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The Black Hole War: My Battle with Stephen Hawking to Make the World Safe for Quantum Mechanics Hardcover – July 7, 2008

by Leonard Susskind (Author)

4.5 719 ratings

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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.

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Editorial Reviews

From Bookmarks Magazine

Cosmology has been sexy since Carl Sagan, Richard Feynman, and Stephen Hawking stormed onto the scene three decades ago, popularizing science for the masses. In The Black Hole War, Susskind plays on our insatiable appetite for the gee-whiz moment, combining lucid explanations for some complex ideas with stories that tend to confirm the eccentricities of the highly intelligent. In fact, it’s the author’s knack for teaching and his conversational prose that make the book accessible and therefore appealing to a wide audience. And, of course, it’s never a bad idea to drop Hawking’s name in a book’s title. “Susskind explains this dizzying notion about as clearly as is probably possible,” George Johnson writes of the author’s theory—even if, in the end, we need “a lot more data” (New York Times Book Review).
Copyright 2008 Bookmarks Publishing LLC

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.

From The Washington Post

From The Washington Post's Book World/washingtonpost.com Reviewed by James Trefil What is it about black holes, anyway? To most scientists, a black hole is something like a duck-billed platypus in the sky: weird, unusual, esoteric and not all that connected to real life. On the other hand, people just can't seem to get enough of them. Any teacher will tell you that it's a whole lot easier to get a class interested in black holes than in DNA, even though the latter will most assuredly have a real impact on their future and the former will not. Oh well, if you must learn about black holes, you could do a lot worse than to pick up this engagingly written book. Stanford physicist Leonard Susskind provides a marvelous introduction to the subject that is both readable and easy to understand. Or at least as easy as something involving the two great 20th-century advances in science -- relativity and quantum mechanics -- can possibly be. You see, until the end of the 19th century, scientists who thought about the fundamental structure of the universe had concentrated on normal-sized objects moving at normal speeds (think billiard balls). We associate this kind of science with Isaac Newton. Then, in rapid succession, the 20th century brought two revolutions. The first, which dealt with objects moving near the speed of light or having very large mass, was relativity, the brainchild of Albert Einstein. The second revolution came when people starting thinking about very small objects, such as the stuff inside the atom. The resulting theory is called quantum mechanics and was developed by a small group of young scientists in the 1920s, the most familiar probably being Werner Heisenberg of uncertainty-principle fame. One note in passing: These revolutions didn't so much replace Newton as extend his reach. Like a tree, mature sciences grow by adding new material while leaving their heartwood intact. With increasing urgency over the past 50 years, theoretical physicists have tried to tie these two great 20th-century advances together, to produce what Nobel Laureate Steven Weinberg calls "The Final Theory." So far, we have not been successful. But if you can't bring the two fields together, you would at least like to know that they don't contradict each other, that they are mutually consistent. And this is where Susskind's "war to make the world safe for quantum mechanics" comes in, because for a period of almost 20 years, it looked as if there could well be a fundamental contradiction between the basic postulates underlying the two theories. At least that's what Stephen Hawking argued, and when Hawking talks, physicists listen. Remember that a black hole is an object so compact and so massive that nothing, not even light, can escape from it. It is, in fact, a kind of one-way gate in the universe: Stuff can fall in, but nothing can come out. Because it involves both a large mass and extremely high energy, the black hole forms a kind of nexus where both relativity and quantum mechanics come into play. Thus, if there are going to be problems joining these two fields, they are likely to turn up in the behavior of black holes. In 1983, Hawking proved that, against all expectations, black holes are not eternal. In fact, over unimaginably long spans of time, they evaporate, more or less like a puddle of water on a sunny day. And that's when the "war" started, because if a black hole evaporates (and everyone agrees that it will), what happens to all the information that was carried by the stuff that fell in? That information might include things like the mass of the particles that fell in, their spin, their identity and all kinds of other properties. Hawking argued that this information was lost forever, that the black hole was truly a one-way street to oblivion. The problem is that one of the basic laws of quantum mechanics is that information cannot be lost. (I should point out that in quantum mechanics the term "information" has a technical meaning, and that losing it is more of a problem than, say, losing the shopping list you need at the supermarket.) In the case of the evaporating puddle, for example, it is theoretically possible to reconstruct the puddle by looking at the air molecules above the spot where it used to be. Hawking argued, however, that with the material that evaporated from the black hole, no such thing is possible, that the information simply disappeared. Susskind's account of his reaction to this claim and of driving home from the conference where it was first presented, distractedly scribbling equations in the frost on his windshield, beautifully describes how disturbing the idea of disappearing information was to those of us steeped in the lore of the quantum. In the end, Susskind and his colleagues were able to resolve this dilemma and, in the words of the subtitle, "make the world safe for quantum mechanics." I won't spoil the book for you by telegraphing the ending. Suffice it to say that it involves a tour through the whole arcane menagerie of modern physics -- quarks, gluons, branes, strings. And this illustrates the main problem faced by authors of this sort of book. Black hole astrophysics is about as far from everyday experience as you can get, which means that the author has to spend a lot of time bringing the reader up to speed (indeed, it takes Susskind almost 200 pages). Even when, as in this book, there is virtually no mathematics, there is an overwhelming number of strange new concepts. Consequently, I recommend digesting this book in small segments, allowing each new concept to settle in before moving on. In the end, The Black Hole Wars is as good an introduction as you're going to find to the strange world of black hole astrophysics. Add that to the chance to ride along as real scientists resolve a fundamental issue and you have the makings of a great read.
Copyright 2008, The Washington Post. All Rights Reserved.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little, Brown and Company; First Edition (July 7, 2008)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 480 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0316016403
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0316016407
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.59 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.38 x 1.5 x 9.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,091,829 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,043 in Quantum Theory (Books)
- #1,097 in Cosmology (Books)
- #1,550 in Astrophysics & Space Science (Books)

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Leonard Susskind

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Leonard Susskind (born June, 1940) is the Felix Bloch professor of theoretical physics at Stanford University, and director of the Stanford Institute for Theoretical Physics. His research interests include string theory, quantum field theory, quantum statistical mechanics and quantum cosmology. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences of the US, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, an associate member of the faculty of Canada's Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, and a distinguished professor of the Korea Institute for Advanced Study.

Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Photo by Acmedogs (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

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Mark Witczak

Science IS Stranger Than Fiction

Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2009

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This is a fantastic book for physics groupies. It's a very fast and (believe it or not) easy read. Complex concepts are laid out in simple analogies for the layman. Susskind explains most all current quantum physics concepts including string theory, holographic principle, multiple dimensions, conservation of data, and (of course) the black hole paradox. I also liked his side note about science being the study of the observable, therefore ideas about black holes leading to alternative universes, heaven, or hell cannot be considered valid hypothesis.

Much kudos to Susskind's editors! I've seen some of his lectures, and even the most elementary concept discussions he has a tendency to skip steps in explanations because they seem obvious to physicists. His editors held his feet to the ground and forced him to flesh out those elementary steps for the reader. On occasion, though, this doesn't happen. So expect a few concepts to have the "miracle happens here" step.

Susskind refers to Steven Hawking a lot in this book. I mean an exorbitant amount. Too much if you ask me. He clearly respects, admires, and challenges Hawking. We get it. No need to go overboard.

One other thing to remember while reading: the analogies drawn to help readers visualize concepts are, for the most part, one dimensional. What I mean is when the author describes something like `energy at the event horizon' as `resembling a TV set tuned to static', the analogy does not go any further than that. It doesn't mean energy shoots out from behind the surface, or it's a flat surface, or you can change the channel to I Love Lucy. It just resembles a static picture. Keep the context literal to understand the point clearly and don't `test' the analogies.

Buy this book it will blow your mind, educate you, and entertain you. This book epitomizes the phrase "Truth is stranger than fiction."

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B. Dahneke

Susskind's Black Hole War is only part of a larger battle

Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2009

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I found The Black Hole War by Leonard Susskind very interesting and enlightening, in more ways than the author intended. Susskind expertly brings the reader up to date in a simplified level of theory of Black Holes, related quantum mechanics, and entropy (information). The major portion of his book is an excellent and worthy read. (Thus my 4-star rating.) However, as in any such book, there are numerous errors. I found two to be of particular consequence. These errors are troubling because they suggest flaws in Susskind's vision of scholarship and understanding of scientific methodology. Indeed, they represent an unreasonable and arrogant attitude often encountered in scientists, especially apparent in their books and articles directed at the uninitiated and ignorant (i.e., the rest of humankind). Therefore, my review will focus on a small part of Susskind's book that, although minute, conveys the considerable weight and influence of unstated assumption and tacit belief found in many scientists.

The first consequential error is a slanderous digression into Mormonism (pages 279-281) for no stated reason. Why would Susskind invoke supposition, hearsay, prejudice, and shoddy scholarship to condemn the Mormons over their brief and legal polygamous practice in isolated communities having more women than men, an issue that has nothing to do with the subject of his book? As a self-described liberal Jew, Susskind seems to be unaware of Jewish history. Abraham, Jacob, David, and Solomon practiced polygamy or, as he so crudely put it, "God ordered Joseph to marry and impregnate as many young girls as possible." Solomon himself was a product of such practice. What does that prove? Can Susskind or the anti-Mormon authors he consults name even one product of Joseph Smith's supposed promiscuity? I think not. My Jewish friends would not make such a statement because, besides reasons of good form, they are aware of their own long and distinguished history. This whole gratuitous digression brings into question Susskind's vision of scholarship and causes one to wonder how careful he is in his other conclusions.

