[.ca] Brief History of Time, a (ISBN 0553176986)

From Amazon.com:
Stephen Hawking, one of the most brilliant theoretical physicists in history, wrote the modern classic A Brief History of Time to help nonscientists understand the questions being asked by scientists today: Where did the universe come from? How and why did it begin? Will it come to an end, and if so, how? Hawking attempts to reveal these questions (and where we're looking for answers) using a minimum of technical jargon. Among the topics gracefully covered are gravity, black holes, the Big Bang, the nature of time, and physicists' search for a grand unifying theory. This is deep science; these concepts are so vast (or so tiny) as to cause vertigo while reading, and one can't help but marvel at Hawking's ability to synthesize this difficult subject for people not used to thinking about things like alternate dimensions. The journey is certainly worth taking, for, as Hawking says, the reward of understanding the universe may be a glimpse of "the mind of God." --Therese Littleton

Hawking is succinct, even-handed, and even funny.:
A Brief History of Time is 3 things at once: First, it is a chronology of the various important scientists and discoveries over the centuries, all leading to where we are now. Second, it explains, between the beginner and intermediate levels, an understanding of concepts such as black holes, worm holes, the beginning and potential end of time, particles and waves, quantum mechanics, and other issues in science. Third, it is almost an autobiography of Dr. Hawking's scientific life. He interjects wonderful bits of humor and explains the concepts carefully and as simply as he can. He is also respectful of religion, briefly interjecting his ideas about how religion does not have to be incompatible with the rapidly expanding ideas of science, and that religion should embrace science more. One part I found humorous was his explanation of a bet he lost with a colleague (he seems to have a lot of long-standing bets going). He owned up to being wrong, and paid the penalty, which was a "one-year subscription to Penthouse, to the outrage of \ohis colleague's\c liberated wife." This book is for physics experts as well as people who know nothing about science and just want to learn some of the basic concepts. Like the universe, expand your mind.

Excellent Introduction for the Curious Mind:
For anybody who does not have sufficient knowledge to read some of Hawking's more complex writings, this is the perfect book to get started on. It introduces you to the concepts of astrophysics, in which are explained very well. Stephen Hawking uses humor and everyday scenarios to explain some difficult concepts of astrophysics. It is a great way to simply expand your knowledge by understanding the big bang, quantum mechanics, and even sub-atomic particles. Stephen Hawking is an excellent writer, not to mention the Albert Einstein of our time; he makes this book almost seem like a novel more than a non-fiction book. I highly recommend this book to pretty much anyone, because it introduces you to astrophysics, as well as just answering questions regarding time travel, or where we came from.

A Brilliant Summary of Scientific and Intellectual History Leading to Adonai:
Dr. Hawking takes the reader gently through some of the most complex thoughts and theories that have ever "sprung \oalive\c from the mind of man". He traces the beginning of time back to one second after the "Big Bang" or Creation and follows through to the probable end of time, or the "Big Crunch". From nothing, to nothing as Moses and the Prophets said. His logic and sense of proportion are unerring and his intellectual honesty is almost unprecedented for a theorist of such immense stature. His thinking points toward the Creator God and under girds the argument for Intelligent Design. Finally I now understand how the "Matter/Antimatter" power plant found on the Star Treck Enterprise would work if it were possible.

a pleasure to read:
Many years after its initial release, this book is still a great pleasure to read. Written in a conversational tone, much of it is probably readily understandable to most readers. However, some parts of it, especially toward the end, aren't exactly simple by any means. Any curious reader, even if not particularly interested in physics or astronomy, will find this little book to be a gem. An extra treat is a few pages at the end describing prominent events from the lives of Einstein, Galileo, and Newton. Highly recommended read. Author of Adjust Your Brain: A Practical Theory for Maximizing Mental Health.

a marvel of a book:
This book is truly a gem.. small volume but packed with a density of information.. Explore fascinating topics you could not think about in your wildest DREAMS.. topics are Black holes, Entropy, Origins of universe, Time Travel. Hawkings is truly a genius among geniuses. (...) If you can finish the book, the knowledge is well worth it.