The Trouble with Physics

In this groundbreaking book, the renowned theoretical physicist Lee Smolin argues that physics - the basis for all other science - has lost its way. The problem is string theory, an ambitious attempt to formulate 'a theory of everything' that explains all the forces and particles of nature and how the universe came to be. With Its exotic new particles and parallel universes, string theory has captured the public 's imagination and seduced many physicists. But, as Smolin reveals, there's a deep flaw in the theory: no part of it has been proven, and no one knows how to prove it. As a scientific theory, it has been a colossal failure. And because it has soaked up the lion's share of funding, attracted some of the best minds, and penalized young physicists for pursuing other avenues, it is dragging the rest of physics down with it. Articulate, passionate and authoritative, Smolin charts the rise and fall of string theory and takes a fascinating look at what will replace it.