Preface
1 What Is Reality?
Not What It Seems • What’s the Ultimate Question? • The Journey
Begins
Part One: Zooming Out
2 Our Place in Space
Cosmic Questions • How Big Is Space? • The Size of Earth • Distance
to the Moon • Distance to the Sun and the Planets • Distance to the
Stars • Distance to the Galaxies • What Is Space?
3 Our Place in Time
Where Did Our Solar System Come From? • Where Did the
Galaxies Come From? • Where Did the Mysterious Microwaves
Come From? • Where Did the Atoms Come From?
4 Our Universe by Numbers
Wanted: Precision Cosmology • Precision Microwave-Background
Fluctuations • Precision Galaxy Clustering • The Ultimate Map of
Our Universe • Where Did Our Big Bang Come From?
5 Our Cosmic Origins
What’s Wrong with Our Big Bang? • How Inflation Works • The Gift
That Keeps on Giving • Eternal Inflation
6 Welcome to the Multiverse
The Level I Multiverse • The Level II Multiverse • Multiverse
Halftime Roundup
Part Two: Zooming In
7 Cosmic Legos
Atomic Legos • Nuclear Legos • Particle-Physics Legos •
Mathematical Legos • Photon Legos • Above the Law? • Quanta and
Rainbows • Making Waves • Quantum Weirdness • The Collapse of
Consensus • The Weirdness Can’t Be Confined • Quantum Confusion
8 The Level III Multiverse
The Level III Multiverse • The Illusion of Randomness • Quantum
Censorship • The Joys of Getting Scooped • Why Your Brain Isn’t a
Quantum Computer • Subject, Object and Environment • Quantum
Suicide • Quantum Immortality? • Multiverses Unified • Shifting
Views: Many Worlds or Many Words?
Part Three: Stepping Back
9 Internal Reality, External Reality and Consensus Reality
External Reality and Internal Reality • The Truth, the Whole Truth
and Nothing but the Truth • Consensus Reality • Physics: Linking
External to Consensus Reality
10 Physical Reality and Mathematical Reality
Math, Math Everywhere! • The Mathematical Universe Hypothesis •
What Is a Mathematical Structure?
11 Is Time an Illusion?
How Can Physical Reality Be Mathematical? • What Are You? • Where
Are You? (And What Do You Perceive?) • When Are You?
12 The Level IV Multiverse
Why I Believe in the Level IV Multiverse • Exploring the Level IV
Multiverse: What’s Out There? • Implications of the Level IV
Multiverse • Are We Living in a Simulation? • Relation Between the
MUH, the Level IV Multiverse and Other Hypotheses •Testing the
Level IV Multiverse
13 Life, Our Universe and Everything
How Big Is Our Physical Reality? • The Future of Physics • The
Future of Our Universe—How Will It End? • The Future of Life •The
Future of You—Are You Insignificant?
Acknowledgments
Suggestions for Further Reading
Index
Max Tegmark is author or coauthor of more than two hundred technical papers, twelve of which have been cited more than five hundred times. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, and is a physics professor at MIT.
