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  • Parallel Worlds

  • A Journey Through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the Future of the Cosmos
  • By: Michio Kaku
  • Narrated by: Marc Vietor
  • Length: 14 hrs and 50 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (212 ratings)
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Parallel Worlds

By: Michio Kaku
Narrated by: Marc Vietor
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Summary

Is our universe dying?

Could there be other universes?

In Parallel Worlds, world-renowned physicist and best-selling author Michio Kaku - an author who "has a knack for bringing the most ethereal ideas down to earth" (Wall Street Journal) - takes listeners on a fascinating tour of cosmology, M-theory, and its implications for the fate of the universe.

In his first book of physics since Hyperspace, Michio Kaku begins by describing the extraordinary advances that have transformed cosmology over the last century and particularly over the last decade, forcing scientists around the world to rethink our understanding of the birth of the universe and its ultimate fate. In Dr. Kaku's eyes, we are living in a golden age of physics, as new discoveries from the WMAP and COBE satellites and the Hubble space telescope have given us unprecedented pictures of our universe in its infancy.

As astronomers wade through the avalanche of data from the WMAP satellite, a new cosmological picture is emerging. So far the leading theory about the birth of the universe is the "inflationary universe theory", a major refinement on the big bang theory. In this theory our universe may be but one in a multiverse, floating like a bubble in an infinite sea of bubble universes, with new universes being created all the time. A parallel universe may well hover a mere millimeter from our own.

The very idea of parallel universes and the string theory that can explain their existence was once viewed with suspicion by scientists, seen as the province of mystics, charlatans, and cranks. But today physicists overwhelmingly support string theory and its latest iteration, M-theory, as it is this one theory that, if proven correct, would reconcile the four forces of the universe simply and elegantly and answer the question "what happened before the big bang?"

Already, Kaku explains, the world's foremost physicists and astronomers are searching for ways to test the theory of the multiverse using highly sophisticated wave detectors, gravity lenses, satellites, and telescopes. The implications of M-theory are fascinating and endless. If parallel worlds do exist, Kaku speculates, in time - perhaps a trillion years or more from now, as appears likely - when our universe grows cold and dark in what scientists describe as a big freeze, advanced civilizations may well find a way to escape our universe in a kind of "interdimensional lifeboat".

An unforgettable journey into black holes and time machines, alternate universes, and multidimensional space, Parallel Worlds gives us a compelling portrait of the revolution sweeping the world of cosmology.

©2006 Michio Kaku (P)2016 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"In Parallel Worlds, Michio Kaku brings his formidable explanatory talents to bear on one of the strangest and most exciting possibilities to have emerged from modern physics: that our universe may be but one among many, perhaps infinitely many, arrayed in a vast cosmic network. With deft use of analogy and humor, Kaku patiently introduces the reader to variations on this theme of parallel universes, coming from quantum mechanics, cosmology, and most recently, M-theory. Read this book for a wonderful tour, with an expert guide, of a cosmos whose comprehension forces us to stretch to the very limits of imagination." (Brian Greene, Professor of Theoretical Particle Physics, Columbia University, and author of The Fabric of the Cosmos and The Elegant Universe)
"Those who might enjoy a tour of cosmology, time travel, string theory, and the universe in 10 or 11 dimensions will find no better guide than Michio Kaku, a rare individual who has undertaken research in these subject areas yet also knows well how to present this intriguing, complex material in an engaging and easily assimilable style." (Donald Goldsmith, author of The Runaway Universe and Connecting with the Cosmos)
"A highly readable and exhilarating romp through the frontiers of cosmology." (Martin Rees, author of Our Cosmic Habitat and Our Final Century)

What listeners say about Parallel Worlds

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Insight into Nature of that thing we live in

Much of the content is covered by similar volumes, but it is a mammoth summary of the state of cosmological play. Particularly strong on the long term future, it wil pose some awkward questions for those who believe supernatural deities designed it. Whether it is true or not, it is remarkable that a recently evolved primate has come up with these ideas, especially in a short femto period in the age of the universe.

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7 people found this helpful

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Fascinating !

Michio Kaku has the ability to explain complex issues in cosmology in an accessible manner; this is mind boggling stuff which is totally absorbing .
The soft trans Atlantic narration by Marc Vietor was just right .

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4 people found this helpful

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Great Theoretical Physics Lesson

There is a lot of theory and equations throughout the book which would be much easier to digest if it was written down (as in an physical book), but it is a well written book with lots of interesting theories and explanations of historical events with good insight into some of the leading physicists throughout time and how their theories and experiments led us to this point. I would certainly recommend this book to those with a inquisitive scientific outlook.

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3 people found this helpful

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Brilliantly informative book

Awesome book, well researched and informative. Really gets you thinking and wanting more. At over 14 hours its not a quick listen however you will come away better informed and possible with a mind blown from all the possibilites of the universe. Beautifully narrated so easy to understand every word. Get it!

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3 people found this helpful

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Wow!

Perhaps the greatest mind today. Utterly thought provoking, educational and a must read. Closing chapter provides the reader with very sage advice.

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Brilliant

What a brilliant insight into the science behind parallel universes... I'll be reaching for the Hyperspace book next :/)

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More for an academic student rather than general reader

I feel a great deal of the information although helpful and is explained very well I feel is a little much for people for me who is not a student or any sort of scientist it all seemed to blend into one thing…

electrons something something electrons something something black hole something something neutron.

I found myself blanking out a lot of the time and skipping chapters as it all seemed to blend together.

Wasn’t quite what I expect as I was looking forward to more looking at alternate realities or other planet civilisations although it does but doesn’t take up a great deal of the book.

Was very interesting nevertheless and still enjoyed it and explained very well. The narrator is an easy listen

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Excellent

Not an easy book - but made a lot easier by the well-written but not patronising tone. It will need another listen to really understand some of the detail.

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thought provoking

enjoyable listen with many interesting probabilities finishing in a wonderful analogy of where humanity may go

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Spellbinding.

When I get to the end of this book, there are so many fantastic concepts to try and understand, that's it's possible to go back to the start and listen again, and have the same enjoyment as not having heard it before.

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