The elegant universe

It is sometimes said that the act of exploring is not so much one of seeking new landscapes, but of seeing with new eyes. Readers who look at the universe through the eyes created by string theory will find that the view is breathtaking.
One of the most ambitious theories ever proposed, string theory is the key to the unified field theory that “eluded” Einstein for more than thirty years. Now, science has overcome the nearly one-hundred-year divergence between the laws of the very large – general relativity – and the laws of the very small – quantum mechanics. String theory deftly unifies these two pillars of modern physics in a uniquely harmonious way by proclaiming that all the wonders that occur in the universe arise from the vibrations of a simple entity: microscopic loops of energy inscribed deep within the heart of matter.
In this admirable book, Brian Greene recounts the scientific story and human struggle behind the quest for this ultimate theory. Revolutionary and exciting ideas such as new dimensions hidden in the fabric of space, black holes that transform into elementary particles, cuts and holes in the space-time continuum, giant universes that swap with tiny ones, and a whole variety of other aspects that play an essential role in understanding some of the most profound questions of all time.
With authority and charm, through the use of metaphor and analogy, Brian Greene succeeds in making some of the most sophisticated concepts ever thought accessible, bringing us closer than ever to understanding how the universe works.