The Elegant Universe

by B. Greene

[jamiereadthis]

String theory, M-theory, superstrings, supersymmetry— it’s some wild, wild stuff. As Niels Bohr said, and Brian Greene quotes, and I paraphrase: If you can think about quantum theory without feeling dizzy, you haven’t understood the first thing about it.

I thought I had at least a basic grasp of the basic concept of string theory, and that lasted about two pages into chapter one. Greene digs deep, but goes to great lengths to make the impossible subject comprehensible to anyone who hasn’t dedicated the past few decades of their life to the field. Some of the best parts are the stories that bring it down to earth, the first-hand glimpses behind the curtain; the trials of staying a step ahead of Witten, luring Aspinwall to break his code of work-free weekends for a six-pack of beer.

So while I doubt I understand much more than when I started, I understand much more of what it is I don’t understand. And it was a hell of a lot of fun.