BOOKS, HAWKING

Stephen Hawking made black holes palatable for the masses with his 1988 book A Brief History of Time, which had The New York Times pointing out that he is “bravely taking some of the first, though tentative, steps toward quantizing the early universe.”

In the universe as a whole, the nature of black holes may be one of the most puzzling mysteries. No less puzzling, in the slightly smaller universe of book publishing, is the astounding popular success of Stephen Hawking's 1988 book on the matter, or anti-matter, as it were: A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes.

Clocking in at just over 200 pages, it was, indeed, brief, but it was hardly the easy read its marketers promised. Nor did it stray much beyond the tone of a scholarly lecture, though at times it did take quick autobiographical peeks into Hawking's personal life. Still, it is just the author's persona that may have been the selling point prompting more than 10 million people worldwide to pick up a copy -- and to have it translated into more than 40 languages in the 10 years since its release.

For Stephen Hawking is an instantly recognizable public figure -- even for those who haven't delved into his so far unprovable theories about black holes. Stricken by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) -- or Lou Gehrig's disease, as it is called in the States -- while he was working toward his doctorate at Cambridge University, this Englishman is known for the keen wit and intellect that reside within his severely disabled body. He uses a motorized wheelchair to get around and a voice synthesizer to communicate -- a development, he complains, that has given him an American accent. He has guest-starred, in cartoon form, on an episode of The Simpsons and has appeared in the flesh on Star Trek: The Next Generation, using the benefits of time travel to play poker with Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton. (He has said he doesn't believe in the theory himself, noting that the most powerful evidence of its impossibility is the present-day dearth of time-traveling tourists from the future.)

The son of a research biologist, Hawking resisted familial urging that he major in biology and instead studied physics and chemistry -- as a nod to his father -- when he went to Oxford University as a 17-year-old. In academic writing, Hawking had an extensive career pre-History, starting with The Large Scale Structure of Space-Time, coauthored with G.F.R. Ellis in 1973. But in the late 1980s, faced with the expenses incurred by his illness, he took up Bantam Books' offer to explain the mysteries of the universe to the lay public.

"This is one of the best books for laymen on this subject that has appeared in recent years," The Christian Science Monitor wrote in 1988. "Hawking is one of the greatest theoretical cosmologists of our time. He is greater, by consensus among his colleagues, than other expert authors who have written good popular books on the subject recently. And he is greater, by far, than the ‘experts' who have ‘explained' quantum physics and cosmology in terms that support a religious agenda." And The New York Times in April 1988 said, "Through his cerebral journeys, Mr. Hawking is bravely taking some of the first, though tentative, steps toward quantizing the early universe, and he offers us a provocative glimpse of the work in progress."

Since then, A Brief History of Time has been republished in an illustrated edition (1996) and as an updated and expanded 10th anniversary edition (1998). In Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays, a collection of 13 essays and the transcript of an extended interview with the BBC, Hawking turned more autobiographical, mixing stories about his studies in college and the beginning of his awareness that he had ALS with thoughts on how black holes can spawn baby universes and on the scientific community's efforts to create a unified theory that will explain everything in the universe. And in The Universe in a Nutshell, his sequel to A Brief History of Time, Hawking takes the same approach as he did in his first bestseller, explaining to the lay reader such ideas as the superstring theory, supergravity, time travel, and quantum theory.

A common current in Hawking's writing -- aside from his grasp of the complexities of the universe -- is a sharp wit. In one of the rare personal reflections in A Brief History of Time, he said he began thinking about black holes in the early 1970s in the evenings as he was getting ready for bed: "My disability makes this rather a slow process, so I had plenty of time." In life, he has a reputation for quickly turning his wheelchair away of a conversation that displeases him, even running his wheels over the toes of the offending conversant.

Even questions about his muse are likely to draw an answer tinged with pointed humor. When Time asked Hawking why he decided to add explaining the universe to a schedule already taxed by his scholarly writing and lecture tours, he answered, "I have to pay for my nurses."

Good to Know

Hawking worked 1,000 hours in his three years at Oxford, roughly an hour a day. "I'm not proud of this lack of work," he said in Stephen Hawking's a Brief History of Time: A Reader's Companion. "I'm just describing my attitude at the time, which I shared with most of my fellow students: an attitude of complete boredom and feeling that nothing was worth making an effort for."

