Introduction 1Part 1: Introducing String Theory 5Chapter 1: So What Is String Theory Anyway? 7Chapter 2: The Physics Road Dead-Ends at Quantum Gravity 21Chapter 3: Accomplishments and Failures of String Theory 35Part 2: The Physics Upon Which String Theory Is Built 45Chapter 4: Putting String Theory in Context: Understanding the Method of Science 47Chapter 5: What You Must Know about Classical Physics 61Chapter 6: Revolutionizing Space and Time: Einstein's Relativity 81Chapter 7: Brushing Up on Quantum Theory Basics 101Chapter 8: The Standard Model of Particle Physics 119Chapter 9: Physics in Space: Considering Cosmology and Astrophysics 141Part 3: Building String Theory: A Theory of Everything 161Chapter 10: Early Strings and Superstrings: Unearthing the Theory's Beginnings 163Chapter 11: M-Theory and Beyond: Bringing String Theory Together 187Chapter 12: Exploring Strings and Their Landscape 203Chapter 13: Gaining Insights from the Holographic Principle 217Chapter 14: Putting String ...Theory to the Test 237Part 4: The Unseen Cosmos: String Theory on the Boundaries of Knowledge 261Chapter 15: Making Space for Extra Dimensions 263Chapter 16: Our Universe -- String Theory, Cosmology, and Astrophysics 279Chapter 17: Have Time, Will Travel 297Part 5: What the Other Guys Say: Criticisms and Alternatives 317Chapter 18: Taking a Closer Look at the String Theory Controversy 319Chapter 19: Loop Quantum Gravity: String Theory's Biggest Competitor 339Chapter 20: Considering Other Ways to Explain the Universe 349Part 6: The Part of Tens 365Chapter 21: Ten Tests for a Theory of Quantum Gravity 367Index 373