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A Brief History Of Time: From Big Bang To Black Holes [Paperback]

Stephen Hawking
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (126 customer reviews)
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Book Description

1 April 1995
A Brief History of Time, published in 1988, was a landmark volume in science writing and in world-wide acclaim and popularity, with more than 9 million copies in print globally. The original edition was on the cutting edge of what was then known about the origins and nature of the universe. But the ensuing years have seen extraordinary advances in the technology of observing both the micro- and the macrocosmic world--observations that have confirmed many of Hawking's theoretical predictions in the first edition of his book.

Now a decade later, this edition updates the chapters throughout to document those advances, and also includes an entirely new chapter on Wormholes and Time Travel and a new introduction. It make vividly clear why A Brief History of Time has transformed our view of the universe.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product details

  • Paperback: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Bantam; New Ed edition (1 April 1995)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0553175211
  • ISBN-13: 978-0553175219
  • Product Dimensions: 12.7 x 1.5 x 19.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (126 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 39,488 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Amazon 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

Review

'Master of the Universe...One scientist's courageous voyage to the frontiers of the Cosmos' (Newsweek )

'This book marries a child's wonder to a genius's intellect. We journey into Hawking's universe, while marvelling at his mind' (The Sunday Times )

'He can explain the complexities of cosmological physics with an engaging combination of clarity and wit...His is a brain of extraordinary power' (Observer )

'To follow such a fine mind as it exposes such great problems is an exciting experience' (The Sunday Times )

'One of the most brilliant scientific minds since Einstein' (Daily Express )

Inside This Book (Learn More)
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First Sentence
A well-known scientist (some say it was Bertrand Russell) once gave a public lecture on astronomy. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
42 of 42 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars hawking's universe 1 Sep 2005
By liam
Format:Paperback
Reading this book was a pleasure. I found the content presented in an understandable tongue that was story like in the way I found myself drawn into this history of the universe. Of course as a layman some of the science is beyond me, but only because i do not have the necessary background to fully comprehend the full implications of the theories discussed. However not once did I feel unable to continue with the book. It was well written, well researched and fully recommend this book to anyone interested in finding out what one of themost forefront physicists of ourtime has to say about the universe are part of.
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34 of 36 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Eye-opening. 30 Nov 2003
Format:Paperback
Like so many, I have always said I'd read Brief History. So i bit the bullet and delved in...

Now I'm not a mathematician, or a physisist. Not since GSCE's have i pondered over the equations that were set down over the last few hundred years. Luckily Stephen Hawking knew this when he wrote A Brief History of Time. In fact that was his driving force.

It proved to be, from the start, an enjoyable read. Doesn't really say much does it? "An enjoyable read", sort of reaction you'd have to a Spot the Dog book. Well that's how it starts. But I got through that to discover mind blowing theories and genuine enjoyment in reading Hawkings.

Yes there are a lot of things to get your head round, things that are complicated and at times uncomprehensible. But this is said in terms of altering your view on our world and universe, not in terms of being far too complicated and above us.

It's not for everyone, but if it's for you its an enthralling read. Not one to be left on the coffee table.

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81 of 87 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction to difficult topics. 16 Sep 2005
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This is a truly excellent book. Why? Because it covers a wide range of cutting edge physics and makes it more or less understandable to everyone.

I notice that one reviewer has called this book "A Con Job" and goes on to ask "If he [Hawking] is such a great genius why do we never come across his name in the history of science? What major breakthroughs has he made? ... One reviewer admitted that he [Hawking] did not understand more than 60% of the book. I certainly didn't understand more than 10%". Well let's answer the first part shall we? Stephen Hawking provided a mathmatical proof for the big-bang theory and has done extensive research into the workings of black-holes. Are these not major breakthroughs? I certainally think so. The fact that the reviwer understood less than 10% of the content perhaps says more about his intelligence that the quality of the book.

The book is fairly short (240 pages) and this is to its credit - it is long enough to introduce and explain difficult concepts, but short enough not to bore you.

All in all, this is an great book - give it a try!

