Parallel Worlds: The Science of Alternative Universes and Our Future in the Cosmos (Allen Lane Science)
 RRP £20.00 Lowest New Price £15.99 
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Allen Lane Number of pages: 448 Language: English (Original Language) Language: English (Unknown) |
RRP: £20.00
Fuel for your imagination
Review date: 2009-11-06 Rating: 8 out of 10
An excellent book on popular science. Kaku delves into a fascinating world of theoretical physics that leaves your imagination run wide! This is the world of the truly bizarre and wondrous. He provides such a good and solid introduction on the major aspects of the string theory and the almighty M-theory was well as the good 'ol general relativity without the use of any (much) mathematics. The aim here is to be as non-technical as possible, and in this he succeeds.
This is the rarest of talent, in order to condense the complex into its simplest and most accessible form. So much so that when I finished this book, I am able to form my own opinions on big questions such as the birth of our universe, the invisible world around me and many other things. You too should be well informed by the end to make your choice on which side to take.
I would recommend this to anyone who are interested in this topic. And why shouldn't you be? It is about our ultimate beginning and ultimate end.
Reviews
BRILLIANT
Review date: 2009-10-19 Rating: 10 out of 10
I cannot recommend this book highly enough! Firstly, the writing is so easy to understand, i've been into physics for a while now, but some things still go over my head, this book is put across so clearly that i've managed to understand it all.
Secondly, each page or so is a different topic, and they all follow on well from the previous, i liked to read this book in little sections, as there is alot to take in. Kaku doesn't just talk about parallel worlds, infact he explains loads of different topics under the science heading (hence why i read them in small bits) It's definatly worth buying, i will be reading hyperspace next :)
Mindblowing
Review date: 2009-08-09 Rating: 10 out of 10
This was the first book I read from Michio Kaku and found it extremely interesting. The language is fairly simple and has some good analogies for the more difficult concepts. The book, as always, is well stuctured with each part dividing into chapters which divide into sections.
This book led me to buy more from Kaku including Physics of the impossible, Hyperspace and Einsteins Cosmos
This is science at its most enthralling
Review date: 2009-07-20 Rating: 10 out of 10
Michio Kaku's 'Parallel Worlds' is an awe-inspiring read that tackles what must surely be one of the most exciting - albeit speculative - areas of modern physics, that of parallel universes. Kaku is the ideal scientist to take us on the journey: clearly well-read, he slips in a medley of references to literature, art, history and philosophy, all of which help to liven up the narrative. To the extent that popular science should educate and inspire, Parallel Worlds is a resounding success.
The first few chapters get the reader up to speed with the basics of cosmology and quantum theory. Relativity, the big bang, black holes - it's all touched on capably if briefly. Then we reach supersymmetry and string/M-theory. For the uninitiated this might be harder-going, but it's worth persevering. The following chapters are the most thought-provoking of all, including the section on cutting edge science - gravity wave detectors, dark matter detectors, particle accelerators, etc - which leave you eagerly anticipating the potential discoveries of the next few years.
The anthropic principle sets the scene for the remainder of the book, beginning with a humbling account of just how many of the familiar constants of the universe lie within a very narrow band that makes life possible. This is the best summary of the "goldilocks zone" that I have read. Also humbling - but in a more depressing way - is the chapter that examines the inevitable long-term fate of our expanding and ever-cooling universe, as the stars disappear, temperatures approach absolute zero and atoms finally come to a halt.
More upbeat, Kaku speculates about how a suitably advanced civilisation of the far future might be able to avoid this fate by escaping into a different Universe. Underpinning this is the very serious business of categorising types of civilisation according to their level of technological development - Type I, II or III. (In case you're wondering, we've yet to reach Type I, and our animalistic instincts and carelessness may yet prevent us from getting even that far!)
Finally, he tackles the big one - the ultimate question of whether current scientific understanding points to the existence of a Creator. (Kaku believes it does, but of the non-personal 'creative force' of Spinoza and Einstein rather than the miracle-performing, prayer-answering 'God' of religion.)
A few quibbles - some spelling mistakes, a lack of in-text numbering to the end-notes, no chapter name at the top of each double-page - but these are minor and more than compensated by all the positives, not least of which is the super-reflective cover! (not obvious from the picture at the top of this page)
The scientific possibility of the existence of parallel universes is an endlessly fascinating subject. Kaku's 'Parallel Worlds' is a must-read for anyone interested in our universe, and the universe that may lie just a millimetre away...
Cosmology for the ungenius
Review date: 2009-06-13 Rating: 8 out of 10
This book offers an update on cosmology as well as a general background history for lay people.It covers all the latest theories and then postulates on the future of our universe and how we could escape when it ends.
The book was understandable to my relatively small unscientific brain and contained many astounding facts and ideas that kept it rolling along at a good pace.
Also on the plus side is the note and glossary section along with a fantastic cover.
Product Details/Specifications
Authors:
Michio Kaku
Recording label: Allen Lane
Manufacturer: Allen Lane
EAN: 9780713997286
Binding: Hardcover
Dewey decimal number: 600
ISBN: 0713997281
Number of pages: 448
Publication date: 2005-01-27
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: English (Unknown)
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