Helpful Score: 7
This book is easily read. Mr. Hawking makes a difficult subject matter concise and understandable for readers, like myself, who find its topics challenging. While it has certainly NOT made me into a "rocket scientist", I have gained an understanding of the history of the 'big bang' and quantum theory as well as their limitations regarding a reaching a conclusion- or any definition- of the nature of the universe. Did God do it? Was God there before 'it' happened? Mr. Hawking does not have the answers to these questions but he does not ignore them. Readers with religious bias, secularists, atheists, and those who look to scientists, will benefit by having read this book.
Helpful Score: 3
An excellent summary of the state of contemporary physics. Technical enough to lose anyone who wants to do the homework on the topics, but still topical enough to get through for most. There is definitely a lot of discussion on the potential rifts between science and God, but Hawking stays ambiguous & agnostic enough to keep on topic. There is certainly a tendency to lean toward the scientific view of any scenario, but I think that is to be expected. This is certainly a must read for anyone who wants to understand the basics of contemporary physics, albeit a tad outdated at this point (if you insist on bleeding edge knowledge of course).
Helpful Score: 3
Hawking writes as plainly as possible for the non-expert reader, but the ideas get complicated eventually. At some point, I found myself reading the same way I read some science fiction. That is, just keep on and hope it makes sense before the end of the book. I enjoyed reading this famous book by such a prominent scientest. But it did not spur me to read more on the subject.
Helpful Score: 2
A fascinating look at physics, written so the average person can understand.
Helpful Score: 1
Everyone should have this on their bookshelf.
Stephen Hawking has overcome a crippling disease to become the supernova of world physics. Unable to write, or even to speak clearly, he is leaping beyond relativity, beyond quantum mechanicsa, beyone the big bang, to the "dance of geometry" that created the universe. -- Timothy Ferris, Vanity Fair
heady stuff but i found it interesting and fun to read.
An interesting read. Really makes you think.
This was a pretty good book! In parts, it got a little confusing, but what do you expect, it talks about black holes ;)
A fascinating book written in Hawking's characteristic straightforward style, with dry wit and powerful insight. Highly recommended.
It's probably wonderful, but most of it is WAY over my head.
Since I have known of Stephen Hawking, his medical condition and his genius, I have had the utmost admiration for him. So it was with some wonderment I finally began to read his popular book.
I've always felt I had some basic understanding of physics. In fact, I often told people, when explaining why something was true, "It's just basic physics."
However, trying to understand what Hawking states in this book leads me to think my understanding of physics, compared to his, is in the order of 2 plus 2 equals... uh, 3? And this book is the "dumbed down" version of his knowledge.
Still, I finished it with a sense of wonder. Especially, since he made a number of jokes, witty comments and even self-debasements in this book. He is obviously one of the most intelligent people of our time, and, for whatever reason, doesn't have the ego problem which often goes with such intelligence.
I've always felt I had some basic understanding of physics. In fact, I often told people, when explaining why something was true, "It's just basic physics."
However, trying to understand what Hawking states in this book leads me to think my understanding of physics, compared to his, is in the order of 2 plus 2 equals... uh, 3? And this book is the "dumbed down" version of his knowledge.
Still, I finished it with a sense of wonder. Especially, since he made a number of jokes, witty comments and even self-debasements in this book. He is obviously one of the most intelligent people of our time, and, for whatever reason, doesn't have the ego problem which often goes with such intelligence.
Stephen Hawking has earned an international reputation as the most brilliant theoretical physicist since Einstein. Now, in this landmark volume, Professor Hawking shares his blazing intellect with nonscientists everywhere, guiding us expertly to confront the supreme questions of the nature of time and the universe.
