The Allure of the Multiverse, Paul Halpern
The Allure of the Multiverse, Paul Halpern
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The Allure of the Multiverse
Extra Dimensions, Other Worlds, and Parallel Universes

Author: Paul Halpern

Narrator: Paul Woodson

Unabridged: 11 hr 12 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 01/23/2024


Synopsis

The long history of one of physics' most enticing ideas: that the universe we know isn't the only one

Our books, our movies—our imaginations—are obsessed with extra dimensions, alternate timelines, and the sense that all we see might not be all there is. In short, we can't stop thinking about the multiverse. As it turns out, physicists are similarly captivated.

In The Allure of the Multiverse, physicist Paul Halpern tells the epic story of how science became besotted with the multiverse, and the controversies that ensued. The questions that brought scientists to this point are big and deep: Is reality such that anything can happen, must happen? How does quantum mechanics "choose" the outcomes of its apparently random processes? And why is the universe habitable? Each question quickly leads to the multiverse. Drawing on centuries of disputation and deep vision, from luminaries like Nietzsche, Einstein, and the creators of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Halpern reveals the multiplicity of multiverses that scientists have imagined to make sense of our reality. Whether we live in one of many different possible universes, or simply the only one there is, might never be certain. But Halpern shows one thing for sure: how stimulating it can be to try to find out.

About Paul Halpern

Paul Halpern is a professor of physics at Saint Joseph's University and the author of eighteen popular science books, including Flashes of Creation, The Quantum Labyrinth, Einstein's Dice and Schrodinger's Cat, and Synchronicity. He is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and is a fellow of the American Physical Society. He lives near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Jake on March 30, 2024

It's not really so much about multiverses? The beginning gives an introduction and a history about the philosophical and theological roots of multiverse theory, and the end goes into the portrayal in science fiction. The very large middle is a deep dive into quantum mechanics, astronomy, and theoret......more

Goodreads review by Jacquelyn on November 16, 2023

The arc for this book came out right after I finished reading Blake Crouch’s Dark Matter so I was pretty excited to dive into it. I’m a fiction writer, but I can’t write sci-fi to save my life. The research behind sci-fi novels, though, is so fascinating to me. Shows like Sliders and Stargate SG-1,......more

Goodreads review by Doctor on July 22, 2024

Multiverse theory is hot, both within physics and astrophysics, and within popular culture. Halpern’s title, while no doubt a marketing choice, conveys a theoretical pull toward multiverse theory in physics and astrophysics. Halpern rightly traces the history of the “multiverse” back prior to current......more

Goodreads review by Annarella on January 11, 2024

Multiverse makes me think about Pratchett but there's more to this world than that. It's an informative and well researched book, not always easy to follow but fascinating and intriguing. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine......more

Goodreads review by Steve on January 17, 2024

There are certain aspects of the book I really liked. The best part of the book was the discussion of falsifiability and what constitutes science. Halpern uses some great analogies to get his points across and he couples this with a conversational tone and some humour. There is also a lot of history......more