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Cover of The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene

The Elegant Universe

  • 456 pages · about 8 hours
  • First published 1999
  • 30 editions

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1 About this book

In this refreshingly clear book, Brian Greene, a leading string theorist, relates the scientific story and the human struggle behind the search for the ultimate theory. String theory, as the author vividly describes, reveals a vision of the universe that is sending shock waves through the world of physics.

Thrilling and revolutionary ideas such as new dimensions hidden within the fabric of space, black holes transmuting into elementary particles, rips and punctures in the space-time continuum, gigantic universes interchangeable with minuscule ones, and a wealth of others are playing a pivotal role as physicists use string theory to grapple with some of the deepest questions of the ages.

With authority and grace, The Elegant Universe introduces us to the discoveries and the remaining mysteries, the exhilaration and the frustrations of those who relentlessly probe the ultimate nature of space, time, and matter.

Good for readers who want: astronomy and a long read.

  • Particles (Nuclear physics)
  • Cosmology
  • Quantum theory
  • Unified field theories

2 About Brian Greene

Born 1963

Brian Randolph Greene (born February 9, 1963) is an American physicist known for his research on string theory. He is a professor of physics and mathematics at Columbia University, director of its center for theoretical physics, and the chairman of the World Science Festival, which he co-founded in 2008. Greene co-discovered mirror symmetry, relating two different Calabi–Yau manifolds.

Bio adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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