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Stephen Hawking
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A Brief History Of Time: From Big Bang To Black Holes Kindle Edition

by Stephen Hawking (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 14,945 ratings

Was there a beginning of time? Could time run backwards? Is the universe infinite or does it have boundaries?

These are just some of the questions considered in the internationally acclaimed masterpiece by the world renowned physicist - generally considered to have been one of the world's greatest thinkers.

It begins by reviewing the great theories of the cosmos from Newton to Einstein, before delving into the secrets which still lie at the heart of space and time, from the Big Bang to black holes, via spiral galaxies and strong theory. To this day A Brief History of Time remains a staple of the scientific canon, and its succinct and clear language continues to introduce millions to the universe and its wonders.

This new edition includes updates from Stephen Hawking with his latest thoughts about the No Boundary Proposal and offers new information about dark energy, the information paradox, eternal inflation, the microwave background radiation observations, and the discovery of gravitational waves.

It was published in tandem with the app, Stephen Hawking's Pocket Universe.

'This book marries a child's wonder to a genius's intellect. We journey into Hawking's universe while marvelling at his mind.' The Sunday Times

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  1. Print length
    258 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Transworld Digital
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    November 10, 2009
  6. File size
    2.9 MB
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  1. The eventual goal of science is to provide a single theory that describes the whole universe.
    Highlighted by 2,819 Kindle readers
  2. As we shall see, the concept of time has no meaning before the beginning of the universe.
    Highlighted by 2,698 Kindle readers
  3. Another prediction of general relativity is that time should appear to run slower near a massive body like the earth.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

[Hawking] can explain the complexities of cosmological physics with an engaging combination of clarity and wit. . . . His is a brain of extraordinary power. --The New York Review of Books

This book marries a child's wonder to a genius's intellect. We journey into Hawking's universe while marvelling at his mind. --The Sunday Times, (London)

Masterful. --The Wall Street Journal

Charming and lucid . . . [A book of] sunny brilliance. --The New Yorker

Lively and provocative . . . Mr. Hawking clearly possesses a natural teacher's gifts -- easy, good-natured humor and an ability to illustrate highly complex propositions with analogies plucked from daily life. --The New York Times

Even as he sits helpless in his wheelchair, his mind seems to soar ever more brilliantly across the vastness of space and time to unlock the secrets of the universe. --Time --Reviews

About the Author

Michael Jackson is Professor of Anthropology at the University of Copenhagen. He is an award-winning poet, novelist, and anthropologist. Among his many books are Minima Ethnographica: Intersubjectivity and the Anthropological Project; Barawa, and the Ways Birds Fly in the Sky; At Home in the World (published by Duke University Press); Pieces of Music, a novel; and Antipodes, a collection of poetry.

Professor Stephen Hawking, a Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge, is the pre-eminent theoretical physicist in the world. His book "A Brief History of Time" was a phenomenal worldwide bestseller. He has twelve honorary degrees and was awarded the CBE and was made a Companion of Honour. He has three children and one grandchild. Visit him at www.hawking.org.uk.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0031RDVMI
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Transworld Digital
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 10, 2009
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 0
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.9 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 258 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1409092360
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 14,945 ratings

About the author

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Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking

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Stephen Hawking's ability to make science understandable and compelling to a lay audience was established with the publication of his first book, A Brief History of Time, which has sold nearly 10 million copies in 40 languages. Hawking has authored or participated in the creation of numerous other popular science books, including The Universe in a Nutshell, A Briefer History of Time, On the Shoulders of Giants, The Illustrated On the Shoulders of Giants, and George's Secret Key to the Universe.

(Stephen William Hawking; Oxford, Reino Unido, 8 de Enero de 1942 - Cambridge, 14 de marzo de 2018) Físico teórico británico. A pesar de sus discapacidades físicas y de las progresivas limitaciones impuestas por la enfermedad degenerativa que padecía, Stephen William Hawking es probablemente el físico más conocido entre el gran público desde los tiempos de Einstein. Luchador y triunfador, a lo largo de toda su vida logró sortear la inmensidad de impedimentos que le planteó el mal de Lou Gehrig, una esclerosis lateral amiotrófica que le aquejaba desde que tenía 20 años. Hawking es, sin duda, un ejemplo particular de vitalidad y resistencia frente al infortunio del destino.

Fue miembro de la Real Sociedad de Londres, de la Academia Pontificia de las Ciencias y de la Academia Nacional de Ciencias de Estados Unidos. Fue titular de la Cátedra Lucasiana de Matemáticas (Lucasian Chair of Mathematics) de la Universidad de Cambridge desde 1979 hasta su jubilación en 2009. Entre las numerosas distinciones que le han sido concedidas, Hawking ha sido honrado con doce doctorados honoris causa y ha sido galardonado con la Orden del Imperio Británico (grado CBE) en 1982, el Premio Príncipe de Asturias de la Concordia en 1989, la Medalla Copley en 2006, la Medalla de la Libertad en 2009 y el Premio Fundación BBVA Fronteras del Conocimiento en 2015.

