New Theories of Everything (Gifford Lectures)
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Will we ever discover a single scientific theory that tells us everything that has happened, and everything that will happen, on every level in the Universe? The quest for the theory of everything - a single key that unlocks all the secrets of the Universe - is no longer a pipe-dream, but the focus of some of our most exciting research about the structure of the cosmos. But what might such a theory look like? What would it mean? And how close are we to getting there? In New Theories of Everything, John D. Barrow describes the ideas and controversies surrounding the ultimate explanation. Updating his earlier work Theories of Everything with the very latest theories and predictions, he tells of the M-theory of superstrings and multiverses, of speculations about the world as a computer program, and of new ideas of computation and complexity. But this is not solely a book about modern ideas in physics - Barrow also considers and reflects on the philosophical and cultural consequences of those ideas, and their implications for our own existence in the world. Far from there being a single theory uniquely specifying the constants and forces of nature, the picture today is of a vast landscape of different logically possible laws and constants in many dimensions, of which our own world is but a shadow: a tiny facet of a higher dimensional reality. But this is not to say we should give up in bewilderment: Barrow shows how many rich and illuminating theories and questions arise, and what this may mean for our understanding of our own place in the cosmos.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a pretty dull reworking of John Barrow's Theories of Everything from about 20 years ago. He hasn't bothered to update it very much, and is mainly interested in the philosophical aspects of what we mean by the laws of nature and so on. All very well in its place, but not the place to look if you want what the title implies, the latest hot news about string theory and membranes.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As another reviewer has said, this is a slightly revised version of an earlier book, and the updating could have been more comprehensive and thorough. Much of the focus is on the philosophical aspects of theories of everything, and I would have liked to see more attention on the maths and science, parts of which are passed over without enough explanation to satisfy me. In places the book is a little repetitive. Still, there was enough (just) to keep me reading to the end.
Format:Paperback
Fantastic book, with lots of detail and a good focus on the mathematical basis of physics (which seems to be missing from a lot of popular science books). There's also a lot of philosophical aspects of TOE covered. I found this easier to read than some books (eg Hawking) but perhaps not for those with only a passing interest in TOE.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Much better than Hawking
I found this a fascinating book. John Barrow does not propose a "Theory of Everything" (TOE). Instead he deals with all the issues a TOE has to address: Laws, Initial... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mr. J. Hastings
Everything Must go
According to John D Barrow the idea of a Theory of Everything is simple. It is to provide "a single all-embracing picture of all the laws of Nature from which the inevitability of... Read more
Published on 18 Feb 2009 by Neutral
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