Penrose: The Road to Reality

[Aki]

Roger Penrose released this new book last year. I first saw it in the bookstore for $85, and it's over 1000pages. At that time, I didn't want to buy it because it costs too much, and judging by the length, it seems like it's not suitable for me. Anyways, a few days ago, Slashdot posted a review http://science.slashdot.org/science/05/05/09/2145236.shtml?tid=228&tid=6&tid=14

 

It sounds like it's good, and it's worth the money. Does any of you have a copy of the book, or have read it before?

[CraigD]

I've not read "The Road to Reality", but likely will.

 

$80+ is a lot to pay for a book you may not enjoy. My advice would be to read one of his earlier books, which can be had from amazon.com for $6-$12.21 +S&H.

 

I read Penrose's "The Emperor's New Mind" around 1990, and was very impressed. Prior to that, my only awareness or Penrose had to do with his discovery/proof of a class of non-regular tilings, which according to some made him a candidate for smartest living human. I was delighted to find he was also an articulate writer, able to clearly present very complex and complicated ideas to non-specialists without any "dumbing down". Although I found myself years later in strong disagreement with the book's major contention - that human consciousness was due to an as-yet undiscovered quantum effect within very small brain structures - to this day I consult its chapter on Turing machines, and recommend it as the best discussion of the subject I believe I've ever read.

[Dark Mind]

Sound like a good book to pick up, 85$ is a bit out of my price range right now though. I'll just wait 'till I see it in the used bookstore :).

[Turtle]

___The Emperors New Mind is indeed good & I have also read good reviews on this new work in regard to readability. His work on tilings helped me develop the flexigon for constructing Katabatak tilings (see Hypography thread "Katabatak Math..." for an image of a flexigon & some tilings I constructed as well). I may have even written Roger, but received no reply; busy on his book no doubt. ;)

 

PS You might find a bargain on the book by joining one of the monthly book clubs. ;)

[adjective]

It's only $25 on amazon, hardcover, and it has free shipping.

 

The only complaint I've heard thus far was that his personal biases show through (i.e. he talks a lot about twistor theory near the end). Other than this, it sounds as if it's a pretty thorough treatment of modern scientific thought.