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The Fabric of Reality: The Science of Parallel Universes--and Its Implications [Paperback]

David Deutsch
3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (143 customer reviews)

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Book Description

August 1, 1998 014027541X 978-0140275414 First Edition
For David Deutsch, a young physicist of unusual originality, quantum theory contains our most fundamental knowledge of the physical world. Taken literally, it implies that there are many universes “parallel” to the one we see around us. This multiplicity of universes, according to Deutsch, turns out to be the key to achieving a new worldview, one which synthesizes the theories of evolution, computation, and knowledge with quantum physics. Considered jointly, these four strands of explanation reveal a unified fabric of reality that is both objective and comprehensible, the subject of this daring, challenging book. The Fabric of Reality explains and connects many topics at the leading edge of current research and thinking, such as quantum computers (which work by effectively collaborating with their counterparts in other universes), the physics of time travel, the comprehensibility of nature and the physical limits of virtual reality, the significance of human life, and the ultimate fate of the universe. Here, for scientist and layperson alike, for philosopher, science-fiction reader, biologist, and computer expert, is a startlingly complete and rational synthesis of disciplines, and a new, optimistic message about existence.

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Our best theories are not only truer than common sense, they make more sense than common sense," writes physicist David Deutsch. In The Fabric of Reality, Deutsch traces what he considers the four main strands of scientific explanation: quantum theory, evolution, computation, and the theory of knowledge. "The four of them taken together form a coherent explanatory structure that is so far-reaching, and has come to encompass so much of our understanding of the world, that in my view it may already properly be called the first Theory of Everything." Deutsch covers some difficult material with unusual clarity. Each chapter ends with a summary and definitions of important terms, which makes the work an invaluable sourcebook. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Common sense and reality diverge and then come together again in this mind-blowing book. Maintaining that the best explanation for certain quantum phenomena is that there are parallel universes, i.e., multiverses, Oxford physicist Deutsch posits and then attempts to unify four basic strands?quantum physics, epistemology, evolution, and the theory of computation. Just one astonishing consequence is that quantum computers can collaborate between universes. Deutsch's ideas are exotic and challenging, but his text is surprisingly accessible, and he supplies a glossary and summary at the end of every chapter. For motivated readers, this book is a feast for the mind. Strongly recommended for academic and larger public libraries.?Gregg Sapp, Univ. of Miami Lib., Coral Gables, Fla.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 390 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin Books; First Edition edition (August 1, 1998)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 014027541X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0140275414
  • Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (143 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #208,326 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
155 of 169 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Mind-bending analysis that falls short in places May 12, 2002
Format:Paperback
Deutsch's presentation is fascinating, mind-expanding, challenging, provocative, and--at times--riveting. It is also infuriating, perplexing, reductive, and--at times--vague. (Please note: I am not convinced that the multiverse as Deutsch describes it exists, nor am I threatened by the possibility that it might. As a result, I do not mean to quarrel with--or support--the idea itself. Instead, I am reviewing Deutsch's book from the point of view of a lay reader.)

I do recommend this book to anyone interested in reading a summary of the pursuit of a "theory of everything" and a defense of the science of parallel universes. Deutsch's theory of everything depends on four theories: quantum (as espoused by Everett), epistemology (Popper), evolution (Dawkins), and computation (Turing). Even if one does not ultimately agree with Deutsch's ideas, his book offers some interesting thought experiments (the chapter on "time travel" is especially fun) and a concise overview of several scientific trends. In addition, his book provides a decent defense of why the theory of the multiverse should be considered a reasonable explanation for the interference results obtained the infamous two-slit experiment.

That said, I do think Deutsch's book contains many shortcomings. First, although the multiverse may be a valid explanation for interference phenomenon, Deutsch fails to convince that it is THE explanation. In one short paragraph, he dismisses David Bohm's theory of wave-particle duality. "Working out what Bohm's invisible wave will do requires the same computations as working out what trillions of shadow photons will do....

