Any Suggestions for a book on string theory?

Question

I am a college student and have a reasonably good grasp on physics. A book with a little bit of mathematics behind the theory is preferrable.

Answer 1

the best book on string theory is "The Elegant Universe".

it was written by one of my classmates in high school ( Brian Greene ).

if you are new to the subject, i caution you with the many problems of string theory :

- it is not considered a theory by many but a "set of theories" which currently have NO experimental basis and in their present form are virtually untestable and disprovable.

- there are many competing theories which you should study as well ( although not as "popular" ). these include "loop quantum gravity".

i highly recommend you also read "3 Roads to Quantum Gravity" ( by Lee Smolin ) which is great critique of the string theory and compares the various theories in the running.

my personal feeling is that string theory is not a scientific theory in its present form but an advanced creation of beautiful mathematics.

you will form your own opinions i am sure but you need to examine both books to ascertain the subject in question which is called "Quantum gravity".

best of luck in your endeavors,

:)

Answer 2

Two:

"The Elegant Universe" and "The Fabric of the Cosmos," both by Brian Greene. Also try to catch Greene's PBS series entitled "The Elegant Universe." Also go to the Official String Theory web site, which is filled with easy or technical reading straight from the horse's mouth...so to speak. [See source.]

Answer 3

in case you may look after the mathematics for QM and GR, the belongings you would be wanting for string concept isn't all THAT lots worse - you're probable eighty% or extra of how there. you would be wanting the skill to think of roughly non-Euclidean and N-dimensional areas without blowing a fuse on your head- it is probable the biggie. yet once you will discover a thank you to do differential geometry on a 2d area, a three-d area, and a 4D area, and you may generalize to 5D without going nuts you will desire to be only superb ;)

Answer 4

Hi. You might like "The Elegant Universe" by Brian Greene