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Summary: Very entertaining read
Review: It has a great start and a great end. The middle is taken up by much complicated physics that is difficult to follow. However, once Kaku begins to describe ways in which we might begin to probe the 10th dimension and civilizations that may have done so alredy, it becomes engrossing. It is certainly too much for the casual reader, but for lovers of science fiction or science in general, it is a fascinating book.
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Summary: Awesome book but not for the light reader.
Review: If you are ok with reading a fairly heavy book. If you want you're peception of the way the world works on an atomic level changed forever. The theory of 10 dimensions is dicussed at a lot. Also talks about string theory. Again there are times this reads like a text book. So if you are not willing to do some heavy reading don't get this. Also from this author "Visions" Mr. Kaku's vision of what the future will bring. Writen in '97 "Visions" is broken down into what will happen within 50 years,100 years,and beyond 100 years. If you have read one of the two then get the other. They are not about the same thing but are equally as mindblowing.
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Summary: Only step by step
Review: From my point of view in a nature, it is do all (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and so on) dimensions of space. The main characteristic for these spaces is so-called - the fundamental length. In our human space all is three-dimensional.As for the (so-called) fourth dimensions, it is chosen, by necessity and for to explain, and to specify geometry of our space, and to connect a natural sequence of events: only step by step! It is pity, that today a travels back to the moment of opening of America we are not ready! However, it is obvious, that the reduction of fundamental length results in increasing of dimensions of space, and on the contrary ... The author offers for you an interesting reasoning on this theme. Having read the given book each man will do reflect the important problems of an environmental matter and the forms of Existence Universe. It is the successful enough and useful book practically for any man, irrespective of his (her) educational level and main age. In Russia speak: for love - all age are obedient. It is possible safely to tell you: love this book; this is source of knowledge about the universe. ...
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Summary: An excellent book
Review: I picked up a copy of "Hyperspace" by Michio Kaku after seeing a show on techtv where Dr. Kaku describes String Theory. I read the book twice in 3 days! He uses language that is easy to understand and you really don't need to know anything about physics to love this book. I am now on a quest to read all I can about theoretical physics! Dr. Kaku did an excellent job!
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Summary: Wonderful book. Read it!
Review: This is simply one of the most engrossing, intelligent, and comprehensible science books I've ever read. If you are at all interested in cosmology, this is a "must buy". I cannot elaborate on this wonderful book beyond what the best of its reviewers have already stated.
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Summary: Intelligent and comprehensible..
Review: This is a most enjoyable and elucidating science book. The publication affords a painless understanding in its chosen area of theoretical physics. If you wish to have a good general grasp of the spatial dimensions beyond our paltrily perceived three physical dimensions, and want to understand the significance of superstrings, cosmic wormholes, and also gain a decent historical background of such wonders, then you should purchase this engagingly-written book. A definite "must read"!
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Summary: An Excellent Context-Builder for the Armchair Physicist
Review: The history of physics is largely the story of a particularly disturbing trend. We keep adding dimensions! Newton started with three and we were in awe, but we understood. Einstein added a fourth and we were thunderstruck. We had to fight to overcome our intuition, but with determination we still understood. Then Kaluza and Klein added a fifth dimension and we scratched our heads. Intuition was less helpful and we started to lose the thread of understanding. Superstring theorists seem to have alighted on a final figure (I hope) of ten. This is way beyond the capacity of our brains to understand. So what do we do now? If you're the kind of person who lies awake at night wondering how it all works, this is a frustrating trend. You are never going to learn the advanced math, so you must search for books to help you understand. Some are better than others. This book is among the better ones, for a few reasons. First, Kaku is quick to point out that physicists who understand this stuff, understand the MATH, but are no better then we are at visualizing how the math is reflected in reality. I have come across a few writers in the genre who make this clear, and I always find it to be a relief. There is not some great truth that you are unable to grasp. The human brain is just not capable of perceiving hyper-dimensions. Don't worry. Second, this book focuses more on a colloquial explanation of the math than merely on its implications for reality. For me, this is an important link in understanding hyper-dimensional physics. Think of it this way. Phase I is "Do the math". Phase II is "Explain the math". Phase III is "Explain what the math implies in the way reality is structured." Phase I is opaque to most of us, so writers of these kinds of books rightly discard it. However, most writers jump right into Phase III. I don't know about you, but when someone asks me to visualize a hypercube unfolding in four-dimensional space, my eyes start to water. Kaku is the first writer I have encountered that first seeks to explain how the mathematics developed and why they imply multi-dimensional space. Only then does he begin to explain the nature of a tesseract (a three-dimensional representation of a four-dimensional cube). I won't tell you I was suddenly able to visualize hyperspace, but I did have that "a-ha" experience of understanding why the concept matters to us. Finally, Kaku puts the mind-bending nature of modern physics in an important historical context, one that helps explain WHY it is so counter-intuitive. For years, experimental physics led the way. Theory developed through the explanation of actual observed phenomena. (For example, Einstein stumbled on special relativity by seeking to explain the photo-electric effect.) But Kaku points out that this trend has now reversed for two reasons. First, we stumbled on string theory much earlier than expected. It is a theory well ahead of it's time. Second, the amount of energy that must be generated to verify the theory experimentally is well beyond our technology. Therefore, we are entering an age when theory will have to lead experimentation by the nose, thus challenging a human intuition that does not yet have the experience to fit it all into the big jigsaw puzzle. Buckle up. It's going to be a bumpy ride. If you need to build the context to understand physics, this book is an excellent choice.
