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The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory 2nd ed. Edition, Kindle Edition

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 4,010 ratings

The international bestseller that inspired a major Nova special and sparked a new understanding of the universe.


Brian Greene, one of the world's leading string theorists, peels away layers of mystery to reveal a universe that consists of eleven 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.
The Elegant Universe makes some of the most sophisticated concepts ever contemplated accessible and thoroughly entertaining, bringing us closer than ever to understanding how the universe works.

From the Publisher

Few humans share Greene's mastery of the latest Comological science. New York Times

Compulsively readable....New York Magazine

As rewarding as it gets. Los Angeles Times

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

There is an ill-concealed skeleton in the closet of physics: "As they are currently formulated, general relativity and quantum mechanics cannot both be right." Each is exceedingly accurate in its field: general relativity explains the behavior of the universe at large scales, while quantum mechanics describes the behavior of subatomic particles. Yet the theories collide horribly under extreme conditions such as black holes or times close to the big bang. Brian Greene, a specialist in quantum field theory, believes that the two pillars of physics can be reconciled in superstring theory, a theory of everything.

Superstring theory has been called "a part of 21st-century physics that fell by chance into the 20th century." In other words, it isn't all worked out yet. Despite the uncertainties--"string theorists work to find approximate solutions to approximate equations"--Greene gives a tour of string theory solid enough to satisfy the scientifically literate.

Though Ed Witten of the Institute for Advanced Study is in many ways the human hero of The Elegant Universe, it is not a human-side-of-physics story. Greene's focus throughout is the science, and he gives the nonspecialist at least an illusion of understanding--or the sense of knowing what it is that you don't know. And that is traditionally the first step on the road to knowledge. --Mary Ellen Curtin

From Publishers Weekly

One of the more compelling scientific (cum-theological) questions in the Middle Ages was: "How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?" Today's version in cutting-edge science is, "How many strings... ?" As posited by s tring theory physics, strings are furiously vibrating loops of stuff. The concept of strings was devised to help scientists describe simultaneously both energy and matter. The frequency and resonance of strings' vibration, just like those of strings on an instrument, determine charge, spin and other familiar properties of energy?and eventually the structure of the universe: a true music of the spheres. There's a chance that strings are themselves made up of something still smaller. But scientists can prove their existence only on the blackboard and computer, because they are much too tiny?a hundred billion billion times smaller than the nucleus of an atom?to be observed experimentally. Brian Greene, professor of physics and mathematics at Cornell and Columbia universities, makes the terribly complex theory of strings accessible to all. He possesses a remarkable gift for using the everyday to illustrate what may be going on in dimensions beyond our feeble human perception. Just when we might be tempted to dismiss strings as grist for the publish-or-perish mill, Greene explains how they have demonstrated connections between mathematics and physics that have helped solve age-old conundrums in each field. This book will appeal to astronomy as well as math and physics fans because it probes the important insights string theory gives into hotly debated issues in cosmology. Later chapters require careful attention to Greene's explications, but the effort will prepare readers to follow the scientific advances likely to be made in the next millennium through application of string theory. Author tour.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B001P7GGRS
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ W. W. Norton & Company; 2nd ed. edition (January 8, 2009)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 8, 2009
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1579 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 447 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 4,010 ratings

About the author

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Brian Greene
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Brian Greene received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University and his doctorate from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes scholar. He is a professor of physics and mathematics at Columbia University and lives in New York City.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4,010 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book motivates the topic well, making string theory readily accessible and interesting. They also appreciate the remarkably clear explanations in terms that a lay reader should be able to follow. Overall, readers describe the book as interesting.

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220 customers mention "Readability"161 positive59 negative

Customers find the book remarkably clear, comprehensible, and approachable. They also say the logical flow is genius and the book is interesting.

"The first half of the book is a well-written refresher for the theory of relativity and the basics of quantum mechanics and does not require a Ph.D...." Read more

"...ability to simplify complex physical concepts with sensible and intuitive examples that meshes seamlessly with our notions of common sense; that too..." Read more

"...and provides a more intuitive basis...." Read more

"...This book, overall, is interesting...." Read more

216 customers mention "Content"191 positive25 negative

Customers find the book motivating this topic very well, intriguing, and a nice read. They appreciate the detailed notes and history of the topic. Readers also say the author does a great job explaining Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity and General Theory. They say the illustrations and narrative are captivating and page-turning. They also say he does evocative insights into historical discoveries.

