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Theories of Everything: The Quest for Ultimate Explanation
In books such as The World Within the World and The Anthropic Cosmological Principle , astronomer John Barrow has emerged as a leading writer on our efforts to understand the universe. Timothy Ferris, writing in The Times Literary Supplement of London, described him as "a temperate and
accomplished humanist, scientist, and philosopher of science--a man out to make a contribution, not a show." Now Barrow offers the general reader another fascinating look at modern physics, as he explores the quest for a single, unifying theory that will unlock nature's secrets.
Theories of Everything is more than a history of science, more than a popular report on recent research and discoveries. Barrow provides a reflective, intelligent commentary on what a true Theory of Everything would be--its ingredients, its limitations, and what it could tell us about the
universe. Never before, he writes, have physicists been so confident and so eager in the hunt for this "cosmic Rosetta Stone," as he calls "a single all-embracing picture of all the laws of nature from which the inevitability of all things seen must follow with unimpeachable logic." He lays
out eight essential ingredients for a Theory of Everything and then explores each in turn, tracing how our knowledge has developed and how scientific discovery relates to our changing philosophy and religious thought in each area. Some of these ingredients are obvious--the laws of nature must be
explained, for example, as well as its organizing principles--but others may be surprising, such as broken symmetries and selection biases. A Theory of Everything must account for the fact that the universe is "messy and complicated," he tells us, and for the limitations imposed by the questions we
ask and the information we can obtain. The key lies in the remarkable capacity of mathematics to express the fundamental workings of the physical world--a language that the human mind is uniquely equipped to understand and manipulate. Barrow examines what mathematics actually is and describes how
it makes the universe intelligible and provides a path to the underlying coherence in nature--which has led, in fact, to arguments that the universe itself is a vast computer. Yet even the most complete theory, even the most comprehensive mathematical explanation, cannot account for the
uncomputable varieties of human experience and thought. "No non-poetic account of reality," he writes, "can be complete."
In a field where the authorities converse in equations and mathematical notations, John Barrow speaks with the voice of thoughtful and knowledgeable humanist. Written with eloquence and expertise, Theories of Everything establishes a new perspective on humanity's efforts to explain the
universe.
accomplished humanist, scientist, and philosopher of science--a man out to make a contribution, not a show." Now Barrow offers the general reader another fascinating look at modern physics, as he explores the quest for a single, unifying theory that will unlock nature's secrets.
Theories of Everything is more than a history of science, more than a popular report on recent research and discoveries. Barrow provides a reflective, intelligent commentary on what a true Theory of Everything would be--its ingredients, its limitations, and what it could tell us about the
universe. Never before, he writes, have physicists been so confident and so eager in the hunt for this "cosmic Rosetta Stone," as he calls "a single all-embracing picture of all the laws of nature from which the inevitability of all things seen must follow with unimpeachable logic." He lays
out eight essential ingredients for a Theory of Everything and then explores each in turn, tracing how our knowledge has developed and how scientific discovery relates to our changing philosophy and religious thought in each area. Some of these ingredients are obvious--the laws of nature must be
explained, for example, as well as its organizing principles--but others may be surprising, such as broken symmetries and selection biases. A Theory of Everything must account for the fact that the universe is "messy and complicated," he tells us, and for the limitations imposed by the questions we
ask and the information we can obtain. The key lies in the remarkable capacity of mathematics to express the fundamental workings of the physical world--a language that the human mind is uniquely equipped to understand and manipulate. Barrow examines what mathematics actually is and describes how
it makes the universe intelligible and provides a path to the underlying coherence in nature--which has led, in fact, to arguments that the universe itself is a vast computer. Yet even the most complete theory, even the most comprehensive mathematical explanation, cannot account for the
uncomputable varieties of human experience and thought. "No non-poetic account of reality," he writes, "can be complete."
In a field where the authorities converse in equations and mathematical notations, John Barrow speaks with the voice of thoughtful and knowledgeable humanist. Written with eloquence and expertise, Theories of Everything establishes a new perspective on humanity's efforts to explain the
universe.
234 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1991
21 people are currently reading
225 people want to read
About the author
John D. Barrow
89 books166 followersJohn D. Barrow was a professor of mathematical sciences and director of the Millennium Mathematics Project at Cambridge University and a Fellow of the Royal Society.
He was awarded the 2006 Templeton Prize for "Progress Toward Research or Discoveries about Spiritual Realities" for his "writings about the relationship between life and the universe, and the nature of human understanding [which] have created new perspectives on questions of ultimate concern to science and religion".
He was a member of a United Reformed Church, which he described as teaching "a traditional deistic picture of the universe".
He was awarded the 2006 Templeton Prize for "Progress Toward Research or Discoveries about Spiritual Realities" for his "writings about the relationship between life and the universe, and the nature of human understanding [which] have created new perspectives on questions of ultimate concern to science and religion".
He was a member of a United Reformed Church, which he described as teaching "a traditional deistic picture of the universe".
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 6, 2018
Great book, but not EVERYTHING I thought it would be. Lol, get it? Might do a more thorough review later, if the urge strikes me.
December 15, 2024
This book is a missed opportunity. I would love to know more about Theories of everything, as I'm a physicist and it is the physicists' holy grail. It is amazing how fast the excitement and interest can be sucked out of someone by means of language choice. This book is written unnecessarily difficult for no apparent reason. This is not a scientific article, I understand if the author does not want to include laypeople in his audience as the topic of discussion can be pretty advanced, and explaining every detail can be too much. However, this book includes EVERY detail, in a cruciating way . I knew about almost everything in this book already, and I feel I understand it less now because of his confusing writing style. Writing about the field of quantum cosmology is not equal to writing an article to be published in a quantum cosmology paper, so stop writing like it.