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Summary: Second best scientific book I've read
Review: Michio Kaku is one of those gifted writers who takes the most complex concepts and makes them accessible to the "layman". This is a most epic and enthusiastic account of higher dimensions, how they could exist, what the implications are, how string theory fits in and exactly what it could mean for the future of the world. The reality of science definately has become more bizzare than fiction. Kaku takes the reader through a journey starting with Riemann, Ramanajun, Einstein and how the current forerunners in quantum physics has expanded on their work. Kaku, in my opinion, ranks with the immortal modern day writers such as Isaac Asimov. It is very easily noticeable when a writer understands practically everything of what he/her is explaining and those who are regurgitating other text books. Kaku is definately in the category of the former. Way to go Michio ! An excellent piece of work! PS : Incase you're wondering what the best scientific book is that I've read, its "Asimov's new guide to science" - by Isaac Asimov.
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Summary: Brings out a new view of your world.
Review: This book may be a tad difficult for many readers but If you keep working with it, it will change the way you see your world, it will open new views on the universe and how things work. If your at all interested in science or space travel even this is a great book to get. Michio Kaku is a wonderful writer and he shows this well in Hyperspace.
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Summary: In search of the Holy Grail
Review: This is certainly a most interesting presentation of the hyperspace theory (also known as the theory of everything)not only in view of its cosmological implications but also because of the new horizons it opens for mankind. Basically, the theory states that several dimensions exist beyond the commonly accepted four of space and time. In fact, it predicts the precise number of dimensions as being ten (the usual 3 for space, one of time, and six more spatial dimensions). Theoretically, it unites all known physical phenomena (electromagnetic, strong and weak nuclear force, and gravitational force) in a simple framework, simplifies the laws of nature, and may provide a means to tunnel through space and time.
Michio Kaku rightly says that "we are like carps swimming contentedly in the pond, confident that our universe consists of only those things we can see or touch, of the familiar and the visible, refusing to admit that parallel universes or dimensions can exist next to ours, just beyond our grasp." We are limited by a three-dimensional brain, and the inability to "see" the fourth dimension is like that of a blind man attempting to conceive the concept of color. Mathematically we can probe into N dimensions, and although the bending of our universe is an "unseen" dimension it has been experimentally measured.
The further on we move the more theoretical physics resembles a science fiction tale: wormholes, parallel universe, time travel... Another problem is how are we going to scientifically test those hypothesis: the higher dimensions are too small to be experimentally seen and we need new-sophisticated technologies to test them. If the theory is proved correct, then when will we be able to harness the power of the hyperspace theory? We are reminded of what physicist V. Weisskopf once said: "It's like the peasant who asks the engineer how the steam engine works. The engineer explains exactly where the steam goes and how it moves through the engine and so on. And then the peasant says: "Yes, I understand all that, but where is the horse?"
The author has an almost mythical interpretation of hyperspace theory, addressing the issue as a theory of Creation, whereby only at the instant of the Big Bang do we see the full power of the theory coming into play; our cosmos was a perfect ten-dimensional universe but it eventually "cracked" in two, creating a four and a six-dimensional universe. Then he hums an apocalyptic tune: the uranium barrier, ecological collapse, new ice age, astronomical close encounters, nemesis extinction factor, death of the sun and death of the galaxy. But there is salvation! "Man is doomed... but there is one possible escape. If all of space-time is collapsing into a fiery cataclysm, then the only way to escape the Big Crunch is to leave space and time -- escape via hyperspace!
For those well versed in physics and mathematics, this book might be viewed as another good "pop" science. But why should priests chant incantations in Latin, that hardly anyone understands, and physicists chant equations that even fewer understand? Michio Kaku does an excellent job in bringing theoretical physics closer to the layman, his analysis is clear and comprehensive, and he makes use of excellent analogies.
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