"...from and connected to extended dimensions is exceptionally lucid and helpful, making us easy to grasp how 3 extended space dimensions we experience..." Read more

"...theory of relativity and the basics of quantum mechanics and does not require a Ph.D. in physics to understand...." Read more

"...Not only are the rhetoric superb and visual examples highly intuitive, the author's tone is brimming with excitement and passion for the subject..." Read more

"...He read this one quickly and enjoyed it. (Reviews rate it as very interesting and he would agree.)" Read more

10 customers mention "Creativity"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book surprising, commendable, and very creative. They also say the effort of Brian Greene is fascinating and makes some of the out-there concepts understandable.

"...The ideas are certainly fascinating, especially when he postulates that eventually our universe might go as far as it can and start shrinking back..." Read more

"...Brian Green is whimsical and very creative.Thank you Amazon for the great books at fantastic prices you provide for the students...." Read more

"...Brian Greene's effort is fascinating and makes some of the "out-there" concepts understandable - plausible, even...." Read more

"...his involvement in physics to give us this view is both surprising and commendable...." Read more

Indispensable for understanding string theory
5 out of 5 stars

Indispensable for understanding string theory

This is an impressive work that explains the highly complex non-intuituve string theory in amazingly lucid clear writing style to the general public. Similar to many physics books  which survey classical theories for the readers, Greene offers his own elucidation on relative motion in special relativity and in  warped space in general relatvity that is even more detailed and clear than some physics text books. His transition of how String theory offers a solution to bridge general relatvity and quantum mechanics because of String theory's geometry to cope with quantum undulation at the microscopic scale is very intuitive and helpful. His explanations on how the 3 families of particles in Standard Theory are best explained by just variations of vibrating strings frequency and strength are also relatable and convincing.Greene's use of the garden hose universe to explain the curled up dimensions in string theory and how they are  hidden from and connected to extended dimensions is exceptionally lucid and helpful, making us easy to grasp how 3 extended space dimensions we experience are related to 6 curled up space dimensions, together with time making up 10 dimensions. The 9 dimensions don't just crumbled up in any shape but in a unique 6 dimensional Calabi-Yau shape derived from many researchers calculations. Hence, the universe is made up of the Calabi-Yau shape manifold in curled up 9 dimensional space configuration together with time. The final 11th dimension space is explained by the need of the two dimensional membranes in M theory which is used to resolve the dilemma of 5 version of string theory. Greene further explained that the five versions are just different depiction of string theory with three of which Type 1, Herotic O, and Herotic E being large/small radius duality equivalence of each other and with the rest of the two, Type IIA and Type IIB, having the same reciprocal dualiy. This whole 11 dimensional geometric scheme development is carefully and lucidly written with unmatched clarity over these connected concepts of Kaluza-Klein theory, Calabi-Yau, shapes and M theory.Though Greene does not use the actual equations from perturbation approach and Kaluza-Klein geometry of String theory to flesh out his explanations, it is still not easy to conceptually grasp the concepts of String Theory for anyone who does not have university level education in physics or mathematics. Greene actually warns his readers about the difficulty of the subject despite his best effort. It takes work to get through this work.Another feature I like in any physics books is the anecdote stories of the journey of the physicists doing research. Greene shared his stories of his journey in String theory. The separate research efforts on the mirror symmetry Calabi-Yau shapes for space tearing flop between Greene's group, to include Aspinfall and Morrison, while at Princeton, and Witten is an interesting story. Greene also included various stories of String theory second revolution in 1995.Overall, this book is a brilliantly clear introduction to string theory that is going to be a classic.
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Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2022
This is an impressive work that explains the highly complex non-intuituve string theory in amazingly lucid clear writing style to the general public. Similar to many physics books  which survey classical theories for the readers, Greene offers his own elucidation on relative motion in special relativity and in  warped space in general relatvity that is even more detailed and clear than some physics text books. His transition of how String theory offers a solution to bridge general relatvity and quantum mechanics because of String theory's geometry to cope with quantum undulation at the microscopic scale is very intuitive and helpful. His explanations on how the 3 families of particles in Standard Theory are best explained by just variations of vibrating strings frequency and strength are also relatable and convincing.

