This book is written at such a level and with such clarity that almost anyone can get an appreciation for string theory. The book contains one of the best explanations for layman of special and general relativity and quantum mechanics that I have ever encountered. Even though the author is a proponent of string theory, he has presented it in such an evenhanded manner that anyone with a modicum of scientific wisdom can see that it is one of the biggest scientific boondoggles in history. Contrary to the claim of elegance in the title of the book, string theory is an arbitrary mathematical construct with parameters, topologies, and dimensions tacked on at every turn. When things start to fragment, Edward Witten, the string Wizard of Oz tacks on yet another dimension, rechristens the whole thing M-theory and claims that strings are really more like ribbons. This is much like the military who deal with their biggest screwups by hauling out the ribbons.
Richard Feynman would have gotten a big chuckle out of string theory. He didn't take himself too seriously and never claimed that quantum mechanics was anything but a mathemathematical model corresponding to our experimental observation of the universe. String theorists don't care about experiment. They have managed to create a theory that they can almost prove is beyond our capacity to test.
String theory isn't even really a theory. It is an idea for a theory that has proven almost impervious to theoretical analysis. Despite two decades of work, almost no progress has been made on the idea. It has lived largely because only a few physicists have had the necessary skills to understand the mathematics involved. The rest are acolytes taking it on faith. I found it hard to reconcile how frankly the author discusses this mirage with his obvious enthusiasm for it. The problem is simply that there is nothing much else for gifted mathematical physicists like himself to work on. He is as happy as a pig in shit.
It is hard to criticize what you do not understand. This book will give you the necessary understanding to laugh out loud at the buffoons of string theory as they race around chasing their tails. Feynman knew he was playing mathematical games, but he always kept one eye on the yardstick of experimental fact.
String theorists cannot be accused of building a castle in the air. They haven't even managed to get the plans down on paper, much less shown that the thing could ever be built. Let us hope that this excellent book is the beginning of the end of string theory.