Second, and similarly, Deutsch dismisses with an even shorter paragraph the charge that his "theory of everything" is anthropocentric. (He pretty much admits it is, but tries--unconvincingly, to this reader--to turn it into an argument in his favor.) Third, his discussion of evolution (one of the four "equal" strands of his theory of everything) is a mere 25 pages and, unlike the rest of the book, is at times incomprehensible and seems completely indebted to Dawkins. (Not that there is anything wrong with Dawkins's work; rather, Deutsch just seems in over his head during this part of the book.) Fourth, he rejects Kuhn's belief in the rigidity of scientific paradigms (for example, the inability of thinkers in Galileo's time to accept the full implications of the Copernican system because they were so used to thinking of the world in Ptolemaic and Judeo-Christian terms), but then he describes a modern scientific establishment that refuses to accept the multiverse implications of quantum theory because they are rooted to the concept of a single universe. (Just because modern scientific discourse is more civil does not mean that Kuhn's argument is incorrect. Deutsch's opponents are still mocking him behind his back, in book reviews, and anonymously on this Web site. Or, even more effectively, they are ignoring him altogether.) And, finally, his discussion of Tipler's omega-point theory is hurried and unfortunately nebulous: at one point, Deutsch seems to be saying that knowledge in the universe will become omniscient and omnipresent--which is practically the same as saying that the universe will become itself.

Nevertheless, regardless of what you think of its implications, Deutsch's views deserve serious consideration and, as necessary, rebuttal--not mockery and scorn. In the same way that we read Lucretius even though we know him to be wrong (or, for that matter, Einstein because we believe he is mostly right), we should read Deutsch's work because he challenges the way we look at our world. Read more ›

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69 of 74 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Best science book of the decade September 4, 1997
Format:Hardcover
There are a lot of books that try to explain science to the layman and forward some new and grandiose worldview at the same time. Most of them do okay at the former, but fail miserably at the latter. This book does both, perhaps better than any book I've ever read (and I read a lot of science books). Deutsch identifies and explains the most important and interesting aspects of both quantum theory (his main topic) and the intimate relationships between it and the sciences of epistemology, computability, and evolution. The explanations are intuitive and easy to follow if you have any technical background at all, and sometimes even if you don't. Better yet, he convincingly synthesizes them into a truly compelling argument for a new (well, okay, not new but not yet widely accepted) view of reality on the deepest and widest possible scale. He steps onto a bit more shaky ground when he tries to bring in a "kitchen sink" of disciplines, some of which he doesn't seem to know nearly as much about as his native discipline (physics). Still, even the less convincing extensions to his basic idea are well considered and thought-provoking. And the basic idea itself--that zillions of not-quite-identical copies of our universe exist and are just as real and tangible as our own--is more than enough to make this book a phenomenal "mind-expanding" experience
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50 of 55 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars quantum computers July 4, 2005
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The book was published in 1997, and a lot has happened since then. Yet the foundations retain their permanence, and David Deutsch's captivating writing is as fresh as ever. Despite the availability of newer books, for the layman/woman, now almost 10 years later, I would still rank this book at the top. There is a lot in the book; and yet, the ideas are presented in a clear and engaging way. The author is a pioneer, a giant in modern physics; he was and is a driving force in new discoveries in the subject. Yet he has his personal way of explaining physical reality. His view is not shared by all scientists, one should admit. However, there is agreement about the scientific conclusions. The first chapter in the book stresses *explanation*, our understanding of the reason for things. There are other views of science, e.g., instrumentalism: predicting the outcome of experiments.

The author's view on quantum theory is based his idea about parallel universes. While fascination, the reader should be aware that there are alternative theories for explaining quantum phenomena. An important concept in quantum theory and quantum computation is "decoherence", and it is explained (ch 9) in terms of different (parallel) universes. In ch 9 about quantum computers, it might have been only fair to mention that there are such other current views on decoherence; but this is a minor complaint.

