The Hidden Reality

Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos

By: Brian Greene

Narrated by: Brian Greene

Length: 13 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

There was a time when “universe” meant all there is. Everything. Yet, in recent years discoveries in physics and cosmology have led a number of scientists to conclude that our universe may be one among many. With crystal-clear prose and inspired use of analogy, Brian Greene shows how a range of different “multiverse” proposals emerges from theories developed to explain the most refined observations of both subatomic particles and the dark depths of space: a multiverse in which you have an infinite number of doppelgängers, each reading this sentence in a distant universe; a multiverse comprising a vast ocean of bubble universes, of which ours is but one; a multiverse that endlessly cycles through time, or one that might be hovering millimeters away yet remains invisible; another in which every possibility allowed by quantum physics is brought to life. Or, perhaps strangest of all, a multiverse made purely of mathematics.

Greene, one of our foremost physicists and science writers, takes us on a captivating exploration of these parallel worlds and reveals how much of reality’s true nature may be deeply hidden within them.

©2011 Brian Greene (P)2011 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“If extraterrestrials landed tomorrow and demanded to know what the human mind is capable of accomplishing, we could do worse than to hand them a copy of this book.” (Timothy Ferris, The New York Times Book Review)

“Few living writers write so lucidly about such complicated stuff. In Greene’s prose, cutting-edge cosmology and particle physics become something a plucky and well-rested reader can apprehend...Greene might be the best intermediary I’ve found between the sparkling, absolute zero world of mathematics and the warm, clumsy world of human language.” (Anthony Doerr, Boston Globe)

“Mr. Greene has a gift for elucidating big ideas...Exciting and rewarding...[The Hidden Reality] captures and engages the imagination.” (Janet Maslin, The New York Times)

more parallel universes than heinlein

this guy is a good writer. he brings all that science channel and history channel stuff into theoretical models i can actually follow

will have to listen again

Very interesting Will listen again for sure as some was beyond my understanding. f
Fascinating book

Mind opener

As someone who studied Philosophy, this really hit it's stride after the halfway mark. Brian Greene is a brilliant scientist/philosopher and puts us to the task of thinking about these mind bending topics. It gets heavy, but stick with it, it's only the entire multiverse.

Excellent

I loved listening to this book. Brian makes a complex subject easy to reach for the layman.

Another fascinating book by Greene

If you've read Brian Greene, you'll know that he is not for the feint of heart. He is a very good writer and is able to make complicated theories accessible to the lay person. However, the underlying physics and math are so complicated and frankly amazing, that the subject matter almost defies understanding. If you like his earlier books, The Elegant Universe and the Fabric of the Cosmos, you will probably like this book. He takes the fundamental elements of string theory to the next logical conclusion: that there are multiple speculative theories about existence of parallel or multiple universes. It is such a spectacular line of reasoning that the whole presentation is compelling and engaging. He also does a good job articulating the positions of the primary detractors of the theories presented in the book. A really good listen for those interested in cutting edge theoretical physics.

The authors voice is annoying.

Good information with a performance worthy of a 2nd grade play. Not everyone can be Sagan , hire a real voice actor because you suck.

Mind-expanding experience

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If you have an inquisitive mind even without a strong science background, the concepts presented are mind scrambling! If we understand that our current limited understanding of the beginnings of existence is limited and short-sighted, then this book will give insights into what the smartest people in this field believe is either true or at least very possible. It's not a quick and easy read. But, it is so worth the effort.

What did you like best about this story?

The constantly evolving understanding of past, present and future.

Wide but Shallow

Hidden Reality looks, relatively even handedly, at many theories of alternate universes. Doing this is quite tricky as some of the theories are quite ???out there??? while others are tightly coupled to what we actually know about the universe. Using such an even hand tends to lump the almost wacky with the truly thought provoking. I prefer books that deeply analyze one or two theories to a survey of many at a high level, but if this book encourages readers to find out more, it will have been successful. Yet I worry that non-scientific readers will be overwhelmed with the myriad of conflicting theories. I really enjoyed Brian Greene???s narration. If you are really bothered by hearing anything close to a lisp, maybe you should listen to this book over and over until you get over it. The "lisp'' is so minor it did not bother me an iota. I found his speech charming and expressive of the joy and tantalizing mysteries of physics.

Brilliant merging of Physics & Philosophy

Brian Greene attempts to release you from the constraints of the experiential to explore where the math and direction of physics may lead. Fascinating and fun.

Over my head

Most of the subjects were over my head so I was disappointed not getting more out of the book. I am of average intelligence so many readers will have a great time with this book