Einstein's Unfinished Dream: Practical Progress Towards a Theory of Everything

4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars | 23 ratings

Price: 15.3

Last update: 12-23-2024


About this item

Humanity has long looked to the sky and marveled at the world around us. We've wondered why the world is the way it is and whether it has to be that way. For millennia these questions were theological, transitioning to philosophical during the Enlightenment, but the discipline that now drives progress is science. We now look forward, hoping to make additional connections and create a better understanding of the ultimate laws of nature. We dream of a time when we have developed a theory of everything—a theory that answers all questions.

There is so much that we don't know. This book is up front about our ignorance and spends some time dispelling some of the more popular theories. It then redirects the listener's attention to how we will actually move forward, by identifying things we don't yet understand and engaging with the experiments that will drive our comprehension.

Einstein's Unfinished Dream explores the cutting-edge research of modern particle physicists that pushes us slowly towards a theory of everything. Marshalling decades of experience in distilling high-level scientific concepts, Lincoln invites listeners into the mysteries of dark matter, dark energy, matter-antimatter asymmetry, quark and lepton flavor, and other phenomena that have puzzled humanity for centuries.


Top reviews from the United States

  • Steven Schrier
    5.0 out of 5 stars Physics is Everything folks, get this book!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2024
    Don Lincoln, Ph.D. is a master nuclear particle physicist serving as a Senior Research Scientist at Fermilab. The author of numerous physics research reports and popular textbooks Dr. Lincoln also produces a series of physics broadcasts on YouTube sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. He brings his charismatic, convivial television personality to his most recent book "Einstein's Unfinished Dream".

    After Albert Einstein published his Theory of General Relativity in the early 20th century, he worked many years at Princeton University trying to unify his theories with the newer theory of quantum physics, which is the study of incredibly small particles that make up individual atoms. It's fascinating research with quantum physics discoveries happening at the enormous CERN particle accelerator in Switzerland, projects Dr. Lincoln works with.

    At the time of his passing (April 18, 1955), Einstein unfortunately had not been able to unify the physics theories, leaving the ultimate dream of a "theory of everything" unfulfilled.

    From the biggest physical structures of the universe to the smallest of known subatomic particles, the most complex research discoveries and supporting history are clearly described by Dr. Lincoln in compassionate language.

    "Einstein's Unfinished Dream" also serves as an excellent reference book, for anyone interested in contemporary physics, without having to spend a decade or more in graduate school. We become a little more knowledgeable and appreciative of science folks doing the heavy lifting research in labs around the globe. Amazing things are happening!
    Customer image
    Steven Schrier
    5.0 out of 5 stars Physics is Everything folks, get this book!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2024
    Don Lincoln, Ph.D. is a master nuclear particle physicist serving as a Senior Research Scientist at Fermilab. The author of numerous physics research reports and popular textbooks Dr. Lincoln also produces a series of physics broadcasts on YouTube sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. He brings his charismatic, convivial television personality to his most recent book "Einstein's Unfinished Dream".

    After Albert Einstein published his Theory of General Relativity in the early 20th century, he worked many years at Princeton University trying to unify his theories with the newer theory of quantum physics, which is the study of incredibly small particles that make up individual atoms. It's fascinating research with quantum physics discoveries happening at the enormous CERN particle accelerator in Switzerland, projects Dr. Lincoln works with.

    At the time of his passing (April 18, 1955), Einstein unfortunately had not been able to unify the physics theories, leaving the ultimate dream of a "theory of everything" unfulfilled.

    From the biggest physical structures of the universe to the smallest of known subatomic particles, the most complex research discoveries and supporting history are clearly described by Dr. Lincoln in compassionate language.

    "Einstein's Unfinished Dream" also serves as an excellent reference book, for anyone interested in contemporary physics, without having to spend a decade or more in graduate school. We become a little more knowledgeable and appreciative of science folks doing the heavy lifting research in labs around the globe. Amazing things are happening!
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  • Thomas H. Bracken
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great tour of modern physics
    Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2023
    We are all curious about what we, and the cosmos, are made of and Dr Lincoln does a great job of bringing us up to date on the progress that modern physics has made over the last century. This book reads like an exciting mystery novel, albeit a mystery novel where only some of the mystery is solved so far. Gratefully he is able to explain all of this without the reader needing to master the complex mathematics that underlies general relativity and quantum mechanics.

    Although this book is about science, science is done by people and people can be contentious. . As with his videos and websites, there is a tone of graciousness throughout this work. He is respectful of those who disagree with his opinions, and seems especially eager to point out the contributions of women physicists whose work may have not been adequately honored.
  • Richard W.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent description of progress and future challenge!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2023
    I just finished the book and found it to be an excellent explanation of the history and future challenge to discovering a “Theory of Everything”. The detailed historical progress and periodic refresh of what has been presented gave me a good feel for what we currently know and how much more we need to discover in order to create a theory that is able to explain what we currently don’t know. Dr Lincoln’s experience with particle accelerators gave him the ability to explain how the accelerators drill deeper into the building blocks to which create our universe which may lead to a Theory of Everything including the mysterious Dark Energy and Dark Matter!
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars In depth analysis of quantum physics but easy to read
    Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2023
    Half way through but enjoying it throughly. Dr. Lincoln explains things well and even adds a little humor here and there. Looking forward to finishing it.
  • Matthew Roomel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
    Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2023
    Dr. Lincoln is a great writer and explained everything really well about quantum mechanics and general relativity, leading the physics world to ultimately solving the theory of everything or quantum gravity. I highly recommend getting this book!
  • Pete Smoyer
    5.0 out of 5 stars How do we reach a final understanding of how everything works together?
    Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2023
    "Einstein’s Unfinished Dream" succeeds exceptionally well in reaching its objectives, allowing the reader to watch the history of physics unfold in the hopes that we’ll have a better understanding of how to get to a final theory that ties all of physics together. Dr. Lincoln examines the thinking and testing processes that led to both the successful and failed theories. With the title in mind, this book even allows the reader to see how Einstein’s thinking brought him to our current understanding of spacetime and gravity -- and a Nobel prize -- while stopping him short of reaching his dream.

    Dr. Lincoln has unique access to Fermilab, the Large Hadron Collider, and many other state-of-the-art particle physics facilities, providing him with exceptional insights into the processes that go into testing our understanding of the smallest components of the physical world. An understanding that could finally get us to a theory of everything.
  • JLRinPA
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great physics book
    Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2023
    I found this book to be very interesting and informative. Dr. Lincoln has a gift for being able to explain complicated physics so everyone can understand them, even if you have no background in the subject. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is curious about the universe.

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