From the best-selling author of The Elegant Universe and The Fabric of the Cosmos comes his most expansive and accessible book to date—a book that takes on the grandest question: Is ours the only universe?
There was a time when “universe” meant all there is. Everything. Yet, in recent years discoveries in physics and cosmology have led a number of scientists to conclude that our universe may be one among many. With crystal-clear prose and inspired use of analogy, Brian Greene shows how a range of different “multiverse” proposals emerges from theories developed to explain the most refined observations of both subatomic particles and the dark depths of space: a multiverse in which you have an infinite number of doppelgängers, each reading this sentence in a distant universe; a multiverse comprising a vast ocean of bubble universes, of which ours is but one; a multiverse that endlessly cycles through time, …
From the best-selling author of The Elegant Universe and The Fabric of the Cosmos comes his most expansive and accessible book to date—a book that takes on the grandest question: Is ours the only universe?
There was a time when “universe” meant all there is. Everything. Yet, in recent years discoveries in physics and cosmology have led a number of scientists to conclude that our universe may be one among many. With crystal-clear prose and inspired use of analogy, Brian Greene shows how a range of different “multiverse” proposals emerges from theories developed to explain the most refined observations of both subatomic particles and the dark depths of space: a multiverse in which you have an infinite number of doppelgängers, each reading this sentence in a distant universe; a multiverse comprising a vast ocean of bubble universes, of which ours is but one; a multiverse that endlessly cycles through time, or one that might be hovering millimeters away yet remains invisible; another in which every possibility allowed by quantum physics is brought to life. Or, perhaps strangest of all, a multiverse made purely of math.
Greene, one of our foremost physicists and science writers, takes us on a captivating exploration of these parallel worlds and reveals how much of reality’s true nature may be deeply hidden within them. And, with his unrivaled ability to make the most challenging of material accessible and entertaining, Greene tackles the core question: How can fundamental science progress if great swaths of reality lie beyond our reach?
Sparked by Greene’s trademark wit and precision, The Hidden Reality is at once a far-reaching survey of cutting-edge physics and a remarkable journey to the very edge of reality—a journey grounded firmly in science and limited only by our imagination.
Review of 'The Hidden Reality: Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos' on 'LibraryThing'
4 stars
A disappointment. No, it's not that I "missed" the physics. Surely half a point deduction is due to my e-reader attempt. But a roster of (ten) possible multi-verses. File this one under the philosophy of science. Greene offers plausible means for verifying two or three of the candidates. It's interesting that we are on the verge of such experiments, but this feels like Greene is laying down a marker for the 23 (or later) century. It was fun speculating on "where" the electron may be: Grant's Tomb, or Central Park. The one takeaway is to consider the observer herself must be "located" with quantum considerations as well.
Review of 'The Hidden Reality: Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos' on 'Goodreads'
2 stars
I was so excited to pick up the latest Brian Greene book; after devouring "The Elegant Universe" and "Fabric of the Cosmos," I was certain that I would do the same here. I was mistaken.
Without belaboring the point, two features of this book caused my interest to wane extremely quickly. First, there seemed to be an inordinate amount of "free-pass" statements from Mr. Greene. After the third time of reading "If you are reaching saturation, feel free to skip this entire chapter," I began to wonder if he had somewhat lost his previously uncanny ability to explain complex topics in a way that negated the desire to skip ahead. Second, nearly every "revelation" in this book followed up with the caveat that while it might be true, we don't (and may never have) the ability to prove it.
The book quickly went from cutting-edge research to conversation points designed …
I was so excited to pick up the latest Brian Greene book; after devouring "The Elegant Universe" and "Fabric of the Cosmos," I was certain that I would do the same here. I was mistaken.
Without belaboring the point, two features of this book caused my interest to wane extremely quickly. First, there seemed to be an inordinate amount of "free-pass" statements from Mr. Greene. After the third time of reading "If you are reaching saturation, feel free to skip this entire chapter," I began to wonder if he had somewhat lost his previously uncanny ability to explain complex topics in a way that negated the desire to skip ahead. Second, nearly every "revelation" in this book followed up with the caveat that while it might be true, we don't (and may never have) the ability to prove it.
The book quickly went from cutting-edge research to conversation points designed to sell a book. Overall, very disappointing.
