“There was a time when ‘universe’ meant ‘all there is,’” writes Greene, “but soon we may have to redefine that word, along with our own meager understanding of the cosmos.” A theoretical physicist and celebrated author, Greene offers intrepid readers another in-depth yet marvelously accessible look inside the perplexing world of modern theoretical physics and cosmology. Greene’s book The Elegant Universe explained late 20th-century efforts to find a unified theory of everything, culminating with string theory. But string theory opened up a new can of worms, hinting at the possible existence of multiple universes and other strange entities. The possibility of other universes existing alongside our own like holes in “a gigantic block of Swiss cheese” seems more likely every day. Beginning with relativity theory, the Big Bang, and our expanding universe, Greene introduces first the mind-blowing multiplicity of forms those parallel universes might take, from patchwork quilts or stretchy “branes” to landscapes and holograms riddled with black holes. With his inspired analogies starring everyone from South Park’s Eric Cartman to Ms. Pac-Man and a can of Pringles, Greene presents a lucid, intriguing, and triumphantly understandable state-of-the-art look at the universe.

“…exciting and rewarding…captures and engages the imagination.”
— New York Times

“…a wonderful way to coax your brain into a host of strange and unfamiliar domains.”
— Boston Globe

“…his arguments are constructed like classical cathedrals, with intricate arches and buttresses that all uphold the central spire…”
–Salon

“…If extraterrestrials landed
 tomorrow and demanded to know what the human mind is capable of
 accomplishing, we could do worse than to hand them a copy of this
book…”
–New York Times Book Review

“Arcane yet exciting physics, wrapped up in effortless prose… Greene has done it again.”
–New Scientist

“Greene is immensely gifted at finding apt and colourful everyday analogies for the arcane byways of theoretical physics.”
–Toronto Star

“…entertaining and well written…Greene is a keen interpreter…”
–Christian Science Monitor

“Greene’s success at explaining the patently inexplicable lies in the way he delightfully melds the utterly bizarre and the utterly familiar…”
–Providence Journal

“…exotic cosmic terrain through which Greene provides expert guidance…”
–Oregonian

“…a lucid, intriguing, and triumphantly understandable state-of-the-art look at the universe.”
— Publisher’s Weekly (Starred Review)

“[Greene] has an elegant knack for anticipating questions and immediately dealing with any confusion or objections…”
–The Daily Beast

“…Greene’s balletic footwork, like some multi-limbed Asian deity, dances into being each different theoretical framework that could support multiple universes…”
–The Barnes and Noble Review

“…[Greene’s] textual explanations are lucid….he is a master at using analogies and metaphors…”
–East Hampton Star

“[Greene] has something fresh and insightful to say about pretty much everything…”
–Sciencefiction.com

“…The Hidden Reality is an accessible and surprisingly witty handbook to parallel universes…”
–Toronto Star

“…an exhilarating—if sometimes vertigo-inducing—journey…”
–Bookpage.com

“… a rare accomplishment in science writing for a popular audience.”
–Amazon.com, Best Books of the Month, January 2011.