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A Brief History of Time (平装)
by Stephen Hawking
| Category:
Science, Physics, Technology |
| Market price: ¥ 208.00
MSL price:
¥ 178.00
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MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
MSL Pointer Review:
A modern classic by Stephen Hawking, one of the most brilliant theoretical physicists in history, this book answers such questions as what physicists now think the world is made of and how it got that way.
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AllReviews |
1 2   | Total 2 pages 14 items |
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New York Review of Books (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-09 00:00>
He can explain the complexities of cosmological physics with an engaging combination of clarity and wit - His is a brain of extraordinary power.
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Physics Today (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-09 00:00>
Hawking has succeeded in writing two intertwined books, one a highly readable and popular account of the role of time in physics, the other an in-depth review -What makes all this so interesting is Hawking's ability to convoy the essential physics in words alone. |
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Chicago Tribune (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-09 00:00>
In his first work of popular science, Stephen Hawking proves himself to be a master of vivid clarity - It's difficult to think of anyone else living who could have put these mathematically formidable subjects more clearly.
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The New York Times (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-09 00:00>
Lively and provocative - Hawking clearly possesses a natural teacher's gift - easy, good-natured humor and an ability to illustrate highly complex propositions with analogies plucked from daily life.
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Neil Mcnutt (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-09 00:00>
A Brief History of Time has had a tremendous impact on scientific thought since its initial publication in 1988. The Big Bang and Black Holes have become parts of our common vocabulary. Why review this book now? Perhaps some readers are not aware of a special Commemorative Edition of this book that was issued as an "Updated Edition" on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of its initial publication. In the "Acknowledgements" at the beginning of the book, Hawking gives great credit to his editors and friends who have helped him improve the book "considerably" in revising the text. In this Edition, Hawking states "I have taken the opportunity to update the book and include new theoretical and observational results obtained since the book was first published. I have included a new chapter on wormholes and time travel. I also describe the progress that has been made recently in finding dualities or correspondences between apparently different theories of physics." A discussion of the significance of cosmic microwave background and its fluctuations is included. These are great reasons to reread this classic work, which has to be one of the finest in the history of science. |
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Zhiyuan Wang (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-09 00:00>
When I started to read Stphen Hawking's A Brief Hisotry of Time, I didn't expect to get much out of it. My past experience with technical books has not been very encouraging. However, as I finished the first chapter, I was surprised to realize that I understood every single word and concept presented by Mr. Hawking. As I got deeper into the book, Mr. Hawking's fanscinating writing amazed me. I never expected a brilliant scientist can write brilliantly as well. Not only I was deeply amazed by the information and knowledge brought forth by the book, I was also taken by Mr. Hawking's good natured humor and easy use of common language throughout the book. He frequently used simple examples of daily experiences to explain complex physical and astronomical concepts, which made the reading much easier and more fun.
If you are curious about the origin and fate of our universe, time travel, and the basic laws governing the behavior of our existence, I strongly recommend this book. Anyone with high school physics would thoroughly enjoy this book. Stephen Hawking is indeed a brilliant scientist, and writer.
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-09 00:00>
Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of the Universe has enjoyed, and continues to enjoy, tremendous popularity (particularly for a science book - albeit a non technical one). As someone with a keen interest in cosmology and its philosophical implications, I am predisposed to view anything that brings these issues to a broader audience in a favourable light ? indeed this was not a terrible book. I do not believe, however, that it warrants the rave reviews that it has received from many Amazon customers. I sense that this may be a new area for many of these readers and a bit of bandwagon jumping may have occurred. Although Hawking is an accomplished scientist, in my view, his abilities as a communicator are modest and his grasp of philosophical concepts is limited.
In his book Hawking touches briefly on a range of issues. Following is my opinion regarding the handling of these issues. The overview of the history of cosmology and relativity theory is well done. His discussion of Quantum theory could be stronger (a variety of material that presents quantum theory and its implications/questions is available for free on the Internet - Alan Wolf also has some excellent material in this area for a popular audience). Black holes are one of Hawking's key interests and there is a lot of interesting theoretical work being done in this area. That said, however, I feel that the discussion of this topic is a bit too long. Finally, though interesting, I found the discussion of speculative concepts such as multiverses and imaginary time ill-suited for this type of book. To be honest, this type of metaphysical conjecture is better suited for a work of science fiction than a popular overview of cosmology. Although the author caveats many of his thoughts in this area, the lay reader could easily come away with the view that these ideas have a much firmer basis than is actually the case.
I found Hawking's lack of depth with respect to the philosophical implications of cosmology disappointing. Readers seeking more on issues such as the limits of science, the relationship between science and reality, the nature of God, etc. would be better served to look within in the realms of scientific and religious philosophy (many of the questions that men such as Hawking are just being to grapple with have been addressed in great depth and clarity for millennia). Asking a scientist who works in a narrow area of research to clearly understand and articulate the broader ramifications of their work is a bit like asking a software developer to explain the effect of the Internet on society. The point here is not to unduly criticize scientists or software developers, but, to highlight that there are individuals more at ease with analysing the wider implications of technical and theoretical developments. For example, an interesting read with regard to the philosophical implications of current cosmological thought is Smith and Craig's Atheism, Theism and Big Bang Cosmology.
