Re: QUERY: Resources on string theory, etc. (fwd)

Robert J. Bradbury (bradbury@www.aeiveos.com)
Wed, 11 Aug 1999 11:17:40 -0700 (PDT)

> Michael S. Lorrey <mike@lorrey.com> wrote:

> > recommend for reading to catch up on recent developments in theoretical
> > physics, particularly string theory?
> >
> > _Hyperspace : A Scientific Odyssey Through Parallel Universes, Time Warps
> > and the Tenth Dimension_,
> > Michio Kaku; Paperback; $11.96 (Amazon)
>
> Kaku is kaka. He's a luddite posing as a scientist.
>
Well... I'm going to have to mildly disagree with Mike on this one. I will withhold any and all judgements with regard to Hyperspace (because I haven't read it) and string theory because its more magic physics which is irrelevant until we get to the SI stage. [It may be the most accurate thing in the world but it doesn't mean doggy-doo-doo to whether or not you or I become relatively "immortal".]

However, Kaku's "Visions" book, I have read and generally speaking it is very accurate. It is perhaps the "best of the bunch" with regard to current forecasts of technology trends. He manages to survey a wide variety of areas and doesn't get biotechnology completely inaccurate (as some others do). He isn't as forward looking as Moravec is however. Since I didn't notice any anti-technology bias in Visions, I'll have to say he isn't a luddite, at least not in the Jeremy Rifkin sense.

Mike, you'll have to elaborate on this a bit more to get my vote.

Robert