“This is science writing at its best—dynamic, dramatic and
accessible. . . . Our Mathematical Universe is nothing if not
impressive. Brilliantly argued and beautifully written, it is
never less than thought-provoking about the greatest mysteries
of our existence.” —Amir Alexander, The New York Times
“Cosmologist Max Tegmark has written an engaging and
accessible book, Our Mathematical Universe, that grapples with this
multiverse scenario. He aims initially at the
scientifically literate public, but seeks to take us to—and,
indeed, beyond—the frontiers of accepted knowledge. . . . This
is a valuable book, written in a deceptively simple style but not
afraid to make significant demands on its readers, especially
once the multiverse level gets turned up to four. It is impressive
how far Tegmark can carry you until, like a cartoon character
running off a cliff, you wonder whether there is anything holding
you up.” —Andrew Liddle, Nature
“Our Mathematical Universe is a fascinating and well-executed
dramatic argument from a talented expositor.” —Peter Woit, The
Wall Street Journal
"An informative survey of exciting recent developments in
astrophysics and quantum theory [...] Tegmark participated in some
of these pioneering developments, and he enlivens his story
with personal anecdotes. [...] Tegmark does an excellent job
explaining this and other puzzles in a way accessible to
nonspecialists. Packed with clever metaphors” —Edward Frenkel, The
New York Times Sunday Book Review
“The book is an excellent guide to recent developments in quantum
cosmology and the ongoing debate over theories of
parallel universes. . . . Perhaps this book is proof that the
two personalities needed for science—the speculative and
sceptic—can readily exist in one individual.” —Mark
Buchanan, New Scientist
“Our Mathematical Universe boldly confronts one of the
deepest questions at the fertile interface of physics and
philosophy: why is mathematics so spectacularly successful at
describing the cosmos? Through lively writing and wonderfully
accessible explanations, Max Tegmark—one of the world’s leading
theoretical physicists—guides the reader to a possible answer, and
reveals how, if it’s right, our understanding of reality itself
would be radically altered.” —Brian Greene, physicist, author
of The Elegant Universe and The Hidden Reality
“Daring, Radical. Innovative. A game changer. If Dr. Tegmark is
correct, this represents a paradigm shift in the relationship
between physics and mathematics, forcing us to rewrite our
textbooks. A must read for anyone deeply concerned about our
universe.” —Michio Kaku, author of Physics of the
Future
“Tegmark offers a fresh and fascinating perspective on the fabric
of physical reality and life itself. He helps us see ourselves in a
cosmic context that highlights the grand opportunities for the
future of life in our universe.” —Ray Kurzweil, author
of The Singularity is Near
"Our Mathematical Universe is a delightful book in which the
Swedish-born author, now at MIT, takes readers on a roller
coaster ride through cosmology, quantum mechanics, parallel
universes, sub-atomic particles and the future of humanity. It
is quite an adventure with many time-outs along the way. . . .
Our Mathematical Universe gives keen insight into someone who
asks questions for the pure joy of answering them." —Stephen
Hirtle, The Pittsburg Post-Gazette
“Readers of varied backgrounds will enjoy this book. Almost anyone
will find something to learn here, much to ponder, and perhaps
something to disagree with.” —Prof. Edward Witten, physicist,
Fields Medalist & Milner Laureate
“This inspirational book written by a true expert presents an
explosive mixture of physics, mathematics and philosophy which may
alter your views on reality.” —Prof. Andrei Linde, physicist,
Gruber & Milner Laureate for development of inflationary
cosmology
“Galileo famously said that the universe is written in the language
of mathematics. Now Max Tegmark says that the universe IS
mathematics. You don’t have to necessarily agree, to enjoy this
fascinating journey into the nature of reality.” —Prof. Mario
Livio, astrophysicist, author of Brilliant
Blunders and Is God a Mathematician?
“Scientists and lay aficionados alike will find Tegmark’s book
packed with information and very thought provoking. You may recoil
from his thesis, but nearly every page will make you wish you could
debate the issues face-to-face with him.” —Prof. Julian Barbour,
physicist, author of The End of Time
“In Our Mathematical Universe, renowned cosmologist Max Tegmark
takes us on a whirlwind tour of the universe, past, present—and
other. With lucid language and clear examples, Tegmark
provides us with the master measure of not only of our cosmos, but
of all possible universes. The universe may be lonely, but it
is not alone.” —Prof. Seth Lloyd, Professor of quantum mechanical
engineering, MIT, author of Programming the Universe
“A lucid, engaging account of the various many-universes theories
of fundamental physics that are currently being considered, from
the multiverse of quantum theory to Tegmark’s own grand vision.”
—Prof. David Deutsch, physicist, Dirac Laureate for pioneering
quantum computing
“Tegmark offers a fascinating exploration of multiverse theories,
each one offering new ways to explain ‘quantum weirdness’ and other
mysteries that have plagued physicists, culminating in the idea
that our physical world is ‘a giant mathematical object’ shaped by
geometry and symmetry. Tegmark’s writing is lucid, enthusiastic,
and outright entertaining, a thoroughly accessible discussion
leavened with anecdotes and the pure joy of a scientist at
work.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Lively and lucid, the narrative invites general readers into
debates over computer models for brain function, over scientific
explanations of consciousness, and over prospects for finding
advanced life in other galaxies. Though he reflects soberly on the
perils of nuclear war and of hostile artificial intelligence,
Tegmark concludes with a bracingly upbeat call for scientifically
minded activists who recognize a rare opportunity to make our
special planet a force for cosmic progress. An exhilarating
adventure for bold readers.” —Bryce
Cristensen, Booklist (starred review)
“Max Tegmark is a professor of physics at MIT and a leading
expert on theories of the Universe. But he’s also arguably the
nearest we have to a successor to Richard Feynman, the
bongo-playing, wise-cracking physicist who proved it is possible to
be smart, savvy and subversive at the same time. […] now
`Mad Max’ has been given the freedom of an entire book. And he
hasn't wasted it. Around half of it is a lucid tour d'horizon
of what we know about the Universe. The rest is an exhilarating
expedition far beyond conventional thinking, in search of the
true meaning of reality. Don't be fooled: Tegmark is a very
smart physicist, not a hand-waving philosopher, so the going gets
tough in parts. But his insights and conclusions are
staggering—and perhaps even crazy enough to be true.” —Robert
Matthews, BBC Focus magazine
“Just a few years ago, the idea of multiple universes was seen
as a crackpot idea, not even on the margins of respectability. . .
. But now, thanks in large part to Tegmark and his pursuit of
controversial ideas, the concept of multiple universes (or a
multiverse) is considered likely by many experts in the field. . .
. Tegmark's clear, engaging prose style can take you down these
exciting and unexpected pathways of thought without making you
feel lost. . . . In Our Mathematical Universe, we meet a
revolutionary cosmology physicist who is hell bent on figuring
out if that theory is true, how to prove it, how to use it, and
what it means for the world as we know it.” —Nathan
Gelgud, Biographile Nathan Gelgud, Biographile
“Today multiple universes are scientifically respectable,
thanks to the work of Tegmark as much as anyone. [...] Physics
could do with more characters like Tegmark. He combines
an imaginative intellect and a charismatic presence with a
determination to promote his subject [...] enough will be
comprehensible for non-scientific readers to enjoy an amazing
ride through the rich landscape of contemporary cosmology. There
are many interesting diversions from the main argument, from
an assessment of threats to human civilisation (such as a 30 per
cent risk of nuclear war) to the chance of intelligent life
elsewhere in our galaxy (lower than astrobiologists like to
think). Written in a lively and slightly quirky style, it should
engage any reader interested in the infinite variety of
nature.” —Clive Cookson, Financial Times
"In Our Mathematical Universe, Max Tegmark—a distinguished
cosmologist—gives a lucid rundown of the current state of
knowledge on the origin, present state, and fate of the
universe(s). [...] It is immensely illuminating on the reach
of current cosmological theories. [...] From time to time, Tegmark
engagingly admits that such ideas sound like nonsense, but he
makes the crucial point that if a theory makes good predictions you
have to follow all of the consequences. [...] His concluding
chapter on the risks humanity faces is wise and bracing:
he believes we "are alone in our Universe" but are capable of
tackling terrible threats from cosmic accidents, or self-induced
nuclear or climatic catastrophes. He doesn’t cite poets but his
philosophy adds up to an updated 21st-century version of Thomas
Hardy's 'If way to the better there be, it exacts a full look at
the worst.'" —Peter Forbes, The Independent
“[M]ind-bending book about the cosmos. . . . Tegmark's achievement
is to explain what on earth he is talking about in language
any reasonably attentive reader will understand. He is a professor
at MIT, and clearly a fine teacher as well as thinker. He
tackles the big, interrelated questions of cosmology and subatomic
physics much more intelligibly than, say, Stephen
Hawking." —Giles Whittell, The Times
"Max Tegmark's doorstopper of a book takes aim at three great
puzzles: how large is reality? What is everything made of? Why
is our universe the way it is? Tegmark, a professor of physics at
MIT, writes at the cutting edge of cosmology and quantum
theory in friendly and relaxed prose, full of entertaining
anecdotes and down-to-earth analogies." —Brian
Rotman, The Guardian
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