The Complete Idiot's Guide to String Theory | George Musser

The Complete Idiot's Guide to String Theory | George Musser | Well done Introduction to multiple Quantum Gravity theories

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	The Complete Idiot's Guide to String Theory George Musser Alpha, 2008 - 368 pages average customer review:based on 18 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Everything is connected?

We?re living in the midst of a scientific revolution that?s captured the general public?s attention and imagination. The aim of this new revolution is to develop a ?theory of everything??a set of laws of physics that will explain all that can be explained, ranging from the tiniest subatomic particle to the universe as a whole. Here, readers will learn the ideas behind the theories, and their effects upon our world, our civilization, and ourselves.

Excellent Introduction to High-Energy Physics

This is an extremely good introduction to a very complicated subject that will be of great use to those with limited knowledge of string theory and, more generally, high-energy physics. The book successfully gives a conceptual description of a somewhat esoteric area of physics without the requirement of a mathematical background. Readers of the book will come away with a good understanding of cutting-edge physics, including Relativity, Quantum Mechanics, the Standard Model, Grand Unified Theories and Supersymmetry, all of which are relevant to experiments currently being performed at the Large Hadron Collider. Readers will also learn how these topics are related to string theory and how everything fits together. The book does a good job of presenting information in a pedagogical manner building from the simpler concepts up to the discussion of string theory. Thus, the reader gains a clear picture of where our current knowledge stands and the problems that still need to be addressed. The book accomplishes this without getting lost in a discussion of rather exotic things like parallel universes and extra dimensions, although the reader will see how such concepts arise in string theory. The book also gives a discussion of the current 'controversy' over string theory which has played out in popular books and blogs in recent years. Overall, this is an excellent starter book for anyone who wants to get a basic picture of string theory. If one wants to gain a deeper understanding, one can move on from this book to one of the more technical treatments available.

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Well done Introduction to multiple Quantum Gravity theories

Five stars for this introductory book on Quantum Gravity. The name of this book as has been noted is quite misleading. This is an extremely balanced tome not only on String Theory, but on other notable alternative approaches on rational speculative theories as well, concerning what takes place at the level of fundamental particles and small length scales: notably LQG = Loop Quantum Gravity and CDT = Causal Dynamical Triangulations = "Buckyspace". I suspect it was originally submitted as "Quantum Gravity" but overruled at the Editorial level as "String Theory" for Marketing reasons, which may have been a wise decision but nevertheless would confuse those seeking the broader view this book expounds.

One embarrassing consequence of leading QG research is the many "wars" going on among our world's top theoretical physicists, and Musser does a fine job explaining these differences in his chapter on "The String Theory Wars." Other books on this subject are informative yet one-sided; this book gives equal balance to all sides explaining the Pros and Cons of all parties.

He eschews mentioning the particular scientists involved in the theories in favor of focusing on the theories themselves. This is a refreshing approach in its own right and makes the book as tight and concise as possible. His writing style is informative, interesting, entertaining, and lucid; one walks away from this book feeling a mastery of the issues at hand, and well prepared to read more detailed works on these subjects with an open-minded attitude to other authors' bias. As a science journalist, he has done this aspect of his job splendidly.

As a researcher, he has also excelled. He has consulted the experts on all sides, notably String Theorist Keith Dienes, Loop Gravitationist co-founder Carlo Rovelli, CDT co-founder Renate Loll, and dozens of others in these fields such as Polchinski and Witten.

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The Science Books for the Layman Keep Getting Better!

I give it my highest rating. The title is misleading because it is more about the connection of relativity, quantum mechanics and string theory. For those who have read Brian Greene's books, this is a excellent supplement. It is a must read if Greene's books may have left you wanting more explanations and examples.

Well-thumbed nighstand book.

This audacious little book has earned a place on my nightstand as a joy to re-read. The clever examples and illustrations reflect a passion for conveying the broad shape of physics concepts as rightly as is possible without mathematical detail. These concepts are wrapped in an engaging narrative which frames their historical development. If you have room on your nightstand for some string theory (and don't mind the title) you won't be disappointed. I have enjoyed re-reading this book again and again.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4

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