Three Roads to Quantum Gravity

Lee Smolin highlights string theory as being the best theory for quantum gravity.However, loop quantum gravity theory is better, especially since it does not needmultiple dimensions--nor a fixed framework. Smolin does present a very cohesiveand lengthy explanation of string theory, which is why the title is somewhat misleading.

Perspective is useful even when problems and issues occur. Physics requires deep math and some mathematicians are physicists. Physics also requires direct observation and testing the role of the observer. The work to bring together concepts of math with concepts of physics and a few formula, then theories can be recognized. Every person who reads interacts with concepts all the time. Some people can read more and faster some people read as little as possible. In physics concepts seem to be universal and the grasp of those concepts varies from physicist to physicist this is an example of holographic principle. Observation of holographic principle is based on coherence of communicated physics. In math concepts are self organized out of innate characteristics of formula and data. The data is only as good as perception.

Lee Smolin indeed accomplishes the tasks of explaining the thermodynamics of the universe to the layman. This is something that I have only seen in this book. All other authors do not like to get entangled in the intrincacies of thermodynamics, even though thermodynamics is actually the science that allows to relate the macro and the micro. In this book you will get a much better idea of how thermodynamics plays such an important role in our universe.But Lee Smolin does not stops there. This is a book that also teaches us how the concepts of philosophy and social sciences, and the concepts of pure hard science are so closely related. In the wonderfully laymans vocabulary of physics, mathematics, thermodynamics and philosophy, Lee Smolin tells us about Plato and about Hawkins in the same context.We come to understand how the newtonian concept of the universe took us too far from the understanding of social sciences, and how after a journey through Einstein, science is slowly coming back to be closely related to the social sciences.We used to think that an observer should be independent, and we made every effort to accomplish that. However, to understand the universe, we can not be independent observers. We are inside!!! It is the same as in sociology or any other social science. We can not be independent observers and we have to accept it.We learn to understand that our universe is not a thing but a story that has to be told. The universe can only be explained by the logic of plurality; the logic of many logics. The logic of many dependent observers added together. We understand that nothing is absolute and everything is relational just as should be in social sciences.The view that Lee Smolin gives us about the task ahead for scientists searching for the unified theory of the Cosmos is a view that may finally eliminate the division of hard science and social sciences. It may also help develop new points of view in our view of our society.At the end, as incredible as it may seem, we are back to square one, we are somehow back to Plato's philosophy, but with the added value of a story of the Cosmos that Plato never dreamt of.Five Stars to this book that get us a step closer to understanding ourselves and our environment.

As a layperson (and closet science geek), I really appreciated the author's straightforward and mostly non-mathematical approach to a difficult and incomplete new theory about quantum gravity. It covers three approaches which include super strings and M theory and black hole thermodynamics, both of which I hadn't really looked into before. It was great fun and I really enjoyed reading this book!I found this work to be brilliant and very thought-provoking and would highly recommend it to anyone who may not be a physicist, but has some basic knowledge of science and would like to learn more about a fascinating subject!

Smolin's presentation of the three theories was so thought provoking for me that I realized that I wanted to learn more. I had majored in Physics 35 years ago so I had QM and SR under my belt but nothing more modern. One thing that I particualry liked about Smolin's presentation of the three theories currently being worked on - superstring theory, quantum loop theory and blackhole thermodynamics - was the balanced way he kept saying how all three undoubtedly would contribute to the ongoing progress rather than trying to say one has to be right to the exclusion of the other two - it's simply too early to tell. I've spent 2 years (with a tutor) studying QFT in order, hopefully, to be able to at least approach the mathematics behind these theories. I've just ordered a "First Course in String Theory" and realized that I had never written a review of Smolen's book to so-to-speak thank him so I now fill that gap.

Smolin is a poor and lazy writer.What is one to make of the statement "There is no time apart from change"? I do understand what he's getting at but, really, does that statement even make sense?Here's another example: "Time is described only in terms of change in the network of relationships that describes space". This statement is immediately followed by:"This means that it is absurd in general relativity to speak of a universe in which nothing happens". Oh really? - and why is that? Smolin can't bother himself to tell us.It's also absurd to write a popular science book with no empathy for the uninitiated reader, and yet that's exactly what Smolin has done here.I'll be seeking an alternative text.

I have a reliably measured IQ of 145, which was of absolutely use whatever in trying to grasp the arguments in this book.I have stared into bowls of alphabet soup that made more sense.Should be fun for a Physics / Mathematics geek!As a layman, useless!

This book describes the processes and some of the people behind the strands of research into the most recent developments in physics from the viewpoint of one of its most notable proponents. It's nature makes it heavy going on places, because the subject is dependent on the use of advanced mathematics in ways that defy easy explanation. A little more explanation of the jargon might help those unfamiliar with the subject.

I have read a good few books of this genre and came away with some understanding of the underlying concepts. However, this author seems to keep going round in circles describing the same thing. To me it seems that the editing is somewhat lacking.

Smolin is a reliable main-stream physicist whose works one can trust.The reason I've only given it 4 stars is because, even as a quantum physics undergraduate, I find his style sends me to sleep. In fact I keep his works by my bed for my insomnia.