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Table of Contents
About The Book
From one of the most exciting and accessible voices in physics, an eye-opening look into the strange and wonderful world of quantum physics and how it is revolutionizing our understanding of the universe.
What is the universe made of, and how do we know? For decades, physicists have studied this question, circling the most fundamental yet enigmatic building blocks of our world; descending to a level below even atoms, and into the subatomic, mysterious particles and fields that make up the quantum realm. This astonishing world is the key to understanding the workings of the universe, but it has held its secrets close, and its rules have defied models since scientists first attempted to map its terrain.
In How to Build a Universe, celebrated astrophysicist Katie Mack pulls back the curtain on these mysteries, presenting the most cutting-edge picture of what we know about the workings of the universe. Mack takes us through our current, and thrillingly accurate, understanding of how the universe works, based on research in the field; and why, despite this, we may be on the precipice of a monumental breakthrough—one that could shatter everything we thought we knew about the universe and the nature of reality. Rather than presenting physics as an enshrined set of facts, the book foregrounds the process of discovery, detailing the false starts, the conceptual leaps, and the passionate debates that shape scientific knowledge. Taking us to the edge of the map and beyond, How to Build a Universe is a shotgun seat to some of the most mind-bending and exciting developments in physics and cosmology, as the fields themselves undergo a revolution, informed by the smallest and most alluring particles that make up the universe.
Katie Mack has written a wildly entertaining and accessible guide to the universe, for readers who want to understand not only the wonders of contemporary physics, but the scientific quest for knowledge itself.
What is the universe made of, and how do we know? For decades, physicists have studied this question, circling the most fundamental yet enigmatic building blocks of our world; descending to a level below even atoms, and into the subatomic, mysterious particles and fields that make up the quantum realm. This astonishing world is the key to understanding the workings of the universe, but it has held its secrets close, and its rules have defied models since scientists first attempted to map its terrain.
In How to Build a Universe, celebrated astrophysicist Katie Mack pulls back the curtain on these mysteries, presenting the most cutting-edge picture of what we know about the workings of the universe. Mack takes us through our current, and thrillingly accurate, understanding of how the universe works, based on research in the field; and why, despite this, we may be on the precipice of a monumental breakthrough—one that could shatter everything we thought we knew about the universe and the nature of reality. Rather than presenting physics as an enshrined set of facts, the book foregrounds the process of discovery, detailing the false starts, the conceptual leaps, and the passionate debates that shape scientific knowledge. Taking us to the edge of the map and beyond, How to Build a Universe is a shotgun seat to some of the most mind-bending and exciting developments in physics and cosmology, as the fields themselves undergo a revolution, informed by the smallest and most alluring particles that make up the universe.
Katie Mack has written a wildly entertaining and accessible guide to the universe, for readers who want to understand not only the wonders of contemporary physics, but the scientific quest for knowledge itself.
About The Author
Photograph by the Perimeter Institute
Dr. Katie Mack is a theoretical astrophysicist exploring a range of questions in cosmology, the study of the universe from beginning to end. She currently holds the position of Hawking Chair in Cosmology and Science Communication at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, where she carries out research on dark matter and the early universe and works to make physics more accessible to the general public. Her first book, The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking), was a New York Times Notable Book. Dr. Mack has written for a number of popular publications, such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, Scientific American, Slate, Sky & Telescope, BBC Science Focus, and Cosmos magazine. You can read more about Dr. Mack and her work at AstroKatie.com.
Product Details
- Publisher: Scribner (March 9, 2027)
- Length: 352 pages
- ISBN13: 9781668033692
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Raves and Reviews
"I am astounded by Katie Mack's ability to capture the rich complexity of the universe in a way that's accessible and entertaining. In this brilliant book, Mack makes learning feel thrilling, and along the way helps us to understand what science actually does." —John Green, author of Everything is Tuberculosis
"Mind-expanding and fascinating. Katie Mack is the perfect guide for a behind-the-scenes tour of modern physics." —Randall Munroe, creator of xkcd and author of What If?
Praise for The End of Everything
“A thrilling tour of potential cosmic doomsdays....Beyond her deep expertise, Ms. Mack’s infectious enthusiasm for communicating the finer points of cosmological doom elevates The End of Everything over any other book on the topic I have read.” —The Wall Street Journal
“Excellent, far-reaching...The book is the perfect antidote to the malaise of mundane worries.” —Science
“Mack turns the end of the universe into a starting point and delivers an accessible, enthusiastic survey of scientific forces. Lively and original, this is science writing done right.” —Publishers Weekly, Best Nonfiction of 2020
“Engrossing, elegant...Despite the book’s sobering title, [Mack] sprinkles in delightful esoterica along the way, while providing a guide to some of the most plausible scenarios about the end of the universe.” —The New York Times
“The End of Everything is a pleasure. Mack’s style is personal and often funny as she guides us along a cosmic timeline studded with scientific esoterica and mystery... I found it helpful—not reassuring, certainly, but mind-expanding—to be reminded of our place in a vast cosmos.” —James Gleick, The New York Times Book Review
“Mack offers a whirlwind tour of our possible demises and what investigating the options can reveal about physics. Through informal but rigorous prose, she describes the weird wrinkles and implications of these potential endings.” —Scientific American
“If you need a moment to be distracted from everyday life and journey to the deep cosmic future, I highly recommend The End of Everything. In it, Mack seems unable to help describing complex physics concepts as ‘fun’ and ‘cool.’ She is right, and her book is also fun and cool.” —New Scientist
“Far from being depressing, Mack’s account mixes a sense of reverence for the wonders of physics with an irreverent sense of humor and a disarming dose of candor.” —ScienceNews
“Reading about the ultimate death of the universe…will immerse you in the astonishing weirdness of our wider surroundings, and remind you of the ingenuity of scientists who have spent centuries trying to read the cosmic tea leaves.” —Vice.com
“In Mack’s hands, this speculation [about the end of the universe] makes for a fascinating story.… She is a talented communicator of complex physics, and the passion and curiosity about astronomy that have made her a popular speaker and Twitter presence are evident here.” —Nature
“[Mack] creates an accessible, easy-to-digest guide to how the universe might end, speaking in a casual way that feels like sitting down for coffee with a good friend — one who can break down the physics of destruction into bite-sized delights.” —Discover
“While there’s general agreement about the broad outlines of the Big Bang, there’s far less certainty about how everything will end, as Katie Mack expertly explains…[She] avoids getting too technical even when discussing frontiers of cosmology and theoretical physics, and keeps it entertaining as well.” —The Space Review
"An 'Interstellar'-level of mind-bending and eye-opening theories as to what the end of our universe could hold." —USA Today
“Mack takes an otherworldly subject—the death of the universe—and brings it down to earth....The End of Everything will delight both casual science readers and those looking for more in-depth analysis of theoretical astrophysics.” —BookPage
“Thinking through the science of end times is actually a thrill....Mack's pleasing writing style makes speculating about the death of the universe unexpectedly entertaining.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Anyone wondering what to read after Brian Greene’s Until the End of Time will relish this blend of wit and deep thought.” —Library Journal
“Mack’s endlessly entertaining survey is infused with a palpable love of her subject, and will transmit to readers the same joy she finds in exploring the wide and fascinating universe.” —Publishers Weekly, STARRED review
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