A review by sevenlefts
Why Does the World Exist?: An Existential Detective Story by Jim Holt

2.0

Holt sets out to answer the question "why is there something rather than nothing?" To find out, he speaks with philosophers, theologians, writers, and physicists. I have to admit that much of the thinking went over my head. I thought the later chapters about what constitutes the idea of "I" and the self pretty interesting. His letter to an Oxford professor explaining how he thinks he might have worked out the answer would require many more re-readings, I'm afraid, before it would start to sink in. I think I'll just exist for now, and concentrate on being something rather than nothing.