A Brief History of Time |
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Stephen Hawking
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Pages: (Audio Cassette)
ISBN: 5557087753
Pub: Books on Tape
Pub date: 1988-01
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 521569
Editorial Review:
Stephen Hawking, one of the most brilliant theoretical physicists in history, wrote the modern classic A Brief History of Time to help non-scientists understand fundamental questions of physics and our existence: where did the universe come from? How and why did it begin? Will it come to an end, and if so, how? Hawking attempts to deal with these questions (and where we might look for answers) using a minimum of technical jargon. Among the topics gracefully covered are gravity, black holes, the Big Bang, the nature of time and physicists' search for a grand unifying theory. This is deep science; the concepts are so vast (or so tiny) that they cause mental vertigo while reading, and one can't help but marvel at Hawking's ability to synthesize this difficult subject for people not used to thinking about things like alternate dimensions. The journey is certainly worth taking for as Hawking says, the reward of understanding the universe may be a glimpse of "the mind of God". --Therese Littleton, Amazon.com
Reader Reviews:
Fate of Space and Time: Blackholes to Big Crunch (0/0 people found this helpful)
This is one of the early books written for those who prefer words to equations to understand cosmology of blackholes. The author attempts to answer basic questions such as; was there a beginning of time? Is there an end to the universe? What are similarities of blackholes, singularity, and Big Crunch? Is the universe infinite? Or does it have boundaries? What are the effects of the critical value of the universe's density on its rate of expansion? What is the role of God in the creation of the universe and how it can be evaluated by the anthropic principle? Did God creat laws of quantum mechanics and theory of relativity and let it evolve itself without leaving an option for him to intervene? How did he choose an initial state or configuration of the universe? What were the boundary conditions at the beginning of time? The author reviews the literature that includes Newton's laws of gravitational force, Einstein's theory of relativity, and quantum mechanics. Problems arise when one combines these theories to understand the four natural forces; the electromagnetic force; the strong and weak nuclear forces; and the gravitational force by one unified field theory (Quantum theory of gravity, and Superstring Theory). This theory must unify the forces of the cosmos and forces of microcosm so that it can explain the grand plan of God in the creation of heaven and earth. The author describes quite a few interesting anecdotes in academic research: The first experimental evidence in support of Einstein's theory of relativity contained errors that were as great as the effect they were trying to measure. In 1920s it was supposed that there were only three men who understood theory of relativity and now thousands of graduate students and many millions are familiar with this theory: Many readers should be encouraged at this. When the author presented his theory that black hole radiates like a hot body, many repudiated his assertion and later accepted it. Max Born, a Nobel Laureate in 1928 told a group that physics research will end in six months, when Dirac published equations for an electron, in the anticipation that the whole of physics problems are solved. This should remind all of us how far the science and mankind has progressed despite this prediction. Newton, one of the greatest scientists of this planet also had a streak of meanness in him. Einstein's honesty as a scientist could be found when he admitted that his universal constant to account for a static universe is a mistake, but he was also less willing to accept quantum mechanics; this is known by his well known comment that "God does not play dice." Hawking having a bet with Kip Thorne over the existence of black holes in Cygnus X-1 for Penthouse magazine to Private Eye magazine shows the fun side of academic rivalry. This is one of the very few books I have read that discusses God's role at the level of quantum mechanics. The reader should feel lucky to have such a book for his/her personal library.
The Prof Delivers! (0/0 people found this helpful)
A Brief History of Time became one of those fashionable books to own during the mid `90s, it also happens to be a fantastic read.
I won't pretend that I fully understood everything discussed in this book, I don't come from a background of quantum mechanics or anything like that. However, I love the passion with which Hawking writes. Whilst reading the book you begin to feel some of his almost childlike excitement and awe as he explains in language simple to him and (to his credit) pretty much accessable to the layman, the wonders of the galaxy and origins of the universe itself.
And why wouldn't he be excited about something which is so cutting edge? Something which constantly brings you closer to the great answer whilst at the same time bringing up more questions.
I am a devout Atheist, I don't believe in a God or of any other deity - and this book, which is solid science, even starts to introduce you to the idea of a higher intelligence without actually seriously suggesting it. That is why I hold this book in such high regard, it gets you to think about what you believe, to question the way you think about the universe.
A lot of people argue that Hawking may have a great mind, but that there are many greater. That maybe so, but Hawking has managed to bring to the masses a subject which is usually the exclusive subject of discussion only in very specific academic circles.
My only qualm about this book is that it does sometimes start to lose itself in terminology and confuse the reader - but hey, when you're reading a book on such a subject as The History Of Time - you have to expect a degree of bafflement!
Light in a Black Hole of Confusion (1/1 people found this helpful)
Upon picking up a book by Stephen Hawking, one only knows of his scientific genius and as an established character in modern physics but his book "A Brief History of Time," attempts to bring together his world of physics with the reader, trying to let them understand more about the universe around them.
Whilst no question can be made about the writer's knowledge, nor the scientific content or accuracy of this book, the style and explanations often left me unclear and with little or no understand of the principles Hawking was trying to present. Diagrams were left unexplained and important concepts were glossed over, with assumed previous knowledge. For the average reader of this book, it does not truly put physics in a language they can understand.
The author's notes and the short sections of historical context offer a break for the reader throughout this book. Hawking interestingly comments that for every equation contained in the book, the readership would halve, therefore deciding to include only one equation, E=mc2, only talking about it with reference to popular culture. However complex mathematics, assumed knowledge and poorly explained concepts leave the reader no better off than before. The small sections at the start of every chapter which often delve into physics past are the only break for the average person.
On finishing this book, the "brief" element of this history certainly comes through. Whilst I do recognise the scientific concepts have gained small amounts of knowledge that I did not know before, Hawking should be rewarded for trying to put physics out to the masses and in a book short enough that people would not be put off trying to read. It does, however, still leave us with the question, where can I find a book that explains these complex concepts simply and in brief? If Hawking can't do it, then who can?
Written before popular advent of Internet..Clearer Now (1/2 people found this helpful)
The book remains for informed insiders; perhaps not the inner circle, but definitely `you gotta know it to get it.' Hawking consistently gives very short descriptions of theories that he then refers to throughout the text, but in ways that have little to do with the aspects he defined and in fact require more complete information. For example, I was frustrated trying to use his explanation of the theory of general relativity . Luckily, in the years between my earlier attempt and this reading, the web has burgeoned and I was able to find a more complete and yet still brief but comprehensible explanation of this theory. And oh my goodness, Hawking now made sense. Obviously the connection is clear in Hawking's mind, but it never made the transition to words on the page.
Despite all, I *did* get it. But unfortunately, rather than finishing with a desire to learn more I am just tired and glad to be done with it. I feel like I subjected myself to a badly presented lecture series.
just ok (1/5 people found this helpful)
I didn't think this book was particularly well written. Hawking writes about subjects that are intensely interesting - however, he skims over the details, presuming that we all understand exactly what he is talking about, and moves too quickly to the next subject as if all the metaphysical and philosphical implications of his theories are obvious.
However, the last couple of chapters are incredible. They left me wanting more. Check out my wishlist if anyone wants to treat me.
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