The Illustrated Brief History of Time, Updated and Expanded Edition

Rating:
Summary: One word: Overrated
Review: I just finished this book, and I have to say it THE most overrated book of the century. I expected the universe, and all it gave me was a quark. Frankly, I think focusing on black holes doesn't give a whole feeling of time and space. I feel Hawking should have written about more relevant material like telescopes, lasers, and X-rays.

Rating:
Summary: Read it twice... or three times
Review: I read this book very rapidly the first time, and I think I understood some of the important concepts, especially those about space and time. Then I read it over, and I almost felt confident explaining some of the concepts. I think I'll read it again. Just a little advice: if you don't understand something, don't stop; chapters evolve from easy to understand concepts to very complex ideas so, wait until the next chapter to keep enjoying your reading.

Rating:
Summary: Informs reader of the otherwise uncomprehendable universe.
Review: Intresting is not a strong enough word to describe Profesor Stephen Hawking's accomplishment in writing such an extraordinary and detailed summary of the universe we live in. When I first learned of his physical dilema I couldn't believe he was able to wright such a well depicted book. The book is also very amusing as Dr. Hawking uses many refrences to amusing topics. He also introduces the reader to many new ideas in the world of science in such a lamen manner making it understandable to most blue and white coler individuals.

Rating:
Summary: A clear, fun to read history of space and time.
Review: This was an amazing book that so clearly explained the usually complicated sounding theries of the universe. I was not able to put this down because not only did Stephen Hawking do a wonderful job of explaining such complicated ideas, he also found a way to incorporate humor into it all! This was the perfect book for the nonscientist, but science lover, that I am!

Rating:
Summary: Insightful and thought provoking.
Review: I am an afternoon kindergarten student who has found renewed faith in ontology, astrophyics and science in general. Mr. Hawking has limpidly extracted the fundamental elements from physics from its often and seemingly impenetrable opalescence, all while gingerly conveying the pertinent, worthwhile information. Kudos, Stephen; kudos to the individual who reads this book.

Rating:
Summary: A good read but still a bit hard on the mind
Review: I agree with Amazon that this is an extreemly intresting book depicting how the universe began and predicting possibilities of how it will end. An intresting and somewhat disturbing subject. However, At the present time I am studying Physics at 'A' level, which, although it helped me to understand a lot of what was going on in the book it was nontheless a bit confusing in places, especially, I found, in the last three chapters. Although Steven Hawking has indeed cut out an incrediable ammount of the jargon in this book it is still an advantage to know at least the basics of Physics and of physics related subjects, if you don't you will find this book a bit of a hard read. However, this is a very intresting book and I definatly recomend it to anyone studying physics at any level (It has certainly helped me in my studies) This book is generally good reading for all but is a bit tough in places. Especially useful to anyone studying physics.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome book! IF you are interested in astrophysics
Review: There's no question about it. Stephen Hawkings genius is well known, so you can imagine that even when he tries to talk and explain theories in "lay man's terms" the reader still has to be a pretty smart person to understand him. However, if you are interested in astrophysics, quantum mechanics and such things, go right ahead and get this book, it will be more than satisfactory. I personally loved it, although I had a hard time understanding certain theories he talked about, but that's what learning is all about isn't it? I learned a lot from this book. Definitely worth buying.

Rating:
Summary: Easy to understand and very enlightening.
Review: This is a very good book, written well, covering many interesting aspects of astrophysics. I think even people who are not into astrophysics would find the material of this book extremely interesting. Probably the best non-fiction book I have read.

Rating:
Summary: Cosmology for dummies.
Review: A very good book, explains the basics of quantum mechanics, time, the big bang and more.

Rating:
Summary: The pictures explain it all
Review: A wonderfull book much better than his origanal A breif history... The pictures help you explain it