A Briefer History of Time by Stephen Hawking, Leonard Mlodinow
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Book Reviews of A Briefer History of Time
Book Review: Briefer review
Summary: 5 Stars
Some of the most complex topics in physics are presented in an entertaining and understandable way. The kind of book you read in one sitting.Book Review: A Briefer History of Time
Summary: 5 Stars
Very simple explanation for a non-physics science major. It will leave you wanting to know more though. Great read.Book Review: Very Simple, well written
Summary: 4 Stars
Stephen Hawking's book, A Briefer History of Time, is a very well written teaching on the basics of the universe that deserves a 4 star rating. It does an excellent job of teaching about the basics of physics and the universe in a very clear, simple, and enjoyable way. Those with little or no previous knowledge of either subject will not only gain a greater understanding of the world around them, but will also find it rather enjoyable. Too often scientists bore their audience with big words or try to make everyone else excited about some strange detail that no one other than the author cares about. Hawking never makes you feel uncomfortable or stupid. He avoids using any math or equations to explain the principles.
In the introduction, Hawking says that the purpose of the book is to answer the questions, "What do we really know about the universe? How do we know it? Where did the universe come from, and where is it going?" He answers these questions by showing the history of universal thought by many different astronomers and physicists. He shows how subsequent discoveries changed and built upon the discoveries of yesterday. Although he never makes you feel really stupid he never really makes you feel really smart either. After reading in the book, I felt like I had to know more than I did originally but I couldn't always remember everything I had learned. There weren't a ton of lightbulbs going off in my head that made this book particularly memorable. Anyone interested in learning a lot may want to look at another boo
There were a few parts of the book that were a little boring. I thought the discussion on relativity was really dry and seemed really long. He might have done better by sharing more information. By making it so simple, sometimes I was left with questions about how it worked. The topics such as time travel and black holes were a lot more interesting. Some other topics covered include quantum mechanics, scientific theory, and the basics of Newton's Gravity theory.
If you want to learn a lot about physics, you may want to look for a more complete source, but if you want to feel like you understand a little more about what's going on the universe, then you've found the right book.
Book Review: Excellent but too Brief!
Summary: 4 Stars
Questions about the universe have intrigued intelligent individuals throughout human existence. Luckily for our time, these questions are no longer confined to the realm of philosophy and speculation. Science has come a long way and may now provide basic answers to these questions. Unluckily, answers given by science are usually too technical to be understood by anyone but a small population of experts. This created a need for simplified texts targeted to the general population. Of course those texts can't wish to provide more than a general appreciation of modern scientific theories making many of them rather superficial. On the other hand, delving in the details would do nothing but put off most readers. Achieving balance between clarity and detail is therefore the hallmark of a good general science book.
This book by Stephen Hawking is certainly one of the most remarkable books in this category; definitely a classic! It is informative, clear, easy to follow and a whole lot of fun to read. The book sacrifices detail for simplicity making it ideal for people with little or no background. Nevertheless, there is enough detail to keep the more informed reader interested.
The authors' goal of making the book as "brief" as possible came with heavy sacrifices. First: some topics needed more explanation to make them accessible to the uninitiated reader. Second: many interesting topics related to quantum mechanics and string theory were not mentioned. I would have preferred if they opted for writing "a more detailed" history of time rather than "a briefer" one. That said, the books still accomplishes a lot for its size and the minor amount of time one has to spend to get through it.
BOTTOM LINE: If you are looking for a first book on the implications of modern physics on our understanding of the universe, I can't recommend this one more. If you have read similar books in the last five years, I can't see much that this book can offer.
Book Review: True to its title
Summary: 4 Stars
The book is a great read for those interested in a brief history and overview of modern physics. Hawking uses simple language and basic metaphors to help any level of reader understand most difficult concepts. The book chronicles the study of the stars beginning with the Greeks and every major scientific discovery in the field of physics. Hawking also spends several chapters on the current models and theories of the universe. He answers loads of difficult questions and helps the lay-man understand the Big Bang. The last chapter talks about physicists' goal of finding a "Grand Unified Theory" which will reconcile the discrepancies between the quantum model and general relativity. It was a quick read-only a couple of hours but very interesting and worthwhile.
The several attempts at humor were witty and acceptable, albeit dry or predictable. The main fault I found with the book was Hawking's inability to "change gears" from rudimentary, Newtonian physics to modern, multi-dimensional theories. It feels like the superficial concepts were given unnecessary metaphors and paragraphs while the more interesting and complex aspects were too brief. It seemed that on one page I could easily have skipped paragraphs because the point had already been made, processed and further metaphors were superfluous. While on other pages I felt that every sentence was an encyclopedia of unexplained words and concepts.
Overall, the book is a fantastic read and the 4 star rating is well deserved. I wouldn't spend time on it if you were moderately familiar with quantum theory and relativity. There are many more books written by Hawking and others that will satisfy your curiosity to a greater extent. I would certainly recommend the work to those unfamiliar with our universe and to those looking for a summary of current models and theories. This book is welcome instruction from a true genius of our day.