- Title: A Brief History of Time (from the Big Bang to Black Holes)
- Author: Stephen Hawking
- Published: 1988
- Publisher: Bantam Books
- ISBN: 0-553-34614-8
Modern physics (Relativity theory, Quantum mechanics, String theory, etc.) has changed our view of the world as well as our everyday lives. Cellphones, the internet, and even atomic bombs are the results of this rapid development of a new understanding of the world.
Modern physics deals with very small entities and very big ones. Classic Physics (Newtonian mechanics, electromagnetism, and others) successfully explained how things work under the normal conditions, where we live. It even calculated the route of a spacecraft with a reasonable margin of error.
However, modern physics is based on complicated mathematical formulas. If you had a chance to look at the university textbook, it is filled with mathematics. Scientists have celebrated the beauty of these mathematical models, which elegantly fit together. Yet, for laypeople, it is difficult to grasp what these models try to explain.
There have been many introductory books written to explain Modern Physics without using mathematics. “A Brief History of Time” is one of these attempts and has been very popular as a long-time bestseller. However, decades have passed since the book was first published. During that time, many new theories evolved, while older ones have been reinforced or modified. If you are looking for the more recent (maybe correct) introduction to the topics, this book might not be a good choice. But as a work of a mainstream scientist, the book still provides you with a valuable impression of how science looks at the world.
“Strange, Weird, Incomprehensible” – it is the common response to the modern physics. How can time be different from you and me? If the Big Bang really happened, how did it occur? If the universe is expanding, what lies outside of it? Even more, am I (or is a cat) simultaneously alive and dead?
In mathematical models, all of these phenomena can be explained. The numbers from the model match with the numbers of the test machines. The problems occur when the numbers (formulas) are translated into plain language. We can think of two options:
- Numbers do not lie.
- Everyday language is limited to explain how things really work, and our so-called “common sense” actually blocks us from understanding the meaning of scientific formulas.
- It is a mathematical illusion.
- It only works in the world of numbers. We do not know exactly how the world works or if we cannot explain in plain language, a theory might be wrong.
The choice is up to you.
“A Brief History of Time” is a short history of what physics has achieved in the 20th century from the perspective of “Grand Unified Theory”. Hawking was famous for his pursuit to combine all theories into a single framework. This is why he focuses on the Big Bang and black holes, which can be the ideal condition to unify all forces into one.
It is OK to read the book through from the first to the end. And you will get a basic understanding of some major topics of modern physics, which matches the goal of the book. However, the book does not align with my personal preferences. In my opinion, the book seems to focus more on the personal achievement than the factual explanation. The most commonly reiterated expression is “someone won the Nobel prize.” The notion of the Nobel prize might grant authority to the author’s assertions, but in an introductory book, I am not sure why this is so important. Another point is that this book is an introductory book. Do not expect that you will understand how and why things work in this way.
I still recommend that you read this book even though it might not be the best introductory book. The book is concise and will motivate you to learn more.
Scriptorium 