[Soul Surfer (OP)]

I have just finished reading Lee Smolin's recent book  "The trouble with Physics"

I just cannot reccommend it highly enough on several counts.

It is an excellent clear and understandable book for the layman on the development of modern physics rict up to current string theory and quantum gravity from one of the most well read and unbiased experts in the area.  It goes on to analyse the philosophy and socioligy of current physics research and finds some significant weaknesses that may have caused the lack of any real progress in the last thirty years.

It will give you "entrepreneurs in physics" out there a good idea for what you really need to do to generate some innovative physics.  This is not trying to find "mistakes" in well accepted theories but in genuine innovative thinking.