The Big Bang, Third Edition [Paperback]

Joseph Silk (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0716738783 | ISBN-13: 978-0716738787 | Publication Date: December 6, 2000 | Edition: Third Edition

Our universe was born billions of years ago in a hot, violent explosion of elementary particles and radiationæthe big bang. What do we know about this ultimate moment of creation, and how do we know it?

Drawing upon the latest theories and technology, the new edition of The Big Bang, is a sweeping, lucid account of the event that set the universe in motion. Award-winning astronomer and physicist Joseph Silk begins his story with the first microseconds of the big bang, on through the evolution of stars, galaxies, clusters of galaxies, quasars, and into the distant future of our universe. He also explores the fascinating evidence for the big bang model and recounts the history of cosmological speculation. Revised and updated, the new edition features all the most recent astronomical advances, including:

• Photos and measurements from the Hubble Space Telescope, Cosmic Background Explorer Satellite (COBE), and Infrared Space Observatory
• The latest estimates of the age of the universe
• New ideas in string and superstring theory
• Recent experiments on neutrino detection
• New theories about the presence of dark matter in galaxies
• New developments in the theory of the formation and evolution of galaxies
• The latest ideas about black holes, worm holes, quantum foam, and multiple universes

A marvelous introduction to scientific cosmology, The Big Bang takes readers on a spectacular journey spanning time and space.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Presented here is a collection of nontechnical papers written since 1972 by one of the world's foremost physicists, who is also a leading advocate among scientists of promoting peace and nuclear disarmament. Included are expository articles on modern developments in physics, the teaching of science, the relationship of science to society, and short biographical essays on Wolfgang Pauli and Werner Heisenberg. It is in the latter that Weisskopf clearly reveals his own fundamental decency and willingness to point out the best in others. Harold D. Shane, Baruch Coll., CUNY
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Joseph Silk, one of the most productive cosmologists of our era, has updated his well-regarded book [with] the latest news from the cosmological front."
—Donald Goldsmith, astronomer and author of The Runaway Universe

"Brings a classic right up to date . . . The clearest and most comprehensive of its kind"
—Andrew Liddle, Professor of Astrophysics, University of Sussex

"Silk writes with clarity and authority about a field of deep interest to us all and to which he has made major scientific contributions over the years"
—Bruce Partridge, Haverford College

"A grand, sweeping tour of the Universe. Modern cosmological theories are lucidly explained by an astronomer who was instrumental in constructing them."
—Emory Bunn, Physics Department, Bates College

"This wonderfully detailed book gives an excellent flavor of the complex and rapidly changing field of cosmology."
—Michael Rowan-Robinson, Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine, Physics Department

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: W. H. Freeman; Third Edition edition (December 6, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0716738783
• ISBN-13: 978-0716738787
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #632,950 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great textbook of cosmology., July 20, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Big Bang, Third Edition (Paperback)

This may not be one of the easiest books to read, but it is definetely one of the most informative and up-to-date on the subject. The theories of universe creation, galaxy and star formations, etc., as well as the supporting evidence are presented in full. Speculations on the future, as well as alternative theories to the big bang are briefly covered as well.

The book's difficulty and the fact that it resembles a textbook is the only reason why I downgraded my recommendation from 5 stars. Silk wastes no time and space, and pummels you with facts and theories from the onset, with little in between. The textbook feeling is also conveyed through the author's completely objective tone throughout. This may even seem frustrating to some, especially in the early chapters when Silk presents dozens of competing theories and observations, without even a hint as to which is more likely or which he himself supports. Nevertheless, he does proceed to elaborate on all the major theories and specifies which currently carry the most support in the scientific community and why.

Overall, I highly recommend the book, especially to those who are not new to at least the basic ideas of cosmology. Others will need to be a bit patient as the reading is quite dense -- Silk packs about a 1000 pages of info into 400 pages of text; inevitably you may need to re-read certain parts at times in order to follow the logical flow and development of presented theories. I found the observational data to be too technical sometimes as well, and just took the author's word that it supports the theory forementioned.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars True Cosmology Textbook., December 17, 2004

By 

Wojciech Langer (Toronto, Ontario) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Big Bang: Third Edition (Paperback)

I am quite sure, that there is no better summary of Big Bang than Joseph Silk's text. I classify it on the border, between popular and science book but a bit more as a scientific (more for studying then for reading).
If student wants to learn how astronomy and computer simulations has been used to develop this most important and crucial cosmological theory, she/he should not miss this book.
Formation of the Earth and life as well as SETI are briefly covered.
It creates exclusion for books by Hubert Reeves, Robert Kirshner, George Smoot, Igor Novikov, Martin Rees, Alan Guth and Donald Goldsmith (please refer to my Listomania List). Silk explains with absolute efficiency and coherence without parallel to other science writers. It is the book I would have selected if I had been asked to take just one with me on uninhabitable island.
Highly recommended!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Current and Complete, March 8, 2001

By 

Chris McKinstry (South America) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Big Bang, Third Edition (Paperback)

The Big Bang, 3rd Edition Reviewed by: Chris McKinstry, VLT Operator.

This book is about the best introduction to the Universe that one could hope for. I think of it as a giant and highly detailed Scientific American article (including the illistrations and colour photographs.) This updated classic (2nd edition is 11 years old,) is both current and complete (it contains the most recent findings dervied from Hubble and VLT observations.) It even has a VLT picture I helped take of M104 that was released to the public just last month.

As with all good introductions, the math is in the background (actually in chapter notes at the end of the book) making this book accessible to everyone.