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The Big Picture

On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe Itself

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The Big Picture

By: Sean Carroll
Narrated by: Sean Carroll
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About this listen

 *An instant New York Times Bestseller*
*Publishers Weekly #1 Most Anticipated Science Book of Spring 2016*
"You will be enthralled." — Wall Street Journal
"A tour de force." — Salon.com

Already internationally acclaimed for his elegant, lucid writing on the most challenging notions in modern physics, Sean Carroll is emerging as one of the greatest humanist thinkers of his generation as he brings his extraordinary intellect to bear not only on Higgs bosons and extra dimensions but now also on our deepest personal questions. Where are we? Who are we? Are our emotions, our beliefs, and our hopes and dreams ultimately meaningless out there in the void? Does human purpose and meaning fit into a scientific worldview?

In short chapters filled with intriguing historical anecdotes, personal asides, and rigorous exposition, readers learn the difference between how the world works at the quantum level, the cosmic level, and the human level--and then how each connects to the other. Carroll's presentation of the principles that have guided the scientific revolution from Darwin and Einstein to the origins of life, consciousness, and the universe is dazzlingly unique.

Carroll shows how an avalanche of discoveries in the past few hundred years has changed our world and what really matters to us. Our lives are dwarfed like never before by the immensity of space and time, but they are redeemed by our capacity to comprehend it and give it meaning.

The Big Picture is an unprecedented scientific worldview, a tour de force that will sit on shelves alongside the works of Stephen Hawking, Carl Sagan, Daniel Dennett, and E. O. Wilson for years to come.

*Includes a Bonus PDF with charts and images. Astronomy Astronomy & Space Science Cosmology History & Philosophy Philosophy Physics Science Mathematics Black Hole Consciousness Humanism Morality
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A fantastic viewpoint on very deep and difficult questions in modern science and philosophy. Sean touches on many areas of science and gives a realistic viewpoint on modern philosophical concepts which are difficult to grasp. I enjoyed reading it and as someone who has done heavy research into the science and philosophy covered in this book, I found Sean's explanations and opinions on the concepts refreshing, solid and interesting.

Poetic Naturalism - An intriguing viewpoint

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Brilliant, understandable, inspiring and read with enthusiasm.
Carroll covers everything in this book -
Laws and theories of physical world
Consciousness
Philosophy
God
Evolution

Every chapter follows in logical thought sequence.

Thoroughly enjoyed the reading and the knowledge and thought process.

Must read - easy, engrossing sensible explanation of the universe and us

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Sean builds a remarkable coherent picture of existence at many levels with the clarity and piercing analysis of someone with a deep understanding. He lives up to Richard Feynman’s ideal that if you understand it properly you can explain it to others. I am privileged to have enjoyed the fleeting moments when I “got it” and recognise how much more that is beyond me.

A compelling journey through science and philosophy by a gifted communicator

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I really loved this book, it broke the world down into many of its different parts and explained them all well, including how they fit together. Sean brought up many popular viewpoints, not just his own and presented them all fairly which I appreciate. Lastly the wording and explanations of the concepts mentioned werr great, great enough that me, a high school student who hasn't even had his first calculus class yet can learn more about what I'm interested in.

Sean's done it again 😁

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Easy to get lost in the sequence and logic as it takes too long to make a point in a chapter. Interesting content.

interesting content but long winded

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