clarifying ideas

I enjoyed this book. The world of modern physics is plotted with thumbnails of key protagonists. At times I had to re-listen to sections as it crunched though ideas quickly, these are big ideas. I believe I shall return to hear this many times

7 people found this helpful

Too much talk of God. American market focused.

Great information, as is to be expected but a lot of references to God and a feeling that in some ways efforts have been made to make the information more acceptable to religious folk!

10 people found this helpful

Excellent book...so so narration

This book is excellent. It's clear and simple descriptions of some pretty mind bending science is the reason why this book has been such a world-wide hit for so long. My only quibble is the narration. I worked for many years producing spoken audio and, though the narrator has an interesting voice and obvious passion for the subject, he seems a little unprepared. Several times he stubbles over difficult names, words or scentence structures. As an audio producer I know that this is down to either not being supplied with a pronunciation list, or not rehersing the script. The audio producer/editor should also have noticed these mistakes and made a retake to be edited at a later date; so the responsibility is not solely the narrators.
The audio quality is not very high definition either. Perhaps because it was produced many years ago for the tape market. (Did someone lose the master copies, perhaps?)
As I said; a wonderful book with a passionate narration, which is only marred by the narration which at times can stummble.

4 people found this helpful

The Unexplained

A Briefer History of Time is popular science at its best. It tries not to be too technical or complex but even in its most basic form (without mathematical equations) the reader needs to read and re-read some of the theories to fully understand them; this is not a negative. The Big Bang, general theory of relativity, quantum mechanics, space travel and wormholes, the search for unified and quantum relativity theories are all explored with other explanations on why we exist and the nature of the universe and how it all began and how it might end. Quantum Mechanics amuses me because it introduces uncertainty!It is all fascinating stuff but the irony is that it is the unknown which makes astronomy and science all the more interesting. Will we ever know the theory of everything? I hope not.

3 people found this helpful

Hmmmmm

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I don't think I would get this book on audio book. I found the reading tempo annoying when I wanted to stop and give my brain time to ponder the concepts.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Erik Davies?

Probably not - I didn't like the narration style.

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed the concepts discussed in the book but would have preferred it in written format I think. The narration style of the reader determines the pace of the text and with a book which has so many great points to consider, you really want time to pick them apart in your head.

7 people found this helpful

Insightful and Truely fascinating.

upon listening I didn't think I'd enjoy it but my word was I wrong,I listen as often as possible now.

4 people found this helpful

Great

It is hard to keep up with the speed narrated but otherwise a great way to enlighten oneself with the wonders of the basic realm of physics

6 people found this helpful

“Why is the universe the way we see it?”

The history of our understanding of how and what is our universe, the ideas of the past and the theories of our present, with explanations and analogies instead of equations or pure mathematics, explanations of our physical world, and its interaction with waves and particles and all the exotic phenomena of quantum mechanics and the quirkiness of quarks. Presented as the most delicious morsel.

No it will not turn you into and instant physicist or a mathematician, but it will give you a very clear and delineated idea of some of the concepts and theories that describe our universe and its components from the stellar bodies to the perceivable only by its influence.

“We find ourselves in a bewildering world. We want to make sense of what we see around us and to ask: What is the nature of the universe? What is our place in it and where did it and we come from? Why is it the way it is?”
― Stephen Hawking, A Brief History of Time

“... if we do discover a complete theory, it should in time be understandable in broad principle by everyone, not just a few scientists. Then we shall all, philosophers, scientists, and just ordinary people, be able to take part in the discussion of the question of why it is that we and the universe exist. If we find the answer to that, it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason - for then we would know the mind of God.”
― Stephen Hawking, A Brief History of Time

9 people found this helpful

Easy Listening with simple scientific terms

Helpful amd easy guide to non-scientists on their research about universe secrets, time and humanity's place in space.