 | The Standard Model has a surprisingly low profile for such a fundamental and successful theory.... In physics news items, the Standard Model usually plays the whipping boy. Reports of successful experimental tests of the theory have an air of disappointment, and every hint of the theory's inadequacy is greeted with glee. It is the Rodney Dangerfield of physical theories, it "don't get no respect." But it is, perhaps, the pinnacle of human intellectual achievement to date.
—From the Introduction
If you're looking for a brief introduction to modern physics, check out this book. At less than 300 pages, it will make for a relatively quick read (not counting the time spent chewing on the concepts), but the brevity also means that you won't come away with a deep understanding of the material. This book serves as a springboard for understanding the most accurate physical theory of the universe to date.
There is a mild use of jargon, but also a glossary including both jargon and light-hearted pet names (Mexican hat potential). Certain chapters (Welcome to the Subatomic Zoo, The Color of Quarks) will begin to sound like a Dr. Seuss nightmare; unfortunately inevitable when discussing the subject. The author keeps the things fun with little stabs of humor here and there (When you touch the doorknob, the extra electrons try to escape your body, repelled not by your personality, but by their mutual electric force...).
Overall, The Theory of Almost Everything provides a satisfactory introduction to the Standard Model. Not until the final paragraph is there any mention of "humility" in the face of an awesome challenge such as understanding the universe. Whether it was an act of appeasement or the author's actual feelings, it doesn't distract from the spirit of the book: a celebration of human ability and intelligence.
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The Theory of Almost Everything: The Standard Model, the Unsung Triumph of Modern Physics by Robert Oerter
