Our Mathematical Universe

My Quest for the Ultimate Nature of Reality

By: Max Tegmark

Narrated by: Rob Shapiro

Length: 15 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Max Tegmark leads us on an astonishing journey through past, present and future, and through the physics, astronomy, and mathematics that are the foundation of his work, most particularly his hypothesis that our physical reality is a mathematical structure and his theory of the ultimate multiverse. In a dazzling combination of both popular and groundbreaking science, he not only helps us grasp his often mind-boggling theories, but he also shares with us some of the often surprising triumphs and disappointments that have shaped his life as a scientist. Fascinating from first to last - this is a book that has already prompted the attention and admiration of some of the most prominent scientists and mathematicians.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2014 Max Tegmark (P)2013 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Tegmark offers a fascinating exploration of multiverse theories, each one offering new ways to explain ‘quantum weirdness’ and other mysteries that have plagued physicists, culminating in the idea that our physical world is ‘a giant mathematical object’ shaped by geometry and symmetry. Tegmark’s writing is lucid, enthusiastic, and outright entertaining, a thoroughly accessible discussion leavened with anecdotes and the pure joy of a scientist at work.” (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

“Lively and lucid, the narrative invites general readers into debates over computer models for brain function, over scientific explanations of consciousness, and over prospects for finding advanced life in other galaxies. Though he reflects soberly on the perils of nuclear war and of hostile artificial intelligence, Tegmark concludes with a bracingly upbeat call for scientifically minded activists who recognize a rare opportunity to make our special planet a force for cosmic progress. An exhilarating adventure for bold readers.” (Bryce Cristensen, Booklist, starred review)

“Our Mathematical Universe boldly confronts one of the deepest questions at the fertile interface of physics and philosophy: why is mathematics so spectacularly successful at describing the cosmos? Through lively writing and wonderfully accessible explanations, Max Tegmark—one of the world’s leading theoretical physicists—guides the reader to a possible answer, and reveals how, if it’s right, our understanding of reality itself would be radically altered.” (Brian Greene, physicist, author of The Elegant Universe and The Hidden Reality)

Wow!

Great ideas and great narration makes this a great audio book. The last quarter of this book has some of the most interesting ideas in physics I have heard. I think these ideas are, by far, the most likely to lead to progress in physics. The first three-quarters is good, but is just a nice rehash similar to a bunch of other speculative physics books covering a brief history of cosmology leading to the theory of inflation and various levels of multiple universes, Boltzmann brains and such, finally culminating in the Measure Problem (one cannot assign consistent probabilities to infinite sets). Then the book gets really interesting! The author proposes that math does not model the universe, but that math IS the universe. The relations defined by a mathematical structure is all that is needed for us to believe all we see and feel is real. Nothing physical is needed. I really thought I was alone in being a strong proponent of this Mathematical Universe idea, so I have quite pleasantly surprised to find this excellent presentation. I was led to my conclusions by a much different path (Bell’s Theorem & Bell Test Experiments) and take these ideas to even greater extremes than Tegmark, but this is the best (the only?) popular presentations of these ideas I have seen.

It may just be awkward editing or just these ideas are heady stuff, but by the end of the book Tegmark seems a bit schizophrenic. He seems to reject continuums and infinities and randomness as unreal (which is what I think), but then he continues to refer to, and use, these as if they were real. Also a good new model in fundamental physics should address multiple issues in physics, but Tegmark does not use his ideas of the Mathematical Universe to clarify the understanding of quantum mechanics (particularly Bell’s Theorem) and the problem linking General Relativity and Quantum mechanics. I think Tegmark underestimated the depth of the Measure Problem. The underlying problem is in any reality, it is simply not possible to take a random sample from an infinite set. Thus any assignment of probability to such constructs is nonsense. Tegmark seems to still be hoping for a resolution of the Measure Problem.

The author has a really pleasant way of covering the history of cosmology, making the story like a mystery novel, using detective work to explain one mystery after another. Yet what makes this book really worth reading is the last quarter where the ideas about the Mathematical Universe are explored. I suspect that in a few hundred years the conception of the Mathematical Universe will be considered the great turning point leading to a final, simple and beautiful, Theory of Everything.

Tough one for me

Thank you to the publisher's, this audiobook desperately needed and PDF, and it helped significantly. Though I personally still struggled with the book, a lot of it seems to fly by me at the speed of light. I did pick up many interesting new thoughts and ideas on our universe and atomic elements.

The premise of everything being describes as a mathematical equation makes complete sense. I find it fascinating that it fits our derived mathematical equations, or maybe that is simply how we apply our methods to describe everything.

Shapiro does a great job with the audio, frankly after listening to Life 3.0, he was the main reason I opted for this one next.

Buckle up, this is packed with dense and complex theories. Multiverse is, well, still wrapping my head around. But the notion if multiple universes is way intriguing.

Amazing

I’m a chemist who became pharmacist not because I wanted to, but because of situations, but without a doubt my dream calling, Or maybe what I do in a parallel universe, whatever you to call it, is definitely physics.
Shapiro explains eloquently and easily so a fifth grader could understand, great new ideas, I’ll be listening through this book at least a dozen times I guarantee you

MUH > meh

Wow. This was an extraordinary listen. Great performance by Rob Shapiro! Tegmark is astounding! GET THIS (AUDIO)BOOK!!!!

A boatload of amazing ideas!

The book started slow for me, and got me worried I will not learn anything. Another great scientist dumbing down what I already know.
But, then he described his experience with Feynman books and lectures. He is passionate and love Physics, and he is the craziest that I ever read.
No idea are dismissed out of hand, and I needed to remind myself that he is an actual great scientist when he started to exposed some of his crazy ideas.
And finally I realized, that everything he says is well thought, deep research and discussions corroborate his ideas.
And he always dare analyzing the opposite view than the one from mainstream science. To my amazement, he got some convincing arguments!

In any case, a must read!

Life changing

For most of my life I have had a framed quote from Galileo in my room written in the original Latin by my mom that basically translates to "Mathematics is the alphabet with which god created the universe." I'm not sure if Galileo referred to a judeo christian god, and Tegmark seems to avoid the subject entirely, but it is irrelevant to me. Tegmark has given us a whole book on the idea without the need to factor that in right now. His examination of the universe, the possibilities of reality and our place in it through his logic (admittedly with a few assumptions) and storytelling is inspiring, magical, and humbling. I'm so glad he decided to write this book, especially the last chapter. Thank you Max.

Also, I'm gonna finally go read that Feynman book now.

Lucid and insightful

As a physics PhD, I delighted in Tegmark's ability to explain nuanced ideas in clear, beautiful, and compelling ways.

Best since Sagan and Feynman

Max Tegmark is the best physicist since Sagan and Feynman. He has this really open mind for the frontline of science and wide perspective, at the same time so logical and scientific. He is also such good mentor, explaining complex topics in such an easily understandable manner - especially to an hobby "scientists" such as me.

Make a difference.

Existence is inconceivably enormous. You matter more. The actions, even the momentary thoughts that you choose to have in a single day WILL reverberate throughout all time, all space, and all possibility. You matter more.

Overwhelming

Unexpected reality can derives from the deepest nature of space and time.
Although, I suspect the title was suggested by the editor, early in the book the author partially fix it: Universe IS a Mathematical STRUCTURE.
As layperson, I would better understand that the universe HAS a mathematical structure.
Should I have given only four stars review instead of five? Well, in a quantum reality, I may well had given both.