The Trouble With Physics by Lee Smolin
(out of 5 stars)
Lee Smolin is a well-respected physicist who isn't currently working on string theory (yes, there is such a person). The Trouble with Physics represents Smolin's well-developed and highly-engaging view of the current landscape of physics, the problems presented by string theory's dominance, alternative research underway in the field, and a call to academia to reform for the sake of science.
The first part of the book is largely an extension of the first half of his earlier book, Three Roads to Quantum Gravity. Here, Smolin expands the story and gives a more robust picture of some of the key players and key parts of various theories, beginning by defining five main problems which physics must attack directly.
In the second section, Smolin gives a broad and balanced view of string theory's history, successes, and failures. He does this in a very humane and reasonable way (unlike the bitter negative view in Peter Woit's book Not Even Wrong). Smolin himself worked on string theory for several years before coming to his senses and looking for new ways to attack the five problems of physics.
For me, the third section was the best in the book. Smolin gives us an overview of the world of physics after string theory, introducing unexplainable phenomenons and exploring several alternative areas of research currently underway, including cutting edge thoughts like double special relativity, the 'axis of evil', and twistor theory. Smolin advises us not to lose heart even if string theory is ultimately discredited (he argues politely but firmly that it already is so as the ultimate unification theory while conceding that it has opened up other areas of insight and advancement).
Finally, Smolin's last section is aimed primarily at his peers and those in positions of power in the academic world, though the non-academic reader should really take in his points here as they apply to our understanding of the academic world and the politics that often hinder the advancement of science. He challenges traditional notions of scientific method, peer review, and tenure, while arguing for more opportunities for alternative thinkers and researchers. His chief argument is that the Einsteins of the current physics world are unable to get jobs unless they give in to academic pressure to work on a very narrow range of accepted theories (most especially string theory), often leading them to abandon the independent thinking which may have lead to breakthroughs in the field. This, Smolin states, is a primary problem for physics to overcome in order to complete the revolution Einstein and other started decades ago.
I had just finished up Smolin's Three Roads prior to this one, so let me offer just a few thoughts. In Three Roads, Smolin was much more diplomatic about string theory's place in physics. While Trouble offers many reasons why string theory deserves attention, it also shows Smolin's hardened stance that alternative theories must be given much greater attention than they currently receive. Smolin also offered predictions in Three Roads which he has clearly backed away from, namely string theory's ultimate role in the unification of forces (he now shows considerable doubt that such a theory may even exist). To be fair, in Trouble, he also admits his disappointment of his own loop quantum gravity theory to provide results he thought showed great promise in Three Roads.
This is the book that needed to be written about Physics. It is well balanced, with loads of cutting edge science and personalities, but it is broader than most, less stary-eyed, more sober. It challenges traditionally held beliefs in how the physics world moves forward, and advocates strongly for a revolution in academia to preserve the vital nature of science itself.
What more can I say? Smolin is level-headed, presents an engaging and insightful book, and develops his thoughts with a hopeful but measured eye toward the future. Trouble with Physics is the book you should read if you like Brian Greene or Michio Kaku's books, but need to understand a more balanced, reality-based view of the world as physics really understands it (which is to say, not nearly as well as Greene, Kaku, and other string theorists would have us believe). Five stars, one of the best popular science books I have read in a long time.
