title: Fashion, Faith, and Fantasy in the New Physics of the Universe
author:  Roger Penrose 
description: <b>"Winner of the 2017 PROSE Award in Chemistry &amp;amp; Physics, Association of American Publishers"</b><br /><br />"Physics has been at an awkward impasse for the past century. Two theories--quantum mechanics and general relativity--are widely believed to be true. . . . But they contradict each other in basic ways--they cannot both be entirely true. In <i>Fashion, Faith, and Fantasy in the New Physics of the Universe</i> . . . Roger Penrose, an elder statesman of physics, considers the problem. As intellectually offbeat as he is eminent . . . He ventures here some novel ways in which the two theories might be reconciled." (<i>Wall Street Journal</i>)<br /><br />"Penrose gets to the heart of modern physics' problem with subjectivity in this insightful and provocative pop-sci title. . . . [A] rewarding discussion of scientific stumbles in the search for truth." (<i>Publishers Weekly</i>)<br /><br />"It is always inspiring to read Penrose's uncompromisingly independent perspective on physics."<b>---Richard Dawid, <i>Nature</i></b><br /><br />"An extremely original, rich, and thoughtful survey of today's most fashionable attempts to decipher the cosmos on its smallest and largest scales." (<i>Science</i>)<br /><br />"I can't recommend [<i>Fashion, Faith, and Fantasy in the New Physics of the Universe</i>] too highly to anyone with a serious interest in fundamental questions about physics."<b>---Peter Woit, <i>Not Even Wrong</i></b><br /><br />"In standing outside the fray and criticising the central dogmas of fundamental physics, Penrose is playing the role of Einstein, who forced quantum theorists to defend and hone their ideas, and Sir Fred Hoyle, who persistently challenged Big Bang theorists to sharpen their ideas. This is an extremely important role, and long may Penrose fulfill it." (<i>Times Higher Education</i>)<br /><br />"[A] beautifully produced, beautifully laid-out and diagrammed book. . . . There is possibly no better or more original expositor than Penrose to draw from. If modern physics theory is of interest to you, you certainly won't want to ignore this book." (<i>Math Frolic</i>)<br /><br />"The book is replete with phenomenal visual representations of the physics under discussion, a reminder of Penrose's ability to see and describe physics in a unique way. . . . Ultimately, what is most valuable about the book is the excellent example he offers in how to ask questions."<b>---Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, <i>Physics World</i></b><br /><br />"Something is rotten in the state of physics. . . . The eminent mathematician and physicist Roger Penrose identifies several possible sources of the rot. . . . He is not one to be intimidated by an overwhelming majority, no matter how illustrious and vocal it is. He sets out his objections politely and with exemplary patience towards the keepers of physics orthodoxy. . . . Time will tell whether any of his judgments are correct. In the meantime, his critics would do well to remember George Bernard Shaw's warning: The minority is sometimes right; the majority is always wrong.'"<b>---Graham Farmelo, <i>The Guardian</i></b>
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  ![image](../images/cover.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  FASHION,  
  FAITH,  
  AND  
  FANTASY
  
  
  in the New Physics of the Universe
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ROGER  
  PENROSE
  
  
  FASHION,  
  FAITH,  
  AND  
  FANTASY
  
  
  in the New Physics of the Universe
  
  
  PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS
  
  
  PRINCETON AND OXFORD
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Copyright © 2016 by Roger Penrose
  
  
  Requests for permission to reproduce material from this work should be sent to
  Permissions, Princeton University Press
  
  
  Published by Princeton University Press,
  
  
  41 William Street, Princeton, New Jersey 08540
  
  
  In the United Kingdom: Princeton University Press,
  
  
  6 Oxford Street, Woodstock, Oxfordshire OX20 1TR
  
  
  [press.princeton.edu](http://press.princeton.edu)
  
  
  Cover design by Carmina Alvarez-Gaffin
  
  
  All Rights Reserved
  
  
  Third printing, and first paperback printing, 2017
  
  
  Paperback ISBN 978-0-691-17853-0
  
  
  Cloth ISBN: 978-0-691-11979-3 (alk. paper)
  
  
  Library of Congress Control Number: 2017941739
  
  
  British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data is available
  
  
  This book