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A BRIEF HISTORY OF TIME

From the Publisher

Stephen Hawking has earned a reputation as the most brilliant theoretical physicist since Einstein. 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. Was there a beginning of time? Will there be an end? Is the universe infinite or does it have boundaries? From Galileo and Newton to modern astrophysics, from the breathtakingly cast to the extraordinarily tiny, Professor Hawking leads us on an exhilarating journey to distant galaxies, black holes, alternate dimensions--as close as man has ever ventured to the mind of God. From the vantage point of the wheelchair from which he has spent more than twenty years trapped by Lou Gehrig's disease, Stephen Hawking has transformed our view of the universe. Cogently explained, passionately revealed, A Brief History of Time is the story of the ultimate quest for knowledge: the ongoing search for the tantalizing secrets at the heart of time and space.

Timothy Ferris - Vanity Fair "Stephen Hawking has overcome a crippling disease to become the supernova of world physics. Unable to write or even speak clearly, he is leaping beyond relativity, beyond quantum mechanics, beyond the big bang, to the 'dance of geometry' that created the universe."

More about the book

Hawking reviews the great theories of the cosmos and all the puzzles, paradoxes, and contradictions still unresolved. He explains Galileo's and Newton's discoveries and takes the reader through Einstein's general theory of relativity and on to quantum mechanics. Finally, he explores the worldwide effort to combine the two into a single quantum theory of gravity, the unified theory, which should resolve all the mysteries left unsolved.

"When the achievements of the physicists of the twentieth century come to be considered objectively, the work of Stephen Hawking will be writ large in the annals of science." - ASTRONOMY

"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

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

A BRIEF HISTORY OF TIME

The Updated and Expanded Tenth Anniversary Edition

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

"A Brief History of Time", published in 1988, has been a landmark volume in scientific writing and in worldwide acclaim and popularity, with more than nine million copies sold. That edition was on the cutting edge of what was then known about the nature of the universe. Since its publication, however, there have been extraordinary advances in the technology of observing both the micro- and the macrocosmic world, confirming many of Professor Hawking's predictions. Eager to bring to his original text the new knowledge revealed by these observations, Hawking has written a new introduction, updated chapters throughout, and added an entirely new chapter on Wormholes and Time Travel.

"A Brief History of Time" has guided nonscientists everywhere to confront the supreme questions of the nature of time and the universe, taking them to distant galaxies, black holes, alternate dimensions — as close as man has ever ventured to the mind of God. This anniversary edition makes vividly clear why Professor Hawking's eloquent classic has transformed our view of the universe.

Review:

"Stephen Hawking has overcome a crippling disease to become the supernova of world physics. Unable to write or even speak clearly, he is leaping beyond relativity, beyond quantum mechanics, beyond the big bang, to the 'dance of geometry' that created the universe." Timothy Ferris, Vanity Fair

Review:

"With more than 240 color illustrations, including Hubble photographs and satellite images, this is a fascinating plunge into black holes, wormholes, time travel, particle physics, intergalactic oddities, and — no less dizzying — the head of an extraordinary scientist." Washington Post Book World

This landmark volume in scientific writing leads us on an exhilarating journey to distant galaxies, black holes, and alternate dimensions, and includes Professor Hawking's observations about the last decade's advances—developments that have confirmed many of his theoretical predictions. Makes vividly clear how Professor Hawking's work has transformed our view of the universe.

Hawking's discovery that black holes emit particles caused great excitement among astronomers. In this succinct overview of current theories of the cosmos, the Cambridge University physicist modestly weaves in his own notable contributions while giving due credit to his colleagues. He explains why relativity implies that a ``big bang'' occurred and examines string theory, which posits a universe of 10 or 26 dimensions. His understanding of time's flow leads him to conclude that intelligent beings can only exist during the expansion phase of our increasingly chaotic universe. New research on black holes and subatomic particles holds implications for scientists who, like Hawking, are attempting to devise a unified theory linking Einstein to quantum mechanics. The merit of this book is Hawking's ability to make these ideas graspable by the lay reader. (April)

A central question underlies this brief but crystal-clear account of the history of physical speculation about the universe: does the universe always operate in the same manner or does it allow for divergence? That the universe is static, as once thought, eventually proved impossible to reconcile with evidence from astronomy, for how could an expanding universe follow unchanging laws of nature? Hawking, along with mathematician Roger Penrose, discovered the answer: relativity theory not only allows, but requires, a big bang. The discussion does not end therethe universe may really be static, the ``big bang'' being local history in only a part of the universebut once again Hawking has proved himself a pioneer. David Gordon, Bowling Green State Univ., Ohio

A Briefer History of Time

The Science Classic Made More Accessible – More Concise – Illustrated –Updated with the Latest Research

Stephen Hawking’s worldwide bestseller, A Brief History of Time, has been a landmark volume in scientific writing. Its author’s engaging voice is one reason, and the compelling subjects he addresses is another: the nature of space and time, the role of God in creation, the history and future of the universe. But it is also true that in the years since its publication, readers have repeatedly told Professor Hawking of their great difficulty in understanding some of the book’s most important concepts.

