A Briefer History of Time | 
| Authors: Stephen Hawking, Leonard Mlodinow
Publisher: Bantam
Category: Book
List Price: $18.00
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Avg. Customer Rating:  48 reviews
Sales Rank: 747
Media: Paperback
Edition: Reprint
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 176
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.6
ISBN: 0553385461
Dewey Decimal Number: 523
EAN: 9780553385465
ASIN: 0553385461
Publication Date: May 13, 2008 (New: This Week)
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Product Description
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.
From the Hardcover edition.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 43 more reviews...
 Briefer is Better! April 13, 2008
Professor Hawking's A Briefer History of Time is an updated version (yes, shorter) of his 1988 surprise best-seller A Brief History of Time. The intent is to give the reader an overview of what the top minds are thinking about the origins and future of the universe. As expected Hawking does this with great wit, explaining complicated topics without any equations, as his publisher told him that each equation used will reduce sales by 50%.
It is not really necessary to read this book, if you have read the earlier work. There is some new material, but not much. As Hawking ages, he seems to have increased his metaphysical considerations, as this new work contains his thoughts on the role of God in all of this creation.
I saw Hawking speak (he uses a computer generated voice synthesizer) at a recent event in DC and he is truly an inspiration. Keep in mind that all of his great scientific work was accomplished after he was stricken with Lou Gehrig's disease.
Hawking is amazing March 30, 2008
This simple and lucidly written book is an update to the original a Brief History of Time. This one is simplified and very easy to understand. It is very fluid and it was a pleasure to read, which I finished in a few hours! This is the Scientific book for the layman to be sure.
 Interesting yet comprehensive for laymen ... February 18, 2008
I understand some of the concepts presented but was disappointed that the time wasn't taken to explain the minor details of some of the theories. What is a blackbody? The term wasn't in the glossary or fully explained in the body of the text. The example of interference was, on the other hand, too simple and explained a two-slit experiment that a 4th grader would understand. Einsten's theory of relativity is only cursorily explained.
 "A Short History of Sometimes Useful Theories" January 25, 2008
1 out of 7 found this review helpful
There are a lot of theories in this book and no imagination. Because Mr. Hawking has a lot of complex math equations that make little sense to any one but his fellow math buddies why dose that make him an authority on anything.
Secondly I would argue that black holes are givers of life not takers they make room in the limited amount of space in the galaxy for other solar systems to exist. The ultimate predator, scavenger they kill indiscriminately just like any lion or wolf and slowly evaporate that energy back into the universe. Think about it for a second most of your really big black holes are in the center of the galaxy and that is where all the action in the galaxy is. Without Black holes the galaxy would be nothing but big bodies slamming into each other even all the way out here on the edge of the galaxy where we are. Not only that but it has been proven for a long time that if your at a correct angle you can easily survive very close to a black hole. This would be a huge benefit for any solar system you would not have to worry about stray comets and asteroids like we do. But it takes imagination to see things like this something Mr. Hawking and his math club lack.
There are other, how in the world would he know these things in this book. For instance the theory that man can not travel faster than the speed of light if Mr. Hawking was as much a student of history as he claims. He would know that in the history of automobile travel it was once believed that of you went too fast in a car you would die. And this was a widely accepted scientific theory at the time. Theoretical Physics and Math will only get you so far the only way to find out is to do. This book should have been called "A Short History of Sometimes Useful Theories" sense that is what it is and these theories hold no more weight than anyone else's theories including yours.
Eric
A great overview! December 17, 2007
Stephen Hawking is one of the few truly brilliant men who also has the ability to speak in a concise and meaningful way to people who are not experts. The book offers the absolute best overview of modern physics covering theories of both the past and present. Specifically, Hawking provides one of the best overviews of modern quantum theory that I have read.
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