert Nadeau
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Non-Local Universe: The New Physics and Matters of the Mind
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ASIN: 0387988653

Book Description

This book discusses the implications for philosophy of recent experimental results that confirm some counterintuitive aspects of the way matter behaves. The authors show that a generalized principle of complementarity is pervasive not only in physical theories such as cosmological models of the universe, but also in the construction of all human realities. The book discusses in detail Bell's inequalities for quantum mechanical measurements as well as the recent experiments that confirm them, which imply that even remote parts of the universe are "entangled." The authors suggest that consciousness can no longer be divorced from the problem of the way science operates, and the book concludes by making the case that this entails a new way of understanding the universe that could obviate much of the current conflict between science and religion while providing at the same time a basis for valuation that is better suited for coordinating all human experience. This second edition has been completely rewritten and brought up to date.

Customer Reviews:

Fuzzy writing reflects fuzzy thought........2005-11-08

The 1990 edition of this book constitutes possibly the worst writing in English by non-illiterates ever to see the light of day.

When the sheer nonsense is stripped away, we are left with what would have made a fairly interesting magazine article, though one built mainly on sweeping generalizations, presumed implications, and a host of other high-school debating-team tactics.

All that is a shame, because there may be some grain of value in the authors' position, though it is almost impossible to extract from what they actually say. Bell's Theorem, like Godel's Incompleteness Theorem, is an important milestone in scientific thought. But its consequences need a narrower, more focussed, and more impartial interpretation thhan this warmed-over Creationism.

Looking forward to this 2nd edition.......2003-02-05

From the editorial review (and another customer's review), it sounds like the authors have made several improvements over the first edition. (For example, the first edition was in dire need of an editor who could tame the author's copiously worded and convoluted sentences.)

Anyway, I really enjoyed the first edition nonetheless. Not being a scientist (in physics or otherwise), I appreciated the ambitious attempt to condense the vast scope of quantum theory into a manageable package. The examples of non-locality and complementarity lead convincingly to the conclusion that the universe is an indivisible whole and effectively explain how the whole of reality is unknowable to us because our conciousness is part of that reality (i.e., the universe is "conscious").

We can take it as axiomatic that science can never reveal reality (no more or less than religion can, for example), yet the authors do torture their analysis of complementarity by trying to apply it as a kind of fundamental principle of human consciousness, e.g., asserting that a person's inability to both rationalize and "feel" an experience simultaneously is complementarity akin to the behavior of quanta under observation. To me, this conclusion seems based on a bias many scientists express quite openly, i.e., that human beings in general are profoundly complex in the manifestation of their consciousness and rather than accept the simplest explanation of consciousness, adopt one that is more exalted and ripe with metaphor. The problem is that the bias is unquestioned -- at least in the first edition. It's equally plausible that through the eons humans evolved separate, simple, and highly tactical systems that evince complexity in their combination, but under scrutiny are discrete and self-reinforcing through the evolutionary process.

Also, I don't think there's any evidence that the specific and "peculiar" behavior of infinitesimal quanta bear a relationship to a human's application of his or her consciousness to any macro effect. The brain, like the universe, may operate on quantum principles, but the brain's function was molded by macro forces, i.e., some adaptations/mutations survive, others do not.

That leads me to my last comment that the authors seemed to hurtle into the comparison of scientific ways of knowing vs. religious or spiritual ways of knowing. The conclusion that science cannot ultimately reveal reality is a good one. Yet again, the authors fall prey to a bias by drawing parallels between quantum physics and mystical traditions that intuitively posited the oneness of the universe. The bias revealed is similar to that of thinkers who equate aesthetic beauty with scientific truth (it's observational bias). The intuition of mystics, no matter how beautifully resonant of quantum mechanical principles, is still no more prescient or "true" than the belief that aliens seeded the earth because these beliefs cannot be correlated to any specific set of universal principles. They are grounded in beliefs that can be rationalized only by faith and by generational feedback and reinforcement. The faiths that "work" for people in turn resonate with truth. (So, rather than a reductionist camp, I'd have to say that I fall into the generative camp, i.e., complexity comes from the recursion of simplicity, the truth is what appears obvious, the beautiful is what we are evolved to regard as beautiful). The point is that although we may live in a quantum mechanical universe, it seems like the authors assume that our consciousness plays an exalted role in it and consequently leap into illogic.

Quantum physics is a good example of complementarity, but I don't think that the authors make their case that it's the same kind of complementary found in our macro experience.

Overall, I found the book thought-provoking and fun to read.

(Keep in mind that on the scale of scientific prowess, I was a Lit. major.)

