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Jim Baggott

Farewell to Reality: How Fairytale Physics Betrays the Search for Scientific Truth Paperback – 16 May 2013

by Jim Baggott (Author)

4.2 202 ratings

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Modern physics is heady stuff. It seems that barely a week goes by without some new astounding science story; some revelation about hidden dimensions, multiple universes, the holographic principle or incredible cosmic coincidences. But is it true? What evidence do we have for super-symmetric squarks', or superstrings vibrating in an 11-dimensional space-time? How do we know that we live in a multiverse? How can we tell that the universe is a hologram projected from information encoded on its boundary? Doesn't this sound like a fairy story?In Farewell to Reality Jim Baggott asks whether all that we currently know about the universe is based upon science or fantasy. In addition he wonders whether these high priests of fairy tale physics - such as John Barrow, Paul Davies, David Deutsch, Brian Greene, Stephen Hawking, Michio Kaku, Gordon Kane and Leonard Susskind - are the emperor's latest tailors.Praise for Jim Baggott:A shimmering tour d'horizon. Quantum theory may deny us the possibility of properly comprehending physical reality, but Baggott's account is smart and consoling. Kirkus Reviews.Jim Baggott's inspired - and inspiring - idea of presenting the history of quantum physics in terms of 40 key moments works both as an introduction for the uninitiated and as a refresher for anyone who thinks they know the story. John Gribbin.I never read such a good, comprehensive account as Jim Baggott's...highly recommended. A.N. Wilson.The best popular science book of the year to date by far. popularscience.co.uk

Print length

352 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Constable
Publication date

16 May 2013
Dimensions

13.5 x 2.03 x 21.5 cm
ISBN-10

9781780334929
ISBN-13

978-1780334929
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Product description

Review

Persuasive. --Independent on Sunday

Book Description

A controversial popular science title in which Jim Baggott asks whether all that we currently know about the universe is based upon science or fantasy.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1780334923
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Constable (16 May 2013)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781780334929
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1780334929
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13.5 x 2.03 x 21.5 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 736,655 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 1,127 in Philosophy of Physics
- 4,131 in Popular Science Physics
- 23,470 in Philosophy (Books)

Customer reviews:
4.2 202 ratings

About the author

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Jim Baggott

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Jim Baggott was born in Southampton, England. After graduating in chemistry and completing a doctorate at Oxford, he worked as a postgraduate research fellow at Oxford and at Stanford University in California.

He returned to England to take up a lectureship in chemistry at the University of Reading. After five years of academic life, he decided on a complete change of career direction and worked in the oil industry for 11 years before setting up his own independent business and training consultancy.

Jim maintains a broad interest in science, philosophy and history, and writes on these subjects in what spare time he can find. He was awarded the Marlow Medal by the Royal Society of Chemistry in 1989 in recognition of his contributions to scientific research. He was awarded a Glaxo Science Writer's prize in 1992. He has written numerous popular science articles published in UK newspapers and New Scientist magazine and has contributed to several radio programmes in the UK and America. He made his television debut in an episode of Morgan Freeman's 'Through the Wormhole' science series, which aired on the Science Channel on 17 July 2013.

You can read all about Jim's books and find related articles, podcasts, videos and reviews at www.jimbaggott.com.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5

202 global ratings

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michael james garner

Latest up to data information.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 January 2023

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Good book for first users on this topic.

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Bent A

Very interesting to read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 February 2022

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I'm not a physicist but I am interested in physics and scientific theory. I find this book important because it shows the history of the science of physics to some extend and shows how many theoreticians in the field has now 'left reality', in the sense that they are making up hypothesis that not even in theory can be tested, and are still asking us to believe them.

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Brian Elliott

Very worthwhile reading

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 February 2021

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I am re-reading this book again for the third time . It's not an easy subject but the author explains things well - Much of this simply ' does your head in ' - Travelling at near light speeds , returning to Earth to find that your daughter or son is 30 years older than you ( Time Dilation ) or that you live slightly longer in a basement flat as opposed to the Pent House on the top floor ( Gravitational Time Dilation ) Both are Einstein's Theories - No absolute time or space. Curved space-time. ' Action at a distant ' - Instantaneous affect on a waveform millions of miles away ie faster than light . String theory anyone. Quantum mechanics - The more you know - the less you understand

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Peter A Dewar, C Eng.

A realistic appraisal of the current state of theoretical physics.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 July 2013

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The calculational problems arising from the, testable, zero-dimensional "Point-particle" approximation has given rise to the one-dimensional "String" approximation. Decades of untestable, speculative, theory based upon closed and open microscopic strings, necessitating more and more exotic geometric extensions to the observable universe, viz:
Extra dimensions (most of which are "Rolled-up" and so invisible),
Branes (n-dimensional membranes), diffusion through stacks of which cause the attenuation of gravitational force,
Multi-universes, (The "Multiverse") allowing the probabilistic bifurcation of physical effect etc, etc.
Thousands of "Physicists" are working in this "Alice-in-wonderland writ large".
Is it physics, metaphysics or philosophy?
How is this catastrophic state to be resolved?
Jim Baggot has, at last, exposed the truth behind the "Search for truth".

Pete Dewar, BSc., BSc., MSc., D A Math (Oxon), C Eng., MIET.

14 people found this helpful

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OxfordStudent

An objective comment on unsubstantiated theories

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 February 2020

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This is an excellent study on some unsubstantiated modern theories such as the 'Many Worlds' and 'Multiverse' theories that have absolutely nothing to support them, not even mathematical support. As Dr Hossenfelder summed the Multiverse theory, it's based on nothing more than faith.

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Apostolos Syropoulos

Well-written account of "modern" physics

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 August 2013

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I enjoyed reading this book. The author presents modern physics and clearly shows that there are problems with a number of approaches to solve certain problems. However, although the title of the book is about fairytale physics, still the author is not bold enough and sits on fences at certain parts of the book.

5 people found this helpful

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Takeittoem.

Wos foolng who?and at what cost?

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 October 2015

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Good 'Common-Sence info ALL scientific and learned individuals should read!1 Science in the true sense of the word, isnt anymore! It's mathematical constructs inside physisists heads and departed from OBSEVATIONS many moons Ago!! Read it to fight back and be informed of how FAR we've moved away from EVIDENTIAL science into the Unfathomable world of FNTASY!!

One person found this helpful

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Mr. Bernard A. O'sullivan

an intelligent non-scientist.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 October 2016

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I think I was mistaken in thinking that the target audience for this book included me, an intelligent non-scientist.

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