» Warped Passages: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Universe's Hidden Dimensions

Warped Passages: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Universe's Hidden Dimensions Reviews

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Summary: Review of Warped Passages
Comment: Warped Passages: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Universe's Hidden Dimensions
As a physicist, I find most of the popularized literature, not really understandable by the general public. Often references are made to highly technical issues which layman think they understand, but don't really. I think that Prof. Randall's book goes a long way in writing an understandable book for the layman along with being well written.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Very clear, balanced intro to modern physics and its frontiers
Comment: I found Lisa Randall's "Warped Passages . . ." to be an extremely accessible book for the layperson because of its clarity and balanced emphasis on each of several competing and non-competing modern physics theories.

Each of the several layperson-friendly books on physics that I have read contains an introductory set of chapters on which the main premise of the particular book is based. In terms of understandability, some are fair, others are adequate, and others are quite good. For example, I found such chapters in Brian Greene's "The Elegant Universe" to be quite good. However, Lisa Randall's "Warped Passages . . ." contains exceptionally clear introductory chapters. This clarity not only demonstrates her command and understanding of these early parts of her book, it also effectively expresses her humility and implicit acknowledgment of the incompleteness of the various competing theories that make up her life work. This intellectual honesty lends credibility and therefore ease of understanding to her mode of expression. For example, unlike Brian Greene, who seems to prefer "string theory" and its progeny over all competing theories (for reasons which frustratingly fade away in inverse proportion to the number of pages in his book), Lisa Randall takes a comprehensive and perhaps therefore a more objective approach to each theory she discusses.

The history of modern physics from the late 19th century through today is replete with partial "sub-theories," each of which form the foundations (and limitations) of quantum mechanics and the theories of relativity. If such history is to be any guide, Lisa Randall's "weigh and consider several theory" approach to explain the nature of space, time, energy, and matter is not only sound, but necessary, not only to diversify intellectual and fiscal resources in an economic sense, but also to build the most scientifically robust model possible.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: A waste
Comment: Very disappointing. Poorly written. I wanted a detailed explanation of the new thoughts in physics and got a droll tedious lecture on physics. It was painful to plod through the entire book.

Don't ...

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Four reasons to purchase
Comment: Lisa Randall is a theoretician working at the front line of modern physics, and this book essentially covers, without maths (an extraordinary achievement) Randall's path.

The book starts with a coverage of relativity and quantum mechanics, each in small chapters, explains the role of symmetry and why it is important, and proceeds to the standard model of particle physics. That path is probably common to all physicists, and Randall shows in its simplest form, the standard model is not without problems, e.g. the difference between prediction and observation can exceed by many orders of magnitude the number of elementary particles in the known universe. Fixes are required, and the path then proceeds through supersymmetry, the Higgs particle, and on to multidimensional physics. The absence of maths makes the book eerily readable, but it may also lead to a little uncertainty in interpretation. However, for the non-physicist, this book may offer the only credible way of finding out what this journey involves. That is the first reason to buy the book.

The second reason is that it shows how Randall goes about things; this is one of the very few books in which a leading scientist shows some of their own thought patterns, free of pompous self-justification. It is worth it almost for that reason alone.

The third reason is that it shows how "brittle" the standard model is. The way Randall puts it, there is very little "wriggle-room" there. In my opinion, there is a very good chance that much of this will eventually be regarded as "quaint", and may be an interesting historical account of a theory that went wrong, and readers will comment about what physicists should have doubted.

However, the fourth reason is perhaps the best. In a few hours after writing this, the Large Hadron Collider will be switched on. Assuming it works, various statements will come out, and if you follow this book, you should be able to appreciate, at least qualitatively, what it all means. Thus if, as I suspect, new much heavier mesons are found, then much of the standard model will fall. Alternatively, if the Higgs is found where it is supposed to be and what I suspect will turn up doesn't, then the reader will gratefully realize they understand nature, at least to a point. This book is one of the very few guides available.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Why I was interested in science in the first place
Comment: From the moment I first saw this book I was intrigued. I have followed developments in high energy physics only occasionally since I graduated 10 years ago. After picking up Dr. Randall's book I started feeling that excitement for science that led me to physics in the first place.

Warped Passages is written in a very accessible style, with many analogies attempting to clarify complex and non-intuitive concepts. My favorite was an explanation of the strong nuclear force using events from the Trojan War. While a reader with no background in physics or mathematics will be able to follow the topics presented, exposure to these sciences exponentially increases the amount of information conveyed.

The chronological presentation of particle physics history provides a background that is difficult to get otherwise. The inclusion of anecdotes and quotes from the scientists involved with the history is one of the things that makes Warped Passages so readable. This book stands out in that it not only conveys an intuitive understanding of the material, but actually delves into detail about the science. The book is clearly timed well to help build awareness and excitement as the Large Hadron Collider approaches full operation. Readers will likely be much more interested in the events unfolding at the LHC after gaining a deeper understanding of what is being sought.

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