Theories of Everything: The Quest for Ultimate Explanation

This book by John D. Barrows is a modern classic about the search for Grand Unified Theories.

Posted by Tormod Guldvog
22 October, 2000 07:03:14

John D. Barrow is an exceptional writer. Not only because he writes about very difficult and deeply intriguing concepts, but also because he has a pedagogic perspective in his writings that make readers feel like it is they who make the discoveries.

And what a discovery - the ultimate theory! Throughout history, scientists, religious leaders and philosophers have proposed numerous world views which have sought to explain everything we can see around us. A theory of everything would have to explain why matter exists, how it interacts, why birds fly, why humans have consciousness, among a very long list of other things. In 'Theories of Everything', John D. Barrows seeks to explain that although we may seem to have a Theory of Everything within our reach, nothing is farther from the truth.

Mr Barrows writes mostly about physics and cosmology. Topics discussed in the book range from the arrow of time to cosmic symmetries, and touches on many old and new wonders and problems of physics. The book certainly shows that while it is 'easy' to contemplate that there must be a theory of everything, we do not currently have neither the technology nor the insight to understand what it should consist of. And this is fairly simple to understand, because we can�t even come to terms with some of the very fundamental ideas, like 'was the world created by someone?' or 'did matter arise from nothing?'

It all boils down to this: If there is a Theory of Everything, we must look beyond all knowledge we have as human beings. We are built in a way which makes us seek cause-and-effect states, a continuous arrow of time, and which makes us believe that there was a 'before' and an 'after' our own universe. By applying religion, philosophy and common sense to the observations we make, we actually remove ourselves from the sources of the truth and create our own framework of physical laws.

Although this reviewer has a personal gut feeling (or, perhaps, childish dream), which says that it is indeed plausible that we may one day find a Theory of Everything, this book is an excellent discourse on why we will not. Mr Barrow takes us for a ride through a number of different approaches for the "quest for ultimate explanations", as the book cover says. It is an enjoyable and enlightening book, which will make you see things in a completely new perspective.