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The Number of the Heavens: A History of the Multiverse and the Quest to Understand the Cosmos Hardcover – Illustrated, September 17, 2019

by Tom Siegfried (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 34 ratings
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The award-winning former editor of Science News shows that one of the most fascinating and controversial ideas in contemporary cosmology―the existence of multiple parallel universes―has a long and divisive history that continues to this day.

We often consider the universe to encompass everything that exists, but some scientists have come to believe that the vast, expanding universe we inhabit may be just one of many. The totality of those parallel universes, still for some the stuff of science fiction, has come to be known as the multiverse.

The concept of the multiverse, exotic as it may be, isn’t actually new. In The Number of the Heavens, veteran science journalist Tom Siegfried traces the history of this controversial idea from antiquity to the present. Ancient Greek philosophers first raised the possibility of multiple universes, but Aristotle insisted on one and only one cosmos. Then in 1277 the bishop of Paris declared it heresy to teach that God could not create as many universes as he pleased, unleashing fervent philosophical debate about whether there might exist a “plurality of worlds.”

As the Middle Ages gave way to the Renaissance, the philosophical debates became more scientific. René Descartes declared “the number of the heavens” to be indefinitely large, and as notions of the known universe expanded from our solar system to our galaxy, the debate about its multiplicity was repeatedly recast. In the 1980s, new theories about the big bang reignited interest in the multiverse. Today the controversy continues, as cosmologists and physicists explore the possibility of many big bangs, extra dimensions of space, and a set of branching, parallel universes. This engrossing story offers deep lessons about the nature of science and the quest to understand the universe.

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  1. Print length
    352 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Harvard University Press
  4. Publication date
    September 17, 2019
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    067497588X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0674975880
  8. See all details
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4.7 out of 5 stars
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Q. Rowe
    5.0 out of 5 stars A pleasant surpise, well researched, brings it all togther.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Having been first introduced to the multiverse concept via Max Tegmark many years ago, it came as a pleasant surprise to find this was not a new concept, and that so many other heavy hitting scientists have found they need take the idea seriously.

    I have always found the arguments against a multiverse mostly absurd, in the sense they tend to appeal to our moral sensibilities. Seigfried presents a history of the players, their arguments for & against, along with the context of the times they sprang from and the politics they chaffed against. Ultimately, he concludes that not much has changed.

    He even adds his own insights, showing that if we view the deeper fundamental questions still plaguing science from a singular rather than multiple stance, this can ultimately preordain the way we do the science that follows.

    Provocative and insightful.
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  • shawn mesaros
    5.0 out of 5 stars Galactic
    Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Mark Twon explains the Multiverse
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  • Harry Needleman
    5.0 out of 5 stars Complex Subject Simplified
    Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2023
    Siegfried walks the reader through the perceptions of astronomy from the Greeks through current research. He breaks down complex subjects, although once the book reaches the 1940s, as a general reader, the science concepts was somewhat difficult to follow.

    Overall a great work and highly recommended.
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  • RCA van Dijk
    3.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive but not objective
    Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    The book gives a nice overview of the history of mankind’s view on the cosmos and tries to find parallels between views in different times. In this respect it is certainly worthwhile to read, although some parts have a little bit too many repetitions to my liking.
    This being a book about science I expected a balanced and unprejudiced discussion of different scientific viewpoints. In this respect the book disappointed. Scientists who do not support the concept of a multiverse are characterized as ‘multiverse deniers’, a peculiar choice of words with a negative connotation. Besides that, more than once the multiverse is claimed to be able to explain certain aspects of reality such as the value of certain fundamental constants. While in fact a multiverse has an explanatory power identical to zero (since it can predict all possible values).
    All in all I do recommend the book.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Patrick McDonald
    4.0 out of 5 stars Really sparks the imagination!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Easy Read even for us lay people.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Michael Murphy
    3.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't finish it.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2023
    I made it 25% on Kindle but couldn't finish it. The timeline wasn't there. I felt like I was reading the same chapter over and over. Oresme and the void and blah. It's very comprehensive but I felt I was never gaining ground. We just kept going back in time to hear someone argue the same thing over and over. I'm sure it gets better but it felt like deja vu to me.
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  • Dennis Lynch
    5.0 out of 5 stars BETTER THAN I EXPECTED!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I looked forward to reading this book because I find the idea of multiverses mind-expanding (and fun!), and because I respected Siegfried for his long tenure as Editor of Science News. I am pleased to say that the book has more than met my expectations. The writing is scientifically accurate as well as smooth and journalistic. His research is extensive and well-documented. He knows his stuff and can convey it well. His deep historical approach is valuable and engrossing. I wonder how the possible disappearance of "black energy" will affect the next edition. And thanks for giving some credit to Milton Hummason as well as to Hubble!
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Jochen Herzhoff
    3.0 out of 5 stars Ambivalent impressions
    Reviewed in Germany on June 17, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    My personal assessment of the book is somehow ambivalent. I found the parts dealing with modern science interesting and well written. The professional experience of the author and the interviews with leading scientist in the field are condensed to a good and inspiring read. On the other hand I found the parts dealing with medieval philosophy convoluted and repetitive.
    Jochen Herzhoff
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  • David
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cosmology and the multiverse.
    Reviewed in Australia on May 2, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    A clearly written book on the latest thinking about multiverses.
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