May 30, 2006 02:45 PM
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(Updated May 30, 2006 02:46 PM)
Brian Greene's Elegant Universe published in 1999 has rapidly become a contemporary classic in the field of popular science literature. Greene is a well known theoretical physicist and science writer. I offer the following comments for potential buyers.
Greene provides a review of twentieth century physics before introducing string theory. While both aspects of the book are well done, in my opinion it is the handling of the background issues that makes the Elegant Universe a classic. Greene's explanation of relativity and quantum theory is arguably the best popular discussion of these issues in print (this is significant praise given the many tremendous works in this area).
Greene is a gifted science writer with the rare ability of being able to communicate difficult conceptual concepts in clear and comprehensible prose. He is also effective in conveying the excitement and wonder of theoretical science. Despite Greene's ability as a communicator, I agree with an earlier reader that some background knowledge of physics may be required to get the most out of this work. (particularly in regard to the discussion of string theory).
Althougth the level of detail may be a bit excessive for a popular audience the overview of string theory is solid. Greene does a nice job of discussing the theory's potential for bridging the gap between relativity and the quantum world as well as explaining some of its less intuitive aspects. Despite its promise, as Greene notes, string theory has been criticized by some commentators as excessively speculative and mostly untestable (some recent ideas in this latter regard appear hopeful).
On a more critical note, despite outstanding works such as this, staying abreast scientific thought through popular books is challenging (1999 is a long time ago) - journals and the internet are perhaps the best means of tracking developments in theoretical science. Readers seeking a different view may wish to look at Loop Quantum Gravity theory. Lee Smolin's Quantum Gravity provides a good look at this competing view in book format.
Overall, it is an excellent book - one of the best of its type. I highly recommend it to all readers. The first portion of the book is essential reading for the general science reader.