In conclusion, anything that increases interest in the "big" questions is worth a look. Accordingly, I think Hawking should be congratulated for introducing these ideas to a broader audience. There are, however, many better discussions of these issues available in both print and on the Internet. |
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Lucas Jackson (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-09 00:00>
My science background is virtually nil, but I found this book to be an interesting and relatively easy read in light of the difficult subject matter. For anyone who has pondered how it all started, how it will all end, or such ideas as whether the universe has a boundary, this book offers a fascinating discussion of our current understanding of these matters.
Hawking first explores how our view of the universe has changed since ancient times, then explains the revolutionary theories of relativity and quantum mechanics. Einstein developed the idea that space-time is "curved" and exists in four dimensions with his theory of relativity. Quantum mechanics was especially interesting-- the idea that matter can be viewed as either a wave or a particle, that matter and forces consist of the same particles with different "spin," or that all forces might be different incarnations of the same absolute force, was especially interesting.
Hawking also explores the most cutting-edge issues in astrophysics. He shows how the universe can be considered like the earth, with time beginning at the North Pole and ending at the "big crunch" at the South Pole. The question of "what happened before the big bang" thus becomes immaterial, as space-time was infinitely curved and "time" as we know it did not exist. He also suggests that space-time may be curved and therefore "finite without a boundary," a fascinating idea that I found difficult to visualize. Hawking asks what role a Creator might have if the universe is a "closed system" like this.
This book packs an enormous amount of information into few pages, but it is not as difficult a read as your average physics textbook. I highly recommend it to anyone concerned with the eternal issues confronting humankind. |
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-09 00:00>
Stephen Hawking definitely deals with the topic professionally. He is very proficient in this subject. Anyone interested in getting an idea on the present debates dealing with existence of the universe should read this book. But keep in mind that an understanding, or interest, in physics and mathematics are necessary to fully understand the book; and even with a good background you will find yourself re-reading certain pages over and over again. One criticism is that Hawking teases the reader on his ideological conclusions regarding his research. At times the reader thinks he is a proponent of a universe created by God and at others, the reader begins to doubt the author's suggestion of that. Nevertheless, it is an objective book that anyone interested in physics or the "ideological conclusions" of present-day physics, can really benefit from. |
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Nicholas Georgalis (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-09 00:00>
The ideas discussed in the book are not all that new and notwithstanding the claims by the author I am sure that the book was not written to make physics more appealing or understandable. There are very few lay readers that would pick up a book such as this for the pleasures of science despite its popularity.
The most telling reason that the book was written lies at the beginning and the end of the book, namely the introduction by Carl Sagan and the brief biographies of Galileo, Newton and Einstein. The latest edition interestingly leaves out this introduction possibly because it was so telling. In the introduction Sagan, a man not noted for his belief in God, expresses his satisfaction that despite the many times that God is mentioned in the book, the author's inflationary and boundless universe seem for the time being to preclude the existence of a Creator. This was obviously done to reassure the reader that while the author may at times seem to say that the Big Bang Theory is consistent with the Biblical account of the Creation, there is nothing to worry about because his theory offers a way out of this dilemma at the end. And indeed Hawken's theory, although highly speculative and unproven, does offer a way out for those not inclined to accept God as the Creator. As he struggled with his attempts to write God out of the picture, Hawkin's even admits to a mistake in his explanation of a collapsing universe, i.e. that time would reverse or that effect would precede cause. An indication, in my view, of the desperate state of the atheistic view of the universe is the willingness to accept that effect precedes cause rather than admit to the existence of God.
The book was, in my view, written for Hawken's fellow scientists and philosophers as a warning that unless the Big Bang theory of the creation of the universe is proven wrong then the most basic tenet of the Enlightenment, that God does not exist, is in trouble. There are too many uncomfortable parallels between the Biblical Creation and the Big Bang Theory for the latter to be accepted as science's final word on Creation. So the hunt for dark matter proceeds in earnest as the means by which gravity will eventually lead to the Big Crunch thereby starting the cycle over again. A steady state universe which automatically expands and contracts due to natural laws is much more appealing to those who are uncomfortable with the existence of a Creator.
The brief biographies of Galileo, Newton and Einstein with reference to Galileo's near fatal encounter with the Grand Inquisitor is a reminder to the reader of the danger that the existence of God poses to intellectual progress in the view of the author and thereby further reinforces the author's fear that a theory of everything may prove the Church right after all. In the case of Newton and Einstein the biographies are a reminder that the greatest minds in science are non-believers and therefore those with the same view are in good company. Not that the Church is any more of a benevolent ruler over the human psyche than is science, but the existence of God puts a lie to the so-called progressive morality founded on relativism which permeates modern Western Civilization since the Enlightenment. The irony is that relativity in physics should lead to absolutism in morality and this book brings this irony to the fore. |
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1 2 | Total 2 pages 14 items |
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