Parallel Worlds: A Journey Through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the Future of the Cosmos |...

Parallel Worlds: A Journey Through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the Future of the Cosmos | Michio Kaku | A pleasure to read

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Parallel Worlds: A...

	Parallel Worlds: A Journey Through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the Future of the Cosmos Michio Kaku Anchor, 2006 - 448 pages average customer review:based on 57 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Best book I've read on the subject

I've read half a dozen books attempting to explain the essentials of cosmology, the big bang, quantum mechanics, string theory, dark energy, and other facinating, but horrendously difficult, concepts. Kaku does better at helping my feeble mind understand the origin, the composition, and the ultimate fate of the universe than any other author I have encountered. Moreover, this book is up-to-date -- published in 2005 -- and given recent developments in theory any book over about 5 years old will be a bit behind the times.

In Chapter One, Kaku summarizes in simplified form what he will discuss in the rest of the book -- and lo-and-behold I could understand it! He then gives a brief history of cosmology and delves into the development of cosmological thought. I stumbled through a lot of the material, but his writing and examples, often drawn from science fiction, were interesting, although not always comprehensible to me.

The most unique part of the book was his speculation that a near infinite number of different universes may exist in different dimensions and that someday, a billion or so years hence, we may learn to pass from one to another. In fact, as he points out, it may become necessary for the survival of the human race when our old star begins to burn out. Confirmed atheists may be offended by his frequent references to what sounds a lot like "God." His speculations on the nature of future civilizations, the possibilities of time travel, and man's search for the "theory of everything" were fascinating.

For the general reader who wants to take a tour of our universe -- its largest and smallest elements -- this is an excellent introduction.

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A pleasure to read

Serious, scientific, up-to-date, well-written, well-priced, easy-to-read, humorous at times, great writing style for a scientist. Worthy of your time, bookshelf space and money. Kaku digs in very deep without getting tiring or confusing. Highly highly recommended.

Serious Science

Michio Kaku presents the world of physics and cosmology in a way that casual science fans can appreciate. The primary theme of this book is the ultimate fate of the universe and whether intelligent life will be able to escape its fate. The most interesting theory he proposes is that intelligent beings will be able to escape a dying universe by traveling to a parallel universe which is at a younger stage. When you read this, you'll be really surprised to see that the world of physics is almost alien to the world of common sense. To give an example, string theory proposes that all matter in the universe is nothing but the vibration of strings or cosmic music. I really recommend this for those who would like to get some insight into the world of physics and cosmology, but don't want to burn too many brain cells with the mathematics of the field.

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Asking the Fundamental Question

Often times we find ourselves getting trapped in our own logic and in our own minds... much like Plato's story of the prisoners in the cave. There really can not possibly be any "minds", but just a mind. The number 1 barrier that face theoretical physicists today is the assumption that a universe was created for them to observe. Some of them know it deep heartidly but still choose a detached viewpoint. "I am here and I am observing the universe out there". Is that really a valid assumption? How can truth be brought to light through such a detached viewpoint of separation when the very definition of truth itself is that it is unchanging and whole.

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An infinity of worlds

There may come a time when you are at a bookstore and you see Parallel Worlds by Michio Kaku on the shelf. Will you buy it? Yes and no. In one set of universes you do, in another you don't. If you think you might be in one of that first set of realities, you will likely be reading a book that is entertaining and informative, though by no means perfect.

Parallel Worlds is divided into three general parts which move from solid facts to pure speculation. In the first section of the book, we get a good overview of the history of cosmology and see how the Big Bang theory developed and why it is firmly established as the best explanation of how the universe developed. The second section moves into the more theoretical realm of stings and branes; while these theories offer a good mathematical basis for the structure of matter, they have yet to be proven through observation (primarily because such observations are beyond our current technological abilities). The final part of the book deals with the possibilities of alternate universes, time travel, wormhole travel and the future development of civilization.

The first two parts are clearly written and make sense of often complex subjects. Cosmology and quantum mechanics explain the structure of things on completely different levels. With cosmology (and astronomy), we look at the super-large: star systems, galaxies, etc. and the theories of relativity. With quantum mechanics, we are in the subatomic realm. Usually, the two areas are completely separate so the theories don't conflict, but in extreme circumstances, they converge and problems develop. These circumstances include black holes and most significantly, the Big Bang itself. To deal with these conflicts, new theories have been developed, notably string theory. This is a theory that is (to say the least) rather complicated and often requires some very esoteric mathematics, but Kaku does a reasonable job at making it understandable.

The third section, more than anything shows, that Kaku has a not-so-secret desire to be a science fiction writer. His affection for the genre is obvious (based on his references to books and movies), and this section is often so speculative as to be borderline fiction itself. That is not necessarily bad, but it is a departure from earlier text.

I actually think the best readership for this book would be aspiring science fiction writers. For such an audience, Kaku provides a scientifically valid (if still unproven) set of ideas about parallel worlds and other concepts that can be used as a foundation for all sorts of stories. For others who have read similar books in the past (such as Brian Greene's The Elegant Universe or Timothy Ferris's The Whole Shebang), this book doesn't offer much that is new, but rather just presents familiar material in a simpler manner. If you haven't read those other books, however, this is a good introduction to this still-developing area of science.

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