This is the origin of and the reason for A Briefer History of Time: its author’s wish to make its content more accessible to readers—as well as to bring it up-to-date with the latest scientific observations and findings.

Although this book is literally somewhat “briefer,” it actually expands on the great subjects of the original. Purely technical concepts, such as the mathematics of chaotic boundary conditions, are gone. Conversely, subjects of wide interest that were difficult to follow because they were interspersed throughout the book have now been given entire chapters of their own, including relativity, curved space, and quantum theory.

This reorganization has allowed the authors to expand areas of special interest and recent progress, from the latest developments in string theory to exciting developments in the search for a complete unified theory of all the forces of physics. Like prior editions of the book—but even more so—A Briefer History of Time will guide nonscientists everywhere in the ongoing search for the tantalizing secrets at the heart of time and space. Thirty-eight full-colour illustrations enhance the text and make A Briefer History of Time an exhilarating addition in its own right to the literature of science.

Synopsis

From One of the Most Brilliant Minds of Our Time Comes a Book that Clarifies His Most Important Ideas

Stephen Hawking’s worldwide bestseller, A Brief History of Time, remains one of the landmark volumes in scientific writing of our time. But for years readers have asked for a more accessible formulation of its key concepts—the nature of space and time, the role of God in creation, and the history and future of the universe.

Professor Hawking’s response is this new work that will guide nonscientists everywhere in the ongoing search for the tantalizing secrets at the heart of time and space.…

Although “briefer,” this book is much more than a mere explanation of Hawking’s earlier work. A Briefer History of Time both clarifies and expands on the great subjects of the original, and records the latest developments in the field—from string theory to the search for a unified theory of all the forces of physics. Thirty-seven full-color illustrations enhance the text and make A Briefer History of Time an exhilarating and must-have addition in its own right to the great literature of science and ideas.

Library Journal

True, Hawking here aims to provide a less technically complex version of his famed A Brief History of Time. But he's also updated the content to reflect the very latest research.

Biography

From Barnes & Noble

Stephen Hawking's 1988 A Brief History of Time is hands down the bestselling book by a theoretical physicist in history. In fact, according the author's own estimates, one copy of his science classic has been sold for every 750 earthlings. This updated "briefer history of time" presents a more concise and accessible version of Hawking's seminal introduction to cosmology.

In his phenomenal bestseller A Brief History of Time, Stephen Hawking literally transformed the way we think about physics, the universe, reality itself. Now, in these thirtenn essays and one remarkable extended interview, the man widely regarded as the most brilliant theoretical physicist since Einstein returns to reveal an amazing array of possibilities for our understanding of the universe.

Building on his earlier work, Hawking discusses imaginary time, how black holes can give birth to baby universes, and scientists' efforts to find a complete unified theory that would predict everything in the universe. He also reflects on the value of life and his perceptions of death; looks at how science theory converges with - and diverges from - science fiction; and in several fascinating and candid autobiographical pieces describes the way in which ALS - Lou Gehrig's disease - has affected but not constrained his personal and intellectual life.

With his characteristic mastery of language, his sense of humour and commitment to plain speaking, Stephen Hawking invites us in this book to know him better - and to share his passion for the voyage of intellect and imagination that has opened new ways to understanding the very nature of the cosmos.

"Succinct, illuminating, and - considering the inherently baffling nature of contemporary cosmology - remarkably easy to read." -The Wall Street Journal

"A second chance at enlightenment ...[Hawkings] deftly unravels ...complex matters in simple, lay language...Very readable." -San Francisco Chronicle

Readers worldwide have come to know the work of Stephen Hawking through his phenomenal million-copy hardcover best-seller A Brief History of Time. Bantam is proud to present the paperback edition of Dr. Hawking's first new book since that event, a collection of fascinating and illuminating essays, and a remarkable interview broadcast by the BBC on Christmas Day, 1992. These fourteen pieces reveal Hawking variously as the scientist, the man, the concerned world citizen, and-always-the rigorous and imaginative thinker. Hawking's wit, directness of style, and absence of pomp characterize all of them, whether he is remembering his first experience at nursery school; calling for adequate education in science that will enable the public to play its part in making informed decisions on matters such as nuclear disarmament; exploring the origins of the future of the universe; or reflecting on the history of A Brief History of Time. Black Holes and Baby Universes is an important work from one of the greatest minds of the twentieth century.

The bestselling follow-up to Hawking's phenomenal million-copy hardcover bestseller A Brief History of Time is now available in trade paperback. These 14 pieces reveal Hawking variously as the scientist, the man, the concerned world citizen, and--always--the rigorous and imaginative thinker.

British theoretical physicist Hawking ( A Brief History of Time ) here delivers a potpourri of lucid, succinct scientific articles and lectures and short autobiographical sketches. He speculates that spaceships or objects that fall into a black hole may go off into ``a little baby universe of their own,'' a small, self-contained world that branches off from our region of space-time. These baby universes, he adds, exist in imaginary time, ``at right angles to real time, in which the universe has no beginning or end.'' In other pieces Hawking assesses physicists' search for a complete, unified ``theory of everything''; argues in favor of the tenet that people have free will; calls for large cuts in armaments; and describes his triumph over Lou Gehrig's disease, which has confined him to a wheelchair and forced him to communicate via a personal computer and speech synthesizer. In a concluding interview reprinted from the BBC, Hawking discusses his love of music and the role of intuition in his work. (Sept.)

“We are going,” said Annie, “on a great cosmic journey. So listen up, savers of planet Earth, and prepare to meet the Universe.” [inside cover of book]

Can George solve the cosmic clues that led hm into space and on a fabulous treasure hunt across the galaxy?

George’s Cosmic Treasure Hunt is a terrific adventure story PACKED with drama and excitement – PLUS there are loads of REAL FACTS ABOUT SPACE AND THE COSMOS. [Back cover of book]

From the Publisher

George's best friend, Annie, needs help. Her scientist father, Eric, is working on a space project — and it's all going wrong. A robot has landed on Mars but is behaving very oddly. And now Annie has discovered something weird on her dad's supercomputer.

Is it a message from an alien? Could there be life out there? How do you find a planet in outer space? And if you could talk to aliens, what would you say?An action-packed roller-coaster ride into a dramatic treasure hunt across the cosmos, this terrific adventure is FILLED with the LATEST scientific knowledge about our Universe, including special essays from some of the top scientists in the world!

George's adventures continue in this new book from Lucy and Stephen Hawking. George travels to

America

to visit with his friend Annie. Her father, Eric, is having troubles with his latest project: a robot on Mars not performing as it should. Could this be interference from Eric's nemesis, Reeper? Eric is willing to forgive Reeper for his earlier crimes, but George and Annie are still cautious. With help from Emmett, an annoying but very smart new acquaintance, George, Annie and Eric travel to Mars for another wonderful interplanetary adventure. While the story is slow to get started (the real story begins around page 50, when George finally arrives in

America

), it is fun to get to know the characters as well as some background information about both the story and the science. Sprinkled amid the text are eight articles written by some of the leading scientists in the modern world, including the author of the book himself, Professor Stephen Hawking. Hawking and the other scientists make advanced ideas particularly accessible to children, especially when placed in context by George's story. A fun and informative read for children and adults. Reviewer: Amie Rose Rotruck

Lucy Hawking, Stephen's daughter, is a journalist and novelist and an administrative staff member of the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge. She is the author of the adult novels Jaded and Run for Your Life. She lives in London with her son.

“Lucy and Stephen Hawking’s George’s Secret Key to the Universe is an exciting, out-of-this-world adventure full of scientific facts about the entire solar system. It explains concepts such as Stephen Hawking’s most recent theories on black holes and includes full-color photos of fascinating images from outer space.” [Back cover of book.]

Stephen Hawking, author of the multi-million copy bestselling A Brief History of Time, and his daughter Lucy explain the universe to readers of all ages. George's parents, who have always been wary of technology, warn him about their new neighbors: Eric is a scientist and his daughter, Annie, seems to be following in his footsteps. But when George befriends them and Cosmos, their super-computer, he finds himself on a wildly fun adventure, while learning about physics, time, and the universe. With Cosmos's help, he can travel to other planets and a black hole. But what would happen if the wrong people got their hands on Cosmos? George, Annie, and Eric aren't about to find out, and what ensues is a funny adventure that clearly explains the mysteries of science. Garry Parsons' energetic illustrations add humor and interest, and his scientific drawings add clarity; there are also eight 4-page full-color inserts of scientific photos.

What better way to interest young readers in science-and specifically in its relevance to the long-term survival of humankind-than for one of the world's most renowned theoretical physicists to put his subject at the center of a children's book? Stephen Hawking, his novelist daughter, and French physicist Galfard create two inquisitive, middle-school heroes, then send them on wondrous adventures through time and space. The characters round out their experiences with information regarding everything from nuclear fusion reactions to neutron stars to the origin of black holes. In this first volume of a projected trilogy, George Greenby-whose technophobic parents have done their best to shelter him from the dangers of the modern world (computers, television, grape soda, etc.)-meets his headstrong new neighbor Annie, her scientist father and his super-computer Cosmos, a machine capable of instantaneously taking the two young explorers anywhere in the universe. His decidedly naïve worldview undergoes a breathtaking transformation when he gets the opportunity to ride a comet through the solar system and witness the death of a black hole. The authors handily explore a range of themes, among them, the moral responsibilities of science, global warming and space colonization. Four insets of color photos from outer space and Parsons's cartoons enhance the broad appeal of this book, a true beginner's guide to A Brief History of Time. Ages 8-up. (Oct.)

Brilliant theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking proved his communication skills with his wonderfully readable bestseller A Brief History of Time. Now, with the help of his daughter Lucy, he translates his sense of cosmological wonder into a story that children can understand. George's Secret Key to the Universe traces the trajectory of three middle school friends as they literally take off into interstellar adventures. The books eight four-page full-color photographic spreads inject scientific realism into this exciting space fantasy.

If you have failed to grasp the adult version of Stephen Hawking's books, then run out and buy this and George's Cosmic Treasure Hunt. The story is not too complex—a young boy named George, thanks to his pig Freddy (any relation to the famous one featured in Walter R. Brook's stories?), lives with parents who have gone green. They have no TV, no computers, and no telephone, so he feels really drawn to the family that suddenly appears in the house next door, which has been vacant for some time. They are all very science minded, and—with the help of a computer named Cosmos—they seem to be able to see into space through a window and a portal that they can use to explore the universe. The heavy science is described in shaded gray boxes that can fill parts of a page or multiple pages. There are pages inserted in the book with full color photographs taken of planets, stars, various moons, and so forth. Of course, there is intrigue, with a bad guy (Dr. Reeper, George's teacher) trying to get his hands on the fabulous computer that George has unwittingly revealed to his teacher and class. It is the traditional good versus evil, and George even wins a computer which his parents do let him keep. The back of the book has interesting material, including an interview with the authors, a curriculum guide, and an excerpt from George's Cosmic Treasure Hunt. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

George's key-unsurprisingly-turns out to be a knowledge of physics, as the young protagonist of this blend of science fact and fiction proclaims after various adventures in space, in school, with a gang of bullies and an evil mad scientist. Raised in a computer-less house by eco-activist parents who feed him broccoli muffins, young George is delighted to learn that his new neighbor, Eric, is a scientist with a moody super-laptop named Cosmos that can both open doors to any charted part of the universe and also control time. George learns about the stellar life cycle, rides on a comet and then, thanks to a recent notion of physicist Hawking's that black holes evaporate (over millions of years), helps to rescue Eric, who has been tricked into falling into a black hole by rival astrophysicist Graham Reeper. George finishes up with a rousing lecture to his peers; Reeper and the bullies depart in high dudgeon. Science lessons are embedded in the thin tale as well as presented in boxed asides. Considering the theme, and that two of the three writers are themselves trained scientists, it would have been nice if they'd gotten their basic facts right and not so blithely set aside the laws of physics whenever convenient to the story. Illustrated with line drawings or star photos on nearly every page and with a 100,000-copy first printing, it's likely to sell well-but like many crossovers, it doesn't show much respect for its target audience. (Fantasy. 10-12)

"What a story! What a test! This is story making that lifts the human spirit out of our sometimes petty terrestrial concerns and places us amomg the stars." -- Chet Raymo, Scientific American

"Where the science of black holes, gravitational waves, and time travel will likely lead us, as reported by spacetime's most important theoreticians and observers."

Where the science of black holes, gravitational waves, and time travel will likely lead us, as reported by spacetime's most important theoreticians and observers.

Price (theoretical physics, U. of Utah) introduces five essays based on popular talks given on June 3, 2000 honoring California Institute of Technology physicist Kip Thorne. Novikov, Hawking, Thorne, Ferris, and Lightman speculate about time travel, trends in linking quantum theory with relativity, and popularizing science in fact and fiction. Includes explanatory figures, photos, and a glossary. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

A science writer with a gift for making complex principles accessible to general readers, Timothy Ferris has advanced our understanding of the sciences -- particularly cosmology and astronomy -- and how they have contributed to the way we live today.

Our minds tell us that some things in the universe must be true. The New Physics tells us that they are not, and in the process, blurs the line between science and science fiction. Here are six accessible essays by those who walk that line, moving ever further out in discovering the patterns of nature, aimed at readers who share their fascination with the deepest mysteries of the universe.

Einstein said that the most incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it is comprehensible. But was he right? Can the quantum theory of fields and Einstein's general theory of relativity, the two most accurate and successful theories in all of physics, be united in a single quantum theory of gravity? Can quantum and cosmos ever be combined? On this issue, two of the world's most famous physicists--Stephen Hawking (A Brief History of Time) and Roger Penrose (The Emperor's New Mind and Shadows of the Mind)--disagree. Here they explain their positions in a work based on six lectures with a final debate, all originally presented at the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences at the University of Cambridge.How could quantum gravity, a theory that could explain the earlier moments of the big bang and the physics of the enigmatic objects known as black holes, be constructed? Why does our patch of the universe look just as Einstein predicted, with no hint of quantum effects in sight? What strange quantum processes can cause black holes to evaporate, and what happens to all the information that they swallow? Why does time go forward, not backward?In this book, the two opponents touch on all these questions. Penrose, like Einstein, refuses to believe that quantum mechanics is a final theory. Hawking thinks otherwise, and argues that general relativity simply cannot account for how the universe began. Only a quantum theory of gravity, coupled with the no-boundary hypothesis, can ever hope to explain adequately what little we can observe about our universe. Penrose, playing the realist to Hawking's positivist, thinks that the universe is unbounded and will expand forever. Theuniverse can be understood, he argues, in terms of the geometry of light cones, the compression and distortion of spacetime, and by the use of twistor theory. With the final debate, the reader will come to realize how much Hawking and Penrose diverge in their opinions of the ultimate quest to combine quantum mechanics and relativity, and how differently they have tried to comprehend the incomprehensible.

This volume contains a series of lectures delivered in 1994 by Hawking (A Brief History of Time) and Penrose (The Emperor's New Mind), renowned professors at Cambridge and Oxford, respectively. The overall topic is how mathematical physics might best represent the realities of the universe. The lectures assume a rather sophisticated knowledge of physics and mathematics. The authors present alternative views on approaching a formulation that fully accommodates both quantum and gravitational (general relativity) theories in physics. One question, for example, is whether parameters in a quantum description of matter can have definite ("real") values before they are measured. The issues extend to cosmological implications and have intriguing philosophical as well as technical aspects. Although well done, the treatment in this book is not for the general reader. Illustrations. (Feb.)

Hawking takes readers on a fascinating journey through the telescopic lens of modern physics to gain a new glimpse of the universe—the nature of black holes, the space-time continuum, and new information about the origin of the universe.

In physicist Stephen Hawking's brilliant opus, A Brief History of Time, he presented us with a bold new look at our universe, how it began, and how our old views of physics and tired theories about the creation of the universe were no longer relevant. In other words, Hawking gave us a new look at our world, our universe, and ourselves. Now, available for the first time in trade paperback, Hawking presents an even more comprehensive look at our universe, its creation, and how we see ourselves within it. Imagine sitting in a comfortable room listening to Hawking discuss his latest theories and place them in historical context with science's other great achievements—it would be like hearing Christopher Columbus deliver the news about the new world. Hawking presents a series of seven lectures in which he describes, more clearly than ever, the history of the universe as we know it. He begins with the history of ideas about the universe, from Aristotle's idea that the Earth is round to Hubble's discovery two millennium later that our universe is growing. Using this history as a launching pad, Hawking takes us on a fascinating journey through the telescopic lens of modern physics to gain a new glimpse of the universe—the nature of black holes, the space-time continuum, and new information about the origin of the universe. He uses this scientific basis to come up with a "unified theory of everything" that the author claims will be "the ultimate triumph of human reason."

Stephen Hawking's phenomenal, multimillion-copy bestseller, A Brief History of Time, introduced the ideas of this brilliant theoretical physicist to readers all over the world. Now, in a major publishing event, Hawking returns with a lavishly illustrated sequel that unravels the mysteries of the major breakthroughs that have occurred in the years since the release of his acclaimed first book.

One of the most influential thinkers of our time, Stephen Hawking is an intellectual icon, known not only for the adventurousness of his ideas but for the clarity and wit with which he expresses them. In this new book Hawking takes us to the cutting edge of theoretical physics, where truth is often stranger than fiction, to explain in laymen's terms the principles that control our universe.

Like many in the community of theoretical physicists, Professor Hawking is seeking to uncover the grail of science -- the elusive Theory of Everything that lies at the heart of the cosmos. In his accessible and often playful style, he guides us on his search to uncover the secrets of the universe -- from supergravity to supersymmetry, from quantum theory to M-theory, from holography to duality. He takes us to the wild frontiers of science, where superstring theory and p-branes may hold the final clue to the puzzle. And he lets us behind the scenes of one of his most exciting intellectual adventures as he seeks "to combine Einstein's General Theory of Relativity and Richard Feynman's idea of multiple histories into one complete unified theory that will describe everything that happens in the universe."

With characteristic exuberance, Professor Hawking invites us to be fellow travelers on this extraordinary voyage through spacetime. Copious four-color illustrations help clarify this journey into a surreal wonderland where particles, sheets, and strings move in eleven dimensions; where black holes evaporate and disappear, taking their secret with them; and where the original cosmic seed from which our own universe sprang was a tiny nut.

The Universe in a Nutshell is essential reading for all of us who want to understand the universe in which we live. Like its companion volume, A Brief History of Time, it conveys the excitement felt within the scientific community as the secrets of the cosmos reveal themselves.

From Barnes & Noble

The adage "Truth is stranger than fiction" is particularly apt when applied to physics and cosmology. And there is no one better qualified as a guide than Stephen Hawking. This gorgeous coffee table book, filled throughout with four-color visuals, is Hawking's sequel to his groundbreaking A Brief History of Time and includes all the weird and wonderful new theories that have arisen in the last decade, illustrated in stunning fashion.

Library Journal

Explaining cosmology to a popular audience is a difficult task, but Hawking has the gift of making extraordinarily complex concepts understandable. An eminent theoretical physicist at Cambridge University and author of the best-selling A Brief History of Time, Hawking here describes scientists' latest theories about the origin, structure, and evolution of the universe. The book's title refers both to its purpose as a summary of current cosmological thinking and to the particular theory of imaginary time as a "tiny, slightly flattened sphere." The helpful color illustrations, which comprise about half of the book, clarify the surreal aspects of the universe, such as the shape of time and the ten or 11 dimensions in which we exist. Hawking's occasional wit and his ability not to take himself too seriously help place our strange universe in a more human context. Highly recommended for all libraries. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/01.] Jeffrey Beall, Univ. of Colorado Lib., Denver Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

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From the Publisher

Book Five of Johannes Kepler's great masterpiece on planetary motion is presented with an introduction by the ultimate authority on this topic, noted physicist and bestselling author Stephen Hawking. Modifying Copernicus's sun-centered model of the universe, Kepler's 1619 work went on to establish laws of planetary motion, forming the basis for Newton's discoveries some 60 years later. As part of our On the Shoulders of Giants series, this translation of the original edition of Kepler's monumental essay includes an insightful biography and a highly accessible summary putting into context the significance of Harmony of the World.

Library Journal

This new series offers five founding works of science reedited by Stephen Hawking, who also provides commentary. Each includes diagrams and theoretical models plus a biographical essay by Hawking.

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 On the Shoulders of Giants and The Illustrated On the Shoulders of Giants.

Establishing the laws of universal gravity and the fundamental laws of motion, Newton's momentous 1687 essay stands as one of the most important works in physics, and it revolutionised the way scientists investigate and prove their theories.

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Establishing the laws of universal gravity and the fundamental laws of motion, Newton's momentous 1687 essay stands as one of the most important works in physics, and it revolutionized the way scientists investigate and prove their theories. In Principia, Newton used mathematical terms to present the principles of time, force, and motion, which have been instrumental in the development of modern physics. In his introduction, the famed physicist and bestselling author Stephen Hawking shows how his work built on that of his predecessors, Nicolaus Copernicus and Johannes Kepler.

Newton uses mathematical terms to present the principles of time, force, and motion, which have been instrumental in the development of modern physics. In his Introduction, the famed physicist and bestselling author Stephen Hawking shows how his work built on that of his predecessors, Nicolaus Copernicus and Johannes Kepler.

Synopsis

Renowned physicist and author Stephen Hawking offers a compilation of the writings of some of the world's greatest thinkers in the fields of physics and astronomy. Covered are Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler, Sir Isaac Newton, and Albert Einstein. Hawking first discusses the life and work of each thinker, followed by the text (or a selection) of his major work. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Biography

From Barnes & Noble

The words of the title derive from a famous passage in a letter by scientist Isaac Newton. "If I have seen further," Newton wrote, "it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants." Theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, himself a renowned far-sighted thinker, has compiled an anthology of the seven great classics in astronomy and physics. To each of these masterworks, Hawking adds an introductory essay that shows how each was built on previous discoveries. In addition, the author of A Brief History of Time provides penetrating biographies of Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, Newton and Einstein.

From the Publisher

World-renowned physicist and bestselling author Stephen Hawking presents a revolutionary look at the momentous discoveries that changed our perception of the world with this first-ever compilation of seven classic works on physics and astronomy. His choice of landmark writings by some of the world's great thinkers traces the brilliant evolution of modern science and shows how each figure built upon the genius of his predecessors. On the Shoulders of Giants includes, in their entirety, On the Revolution of Heavenly Spheres by Nicolaus Copernicus; Principia by Sir Isaac Newton; The Principle of Relativity by Albert Einstein; Dialogues Concerning Two Sciences by Galileo Galilei with Alfonso De Salvio; plus Mystery of the Cosmos, Harmony of the World, and Rudolphine Tables by Johannes Kepler. It also includes five critical essays and a biography of each featured physicist, written by Hawking himself.

Publishers Weekly

Acclaimed physicist Hawking has collected in this single illuminating volume the classic works of physics and astronomy that in their day revolutionized humankind's perception of the world. Included are Copernicus's On the Revolution of Heavenly Spheres, Galileo's Dialogues Concerning Two New Sciences, Kepler's "Harmony of the World," Newton's The Principia and selections from The Principle of Relativity by Einstein. Taken together, these writings document the evolution of our conception of the universe from a pre-Copernican cosmos with a stationary earth at its center to one in which the very weave of time and space are relative. The editor's ability to step back and view the sweep of his subject was first showcased in his bestselling A Brief History of Time and confirmed in his The Universe in a Nutshell. In an essay introducing each work here, he gives a short and sweet biography of its author and an explanation of its significance, as well as the occasional gem, like Galileo's handwritten renunciation of his beliefs before the Inquisition. To read the works themselves is to feel the thrill and mystery of intimacy with oft-cited source documents. Despite the volume's heftiness, Hawking has given these works a setting that is elegantly simple and, in its simplicity, effectively broadening. (Oct.) Forecast: With a 100,000 first printing and $25,000 marketing campaign, Running Press won't let the book's heft discourage them from getting the word out. And with the fair price for this behemoth, their effort should pay off. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Product Details

Einstein’s essay, On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies, introduces his famous “principle of relativity,” one of the twentieth century’s most revolutionary concepts. In his introduction to this seminal work, the renowned physicist Stephen Hawking cuts through Einstein’s mathematical complexities to explain this revolutionary concept in language that excites and informs the reader. This book features selections from a translation of the original essay, The Principle of Relativity, as well as an insightful biography of Einstein and Hawking’s informative summary.

This new series offers five founding works of science reedited by Stephen Hawking, who also provides commentary. Each includes diagrams and theoretical models plus a biographical essay by Hawking. Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Product Details

From the Publisher

World-renowned physicist and bestselling author Stephen Hawking presents a revolutionary look at the momentous discoveries that changed our perception of the world with this first-ever compilation of seven classic works on physics and astronomy. His choice of landmark writings by some of the world's great thinkers traces the brilliant evolution of modern science and shows how each figure built upon the genius of his predecessors. On the Shoulders of GiantsOn the Revolution of Heavenly Spheres by Nicolaus Copernicus; Principia by Sir Isaac Newton; The Principle of Relativity by Albert Einstein; Dialogues Concerning Two Sciences by Galileo Galilei with Alfonso De Salvio; plus Mystery of the Cosmos, Harmony of the World, and Rudolphine Tables by Johannes Kepler. It also includes five critical essays and a biography of each featured physicist, written by Hawking himself. includes, in their entirety,

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Publishers Weekly

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A BRIEF HISTORY OF TIME

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