Rating: 
Summary: Wondrous Nature Of The Universe Explained To Laymen!
Review: For those of us who were actually curious enough to actually open the covers of this remarkable exposition of very sophisticated scientific concepts laid simpler and comprehensible in Professor Stephen Hawking's disarmingly straightforward style, update and expanded original version of the originally published text is indeed a veritable treasure trove of layman's explanations for some wondrous scientific phenomena. Hawking, who is still a Lecturer in Physics at Cambridge University despite an progressively debilitating neuro-muscular disease, has a rather unique capability to eschew anything other than the bare minimum of all the otherwise stupefying scientific mumbo-jumbo as he explains various aspects of the expanding universe as black holes, the nature of time, the so-called "big bang", and then again, even the phenomenon of gravity itself. Hawking addresses the fundamental nature of physics as he proceeds to sift through these fascinating and long enduring mysteries of the universe. As a result, then, his somewhat rhetorical questions are presented for the single purpose of elucidating some interesting, provocative, and fairly indisputable answers to the nearly timeless ponderings we all seem to harbor about this wider world we all inhabit. Still, one's consciousness seems to struggle in vain to consider the sheer scale of such conceptual configurations, with concepts that appear to be so immense and so dislocated to anything within our common experience while absorbed in our ordinary day-to- day time-space continuum as to give any among us a pregnant pause while contemplating the nature of the universe. Of course, such a realization merely serves to magnify the sheer scope of the author's accomplishment in conceptualizing and executing such an approachable and accessible text, one that so vividly describes the origins and nature of our universe. This is a marvelous book, and one I can heartily recommend. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: The Wonderful Original Edition Of Hawking's Book!
Review: For those of us curious enough to actually open the covers of this remarkable exposition of very sophisticated scientific concepts laid simpler and comprehensible in Professor Stephen Hawking's disarmingly straightforward style, this original version of the now updated text is indeed a veritable treasure trove of layman's explanations for some wondrous scientific phenomena. Hawking, who is still a Lecturer in Physics at Cambridge University despite an progressively debilitating neuro-muscular disease, has a rather unique capability to eschew anything other than the bare minimum of all the otherwise stupefying scientific mumbo-jumbo as he explains various aspects of the expanding universe as black holes, the nature of time, the so-called "big bang", and of course, gravity itself. Hawking addresses the fundamental nature of physics as he proceeds to sift through these fascinating and long enduring mysteries of the universe. As a result, then, his somewhat rhetorical questions are presented for the single purpose of elucidating some interesting, provocative, and fairly indisputable answers to the nearly timeless ponderings we all seem to harbor about this wider world we all inhabit. Still one's consciousness seems to struggle in vain to consider the sheer scale of such conceptual configurations, with concepts that appear to be so immense and so dislocated to anything within our common experience while absorbed in our ordinary day-to- day time-space continuum as to give any among us a reeling and recurring case of vertigo. Of course, such a realization merely serves to magnify the sheer scope of the author's accomplishment in conceptualizing and executing such an approachable and accessible text, one that so vividly describes the origins and nature of our universe. This is a marvelous book, and one I can heartily recommend. Enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: Music of the Cosmic Strings
Review: My favorite book on this subject (Einsteinian physics and cosmology) was Murchie's "Music of the Spheres" which is now very much outdated. So, to catch up on time, space and wormholes and those things that Star Trek writers are so glib about, I read Hawkings esteemed book. Steven J. writes with great simplicity and aplomb, taking the physics-novice on a wonderful tour of the theory of our universe. Is it all truth? The unified theory still has, uh, issues, and Hawkings is not coy about the deficits in the theory. A good book if you like science and physics as I do.
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Summary: Haunting, disturbing science fact and theory.
Review: Why haunting? Because it makes you think of things more important than what kind of shorts Bill Clinton wears, or whether Dan Quayle can spell potatoes, or even if George Bush knows who is the leader of Myanmar. Why disturbing? Because you cannot escape concluding that God must have indeed been a mathematical genius - for me God would have to have been able to establish the laws of physics and so forth. Please don't think of me as blasphemous. I am convinced that the universe must have been the work of the one we English speakers call God. No accident could have resulted in the chaos we are now witness to. It was largely through Hawking's discussions that I concluded that the end of our present era will give birth to the next. I differ on his hypothesis of the end of the expansion resulting in an implosion though. After coming to grips with his explanation that the logical conclusion of the current accelerating expansion, if it continues, he extends the calculations to show that as the speed approaches the speed of light, mass expansion also will begin to fill all the universe. As I recall, he theorized that at this point expansion would likely convert into implosion and, at some stage, result in another big bang. I feel he may have overlooked something here. If increased speed results in increased mass to the point he states, then it is logical (to me) that it will do so and all the universe will become one mass (nearly) and will then explode without imploding. In other words, a continuous expansion continues but new laws of physics result and perhaps planets without life become the exception rather than the rule. Okay, that last point is a bit of a stretch. But, in God's world, anything is possible if He wills it. Time to get off the soap box and to stop showing how limited is my intellect. Read the book and draw your own conclusions!
