Is String Theory still a leading candidate for the "Theory of Everything"?

Yes. In fact, it is the leading candidate although it has serious problems in terms of evidence: there is none. The math is lovely, but in order to be a traditional type of scientific theory, string theory needs to make new predictions that can be tested about how the universe works.It hasn't done that yet, so in many ways, it can't really be considered a proper theory.

Even so, a good percentage of theoretical physics in the last 20-30 years has been devoted to string theory. Oh, and one more problem: there really isn't just one string theory, but a bunch of different string theories. Not much of a Theory of Everything, huh?

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.