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Title: A Brief History of Time by Stephen W. Hawking, Michael Jackson ISBN: 1-55800-113-1 Publisher: Dove Books Audio Pub. Date: October, 1988 Format: Audio Cassette Volumes: 4 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.34 (228 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Important but accessible classic
Comment: This is probably the most readable book on those mind-boggling questions of cosmology and theoretical physics that engage many of the top minds today. Hawking explains it all in easily understandable language, almost conversationally, and even then, sometimes the concepts are tough sledding. But overall, this is a readable and enjoyable trip along some of the high roads of contemporary physical thought by one of its greatest thinkers. It had been some years since I'd had the time to read much about astronomy and cosmology, and this little book was a great place to start reading up on the subject again.
I usually try to do reviews that aren't simply a rehash of the material in the book, but I would like to mention one thing Hawking discusses since it was so ironic. I was taught, of course, about the Big Bang theory in college (and no, it's not about a hot party at Jimi Hendrix's place back in the 60's), and by that time it was pretty much accepted as an established fact. But Hawking points out that originally he had trouble convincing his fellow physicists that a singularity such as the big bang had actually occurred. His fellow physicists eventually came around to his view of things, but it took a while. However, Hawking discovered later that if certain quantum phenomena were brought into the picture, the necessity for a singularity disappeared--so he could have saved himself the trouble of the original controversy!
Overall, a great classic by a great scientist and teacher.
Rating: 5
Summary: A Brief History of Time by Hawking
Comment: The author ponders some very deep questions in theoretical and
practical physics and the universe. He covers space, time,
the expanding universe, uncertainty, black holes and a unifying
theory of physics and all matter. Einstein first postulated that
matter could neither be created nor destroyed. Ptolemy's model
predicts positioning of heavenly bodies. Galileo proved that
each body increased speed at the same weight despite it's own
weight except for a feather which fell slower due to air
resistance. The author explained that it takes 8 minutes for
light to reach the earth from the sun. In fact, this distance
is an important portal in the quantification and measurement
of time. Without light and distance, the measurement of time
would be difficult and perhaps impossible. The author explained
that the expanding universe slows down and stops.
Chandrasekhar calculated that a cold star would not be able
to support itself against its own gravity. This work is
excellent for science enthusiasts. It would be perfect for a
student class project in science.
Rating: 5
Summary: Cosmic Science Made Simple
Comment: This is a well written book and follows a series of books by the author. So it is the product of a number of revisions and refinements - all which give us some sense of clarity. The advantage in a book from Hawking is that he can weigh the significance of different theories and observations, distil the concepts to something manageable, and try and present these in proper context in a coherent form - understandable to the rest of us mere mortals in cartoon like descriptions.
Science books by definition are the views of the author - as of the day and time that the manuscript is finally is mailed to the publisher. But the field is moving at a rapid rate due to technological advances in sensors and data processing, so the book will date quickly. These new tools along with better trained scientists have given us better eyes and ears and techniques to see greater distances into the universe, and hence to see farther back in time. There are new discoveries reported almost daily. Good science - as described in the book - just reports the facts as they are observed and then tries to fit the observations to mathematical models and prior observed ideas such as quantum theory. There is no religious or mystical ideas involved - just regular physics and mathematics but at a high level of sophistication. Hawking simplifies the otherwise incoherent jungle of ideas and torrent of scientific publications and conferences so we can understand the essence and main points.
Many basic ideas have yet to be resolved. Some examples are inflation as opposed to an oscillating universe, string theory, and parallel universes all still unsolved puzzles. Also, it is not clear at the present time if we have even yet identified all the basic particles and forces that make up nature.
Having said that this book gives a very up to date picture of where we are as of today. It is an informed summary of what we know about the origin of the universe and some of the stunning cosmic processes - but just as we know it at the present moment. Read this book and stay tuned for new developments. The concept such as how we view time itself is actually a subject that might change, as is our understanding of the basis of quantum theory.
Jack in Toronto
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Title: The Universe in a Nutshell by Stephen Hawking ISBN: 055380202X Publisher: Bantam Pub. Date: 06 November, 2001 List Price(USD): $35.00 |
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Title: The Theory of Everything: The Origin and Fate of the Universe by Stephen W. Hawking ISBN: 1893224546 Publisher: New Millenium Pr Pub. Date: June, 2002 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: The Elegant Universe : Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory by Brian Greene ISBN: 0375708111 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 29 February, 2000 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: Relativity : The Special and the General Theory by Albert Einstein ISBN: 0517884410 Publisher: Three Rivers Press Pub. Date: 06 June, 1995 List Price(USD): $8.95 |
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Title: Hyperspace : A Scientific Odyssey Through Parallel Universes, Time Warps, and the 10th Dimension by Michio Kaku ISBN: 0385477058 Publisher: Anchor Pub. Date: 01 February, 1995 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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