Improvement over the original.......2001-11-15

In this book, Kafatos and Nadeau update their 1990 book "The Conscious Universe: Part and Whole in Modern Physical Theory." The thesis/purpose of the new book is identical, the content is about 70% the same, but the book is completely reorganized and in mostly rewritten. The new book is greatly improved over the old. The authors made it shorter and more succinct, driving home their thesis with greater power. The florid prose of the old book is mostly absent. The only area I liked better from the old book is its earlier and extended elaboration on ontological dualism, a crucial concept for their thesis that is presented too late and too briefly in the new book. But all in all this is the book for new readers. The authors take Bohr's principle of complementarity and explore its application, espousing it as a new paradigm for human perception at every level, mundane to cosmic. The ramifications of their excellently thought-out argument make rich food for thought. The authors also shed clear light on ramifications of our universe's NON-LOCALITY as suggested by experiments testing Bell's Theorem. One irritating thing is the authors' dislike of hidden variable theories due to their untestability, while at the same time they reach equally untestable conclusions.

Responsible, speculative synthesis.......2000-04-28

As a non-scientist who loves to see scientific principals applied to philosophical questions, I found this book rich with food for thought. The focus is definitely on ontology. However, I suggest a good layman's intro to quantum mechanics first; this book rests squarely on quantum theory but provides a sloppy, sporadic synopsis of the field. Not surprising, since it uses quantum theory only as a springboard. I agree with other reviewers that the writing is florid, verbose and wildly inconsistent in its level of explanatory detail. Its lovely vision of science and religion as complimentary tools of knowledge is self-consistent but marred by a naive description of religion which ignores dogmatic thinking and practice.

SCIENTIFIC METAPHOR.......1999-12-01

The title of this book should have been COMPLEMENTARY UNIVERSE. The authors herein reached far past their knowledge horizon. They ontologized greatly, resorting to non provable, untestable speculations, and at the same time warning the reader to avoid the same. The authors sought out dualisms to enshrine within their temple of complementarity. It is as though they made a cookie cutter out of quantum dualism, spread out the dough of the universe from viruses to human consciousness to starlight to black holes, and made a big batch of complementarities. When one can't resolve two disparate theories -- make a cookie out of both and chew and swallow. This is a brand of secular creationism wearing the garb of quantum evolutionism. They say: since consciousness evolved from cosmic star dust doesn't this imply that the universe must also be conscious? And isn't man's consciousness a reflection of the universal consciousness? Where they can't `prove' they `infer' and `imply'. They state their intentions clearly: `to answer the very basic human need to feel .... a profound spiritual awareness of unity with the whole.'(P. 178) Kafatos & Nadeau's intentions were very admirable -- to relieve the reader of any angst and alienation from the holistic sandbox he/she must live in. And the authors deserve an A for the effort to give the undescribable universe a face and features the reader can believe in and relate to. Their effort just didn't quite do it for me.

Average customer rating:

Physics and the Physical Universe
Jerry B. Marion
Manufacturer: John Wiley & Sons Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books

Average customer rating:

A big disapointment!

Principles of Physical Cosmology
Phillip James Edwin Peebles
Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Astronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0691019339

Book Description

During the last twenty years, dramatic improvements in methods of observing astrophysical phenomena from the ground and in space have added to our knowledge of what the universe is like now and what it was like in the past, going back to the hot big bang. In this overview of today's physical cosmology, P.J.E. Peebles shows how observation has combined with theoretical elements to establish the subject as a mature science, while he also discusses the most notable recent attempts to understand the origin and structure of the universe. A successor to Peebles's classic volume Physical Cosmology (Princeton, 1971), the book is a comprehensive overview addressed not only to students but also to scientists active in fields outside cosmology.

The first chapter of the work presents the elements of physical cosmology, including the history of the discovery of the expanding universe. The second, on the cosmological tests that measure the geometry of spacetime, discusses general relativity theory as the basis for the tests, and then surveys the broad variety of ways the tests can be applied with the new generations of telescopes and detectors. The third chapter deals with the origin of galaxies and the large-scale structure of the universe, and reviews ideas about how the evolution of the universe might be traced back to very early epochs when structure originated. Each section of these chapters begins with an introduction that can be understood with no special knowledge beyond undergraduate physics, and then progresses to more specialized topics.

P.J.E. Peebles is Albert Einstein Professor of Science at Princeton University. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Royal Society.

Customer Reviews:

A big disapointment!.......1999-03-28

Although the book overviews many topics in cosmology, it seems an excersise in personal interests of the writer. The results are often not directly applicable to "real-life" situations and rewritting of formulae is usually required. Personally, I would recommend the book "Cosmological Physics" by Peacock, which is much more transparent and up-to-date.

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