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Finally I can understand 13 Aug 1999
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
The content is mind bending, the explanations are simple for such complicated issues. I feel that he rambles, and tries too hard to show many sides of the coin at the same time, but without a doubt, the most interesting read I have had for a long time. I would definately recommend it.
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24 of 26 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant and mind boggling 24 April 2000
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Brilliant, intriguing, thought-provoking and scintillating, are four ways that this book could be described. On the other hand, it could also be named tedious, confusing, mind-boggling and unreadable. If you have a yearning to find out more about physics this book is truly brilliant, but if you're looking for a bedtime read with a bit of science thrown in, this is not for you. Hawking deals with the really difficult stuff: Einstein is quickly worked through in chapter two before you even hit the more advanced work in the last 8 chapters. Yet Hawking has allowed me to understand more about physics, and more in depth, than any of my school science teachers ever did. If you're looking for answers, this is the best place to find them from the man most capable of explaining.
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20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By M. Hadfield VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
I'm reading this book 20+ years after its initial publication. I suspect that had I read it 20 years ago my reaction would have been Wow! that's incredibly interesting stuff and given it 5 stars. 20 years is a long time in quantum physics and so a lot of the material was familiar to me, and I think, Simon Singh, in the Big Bang: The Most Important Scientific Discovery of All Time and Why You Need to Know About it covers the same territory in a much more readable and enjoyable form. Still I learned some new stuff. I found out what quarks and gluons are. I'd heard of them but had no idea what they did. I even found out they (quarks) have up and down versions and come in different colours. I also found out why strings came and went and where all those other dimensions are hiding.

I think Stephen Hawking made an admirable attempt to reach down from his lofty mental perch, he even injects a little humour from time to time. I felt that there seemed to be an undercurrent throughout the book that hinted at a possibility (or maybe probability would be a better word given the subject matter) of an uncertainty in the author's mind about the existence of God and his use of science to prove it one way or another. (God is the very last word of the final chapter)

This book is very Hawking-centric. It touches on being autobiographical. It is very much about Hawking's views, ideas, opinions, research, mistakes, and changes of mind. So although it covers the historical information about people like Newton, Einstein, and many others, it seems that that information is provided only to put Hawking's own conclusions into context.
... Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars bit disappointing
the book condition and the price were good but it was hard work trying to read it most of the time it was far above my head far to technical for me
Published 14 days ago by thomas leonard
5.0 out of 5 stars A comprehensive and encapsulating presentation of a physical...
In this work Hawking has done great justice to presenting what are very difficult concepts without dumbing them down too much or presenting excessive/confusing technical jargon. Read more
Published 16 days ago by Dion Garman
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
A very good book started it ten years ago but picked it up again recently. Would recommend to anyone with an interest in physics.
Published 1 month ago by B Cooksey
4.0 out of 5 stars Just about for the layman
Very, very interesting. If you have no background in this and can accept total ignorance to the subject and inability to really understand it, this book is accessible on an ideas... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Tom W
5.0 out of 5 stars educating
Wanted to read this book for a long time - finally got round to it. Struggled sometimes with the science bits but on the whole it was explained in an understandable way and kept me... Read more
Published 2 months ago by e2djones
5.0 out of 5 stars very good
my husband friend loved this book he really enjoys things that stephen hawkings does my best friend is really happy as her husband is very difficult to buy for
Published 3 months ago by jenny robson
3.0 out of 5 stars A unique view of time.
I got this book for my Dad, and he thought parts of it were excellent. The writing was, he felt, a little simplistic - as if he were writing for people of limited intelligence or... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Ms. Elise Hey
1.0 out of 5 stars OMG
with an honours degree and a senior management position in a large business, I thought I could cope with this now - you really need to be Stephen Hawkins to understand it - or have... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Maxine
5.0 out of 5 stars A classic
I read this when it came out and bought this to give to someone. Most people who own it have not read it all, far less understood it, but the brain-stretching is good exercise!
Published 4 months ago by Dr. M. Everard
4.0 out of 5 stars Brief history of time
It is a great book. Can certainly be hard going at times and you'll find yourself re-reading sections as you go along, but if you can keep going, it's worth it.
Published 4 months ago by R. J. Bransden
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