Alcanzó éxitos de ventas con sus trabajos divulgativos sobre Ciencia, en los que discute sobre sus propias teorías y la cosmología en general; estos incluyen A Brief History of Time, que estuvo en la lista de best-sellers del The Sunday Times británico durante 237 semanas.

La Editorial Alvi Books le dedicó, como tributo y reconocimiento, este espacio en Amazon en 2016.

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Customers find the book's explanations clear and easy to follow, making complex scientific concepts accessible. Moreover, they consider it a fascinating read that provides a good understanding of the subject matter. Additionally, they appreciate the book's interest, with one customer noting it offers new insights into our universe.

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48 customers mention "Explanation quality"40 positive8 negative

Customers praise the book's ability to explain complex concepts in simple terms, making it an excellent introduction to the subject.

"...explores in a very interesting and informative way the unresolved riddles about the universe and the structure of particles, energy, time, gravity,..." Read more

"...Scientific terms are used only when necessary, and there's a bit of humor thrown in, too...." Read more

"...able to describe the most complex issues in modern astrophysics in aintuitive and entertaining way...." Read more

"Hawking's book is very clear and despite the complexity of the subject understandable to a person like me who has not had a science lesson in his..." Read more

41 customers mention "Readability"41 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a fascinating read that provides a good understanding of the subject matter.

"...one of the greatest contemporary physicists explores in a very interesting and informative way the unresolved riddles about the universe and the..." Read more

"Content is excellent but the print is so small it is difficult to read." Read more

"...Hawking wrote brilliantly to appeal to the masses like myself who only has rudimentary physics and maths as background...." Read more

"...It is a fascinating read and particularly useful for getting a broad grasp of the subject. I now look forward to getting myself more up to date." Read more

12 customers mention "Interest"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging, with one mentioning it provides new insights into our universe, while another notes it offers an illuminating peek into Hawking's mind.

"An illuminating peek into the minds of Hawking, Einstein and other physicists on their attempts to explain the universe with mathematics and the..." Read more

"...the most complex issues in modern astrophysics in aintuitive and entertaining way...." Read more

"...Its also an interesting subject by an highly intelligent person!" Read more

"...This book is a mixture of science history with explanation of scientific concepts. I like the explanation of the uncertainty principle...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Rasih Bensan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended to everybody interested in Astronomy and Nuclear Physics
    Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2008
    Format: Audio CDVerified Purchase
    Stephen Hawking, one of the greatest contemporary physicists explores in a very interesting and informative way the unresolved riddles about the universe and the structure of particles, energy, time, gravity, various forces in the universe, god and their relationship with one another. His approach is both scientific and philosophical raising questions about the meaning of human existence in the universe. Although quite detailed the questions raised and alternative explanations offered are appealing both to the amateur and the professional. Stephen Hawking approaches the fundamental issues from many aspects including Newtonian physics, Special and General Relativity of Einstein, Quantum physics, string theory etc. He compares the different approaches, explains how they arose historically and the quest for a unified theory of the universe. Of course he devotes a lot of time to the primary issue of the creation and possible end of the universe. His treatment of matter and antimatter are especially interesting. I had read the book many years ago, recently I listened to the audio CD. I recommend both as a rich source of knowledge about these topics from a leading scientist on these issues.

    I also recommend The Fabric of the Cosmos by Brian Green which is also a very interesting exploration of the same issues.
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  • Alan A Broussard
    4.0 out of 5 stars Wide scope
    Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Content is excellent but the print is so small it is difficult to read.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Er Jwee Chiek 余瑞傑
    5.0 out of 5 stars Transcending celestial experience
    Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    An illuminating peek into the minds of Hawking, Einstein and other physicists on their attempts to explain the universe with mathematics and the laws of physics. Hawking wrote brilliantly to appeal to the masses like myself who only has rudimentary physics and maths as background. I love his use of pop culture references like his mention of "back to the future" to make a point on time travel. While he did allocate a paragraph on the genesis of life on earth, the bulk of the book focused on out of this world theories on the universe like the Big Bang, the Big Crunch, Black holes, Even Horizons, Wormholes, Singularity, and Time travel. With dimensions of time measured by millions & millions of light years and temperatures in millions million degrees that governed the cosmic events, one could only imbibe such information with a pinch of salt and wonder. After all Hawking did admit that these are theories that can never be proven. Just as he admitted that it is impossible to fathom the mind of God. Neither could Hawking explain the complexity of human behaviour with mathematical formulae.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Bartlett, TN
    5.0 out of 5 stars Quantum theory for dummies
    Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    If you are a interested in understanding quantum theory, but aren't a physicist or astronomer, this book will be helpful for you. Scientific terms are used only when necessary, and there's a bit of humor thrown in, too. Written in the 90's, Stephen Hawking wanted to share his knowledge with the common folk, and did a very good job of it.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Yoshyoka
    4.0 out of 5 stars A must read classical.. yet out of date.
    Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Hawking hese has been able to describe the most complex issues in modern astrophysics in aintuitive and entertaining way.
    It stands, without doubt, above all other modern pop science books on the subject, thus if you have not read it yet, do your self a favor and get a copy of it (even if you are an astrophysicist because his humor alone is worth the read).

