The Search for Superstrings, Symmetry, and the Theory of Everything by John Gribbin (PDF)

Description

No one is more successful than this author when it comes to making the cutting edge of physics more accessible to a broad lay audience. In Schrodinger’s Kittens, he took readers to the eerie world of subatomic particles & waves. Now, he explores the most exciting area of research in physics today: string theory. Following a series of major breakthroughs in the 1990s, physicists are putting together a clearer picture of how subatomic particles work. By hypothesizing particles as a single loop of vibrating “string,” they are on the brink of discovering a way to explain all of nature’s forces in a single theory. Grandly named “superstrings,” & incorporating the ideas of “supersymmetry,” these models are the prime candidate for the long sought-for “Theory of Everything.” Written in clear & accessible language. The Search for Superstrings, Symmetry, & the Theory of Everything brings to life the remarkable scientific research that is on the cusp of radically altering our conception of the universe.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐This book has a very clear explanation of the basics of particle physics. The introductory chapter on quantum physics goes beyond the usual popular treatments. His discussion of symmetry and the unification of the fundamental forces can be understood by intelligent readers without a background in quantum physics. While it is true, as some reviewers have suggested, that supestrings are treated only briefly at the end, the time taken to explain the “Standard Model” of particle physics gives the reader a good background and makes string theory more interesting. I am going to use this book for a science honors course for non-science majors. It will be challenging but, I hope, rewarding.

⭐I’ve been a Gribbin fan for a long time, and am of the opinion that each of his offerings is better than the last. I concur with the professional reviewers’: this meets the very high standard of Gribbin’s other work and easily exceeds the average for the genre.In a conversational style laced with wit, an ability to *write* that is unfortunately lacking among some of the scientific intelligentsia, he addresses some of the most exciting issues in physics in this decade. It’s a book about what we don’t know, our thrilling ignorance and tantalizing hints, guesses, glimpses of an awesome explanation just around the corner… The field in itself is intoxicating, and one suspects that Dr. Gribbin must have enjoyed the process of researching and writing the book as much as his readers enjoy the results.This is a complex subject, and requires a thorough grounding in quantum theory. Readers who, like myself, are familiar with Gribbin’s other work, will find that while the first section covers some of the same ground, it does so on a higher level of technical detail. This is presented in a quick, concise summary, and makes a good refresher, though it may go a bit over the heads of some who are completely new to the subject (they might want to read another of his books as an introduction, and then treat _Superstrings_ as a sequel of sorts, picking up where earlier attempts to explain the quantum world leave off).From there, he moves onto the tricky ground of modern theoretical constructs, the ever shifting leading edge of research. This is subtle stuff, but Gribbin is a competent and confident guide. Follow him closely, and you can be sure of your footing.Adventure metaphors aren’t miss-placed here, the subject is exciting, especially rinsed of the dry language of journal publications and deftly displayed by a very articulate expert. Anyone with an appreciation for conceptual beauty will enjoy this, I think. I certainly did.

⭐Yes, perhaps a little slow on the introduction and a drag for those of who had a beginners course in quantum physics or a college physical science background. But the author does an excellent job, in my opinion, of explaining in detail WHY it is that we’re searching for SUSY, not just the buzzwords of this science for the impressionable readers. It also keeps a good psychological reality check, and defends certain theories over others; a very honest and unbiased book, and an interesting one too. Thanks!

⭐If you are looking for more than ” Oh, Golly” physics with some real mathematics, then this will be disappointing, but if you like Richard Feynman type informative lectures that name the names and give an understandable overview, then this is a well written book with history and facts and references. I got is as a gift from a friend who was trying to be of help! It was more help than some of my Google searches on the Internet!

⭐If you are looking for an introduction to the newest theories in astrophysics, this is not the book for you. It has nearly the same brief intro to quantum mechanics as all the other books on the topic, then Gribbin simply wanders from topic to topic discussing weird phenomenon and theories and never really tying them together. He’s got a ton of speculation about String Theory, but he never really provides any reason that you should believe in it other than that it sounds really cool.He is also a bit behind the times (not necessarily his fault), for theoretical physics has (mostly) moved past the particular theories he presents, though they are helpful for understanding the most recent theories.In all, this is not a book I would recommend. String Theory is beginning to collapse, and there are a few books coming out this year detailing the rise and fall of String Theory. One of these books would probably be a better introduction to String Theory that this one, even if you disagree with their conclusions.Overall Grade: C-

⭐I discovered John Gribbin relatively recently and have been going through any of his books that I could find. Even though his enthusiasm leads him into the realm of speculation at times, he is a very competent source of exciting and important information and remains a consistently good writer for whom clarity comes naturally.This book is shorter and more succinct than many others by the author, and he mostly remains within the mainstream boundaries. It can serve two purposes: as a quick refresher in modern physics, and as an overview of some of the latest developments in force unification efforts.For me, the writing was of just the right level of difficulty to make it worth-while to put in the effort necessary for the enjoyment of understanding the ideas it is trying to convey. Usually, they made good sense on the second reading of a given section (allowing for some inevitable vagueness of the subject as explained in words without the underlying mathematics).I would advise, however, that the complete neophyte starts elsewhere (maybe some earlier books by the same author); on the other hand, people who are interested in much more detail of string theory in popular form could read e.g. “The Elegant Universe” by Brian Greene.

⭐In short this book is hard going. Its a hugely interesting subject but without real dedication you will find yourself putting it down. Its just not as well written as other books on the same subject.Its still readable, full of rich details and ideas but unfortunately not accessible enough for most people. Hence 3/5 and close but no cigar.

⭐for someone who has been interested in sub-atomics and relativity for over 50 years this is a very accessible account and fir-ts into his output on related topics (which are ,as he mentions, too broad to fit into a single volume).

⭐Loved it

⭐Loved it

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