Lost in Math

How Beauty Leads Physics Astray

By: Sabine Hossenfelder

Narrated by: Laura Jennings

Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

A contrarian argues that modern physicists' obsession with beauty has given us wonderful math but bad science

Whether pondering black holes or predicting discoveries at CERN, physicists believe the best theories are beautiful, natural, and elegant, and this standard separates popular theories from disposable ones. This is why, Sabine Hossenfelder argues, we have not seen a major breakthrough in the foundations of physics for more than four decades. The belief in beauty has become so dogmatic that it now conflicts with scientific objectivity: observation has been unable to confirm mindboggling theories, like supersymmetry or grand unification, invented by physicists based on aesthetic criteria. Worse, these "too good to not be true" theories are actually untestable and they have left the field in a cul-de-sac. To escape, physicists must rethink their methods. Only by embracing reality as it is can science discover the truth.

©2018 Sabine Hossenfelder (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

A Theoretical Physicist look at Particle Physics

This is a very nice book that explains how theoretical particle physics has come to be dominated by the speculative theories of supersymmetry and superstrings. Recent experimental results mentioned in the book, and a couple that were not explored, have thrown these edifices into doubt. This has led to a crisis in theoretical physics. This book is an excellent overview of that crisis.

An interesting take on physics

Let me be clear- math and science are not my strong suits so I cannot speak to the validity of the research on the topic, but I enjoyed it. It was well written, well narrated,and accessible to the listener.

it gives me better understanding of Sabine

I knew Sabine from YouTube so I liked the book and understand her frustrations with the state of physics better now

Sabine H. is amazing.

Great book/perspective and one can't help but believe that perhaps she is right about the seeming dead end into which physics has been enticed. Difficult as it may be to find perhaps a new perspective (not so "beautiful") is where physics needs to head???

Masterful, If I Could Only Understand

I grasped about 40% of what was written (spoken) and then understood about 25% of that which I comprehended. That measures out to a 10% mastering of the data and examination of the data presented in Lost in Math, How Beauty Leads Physics Astray, written by Sabine Hossenfelder, and delightfully narrated by Laura Jennings. I am not a cosmologist: obviously. Yet, I very much enjoy learning about observational astronomy and particle physics. I love discovering unresolved issues and contemplating answers, or what my ignorance presupposes could be solutions. Just for the right to fantasize. It brings ease to my mental state of being.

Dr. Hossenfelder takes note that cosmology has had very diminished success over the last 80 years in developing answers; particularly if compared to the prior 80 years. She, in this examination of why, is critical of the formalism that has overtaken the academic world of physics. Along the way she turns out to be a very good describer of the science of physics (notwithstanding my 10% understanding of what she is teaching me).

This read (listen) was just true fun. Recommended.

Questioning the very foundations of Physics

The book reviews the main theories of quantum physics, questioning their fundamental assumptions and methods. The story is critical of the more controversial developments, it is very personal and reflective, yet it reveals the author's rigorous scientific thinking. Excellent line of argument, easy listening, despite the high pace of reading.

A timely critique

In the era of the reproducibility crisis, scientists from diverse disciplines often aspire to the standards of physics, where experimental results are orders of magnitude more reliable than elsewhere. Hossenfelder and Jennings point out that there is another problem eating away at many scientific disciplines, and specifically affecting theoretical particle physics: an overweening reliance on aesthetic judgements such as 'naturalness' and elegance. The authors offer a timely critique of this growing problem with detailed examples and compelling interviews -- while remaining circumspect about making philosophical assertions that generalize out of their area of expertise. I recommend this book to any practicing scientist or philosopher of science.

An Explanation of How the Physics Community Works

If you were curious about how the science of physics progresses - this is a fascinating read. The interconnection of theoretical physics, experimental physics, and mathematics is currently struggling through a period of difficult, high-cost experiments in order to progress to a better understanding of material reality. In the absence of new experiments, theoretical physics is favoring mathematical theories, like Super-Symmetry and String Theory which have "beautiful" ramifications for physics, but a continued lack of empirical support. In this book, Hossenfelder confronts the current state and bias of physics with an aim toward grounding physics in the physical world - a common-held belief that is now wavering in some pockets of the physics world.

Although this book focuses primarily on the system of people involved in advancing physics in the world today, it does address concerns of modernity: the busy, multi-tasked roles of physicists today is not improving the quality or advancement of the discipline. Where cutting edge physics experiments are expensive, putting a few string theorists on staff to draw attention to your department is cheap. Hossenfelder also provides a strong critique of economics... something like "economists are not advancing mathematics - even though string theory hasn't yet proved itself as a physical theory, at least it advances mathematics."

What a great listen - if you're at all interested in physics!

A message from the trenches

At first I thought the book was too long for the simple thesis it’s presenting, namely that physicists have become obsessed with beauty as a criterion for truth. However, as the author developed and reiterated her point, the book never became boring. As a scientist at that precarious interface between dependence and independence, I appreciate her voice critical of the establishment but also constructive. Appendix C is worthy of becoming a manifesto. There are eloquent gems scattered throughout, for example, “it smelled of science - coffee”.

Bias in Science

This is perhaps the best book I've come across in dealing with the Philosophy of Science and the underlying biases we have in the fields. It doesn't start this way but it's a discovery of why limits and bias in traditional science thinking occurs. Part history of physics and part particle physics intro (though it assumes a pretty good understanding to follow the debate so if you hated high school physics skip this one) - some aspects go very deep. But in the end it's worth it. You look at a field like particle physics with a new sense of questioning - and if they aren't perfect how can other sciences that move towards social variables have any hope if they aren't considering such issues.