The author is not a reporter or science popularizer, but rather one of the leading theorists. If what she presents is an accurate account of recent developments (and I have no reason to doubt that it is), she deserves a Nobel Prize.
Unfortunately, while she seems to try hard to make her book readable and to make the concepts accessible to the non-professional, the narrative becomes increasingly difficult to follow. A typical passage from the second half of the book: "This meant, paradoxically, that you could use perturbation theory to study the original strongly interacting, ten-dimensional superstring theory. You would not use perturbation theory in the strongly interacting string theory itself, but in a superficailly entirely different theory: weakly itneracting, eleven-dimensional supergravity. This remarkable result, which Paul Townsend of Cambridge University had perviously also observed, meant that despite their different packaging, at low engergies, ten-dimensional superstring theory and eleven-dimensional supergravity were in fact the same theory. Or, as physicists would say, they were dual." What?????
It's like trying to read a book in a language you don't know. Somehow I managed to look at all the words, but I don't feel that I really "read" the book. And I could probably look at all those words several more times without understanding any more of it. So I come away impressed at the author's knowledge and accomplishments and creative enthusiasm, but totally frustrated. I simply have no idea what she is talking about. If only I could find a book that unravels the mysteries of this book...
You can buy this book at Amazon.com, The
History of the Siege of Lisbon
Other book reviews
by Richard Seltzer
Published by B&R Samizdat Express, PO Box 320-161, West Roxbury,
MA 02132-002. 617-469-2269 seltzer@samizdat.com
Can we help you build an Internet business? Richard Seltzer is an
independent Internet writer/speaker/consultant. Click
here for details.
Opus authors -- contemporary
writers whose entire work is great
The Readers' Corner
and Writers Showcase
Return to B&R Samizdat Express
Sitemap with links to
every page at this site.
American Literature CD
-- over 380 books on a single CD that sells for $29
World Literature
CD -- over 470 books, including both English translations and originals,
when available, on a single CD that sells for $29
British Literature
CD -- over 720 books on a single CD that sells for $29.
Children's Book CD --
over 200 books on a single CD that sells for $29
List of recent updates
to other book CDs from Seedy Press.
| Internet Business Showcase: | |||
Dog Training and Pet Care Veterinary, Dog/Cat Veterinarians |
Viatical Settlements RFID Tags, RFID Readers Link Popularity & Link Exchanges |
Hair Restoration for Hair Loss Hair Restoration Plastic Surgery & Surgeons |
Used Cars Guide Homecoming & Prom Dresses Dropship & Wholesale Sources |