Presentation: I love that each chapter concludes with a section on terminology and a summary.

As a subject theoretical computer science started with Alan Turing and John von Neumann in the 1940ties: Classical computation follows the model of Turing,-- strings of bits, i.e., 0s and 1s; and a mathematical model which is now called the Turing machine.
... Read more ›
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26 of 29 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars It will all be clear in 20 years... October 10, 2002
Format:Paperback
David Deutch's 'Fabric of Reality' marks the triumphant return of Natural Philosophy. The central aim of this book is to present the structure of our best theories (evolution, [Quantum] computer science and epistemology) in a way that clearly relates them to our understanding of reality, and then show how these structures are inextricably intertwined. I believe he is remarkably successful and displays a thorough understanding of the subject matter outside of his 'native' QM as those subjects relate to his 'Theory of Everything'. Speaking of which, he is also the first (that I know of) to come anywhere close to understanding what this TOE really IS (and will become). That is, our TOE is now, and at any point in the future or past, the core intertwining of these theoretical strucures he so elegantly exposes.

In order to appreciate this book, it is neccessary to understand the angle Deutch takes on the undertanding of science and the growth of knowledge. And this requires a bit of historical context.

In the early 20th century, the two infant sciences of quantum mechanics and computation theory had no observed connections. In turn, the counter-intuitive results of the quantum theory (as revealed over the next 100 years) led to a loss of confidence in our ability to understand reality (as expoused by such buzzwords as 'uncertainty'). This intellectual climate led many of our best scientists to ignore the importance of taking our best theories seriously. Instrumentalism and positivism flourished. Explaination and understanding where not considered fundamentally important. Everything was arbitrary and only utility mattered (in the sense that accurate prediction was thought to be the only useful thing to do with a theory).
...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars As good as it gets.
Superb presentation of really fundamental ideas. It will stretch your mind and improve your understanding. It really explains which is quite rare.
Published 6 days ago by Larry K. Mason
5.0 out of 5 stars Chances are you will be horribly less-informed without reading this...
I love David Deutsch's honesty. I teach physics at a small university, and I know I've been guilty of hesitating and couching my words so as to not seem crazy, or to not upset the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Matthew Spencer
2.0 out of 5 stars what?
Look he may be a polymathic visionary and in 500 years we look back and say he told us so. Meanwhile this rambling work of huge mindpower but nil discipline needs a brave editor.
Published 1 month ago by david m morrissey
5.0 out of 5 stars great
A deeply insightful book that will change the way you see the world in a mirad of aspects. This book is a challenging read, one to read slowly and with many pauses to just work out... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jesse
4.0 out of 5 stars Not quite convinced . . .
I've read a number of these physics for the layman books - Brian Greene, Paul Davies and others. I mostly read this one, loaned to me by a friend who thought I'd be interested. Read more
Published 2 months ago by jackflash
5.0 out of 5 stars Sharp.
David Deutsch is certainly learned and knows what he's talking about.
He also is less scientifically arrogant than some scientists.
Published 3 months ago by Thomas A. Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars Good one.
My husband is excited about this one. Really enjoying the read. Can not wait to get back to reading the book.
Published 3 months ago by Marie Iannetta
2.0 out of 5 stars Nothing to write home about...
A lot of conjectures -- when not sheer, whimsical speculations -- interesting as far as quantum physics are concerned, but totally unconvincing when Deutsch touches the world of... Read more
Published 6 months ago by André Gargoura
1.0 out of 5 stars FABRIC OF WHAT?
Deutsch is incomprehensible and unreadable. This is a mixture of Alice-in-Wonderland fantasy and wild speculation, but modern physics it ain't. 390 pages of profound bulls***!
Published 7 months ago by m. millman
3.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, difficult and at times annoying
I have struggled to get through this difficult book, which may say more about my own lack of knowledge of some of the subjects here than it does about the skill of the author. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Thomas H. Burroughes
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