The second consequential error is found in Susskind's chapter entitled "Humility." He states (page 438), "If there is no way to falsify or confirm a hypothesis, it belongs to the realm of metaphysical speculation, together with astrology and spiritualism." Confirmation of fundamental scientific hypotheses is not possible because science possesses no adequate truth criterion. (See my book: Define Universe and Give Two Examples - A Comparison of Scientific and Christian Belief.) The ancient Greek philosophers were well aware of such limitation in human thinking twenty-five centuries ago but many of our humble, modern scientists are ignorant of or prefer to ignore it. Science can falsify hypotheses as it does contain "no" answers (unavoidable conflict with observed reality). But science does not presently contain "yes" answers (comprehensive agreement with all observable reality). True hypotheses could, in principle, be confirmed by such "yes" answers but not before observation of all observable reality, which must precede any responsible "yes" answer as being indubitable. We're not even close to any "yes" answer, especially when one espouses the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics by which no property of reality is even established until it is measured (observed). Only when one knows all facts and all their implications may a hypothesis be comprehensively or universally judged against reality. Thus, "tentative and contingent" is presently the best possible status for any scientific hypothesis, theory, law, or axiom and "tentative and contingent" is very distant from "confirmed." Consequently, science is presently unable to establish even approximately the nature of reality and scientists are dabbling in metaphysics when they invoke indubitable scientific conclusions in pronouncements on, say, Mormonism or Godless evolution.

Physics Today rejected my article on inherent weakness in the scientific method because they perceive fundamental understanding of scientific methodology to be of little interest among physicists at this time and, presumably, they perceive alternative philosophies (e.g., religion) to be of less value and interest. They are not alone. Most scientists are so paralyzed in their scientific paradigm they neither can nor want to see a reality consisting of more than objective facts and are apparently satisfied with a poverty of meaning. Susskind continues this tradition in the attitude he often reveals and occasionally overtly states. His humble book therefore exemplifies the self-serving, anti-religious, no-valid-thinking-outside-of-science propaganda scientists often adopt and promote, describing their friends and colleagues - and by association themselves - as brilliant, with little to no thinking beyond details of their severely-limited science. Susskind follows the normal pattern. These details and "important" associated, recently-discovered obscurity whose significance only they "understand" are used to stifle and exclude alternative opinions. People paralyzed in such an attitude are far from humble and rarely listen to or consider another way.

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R. Conner

great summary

Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2024

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Well designed for the basic learner of black holes and its ‘physics’. Makes me feel like I need to know more.

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Likehui

very informative

Reviewed in Canada on June 12, 2022

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As a physics student I enjoyed this book immensely. Very informative and very interesting as well.

Victor Evadla

EL MEJOR LIBRO QUE HE LEÍDO ACERCA DE LOS AGUJEROS NEGROS

Reviewed in Mexico on June 9, 2019

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Realmente he leído varios libros acerca del tema incluidos un par de Stephen Hawking, pero de verdad este de Leonard Susskind es fabuloso. Te lleva de la mano desde conceptos simples de física hasta las ecuaciones mas importantes que determinan el comportamiento de los agujeros negros. Lo recomiendo totalmente para todos aquellos interesados en el tema

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Deep Bhattacharjee

A must read for string theorists and black hole enthusiasts

Reviewed in India on May 4, 2019

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The book describes the following points:

Anti de sitter space
Information theory
Holographic principle
String theory
Black hole complementarity
Black hole information loss paradox
Hawking radiation
Brane workd scenario

This is the best book after elegant universe by Brian Greene !

2 people found this helpful

ptimec99

This is a very inspiring book for those curious readers whose educated career went in a totally different direction but who were always fascinated by this very abstract and almost unaccessible world of fundamental physics.

Reviewed in France on January 12, 2019

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I liked every word on every page and I devoured is. Thank you ever so much for sharing this adventure with us Professor!

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Babak Sarraf

Great read

Reviewed in Australia on December 1, 2023

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Fantastic physics book that explores a fascinating modern history of physics through a specific lens (whether loss of information is possible beyond the horizon of a black hole). Beautifully told and contains some great general wisdom about the nature of science and the trajectory of physics. Very recommended.

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