Greene's use of the garden hose universe to explain the curled up dimensions in string theory and how they are  hidden from and connected to extended dimensions is exceptionally lucid and helpful, making us easy to grasp how 3 extended space dimensions we experience are related to 6 curled up space dimensions, together with time making up 10 dimensions. The 9 dimensions don't just crumbled up in any shape but in a unique 6 dimensional Calabi-Yau shape derived from many researchers calculations. Hence, the universe is made up of the Calabi-Yau shape manifold in curled up 9 dimensional space configuration together with time. The final 11th dimension space is explained by the need of the two dimensional membranes in M theory which is used to resolve the dilemma of 5 version of string theory. Greene further explained that the five versions are just different depiction of string theory with three of which Type 1, Herotic O, and Herotic E being large/small radius duality equivalence of each other and with the rest of the two, Type IIA and Type IIB, having the same reciprocal dualiy. This whole 11 dimensional geometric scheme development is carefully and lucidly written with unmatched clarity over these connected concepts of Kaluza-Klein theory, Calabi-Yau, shapes and M theory.

Though Greene does not use the actual equations from perturbation approach and Kaluza-Klein geometry of String theory to flesh out his explanations, it is still not easy to conceptually grasp the concepts of String Theory for anyone who does not have university level education in physics or mathematics. Greene actually warns his readers about the difficulty of the subject despite his best effort. It takes work to get through this work.

Another feature I like in any physics books is the anecdote stories of the journey of the physicists doing research. Greene shared his stories of his journey in String theory. The separate research efforts on the mirror symmetry Calabi-Yau shapes for space tearing flop between Greene's group, to include Aspinfall and Morrison, while at Princeton, and Witten is an interesting story. Greene also included various stories of String theory second revolution in 1995.

Overall, this book is a brilliantly clear introduction to string theory that is going to be a classic.
Customer image
5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable for understanding string theory
Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2022
This is an impressive work that explains the highly complex non-intuituve string theory in amazingly lucid clear writing style to the general public. Similar to many physics books  which survey classical theories for the readers, Greene offers his own elucidation on relative motion in special relativity and in  warped space in general relatvity that is even more detailed and clear than some physics text books. His transition of how String theory offers a solution to bridge general relatvity and quantum mechanics because of String theory's geometry to cope with quantum undulation at the microscopic scale is very intuitive and helpful. His explanations on how the 3 families of particles in Standard Theory are best explained by just variations of vibrating strings frequency and strength are also relatable and convincing.

Greene's use of the garden hose universe to explain the curled up dimensions in string theory and how they are  hidden from and connected to extended dimensions is exceptionally lucid and helpful, making us easy to grasp how 3 extended space dimensions we experience are related to 6 curled up space dimensions, together with time making up 10 dimensions. The 9 dimensions don't just crumbled up in any shape but in a unique 6 dimensional Calabi-Yau shape derived from many researchers calculations. Hence, the universe is made up of the Calabi-Yau shape manifold in curled up 9 dimensional space configuration together with time. The final 11th dimension space is explained by the need of the two dimensional membranes in M theory which is used to resolve the dilemma of 5 version of string theory. Greene further explained that the five versions are just different depiction of string theory with three of which Type 1, Herotic O, and Herotic E being large/small radius duality equivalence of each other and with the rest of the two, Type IIA and Type IIB, having the same reciprocal dualiy. This whole 11 dimensional geometric scheme development is carefully and lucidly written with unmatched clarity over these connected concepts of Kaluza-Klein theory, Calabi-Yau, shapes and M theory.

Though Greene does not use the actual equations from perturbation approach and Kaluza-Klein geometry of String theory to flesh out his explanations, it is still not easy to conceptually grasp the concepts of String Theory for anyone who does not have university level education in physics or mathematics. Greene actually warns his readers about the difficulty of the subject despite his best effort. It takes work to get through this work.

Another feature I like in any physics books is the anecdote stories of the journey of the physicists doing research. Greene shared his stories of his journey in String theory. The separate research efforts on the mirror symmetry Calabi-Yau shapes for space tearing flop between Greene's group, to include Aspinfall and Morrison, while at Princeton, and Witten is an interesting story. Greene also included various stories of String theory second revolution in 1995.

Overall, this book is a brilliantly clear introduction to string theory that is going to be a classic.
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19 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2024
Brian Greene’s a great teacher, and part of me thinks that if we had anything like a working educational system in the USA we’d all be better equipped to appreciate the complexity of these ideas.

For example, though not specific to the book, I found it interesting that a common atheist’s question ‘who created God?’ was answered by special relativity in 1906. Space, time, and matter are all interchangeable, and before they were created there simply was no ‘time,’ just like there’s no more ‘north’ at the North Pole. And the fact that people still think of gravity as some invisible Newtonian force.

The ideas here remind me of high school calculus, where you can start with easily understandable concepts and rapidly progress to things that simply don’t make any common sense at all. But like Einstein once said, imagination is more important than knowledge.

Which is why I guess math is truly the language of science and the universe. And why it might make sense to read Einstein’s 80 pgs of special and general relativity next.

I’d be curious to see how these ideas are actually tested experimentally (with atom smashers, linear accelerators, etc), but I think that’s a topic for another book.
Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2024
The first half of the book is a well-written refresher for the theory of relativity and the basics of quantum mechanics and does not require a Ph.D. in physics to understand. The second half of the book is focused on string theory's history and evolution. The sections on string theory are conceptually demanding to understand and required several re-reads.

As other reviewers have stated, the book is worth reading just for the review of the relativity and quantum sections. Regarding the sections on string theory, it is unlikely that you will find a better description of this topic.
Customer image
4.0 out of 5 stars Elegant Universe is authored by one of the pioneers of Superstring theory
Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2024
The first half of the book is a well-written refresher for the theory of relativity and the basics of quantum mechanics and does not require a Ph.D. in physics to understand. The second half of the book is focused on string theory's history and evolution. The sections on string theory are conceptually demanding to understand and required several re-reads.

As other reviewers have stated, the book is worth reading just for the review of the relativity and quantum sections. Regarding the sections on string theory, it is unlikely that you will find a better description of this topic.
Images in this review
Customer image
Customer image

Top reviews from other countries

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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in Canada on April 26, 2024
My son enjoyed this book
carlos a m ciscato
5.0 out of 5 stars O Universo Elegante
Reviewed in Brazil on November 8, 2022
Muito bom. Leitura estimulante. Texto claro, levanta dúvidas acerca da visão atual, mas, ao mesmo tempo, mostra o valor das pesquisas e da elaboração de teorias acerca da estrutura do Universo. Recomendo também "Até o Fim do Tempo" onde o Autor discute a entropia com clareza para os não iniciados na Termodinâmica.
RR Waller
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 18, 2023
Written in 1999, I found this was not for the faint hearted, e.g. my background is the Arts with a life-long fascination with science. When necessary, it is illustrated with quality black-and-white diagrams which help. Brian Greene writes well and, as the title suggests, sees the Universe, not “just as” cut-and-dried science. The more he discovers/explains, the more he recognises the elegance. He writes with the clarity of Richard Dawkins, Jim al Khalili, Jacob Bronowski, appreciating the wonder, seeing the links.

The book is divided into five sections, then sub-divided:

1. Edge of Knowledge
2. Dilemma of Space, Time and Quanta
3. Cosmic Symphony
4. String Theory and Fabric of Spacetime
5. Unification in the Twentieth Century

For many, the first sections will be more comfortable reading, the latter being more challenging in which, on occasions, I felt like a twenty-first century Columbus, challenged all the way with new material and ideas. Space and Time in section two become Spacetime in section four and he ponders whether the fabric of the universe can be torn and, if so, what will result.

“Einstein’s general relativity says no, the fabric of space cannot tear. The equations of general relativity are firmly rooted in Riemannian geometry … the underlying mathematical formalism requires that the substrate of space is ‘smooth’ …” (P. 263) He then considers the results of irregularities, tears, dents and bumps, a universe in which Einstein’s theory breaks down and quantum physics facilitates this new understanding.

For non-physicists, be prepared to read sections more than one but be prepared also for the elegance to emerge as the brain fabric is stretched into new knowledge.

Well worth the effort to keep up with Mr Greene.
One person found this helpful
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Ash
5.0 out of 5 stars Great
Reviewed in India on October 12, 2023
Exquisitely written and explains the basics of string theory. Good packaging and the book got quality, and I'm in love with this elegant subtle cover page it got.
Edoardo Angeloni
5.0 out of 5 stars A great book of an important author.
Reviewed in Italy on December 31, 2021
The author talks about important facts of the general relativity. Next he has an approach to the mirror symmetry. It is interesting the words of Yau, who admits that by mathematical view, the mrror symmetry is only conjectural and probably also in error. It needs to aspect the job of Batyrev for an exact proof. Nevertheless it born several models about the physics of the strings. Greene explicates those arguments with a strong passion and a nice style.

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