Advanced
Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.
Title details for The Hidden Reality by Brian Greene - Available

The Hidden Reality

Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos

by Brian Greene
Brian Greene
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
1 of 1 copy available
From the best-selling author of The Elegant Universe and The Fabric of the Cosmos comes his most expansive and accessible book to date—a book that takes on the grandest question: Is ours the only universe?
There was a time when “universe” meant all there is. Everything. Yet, in recent years discoveries in physics and cosmology have led a number of scientists to conclude that our universe may be one among many. With crystal-clear prose and inspired use of analogy, Brian Greene shows how a range of different “multiverse” proposals emerges from theories developed to explain the most refined observations of both subatomic particles and the dark depths of space: a multiverse in which you have an infinite number of doppelgängers, each reading this sentence in a distant universe; a multiverse comprising a vast ocean of bubble universes, of which ours is but one; a multiverse that endlessly cycles through time, or one that might be hovering millimeters away yet remains invisible; another in which every possibility allowed by quantum physics is brought to life. Or, perhaps strangest of all, a multiverse made purely of math.
Greene, one of our foremost physicists and science writers, takes us on a captivating exploration of these parallel worlds and reveals how much of reality’s true nature may be deeply hidden within them. And, with his unrivaled ability to make the most challenging of material accessible and entertaining, Greene tackles the core question: How can fundamental science progress if great swaths of reality lie beyond our reach?
Sparked by Greene’s trademark wit and precision, The Hidden Reality is at once a far-reaching survey of cutting-edge physics and a remarkable journey to the very edge of reality—a journey grounded firmly in science and limited only by our imagination.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    January 25, 2011

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780307701879
      • File size: 397945 KB
      • Duration: 13:49:03

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      The author's narration proves to be an asset in this cutting-edge exploration of the deepest mysteries of the universe. Greene sounds as if he's accustomed to speaking into microphones, whether in the classroom or in the recording studio. He's always aware of the arc of his sentences in relation to the points he is making, and this awareness gives his paragraphs structure and continuity. Empathizing with the listener's awe at the workings of the universe, Greene never sounds condescending. In a rare moment, he even encourages listeners to skip ahead if concepts seem too complex. For those who stick with it, some very strange theories about multiple universes unfold. J.L. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from December 20, 2010
      "There was a time when ‘universe' meant ‘all there is,' " writes Greene, but soon we may have to redefine that word, along with our own meager understanding of the cosmos. A theoretical physicist and celebrated author, Greene offers intrepid readers another in-depth yet marvelously accessible look inside the perplexing world of modern theoretical physics and cosmology. Greene's book The Elegant Universe explained late 20th-century efforts to find a unified theory of everything, culminating with string theory. But string theory opened up a new can of worms, hinting at the possible existence of multiple universes and other strange entities. The possibility of other universes existing alongside our own like holes in "a gigantic block of Swiss cheese" seems more likely every day. Beginning with relativity theory, the Big Bang, and our expanding universe, Greene introduces first the mind-blowing multiplicity of forms those parallel universes might take, from patchwork quilts or stretchy "branes" to landscapes and holograms riddled with black holes. With his inspired analogies starring everyone from South Park's Eric Cartman to Ms. Pac-Man and a can of Pringles, Greene presents a lucid, intriguing, and triumphantly understandable state-of-the-art look at the universe. Illus.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Loading