Rating:
Summary: Informative and an Enjoyable Read
Review: As a philosophy student I primarily read this work for it philosophical implications. I found Dr. Hawking's writing style to be extremely accessible despite the heavily scientific nature of the material. Though some of the mathematical explanations were beyond my grasp (especially in the latter chapters), the general implications of his theories were clearly outlined and explained in the most down-to-earth manner possible. I often suffer from the affliction of losing interest in a book halfway through, but I found that in this case my attention span was not an issue. Hawking's presentation of the subject matter was such that I was never discouraged or bored by his explanations. His diagrams and pictures were tremendously helpful in this area. I highly recommend this book to those with even a passing interest in the nature of our universe, as Hawking's findings in this field certainly lie at the very forefront of all human knowledge. I cannot speak from the perspective of the serious student of physics, but I think that there is clearly much is this work that will interest him as well.
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Summary: Time is of the essence...
Review: The mark of a true educator, which Stephen Hawking certainly is, is that he would take time (very valuable time, in his case) away from research and contemplation of the great mysteries of the universe to write a piece that would serve to help explain to the greater number of less-scientifically-adept persons the fruits and implications of modern scientific research from the cutting edge of physics. Hawking is ranked in popular and scientific thinking on a par with Einstein, and has motor neuron disability that severely restricts his ability to move, even to type or write, so, when he takes time to write something for general consumption, it is probably going to be worthwhile. And indeed, this is. 'Someone told me that each equation I included in the book would halve sales. I therefore resolved not to have any equations at all. In the end, however, I did put in one equation, Einstein's famous equation. I hope that this will not scare off half of my potential readers.' Hawking begins by exploring the large scale structure of the universe (time being part of the 'fabric' of the universe, in spacetime), the connections of space and time as a relatively new concept in thinking of the universe, and the way the universe 'acts' (cosmological dynamics). From there, he explores the universe at a very basic level, as elementary particles and forces of nature, introducing quarks. 'There are a number of different varieties of quarks: there are thought to be at least six "flavours", which we call up, down, strange, charmed, bottom and top. Each flavour comes in three "colours", red, green and blue. ...We now know that neither the atoms nor the protons and neutrons within them are indivisible. So the question is: What are the truly elementary particles, the basic building blocks from which everything is made?' From this discussion Hawking proceeds to black holes (and the fact that they aren't so black and permanent as popular belief holds them to be), which circles back around to the origin and destiny of the universe (which relates back to the large-scale structure), which ultimately brings us to time. This is where things begin to get interesting. 'When one tried to unify gravity with quantum mechanics, one had to introduce the idea of "imaginary" time. Imaginary time is indistinguishable from directions in space. If one can go north, one can turn around and head south; equally, if one can go forward in imaginary time, one ought to be able to turn around and go backward.' Hawking explains variations of the thermodynamic, psychological and cosmological laws that regulate the direction of time's arrow, which, despite the theoretical flexibility of time with regard to scientific principles, always apparently goes in one direction. Finally, Hawking explores the most current topic in theoretical physics: unification theories, which may or may not be a wild goose on the loose. Hawking also explores what such a grand unified theory (also called sometimes the 'theory of everything') would mean, and what it wouldn't mean. But Hawking assures us that the quest for understanding is worthwhile even it won't be the final word on everything.
Rating:
Summary: Very Good
Review: I enjoyed this book in the way that a child or mildly retarded monkey would enjoy something like an explosion. They don't know what it is or why, but it's sure fun to watch. After I finished, I had a grasp on what he was saying, such as the facts that space is out there, as are black holes, but I will never begin to fathom either, unlike Dr. Hawking, who is, perhaps, the smartest person to ever live. I would equate my reading of this book to my reading a book in French. I know words here and there, and I can read it from left to right, top to bottom, front to back, yet I still would not understand it. One benefit to owning it, even if you don't finish it...if you leave it on your coffee table people assume you're smart, or at least aspire to be. I am neither.
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Summary: The only book that hurts my brain.
Review: This was seriously one of the best books i have read. Every page is packed with information. I have never learned this much from any book. I would recomend this book to anyone who has an interest in space and time. It explains so much. Read this book it is well worth the time. Exercise your brain with this amazing book. I really enjoyed this book because I kept on learning something new and interesting almost ever page was something awsome. Go buy it i command you. :)
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting but uneven and frustrating
Review: Are the praises for this book really recognition of Hawking's accomplishments or that he achieved them despite his physical infirmities? I approached this book years ago and was swiftly and completely lost. Years passed and I found a wonderful (if dated) primer, Knowledge and Wonder by Weisskopf. My success in understanding K&W (I get quantum physics now and can easily explain it to others) convinced me to reapproach 'Brief History.' 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 (p 30) in re: subsequent references. 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. Hawking's writing is poor. Ideas ramble, tangential information occasionally takes over so the actual subject at had gets lost, recapitulation is erratic. Some of the self-references are conspicuously self-serving. True, for a scientist it's decent, but the book's writing should not be judged by a different standard than any other writing. That's what editors are for, and apparently this book's editor was so overawed by Hawking that he forgot to do his job. This book should not be iconized. Nor should it be touted as accessible to the layperson. The information is interesting, but you have to want it and work for it. And when you're done, what you get may not have been worth the effort you put in. It was for me, but just barely.
Rating:
Summary: Best Modern Physics book ever published
Review: I was having trouble in physics class with the idea of speed of light and black holes and wormholes, so my teacher suggested that i read this book. The miute i started, i dodnt put it down until i was finished. it cleared up any and every questions i had about anything related to the universe. the author also has a sense of humor which makes the book that much more entertaining. i highly recommend it for anyone whos curious about our universe.
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