A Brief History of Time from the Big Bang to Black Holes 1st Edition

this book doesn't need you to be a science nerd...right. but if you read it, its definitely going to change you to one. this book is a hybrid of the complexity of sir stephen hawking and the simplicity of carl sagan.
it initiates the "BIG BANG" of physics in a common man's mind and gets him through the "BLACK HOLE" depth of it.
i was so sorry to finish this book. so here i am buying the next one : A BRIEFER HISTORY OF TIME.

dr.stephen hawkins a wonderful astrophysicist and professor in cosmology department of cambridge university wrote it along with carl sagan writer of books like "cosmos by carl sagan"this is a wonderful worth reading book for all ages....
coming onto the book----
from time immemorial people have been wondering about-"what is universe?","what is time??","what is its limit??","how it all started???","who maintains and controls it??" & so on.....
this particular book answers it all.this is also beneficial for those preparing to study or studying astronomy,astrophysics,quantum physics,physics and various other space related subjects....this book by stephen hawkins answers various questions related to space and time and and much more to quench ones curiosity....
this is easy to read and properly explained with diagrams.thus anyone and everyone can read it and must read it..."
i completed reading it two days ago and believe me you will gain a lot of confidence to talk to people about various facts in science and you will feel enriched with facts about space and science..........
hope this writing helped you......

William Blake, in his "Auguries of Innocence" wrote

To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.

This maybe considered as nothing more than a very good imagery built by words. But this book very much helps you to hold 'infinity in the palm of your hand' and 'eternity in an hour'.

It is suggested that you have a 'basic understanding' of Science (Particularly, Physics) if you intend to take this books seriously (You will later come to know that this 'understanding' you had of Physics was very small indeed).

Stephen Hawking, an unseemly man for a Scientist, and an ALS patient (Who was, at one time, given only 2 more years to live), walks us through the corridors of physical sciences and astronomy with such ease and talent. He may very well be the Einstein or Newton of our time (It's interesting that Hawking's Lifetime achievement, The discovering of 'Big Bang', defied Einstein's theories themselves).

In some places, the terms and explanations do get a little complicated. So, it would be better to have a source from which you could clarify (As in, Wikipedia). Hawking himself says that he has tried to make the books as simple as possible for the readers. And he has; For this, we must be very thankful. Otherwise, it's improbable to have another Scientist of his esteem incorporate such vast ideas into such a small (!) book.

The book even tries to define God: With Einstein on the one end saying "God does not play Dice" and his 'Theory of Relativity' (Hinting at the non-existence of God) and Modern Scientists (Including Stephen Hawking) on the other, with their 'Theory of Uncertainty' (Hinting at the existence of God). From this, it's astounding that Modern Science in fact supports the notion that there may be a 'God'. It just does not support (obviously!) Idol Worship, as Hawking indirectly means.

In a whole and in short, the book intends to discover an 'Unified theory' that explains everything happening in the Universe at one point of time. However, because of our utterly small brilliance, Hawking has allotted a lot of pages to the explanation of basic concepts and terms of Physics and Astronomy. Therefore, the books perfectly covers what it is supposed to cover.

Lastly, I would like to quote the Sunday Times' review from the cover: "The book marries a child's wonder to a genius' intellect". And how true that is!

A Brief History of Time- Man, no single word but "amazing" comes to my mind. This book is not just superb, it is a masterpiece. I think it is like a wonderful combination of Principia's knowledge and "A Tale of Two cities"'s beauty. The author himself is gifted with Newton's intelligence, Da Vinci's artistic temperament (whatever it may mean) and Dickens' art of writing.

This book takes us to a voyage, not around the world, but a voyage through the cosmos! It explains the most commonly asked and often unanswered questions that develop in any inquisitive person's mind, with very simple words.

And the most important fact is- no single physics equation, except E=mc^2, has been included. So it is more like a Sci-Fi fantasy comic rather than a rigid Physics book.

THUMBS UP!

First of all I thank Stephen Hawkings for writing this wonderful book. I have never seen a science book as simple as this. Its truely great. He has explained nearly everything except the theory of everything which he has left to us, the younger generations to uncover it. This book really tempts me to take a career of science. I cant express how easy it is. From Ptolemy to Himself, he has explained the evolution of science step by step.
The book is such a fine piece that everyone should buy.
There are really many mysteries in science. We can help mankind by solving them. But for that we must have an interest and know the very basics of science. Thats why I request you all to read this book.
I am sure it will be of great help to your confused minds.