Lost in math : how beauty leads physics astray

9780465094257

First edition

xi, 291 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm

Includes bibliographical references (pages 249-275) and index

Preface
The hidden rules of physics : in which I realize I don't understand physics anymore. I talk to friends and colleagues, see I'm not the only one confused, and set out to bring reason back to Earth
What a wonderful world : in which I read a lot of books about dead people and find that everyone likes pretty ideas but that pretty ideas sometimes work badly. At a conference I begin to worry that physicists are about to discard the scientific method
The state of the union : in which I sum up ten years of education in twenty pages and chat about the glory days of particle physics
Cracks in the foundations : in which I meet with Nima Arkani-Hamed and do my best to accept that nature isn't natural, everything we learn is awesome, and that nobody gives a fuck what I think
Ideal theories : in which I search for the end of science but find that the imagination of theoretical physicists is endless. I fly to Austin, I let Steven Weinberg talk at me, and realize how much we do just to avoid boredom
The incomprehensible comprehensibility of quantum mechanics : in which I ponder the difference between math and magic
One to rule them all : in which I try to find out if anyone would care about the laws of nature if they weren't beautiful. I stop off in Arizona, where Frank Wilczek tells me his little Theory of Something, then I fly to Maui and listen to Garrett Lisi. I learn some ugly facts and count physicists
Space, the final frontier : in which I try to understand a string theorist and almost succeed
The universe, all there is, and the rest : in which I admire the many ways to explain why nobody sees the particles we invent
Knowledge is power : in which I conclude the world would be a better place if everyone listened to me
Appendix A. The standard model particles
Appendix B. The trouble with naturalness
Appendix C. What you can do to help

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