#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERA landmark volume in science writing by one of the great minds of our time, Stephen Hawking’s book explores such profound questions as: How did the universe begin—and what made its start possible? Does time always flow forward? Is the universe unending—or are there boundaries? Are there other dimensions in space? What will happen when it all ends?Told in language we … ends?
Told in language we all can understand, A Brief History of Time plunges into the exotic realms of black holes and quarks, of antimatter and “arrows of time,” of the big bang and a bigger God—where the possibilities are wondrous and unexpected. With exciting images and profound imagination, Stephen Hawking brings us closer to the ultimate secrets at the very heart of creation.
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The best simple account of relativity and its influence in today’s scientific thought.
If you are curious, and you like science (even just a bit), this book is a fascinating read.
At times a difficult read due to the complexity of the content but well worth effort if you want to have better understanding of physics and cosmology.
From the mind of the most intelligent man ever. How could any ordinary person expect to actually understand the physics of anything? Professor Hawking puts all of the information into terms that a child could understand.
This is one of the few books that I keep as a hard copy because I go back to it time and again for more information.
If you want to get an understanding of where we are, this is the book for you. Science written in a way that is accessible to [I would hope] everyone.
Very glad I read this.
I have found Dr Hawkins books easy to read and understand for non-science individuals.
An easy read for the layman. Entertaining and informative.
Transformative.
A challenging read. But if you can get through it, you end up with an amazing view of time and the universe around us.
An absolute classic, a must for everybody who is trying to understand the complex evolution of the universe. It should be mandatory school reading.
Best science book (universe formation) for dummies
Read it with a group. We helped each other. Definitely a “must-read”.
This is the book that launched my career as an armchair physicist. I had always been interested in physics of all types–astro, theoretical, etc.–but not being of a mathematical bent (in fact, I’m math-phobic), Einstein’s theory of special and general relativity, Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, quantum mechanics–I resigned myself to the reality that my hunger for this esoteric knowledge would never be satisfied. Then I discovered A Brief History of Time. For me, it was the first time anyone had explained the concepts in English, rather than in formulas, which I can’t even look at without panicking. I might be wrong, but I think it was the wild success of this book that inspired other physicists–Kip Thorne, for example–to follow in Hawking’s footsteps and convey these concepts to the unwashed, ignorant masses, of which I am definitely a part. A Brief History of Time does a wonderful job of giving us non-physicists a ringside view and an understanding of the world Hawking lived in, with all its complexity and beauty. I have to say, though I appreciate all of the physicists who have shared their worlds and their visions with me, I am, and will always be a Stephen Hawking fangirl.
Be prepared to work at this one, I would say.
Parts of this book were very easy to read and absorb, other parts, not so easy, but it was all good – and well worth the read.
Even though this book is for the reader with limited knowledge on the subject it was somewhat difficult to read but once I started the book I was hooked and knew that I would re-read it numerous times to fully absorb its contents.
Incomprehensible
Good discussion on black holes, quantum physics, and space among other topics. Very readable but you need a little high school physics.
Mr. Hawking has an exceptional way of explaining complex science and physics of the universe around us. While I had to re-read a few sections, I found the book entertaining and enlightening. I have a greater respect for the world and Mr. Hawking himself.
I never agreed with all of Hawking’s Theology, but I certainly appreciated reviewing his writing and philosophy. An excellent book for those who can get a handle on it!