The Black Hole War: My Battle with Stephen Hawking to Make the World Safe for Quantum Mechanics

Leonard Susskind

Jul 2008 · Sold by Little, Brown

About this ebook

What happens when something is sucked into a black hole? Does it disappear? Three decades ago, a young physicist named Stephen Hawking claimed it did, and in doing so put at risk everything we know about physics and the fundamental laws of the universe. Most scientists didn't recognize the import of Hawking's claims, but Leonard Susskind and Gerard t'Hooft realized the threat, and responded with a counterattack that changed the course of physics.

The Black Hole War is the thrilling story of their united effort to reconcile Hawking's revolutionary theories of black holes with their own sense of reality -- effort that would eventually result in Hawking admitting he was wrong, paying up, and Susskind and t'Hooft realizing that our world is a hologram projected from the outer boundaries of space.

A brilliant book about modern physics, quantum mechanics, the fate of stars and the deep mysteries of black holes, Leonard Susskind's account of the Black Hole War is mind-bending and exhilarating reading.

Ratings and reviews

I listened to the audio version of the Black Hole War and found it quite enjoyable. There were only a few times I felt lost in a field that is way beyond my current knowledge base. To me this means that Susskind's ability to explain is quite amazing. If you want to be even more fascinated by the universe we live in and can know about this is one of those books to read.

I wish I could explain just how amazing this book is. Leonard just has an amazing way of opening your mind. When you do read this book, take it slow and really think about what he is explaining. He writes in a manner that can be understood by the beginner scientist or someone whom just wants to learn a little more about our universe. If you are more advanced in the fields of science you will surely enjoy this book. It is a easy read that will keep dragging you back for more. I love this book!

Would give it 5 stars if it doesn't have some political agenda in it such as solar powers or water down explanation on distorted of time and space

About the author

Leonard Susskind has been the Felix Bloch Professor in theoretical physics at Stanford University since 1978. The author of The Cosmic Landscape, he is a member of the National Academy of Science and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the recipient of numerous prizes including the science writing prize of the American Institute of Physics for his Scientific American article on black holes. He lives in Palo Alto, California.