Reinventing Gravity

A Physicist Goes Beyond Einstein

ByJohn W. Moffat

Published September 2009

Hardcover

^$ 32.95

Description

A bold revision of one of the most successful theories of all time: Einstein’s general theory of relativity. Physicists have long known that something is wrong with gravity. Einstein’s relativity and the theory of quantum mechanics are fundamentally incompatible, which has prompted the last 30 years of work in string theory and quantum gravity. However, John Moffat has identified a bigger problem: not only does Einstein’s theory not work in the world of the very small; it does not seem to work in the world of the very large either. Moffat has developed a modified theory of gravity, or MOG, that can explain the behaviour of our universe as well as Einstein’s, without resorting to dubious, yet long-claimed excuse for the existence of invisible "dark matter."

As John Barrow of the University of Cambridge asserts, the simplicity of Moffat’s model demands that physicists take this daring new theory seriously. Now, for the first time, Reinventing Gravity introduces general readers to Moffat’s groundbreaking new ideas about the universe.

Reviews

As a young man, [Moffat] corresponded with Einstein about the latter's lifelong effort to generalize his theory of gravity and combine it into a single theory with the other forces. Moffat has been pursuing Einstein's ambition ever since... Physicists have reluctantly accepted ...anomalies for the sake of preserving Einstein's venerable theory of gravity... Moffat cuts the Gordian knot, proposing a Modified Gravity Theory, or MOG... It's a bold theory...

The Boston Globe

If evidence of [Modified Gravity Theory] is eventually found, Moffat will be hailed as one of the great physicists of our age... At the very least, Moffat has shown remarkable perseverance and an exceptional ability to 'think outside the box.' And his book--elegantly written, though occasionally challenging--provides a compelling insider's view of modern physics.

The Globe and Mail

Readers will easily follow the first-time author's lucid prose as he lays out the story of gravitation research from... Newton to Einstein ... solid, mainstream, popular science.

Kirkus

... Moffat does away with two of the more appealing elements of standard cosmology: the Big Bang and black holes... Moffat is a fluid writer who does an excellent job of translating the complexity of Einstein's theory, without the math, for the general reader, and of selling his modified theory.

Winnipeg Free Press

If MOG stands the test of time, Moffat will have created a paradigm shift not seen since Newton.

Publishers Weekly

Contributors

John W. Moffat

John W. Moffat is the author of Reinventing Gravity: A Physicist Goes Beyond Einstein. He is a professor emeritus at the University of Toronto and an adjunct professor at the University of Waterloo, as well as a member of the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Ontario.

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Book Details

Hardcover
September 2009
6.38x9.25 in
304 pp
9780887622823

Paperback
September 2009
6.0x9.0 in
296 pp
9780887624674

PDF
September 2009
-
296 pp
9781459727670