Michio Kaku Books: Physics Community Opinion

AI Thread Summary
The discussion highlights the mixed reception of Michio Kaku's works, particularly "Physics of the Impossible." While Kaku is recognized as a skilled writer who makes complex topics accessible to a general audience, some physicists criticize him for oversimplifying concepts. Critics, particularly those opposed to string theory, often dismiss his popular science contributions despite acknowledging his significant academic achievements, including over 170 papers on string theory and advanced textbooks. Kaku is viewed by some as a modern successor to Carl Sagan in the realm of science communication, effectively bridging the gap between complex physics and public understanding.
thrill3rnit3
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I am wondering what the physics community thinks of Kaku and his books, most notably his "Physics of the Impossible" book.
 
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thrill3rnit3 said:
I am wondering what the physics community thinks of Kaku and his books, most notably his "Physics of the Impossible" book.
He's a good writer, albeit he does tend to over simplify things to accommodate a general audience. In the book "Physics of the Impossible" Kaku discusses the plausibility of popular science fiction concepts.

Physicists, especially those who dislike string theory, tend to sneer at Kaku's popular works while ignoring his extensive technical contributions. I would say that he's more than just a successful author since he has published over 170 papers on string theory, several doctoral textbooks, and built a particle accelerator in high school... As far as I can tell, Kaku seems to be the successor to Carl Sagan in terms of popularizing science.
 
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