I could not enjoy this book, even when the topic was really interesting, like whether maths is discovered or invented and why the universe is understandable at all. You could make a youtube video that goes in the same depth as this book, include explanations for laypeople and keep it under 20 minutes.
This book feels like 'Okay bro im sorry i ever thought a theory of everything could be thought of, youve convinced me bro, im leaving to talk to someone else'.
Overall, really disappointing, not recommended. 3/10.
I could not enjoy this book, even when the topic was really interesting, like whether maths is discovered or invented and why the universe is understandable at all. You could make a youtube video that goes in the same depth as this book, include explanations for laypeople and keep it under 20 minutes.
This book feels like 'Okay bro im sorry i ever thought a theory of everything could be thought of, youve convinced me bro, im leaving to talk to someone else'.
Overall, really disappointing, not recommended. 3/10.
February 8, 2019
Excellently written, this investigation takes the reader from mythology, mathematics, physics, philosophy and theology to find an answer to the universal quest for reason. It may now be outdated but poses a progressive account logically. There were natural movements from chapter to chapter such that my own thoughts were taken onboard. Will look forward to reading a more recent publication by the same author.
December 2, 2024
Aunque tiene ya unos 30 años y algunas de sus perspectivas han sido hoy limadas por el paso del tiempo, creo que este es un libro extraordinario y notablemente riguroso. Me gusta que no se quede en la visión simplista y reduccionista de la naturaleza (explicación física ≠ explicación del Todo) y que incida en la importancia de considerar los estados de organización de la materia y las condiciones específicas que los posibilitan, en interacciones entre sistemas y la subsiguiente emergencia de nuevas propiedades... Muy recomendable, una lectura amena e interesantísima. No se queda, como otros libros similares, en la superficie. El hecho de que el autor sea físico y matemático, unido a sus considerables conocimientos filosóficos, es lo que hace que sobrepase el nivel de la simple divulgación.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2017
Theories of Everything is (to me) a pop-sci book that wants to make profound mysteries "accessible". I've often wondered if "accessible" means "so watered down as to be worthless". People with a background in such studies may find this book an entertaining read before they go to some party as they can use it as a reference when asked questions about what they do, but other than that it's value (except to interested lay readers) is questionable.
May 4, 2020
Dopo aver concluso questo libro, posso dire che l’ho trovato ben ricco di informazioni e non per tutti. Nonostante in certi punti abbia un po’ arrancato perché penso che sia stato scritto soprattutto per chi ha già conoscenze specifiche in materia, soprattutto scientifica e fisica, posso definirlo un libro interessante e in grado di arricchire la propria cultura personale.
July 15, 2020
Con la consueta maestria, Barrow fa una panoramica delle teorie che tentano di raggiungere (finora infruttuosamente) una conoscenza unificata della natura fondamentale della realtà. L'opinione di Barrow è che la caccia alla formula universale rimarrà frustrata: la natura stessa del mondo sembra quella di sfuggire a una sintesi omnicomprensiva.
September 20, 2025
pessimo
June 9, 2015
Barrow opened my eyes to some interesting ideas about the Theories of Everything physicists have been pursuing throughout the 20th century. What if there is no Theory of everything because
1). Instead of multiple scientific theories converging as they drill down to a single root at lower levels, what if they continue branching apart?
2). What if physicists aren't discovering how the universe really is (discovering platonic universals as they claim or assume), but are only describing the universe the best way that they have yet found.. The description may be no better than a very detailed "just-so" story.
Problems arise in discovering the laws, forces, and constants of nature, especially in defining the initial conditions which may have existed at the creation of the universe. The laws, forces, and constants break down at the extremes of infinity past and future, and very minute differences in initial conditions make huge differences in potential outcomes.
Another problem point for the physicists is time. Unable to account for it in their equations, or to explain why it appears to move forward inexorably when in fact they find it can appear to move backward for some subatomic particles.
1). Instead of multiple scientific theories converging as they drill down to a single root at lower levels, what if they continue branching apart?
2). What if physicists aren't discovering how the universe really is (discovering platonic universals as they claim or assume), but are only describing the universe the best way that they have yet found.. The description may be no better than a very detailed "just-so" story.
Problems arise in discovering the laws, forces, and constants of nature, especially in defining the initial conditions which may have existed at the creation of the universe. The laws, forces, and constants break down at the extremes of infinity past and future, and very minute differences in initial conditions make huge differences in potential outcomes.
Another problem point for the physicists is time. Unable to account for it in their equations, or to explain why it appears to move forward inexorably when in fact they find it can appear to move backward for some subatomic particles.
January 29, 2020
No es el típico libro de divulgación que trata de explicarte el conocimiento actual de la física sobre el mundo y los intentos unificación de la relatividad y la mecánica cuántica, este libro ahonda más en los requisitos, limitaciones e implicaciones epistemológicas de las posibles Teorías del Todo, y que es lo podrán decirnos si es que algún día llegamos a ellas. Debo decir que no fue la lectura más simple o fluida por partes, y siento que no es el mejor para introducirse a estos temas, pero es una lectura interesante para entender no sólo que son las Teorías del Todo, sino el cómo y por qué de su búsqueda.
June 16, 2012
Barrow is a galaxian thinker. He extrapolates several qualities and quantities as necessary criteria for figuring out a full explanation of all physics and time. Billions of years are involved. By building short case studies of nuances of physics like gauge symmetry and string folding time, he studies the known scales of time and atom through key data. The data is also vexing at times. Atomic building block valences point to either 9 or 25 dimensions, while we see only 3 and perceive mathematically only 4. A staggering book missing an ending.
May 18, 2019
Un libro para leer tranquilo y analizar nuevamente si es posible una teoría del universo unificada.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews