Product Description

In this revised, expanded and illustrated edition of "A Brief History of Time", Stephen Hawking includes the most recent developments in the field of cosmology, many of which were forecast by himself. Explaining his complex theories through a visual dimension, the book contains illustrations and computer images of three- and four-dimensional concepts which are designed to help the lay reader to understand abstract ideas. In this way, the "big bang", "wormholes", black holes, particle physics, the vastness of intergalactic space, and matter and anti-matter are introduced.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20727 in Books
• Published on: 2000-12-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 248 pages

From the Back Cover
Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time has become an international publishing phenomenon. Translated into thirty languages, it has sold over nine million copies worldwide and lives on as a science book that has reached the status of a classic. When it was first published in 1998 the ideas discussed in it were at the cutting edge of what was then known about the universe. In the intervening years there have been extraordinary advances in the technology of observing both the micro-and macro-cosmic world. Indeed during that time cosmology and the theoretical sciences have entered a new golden age. Professor Hawking is one of the major scientists and thinkers to have contributed to the renaissance.

In this updated, expanded and illustrated edition of his celebrated work he includes the most recent developments in his field, many of which were forecast by him. At the same time, he explains his complex theories through a fresh visual dimension. Over one hundred and fifty stunning color illlustrations have ee n specially commisisioned for this purpose, with computer images of three-and-four-dimensional concepts which help the reader understand what have bcome popular mythic images of our century, but which nonetheless remain difficult, abstact ideas to grasp. This is the territory of the 'big bang', 'wormholes' and the dreamlike landscape of particle physics in which impossibly small events have names such as 'up', 'down', 'strange', or 'charmed'. The reader can now experience the vastness of intergalactic space, understand the nature of black holes, or watch the microcosmic world of particle physics in which matter and anti-matter collide.

Stephen Hawking has written a new introduction specially for this handsome edition of his calssic work,as well as an additional chapter on wormholes and time travel. He has also updated the material throughout his original text, thereby making his knowledge and understanding of the fascinating nature of our universe more accessible to the layman.

Customer Reviews

Quantum mechanics and Relativity for Dummies!
This book explains the concepts introduced in the "Brief history of Time" more clearly with the use of outstanding illustrations and graphs. People that read the original edition will now be able to understand the somewhat cryptic notions using beautiful representations of the microcosm and macrocosm. A must for people interested in science.

Thinking Great Enough to Match the Cosmos
For anyone looking for a great, comprehensible explanation of the current state of the theories driving today's physics, this is it. Hawking has taken everything from the early history of thinking about the universe, its laws and composition, to the latest developments on black holes and string theory and placed it in a remarkably lucid set of explanations that detail the concepts behind all the mathematics that is so intimidating to most. This book is written without a single equation or a single statement on the order of "From the above, it is obvious that..." Instead, we proceed from the (comparatively) simple concepts about the everyday observable world of gravity, planets, and stars, travel carefully along the historical path of scientific observations as they modify and enhance the simple theories till we reach the world of quantum mechanics, the big bang, wormholes, and Grand Unified Field Theories. Each concept is fully explained, and with this expanded second edition, many of the concepts are beautifully illustrated with drawings and photographs.

And, possibly surprising to some people, as we enter the rarified air of today's theories, we see that the line between physics and philosophy is a very thin one, and ruminations about the origin of the Universe lead to discussions about God and fate. Here we see why Hawking is one of the premier physicists of today, as he obviously thinks in same kind of conceptual language that this book is written in, capable of looking at the meaning behind the mathematics and how it relates to us as humans.

Physics students and engineers may not find very much new here, but even they may benefit from the clear thought lines presented here, forcing a look at the meaning behind all the esoteric symbols that are their everyday working fare.

About the only quibble I had with this was Hawking's insistence on writing out very large/small numbers as million-million-million... While this was fine the first couple of times it becomes a little irritating in place of the standard 1,000,000... representation, or even better to use standard scientific notation.

A great elucidation of some of the most complex theories of the day, theories seemingly unrelated to your everyday life, but which are in fact the bedrock upon which today's technological marvels are based, and with implications that catch the nether regions of religion and the questions we all have about the meaning of life and the universe.

--- Reviewed by Patrick Shepherd (hyperpat)

True Quality
This is a truelly amazing book it has to be said. Anyone interested in space and time travel etc must buy this book. It's not one of those books you buy and then never read, you'll be hooked in no time. Before you know it you will be understanding how space really works. Explained with amazing clarity by the true master of space. A must buy for anyone.