A fascinating book by the king of popular science, 'Parallel Worlds' allows the non-physicist to get a grasp on some of the most confusing yet interesting aspects of the entire cosmos. Kaku himself is one of the founders of string-theory – possibly the most exciting scientific theory of our own times – and is therefore well-placed to write about it and its implications, and this he achieves remarkably well, using comparisons and analogies to convey mind-boggling concepts to a non-scientific reader. If you’ve ever wondered whether life could exist out there in deep space, or whether we could travel across billions and billions of lightyears of space – or indeed whether we could travel in time, then this is certainly a book which will answer some of your questions. But be prepared to radically alter your view of the world (assuming no prior scientific knowledge). Kaku will introduce you to a world of many dimensions, and invites you to imagine an entirely separate world separated from you by the tiniest of distances – a world which we just cannot see. I came to this book as a non-scientist with a keen interest in the world, the universe, and the way things work. Although I had to re-read one particular chapter this is unsurprising given the subject matter and my lack of specialist knowledge. Overall the book was highly readable and thought-provoking.

Incredibly interesting and exciting investigation and introduction to the science of both the very very large and the infinitely small. Kaku has a wonderful talent in using humour and light-heartedness to tackle an incredibly complex, mind-blowing subject. A rewarding read if you persevere.

This is a truly perspective shattering book.Whilst it may be fourteen years old Kaku remains the authority on string theory and the multiverse. Through string theory and related M theory the author builds a convincing argument for the existence of additional dimensions and alternative universes. Without resorting to formulae Kaku uses cutting edge knowledge to demonstrate that future exploration of the multiverse is not against any law of physics and limited only by our ability to manage and compute with the requisite amount of information. It is postulated future generations using quantum computing and the ability to harness the power of dark energy and matter as well as negative energy will possess the power to escape this universe, provided humanity doesn’t self destruct via climate change or warfare in the mean time. This is a book peppered with references to meaningful science fiction and explores the religious, philosophical and metaphysical consequences of the multiverse.