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The Illustrated Brief History of Time, Updated and Expanded Edition

By Stephen Hawking

(249)

| Hardcover | 9780553103748

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Book Description

In the years since its publication in 1988, Stephen Hawking's A Brief History Of Time has established itself as a landmark volume in scientific writing. It has become an international publishing phenomenon, translated into forty languages and selling over nine million copies. The book was on the cutting edge of what was then known about the nature of the universe, but since that time there have been extraordinary advances in the technology of macrocosmic worlds. These observations have confirmed many of Professor Hawkin's theoretical predictions in the first edition of his book, including the recent discoveries of the Cosmic Background Explorer satellite (COBE), which probed back in time to within 300,000 years of the fabric of space-time that he had projected.

Eager to bring to his original text the new knowledge revealed by these many observations, as well as his recent research, for this expanded edition Professor Hawking has prepared a new introduction to the book, written an entirely new chapter on the fascinating subject of wormholes and time travel, and updated the original chapters.

In addition, to heighten understanding of complex concepts that readers may have found difficult to grasp despite the clarity and wit of Professor Hawking's writing, this edition is enhanced throughout with more than 240 full-color illustrations, including satellite images, photographs made made possible by spectacular technological advance such as the Hubble Space Telescope, and computer generated images of three and four-dimensional realities. Detailed captions clarify these illustrations, enable readers to experience the vastness of intergalactic space, the nature of black holes, and the microcosmic world of particle physics in which matters and antimatter collide.

A classic work that now brings to the reader the latest understanding of cosmology, A Brief History Of Time is the story of the ongoing search for t he tantalizing secrets at the heart of time and space.

18 Reviews

1 person find this helpful

A towering achievement.

Hawking presents both the history of the universe and the history of the discovery of that history masterfully. Whilst not 'dumbing down', Hawking, to a very large extent, makes theoretical physics and cosmology to those other than the specialists by employing simple analogies and language, rather t ... (continue)

Hawking presents both the history of the universe and the history of the discovery of that history masterfully. Whilst not 'dumbing down', Hawking, to a very large extent, makes theoretical physics and cosmology to those other than the specialists by employing simple analogies and language, rather than equations.
This book is incredible. Hawking's enthusiasm and optimism is detectable throughout, as is his incredible intelligence and courage. Not once whilst talking about himself or his disability does he demonstrate self-pity. He is highly grateful and courageous.
A fantastic work from a fantastic man and mind.

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Garethlewisshelton said on Sep 13, 2011 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

1 person find this helpful

Highly over-rated.

This is a highly over-rated book...
The ideas are of a arm-chair astronomer, who considers himself more of a mathematician then a physicist.

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Gaurav Chaturvedi said on Sep 2, 2007 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

1 person find this helpful

I can't believe I can finish it! Honestly it is TOO MUCH for me... physics? erh... Definitely too difficult for a student who knows nothing in physics. But the ideas of the Big Bang theory and the expanding universe are fascination~ However when it comes to quantum theory and the multi-dimensional w ... (continue)

I can't believe I can finish it! Honestly it is TOO MUCH for me... physics? erh... Definitely too difficult for a student who knows nothing in physics. But the ideas of the Big Bang theory and the expanding universe are fascination~ However when it comes to quantum theory and the multi-dimensional world (the dimension of time), I go nuts. Kinda regret that I didn't get the illustrated one... I believe it will be A BIT easier for an arts student like me... (doubt it will help much though)

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張小張・Cons said on Dec 24, 2006 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback