Faster Than The Speed Of Light: The Story of a Scientific Speculation Paperback – 1 Jan 2004

Joao Magueijo's book `Faster than the Speed of Light' is an intriguing look into some of the `bleeding edge' theoretical realms of cosmology and theoretical physics, while also charting an all-too-familiar pattern of academic jealousy, intrigue, and the attempt by the established powers-that-be, the keepers of the dogmatic domain, to downplay those ideas (or persons) that might present significant challenge to their fields. In many ways, this is not unlike church structures of the past that saw it necessary to force thinkers such as Galileo to recant his scientific positions; alas, academic politics has always been among the more nasty of the forms of politics (Kissinger made this observation comparing the realms of academic politics with `realpolitik'); Mageuijo makes no secret about those he respects and those he does not in this text - one assumes he has a secure, tenure position somewhere, or a text like this could cost him such an opportunity.
The science itself is intriguing - he traces in a somewhat disjointed way the pattern of physics discoveries that led up to the solidification of the `law of physics' that nothing travels faster than the speed of light, and that the speed of light (the term `c' in Einstein's famous equation E=mc-squared) is constant across all frames of observational reference. This constancy was not Einstein's idea - it was a discovery twenty years prior by Americans Michelson and Morley; Einstein incorporated it into this Special Theory of Relativity in 1905, and the game was afoot for the developments of twentieth-century physics and astronomy.
Mageuijo discusses the development from these beginnings, as well as many of the problems and questions that were not solved from the beginning. The scientific exposition can become very complex - for example, Mageuijo's discussion of M-theory and Planck-sized strings (one-dimensional objects) and membranes (planar objects) `living in' eleven dimensions despite the four-dimensional space-time that we see becomes very difficult to follow. This book does not have much by way of equations (it is meant for a general audience rather than a scientifically elite audience), and mathematical structures do not always translate well into conversational English.
Perhaps the primary item of note in this text is Mageuijo's idea of the Varying Speed of Light (VSL). Mageuijo mentions early in the text that even Einstein had a paper published (in 1911, after the Special Theory of Relativity but prior to the General Theory of Relativity) on the varying speed of light, but that this idea was jettisoned - rightly so, Mageuijo states, as that particular theory was wrong, but it nonetheless demonstrated that the sanctity of the constancy of the speed of light has never been complete. Mageuijo discusses his VSL theory in some detail (albeit without the mathematics to back it up, a decided drawback for this text; however, one assumes that mathematically-trained scholars will be able to find some such material for analysis), including some objections (scientific and mathematical as opposed to personal/professional) and the attempts to get around the problems raised.
Overall, this is a fascinating book. It is rough around the edges (Mageuijo is a physicist, not a professor of English), but the ideas contained within are intriguing, and the story of the fight to get some recognition for a rogue idea (remember, please, that the idea that the earth and planets went around the Sun, rather than all the rest revolving around the earth, was once considered a rogue and radical idea, a threat to the stability not only of science but of society in general) meshed with the academic politics shows that no profession, however lofty and grand, is immune to the human foibles that beset us all.

"Faster than the Speed of Light" is one of an increasing trend of books mixing hard science with softer autobiographical detail. I presume this is the reason it has been picked up by Arrow Books, Random House's populist brand, alongside the likes of "Charles and Camilla" and Rodney Bewes' autobiography. However, don't let its stable mates fool you. This is a true thoroughbred, and deserves far more attention than it has had to date. The scientific explanations are clearer and better written than the "Brief History of Time". As well as a canter through the history of cosmology, Magueijo, provides us with a fascinating backdrop of both his personal approach to science, and the context of how scientific research is still being carried out. For those of us who will never actually be doing this work, or as the author cuttingly puts it, give up on real science and take up finance, this is as close to the real thing as we're likely to get.

- The Science -

The first half of the book provides an explanation of the building blocks that make up the big bang theory - with no autobiography. We're treated to a quick run round special relativity, where Magueijo uses an analogy of cows travelling close to the speed of light. Despite being fairly annoying, this works very well, and is certainly memorable. We're then given a concise description of general relativity, which I'd rate as good as any that I've read, before moving off into a discussion of the big bang theory and open vs closed universes. This is where he is at his strongest, and I found myself really enjoying his explanations, particularly around the fundamental problems around the big bang. This part of the book finishes with a description of the Inflation hypothesis, which although simplified, is very clear and to the point.

- The Approach -

The second half of the book is the more autobiographical, and explains the varying speed of light (VSL) theory, or theories. As well as the science itself, it also provides a fascinating insight into where Magueijo and his collaborators get their ideas from. VSL is initially presented as the search for an alternative theory to Inflation. As the theories seem to hold water, they are developed into a wider set of hypotheses that basically take on all the big problems in cosmology. There is a more than a touch of megalomania here, which in itself is riveting. Who wakes up in the morning one day and decides to take on general relativity amd quantum gravity before breakfast? Mr Magueijo, it would seem.

- The Context -

Along with the scientific approach comes a fair dose of what could politely be called context, or less politely, office politics. Magueijo is a big personality, or as he himself puts it, "has a big mouth". As the book progresses, he allows himself a fair bit of freedom to use both. Some of his targets include: older scientists, High Table at Cambridge colleges, university administrators, male physicists who stare at women, and technical journals. I laughed like a drain, but wondered if he'll be as rude when he's over 40.