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A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes
 
 

A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes (Paperback)

by Stephen Hawking (Author) "A well-known scientist (some say it was Bertrand Russell) once gave a public lecture on astronomy ..." (more)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
RRP: £8.99
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A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes + The Origin of Species (Wordsworth Classics of World Literature) + The God Delusion
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Product details

  • Paperback: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Bantam Books; New edition edition (6 April 1995)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0553175211
  • ISBN-13: 978-0553175219
  • Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 12.8 x 2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 1,925 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #1 in  Books > Scientific, Technical & Medical > Physics > Relativity Physics
    #1 in  Books > Science & Nature > Physics > Relativity
    #4 in  Books > Science & Nature > Popular Science > Physics

Product Description

Amazon.co.uk 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

Product Description

Was there a beginning of time?, Could time run backwards? and Is the universe infinite are just some of the questions considered in this book for the non-scientific layman. The author begins by reviewing the great theories of the cosmos from Newton to Einstein and then delves into the secrets which lie at the heart of space and time.

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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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A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes
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Customer Reviews

65 Reviews
5 star:
 (33)
4 star:
 (21)
3 star:
 (6)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (4)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (65 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
46 of 48 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction to difficult topics., 16 Sep 2005
By A Customer
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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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Eye-opening., 30 Nov 2003
By A. Gasson "Adam" (South West, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
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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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Exploring the mind of God, 26 Sep 2000
By A Customer
Sometimes we are used to study physics like mathematics, like an abstract subject. But what happens when we take our equations, our knowledge of the nature and we put them together, creating a unitarian view of the world around us? We are not just studying an equation, we are studying physics, the Universe's behaviour and, finally, understanding the meaning of it all. And Hawking does make this happen without any unusual/tough matematical formula!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Great content, not great style
I am a first year undergraduate physics student and this book is one of the ones that really got me in to physics. Read more
Published 25 days ago by James Barrett

5.0 out of 5 stars An interesting read
Bought as a Christmas present for my husband to accompany the program he watched. He found it helped his understanding of a very complex but interesting subject.
Published 1 month ago by J. Davison

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
This book is the perfect start for those with an interest in the universe. Its not too complicated and easy to get your head round. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Robert I. Thomson

4.0 out of 5 stars Still difficult
I bought this book for myself and my 12 year old son. The claims that it makes the difficult accessible are not quite true. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mrs. J. G. Juran

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good read
Interesting book, very clearly explained basics of astrophysics but some ideas might be a bit out of date for progress in that field is fast. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mr FrantaDan

4.0 out of 5 stars A Glimpse of their genius
Thought I'd get this book and try to understand some of the deep questions that Lie within - -I pretty much just want to improve my 'pub knowledge' of this end of science. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Richard Crabtree

3.0 out of 5 stars Complex theories made available for the non-specialist
An interest in science, particularly physics is necessary to fully enjoy this intriguing book.

Stephen Hawking has created a book in which some of most complex... Read more
Published 5 months ago by J. Cooper

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazon feedback to customer service
Amazon provides a good service. But, I have to order over the internet. Amazon are 4 miles from where I live so I would like to be able to go into your shop and buy a book... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Ms. Alexandra M. Kessler

4.0 out of 5 stars Hard To Fathom From Zero
No doubt Hawkings knows his stuff but he's not so good at passing that knowledge on. There is just not enough groundwork explanation of stuff that is required for someone coming... Read more
Published 5 months ago by demola

1.0 out of 5 stars Not impressed at all I'm afraid
Ah well, I *really* tried to like this book, but no success. I shall have to be one of the very small few who found this a dull, unengaging read. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Jim Kennedy

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