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The Elegant Universe
- Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory
- Narrated by: Erik Davies
- Length: 15 hrs and 36 mins
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The Elegant Universe
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Summary
"[Greene] develops one fresh new insight after another...In the great tradition of physicists writing for the masses, The Elegant Universe sets a standard that will be hard to beat." --George Johnson, The New York Times Book Review
In a rare blend of scientific insight and writing as elegant as the theories it explains, Brian Greene, one of the world's leading string theorists, peels away the layers of mystery surrounding string theory to reveal a universe that consists of 11 dimensions where the fabric of space tears and repairs itself, and all matter-from the smallest quarks to the most gargantuan supernovas-is generated by the vibrations of microscopically tiny loops of energy.
Green uses everything from an amusement park ride to ants on a garden hose to illustrate the beautiful yet bizarre realities that modern physics is unveiling.
Dazzling in its brilliance, unprecedented in its ability to both illuminate and entertain, The Elegant Universe is a tour de force of science writing-a delightful, lucid voyage through modern physics that brings us closer than ever to understanding how the universe works.
Critic reviews
"[Greene] writes with poetic eloquence and style.... [He] does an admirable job of translating a wholly mathematical endeavor into visual terms." -The Washington Post Book World
"[An] important book.... The Elegant Universe presents the ideas and aspirations-and some of the characters-of string theory with clarity and charm." -Scientific American
"As good as it gets.... [A] thrilling ride through a lovely landscape." -Los Angeles Times
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What listeners say about The Elegant Universe
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Alison
- 15-10-19
A fascinating insight into string theory
For me, rolling with much of the narrative was an act of faith. The book iwas worth the effort and felt like a fantastic journey through a world that, till now, had remained inaccessible to me.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 03-03-21
Must read for everyone
This book amazed me and helped grow my understanding of everyday reality. Great for anyone.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- J. Van Duijl
- 28-09-22
intriguing and complex
This book is for everyone with a real interest in Modern fysicus. it is not easy to follow. I bought the paper book with it, for the illustrations and to ready back soms complicated parts or things I simply forgot. Well written and performed, highly reccommended.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Jj
- 17-05-21
Brilliant
Very technical, quite hard to take in at times, but mind bending and perspective changing once you get it, a fantastic collection of information allowing someone like me, shocking at maths, get to grips with the depths of cosmology
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Yannis
- 09-03-21
Loved it. Very well written very well read.
I think this is the fourth time I'm listening to it. Finding it very interesting.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Elizabeth Woodland
- 19-04-23
Helps you understand the world
Not just your understanding of the physical world, but you mental, emotional and spiritual world with be touched and challenged with this book.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Elanna76
- 12-12-20
Good reader, unconvincing argument...
The performance is extremely professional and the voice is not obtrusive, which is crucial since the topic is complex.
Brian Greene's development of the theory is as clear as it can be, and there is a lot to learn. The topic itself is captivating: the attempt of super strings theory to unify quantum mechanics and relativity in a single interpretation that explain the macro- and microcosmos.
I am not convinced of the arguments he uses with average culture readers like me: our super string theory MUST be true because it is so cool, nevermind we have never managed to hook it to experimental confirmation, forget about its forced interpretations and its ugly maths, the idea is elegant and we spent 40 years on this bet so it needs to work at all costs.
I got a lot of this vibe, while Carlo Rovelli's popularisation of the alternative loop quantum gravity theory always seems more humble and tentative, which I found endearing and more convincing.
Worth the listen overall.
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