    Nevertheless it has been written decades ago and urgently needs major updates (e.g. it still describes as the speed at which the universe expands as decreasing and the LHC as under construction). It would be fascinating to see how his point of view changed in light of the latest empirical discoveries.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Brian
    3.0 out of 5 stars Book
    Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    It's comes in decent quality; however, not good enough for a new book that you pay full price for.
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  • Michaelb
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliantly Clear
    Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Hawking's book is very clear and despite the complexity of the subject understandable to a person like me who has not had a science lesson in his life. It is true that I had to read a few sections a few times until I got it, but that is not his fault but rather my ignorance. I also like the way he slips through the theologically tricky parts of our present knowledge, where others have been truly dogmatic and unpleasantly partisan. About the most comprehensive book on cosmology I have read. Since 1996 I am sure that much has happened and many new discoveries made. I cannot help wondering what he would say about the implications of the discovery of Higgs Boson. It is a fascinating read and particularly useful for getting a broad grasp of the subject. I now look forward to getting myself more up to date.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Dr Rob
    5.0 out of 5 stars This is a fantastic read
    Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I read "A Universe from Nothing" by Lawrence Krauss before I read "A Brief History of Time" - I should have done it the other way round. Stephen Hawking's writing style and explanations are far easier to understand if you know little or nothing about physics, Krauss's writing style is similar but the concepts are a little more in depth so Hawking's book is a good introduction to Krauss's. Also "A Universe from Nothing" is more up-to-date in relation to some of the theories covered off in both books, so I did find myself ignoring some of Hawking's comments due to the fact that more recent research has provided more of an insight into what, when and how the big bang may have happened.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Maldon Recording
    5.0 out of 5 stars Once again, as advertised and ahead of time.
    Reviewed in Australia on September 9, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Use = reading and expansion of thought. Quality = great.....I've honours in Physics, but this book has helped me to understand concepts which were totally alien before. Unreservedly recommended.
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  • Lila M
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read for everyone into math and science
    Reviewed in Canada on August 15, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Each page really makes you think! Fun to read in the bathroom and on the bus. Recommend if you’re into math or physics, doesn’t require an extensive background.
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  • refik
    5.0 out of 5 stars Güzel kitap
    Reviewed in Turkey on October 7, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Açık ve anlaşılır şekilde yazılmış bir kitap. Tek okuyuşta kolayca anlaşılıyor ve bilim severler için kesinlikle tavsiye ediyorum. Proaktif satıcısına dürüstlüğünden ve hizmetinden dolayı teşekkür ediyorum.
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  • James Rands
    5.0 out of 5 stars Even I can grasp it
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 8, 2011
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This book is superb. Stephen Hawking is clearly a genius who has worked through some extraordinarily complex problems and donbe the hard work of calculation to test his theories. His ideas are far-fetched and so strangely conceptual that they are at least counter-intuitive. So one would expect that his writing would be hardwork, confusing and a little dry. And yet..

    ..it's brilliantly clear. Hawking takes us through relativity, the big bang and black holes and quantum particles. And all along he manages to explain these ideas in language and with references that most of us can get opur heads around. Don't get me wrong spin 2 particles symetry makes no sense to me and I am really struggling with the concpet of a finite (but really really really big) curved edgeless space. Nonetheless, concepts which demand years of research to come close to fully understanding are introduced in a fashion that any novice can follow. Hawking's writing style is engaging and often humorous (sometimes cheeky) and it makes it a pleasure to read.

    There are a few downsides to this book. Firstly, an introduction to a subject is always going to be sketchy on some of the detail but as not many people will have an appetite to read his full research papers I don't think that's much of an issue. Secondly, and more significantly, this book is now over 25 years old. That means that the science has moved on (in some areas considerably). At the time of writing Hawking could not be 100% certain that blackholes existed although we now know that they do. I'm sure there are other areas where his writing is now outdated but I don't know enough about physics to be sure what.

    Overall then a great book. It combines a relaxed and enjoyable writing style with some humour and a thorough udnerstanding of the subject matter explained in as straightforward a manner as possible. If you are interested in this then I would also recommend: Why Does E=mc2?: (and Why Should We Care?) and also Hawking's recent TV series Stephen Hawking's Universe [DVD] [2010]
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  • Eve
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great
    Reviewed in the United Arab Emirates on May 15, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Great book. The only thing I should mention is that you have to be already somewhat involved in the field of cosmology, gravity and quantum mechanics to be able to fully appreciate this book.
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