How is the universe put together? What came before the big bang? What would happen to you if, god forbid, you fell into a black hole? Is time travel possible? What is space?

For answers to the deepest questions in science, physicists have sought to merge their current theories into a unified theory. The natural world is seamless; there are no signposts proclaiming that one set of rules applies here and another there. Theories so far have failed to capture this unity. A veritable Who’s Who of physicists over the past century, beginning with Albert Einstein, has tried to reconcile them. They have made substantial progress, deepened their understanding, and made Nobel-winning discoveries along the way. Yet unification still eludes them.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to String Theory captures the present state of that search and brings you up to speed on the leading contender for a unified theory, known as string theory, as well as the major alternatives. The book is available in bookstore, both online and in the physical universe, and you can download Kindle, iBook, eBook, and audiobook versions.

This site offers errata, links, and other goodies. I hope you’re enjoying the book and find it useful. Here's your opportunity to learn more!

The book is designed for anyone who feels intimidated by physics. Even experts tell me they have found it helpful—it lays out the principles that most textbooks gloss over: