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The Illustrated Brief History of Time, Updated and Expanded Edition [Hardcover]

Stephen William Hawking
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (67 customer reviews)

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Book Description

October 1, 1996
In the years since its publication in 1988, Stephen Hawking's A Brief History Of Time has established itself as a landmark volume in scientific writing.  It has become an international publishing phenomenon, translated into forty languages and selling over nine million copies.  The book was on the cutting edge of what was then known about the nature of the universe, but since that time there have been extraordinary advances in the technology of macrocosmic worlds.  These observations have confirmed many of Professor Hawkin's theoretical predictions in the first edition of his book, including the recent discoveries of the Cosmic Background Explorer satellite (COBE), which probed back in time to within 300,000 years of the fabric of space-time that he had projected.

Eager to bring to his original text the new knowledge revealed by these many observations, as well as his recent research, for this expanded edition Professor Hawking has prepared a new introduction to the book, written an entirely new chapter on the fascinating subject of wormholes and time travel, and updated the original chapters.

In addition, to heighten understanding of complex concepts that readers may have found difficult to grasp despite the clarity and wit of Professor Hawking's writing, this edition is enhanced throughout with more than 240 full-color illustrations, including satellite images, photographs made made possible by spectacular technological advance such as the Hubble Space Telescope, and computer generated images of three and four-dimensional realities.  Detailed captions clarify these illustrations, enable readers to experience the vastness of intergalactic space, the nature of black holes, and the microcosmic world of particle physics in which matters and antimatter collide.

A classic work that now brings to the reader the latest understanding of cosmology, A Brief History Of Time is the story of the ongoing search for t he tantalizing secrets at the heart of time and space.

Frequently Bought Together

The Illustrated Brief History of Time, Updated and Expanded Edition + The Universe in a Nutshell + The Grand Design
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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

A new edition?with pictures?for those who couldn't fathom the original.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"He can explain the complexities of cosmological physics with an engaging combination of clarity and wit—His is a brain of extraordinary power."—New York Review of Books

"Hawking has succeeded in writing two intertwined books, one a highly readable and popular account of the role of time in physics, the other an in-depth review—What makes all this so interesting is Hawking's ability to convoy the essential physics in words alone."—Physics Today

"In his first work of popular science, Stephen Hawking proves himself to be a master of vivid clarity—It's difficult to think of anyone else living who could have put these mathematically formidable subjects more clearly."—Chicago Tribune

"A masterful summary of what physicists now think the world is made of and how it got that way."—Wall Street journal

"This book marries a child's wonder to a genius's intellect. We journey into Hawking's universe while marvelling at his mind."—Sunday Times, London

"The famous theoretical physicist best known for his inquiries into the nature of black holes—turns out to be as skilled a popular writer as he is a mathematician—The result is probably the best single book on astrophysics for the common reader. Thank you, Dr. Hawking!"—Booklist

"Lively and provocative—Hawking clearly possesses a natural teacher's gift—easy, good-natured humor and an ability to illustrate highly complex propositions with analogies plucked from daily life."—New York Times

"Charming and lucid—gives the general reader an opportunity to learn some deep science directly from the source—[A book of] sunny brilliance."—New Yorker

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 248 pages
  • Publisher: Bantam; Upd Sub edition (October 1, 1996)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0553103741
  • ISBN-13: 978-0553103748
  • Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 0.7 x 10.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (67 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #105,454 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Stephen Hawking's ability to make science understandable and compelling to a lay audience was established with the publication of his first book, A Brief History of Time, which has sold nearly 10 million copies in 40 languages. Hawking has authored or participated in the creation of numerous other popular science books, including The Universe in a Nutshell, A Briefer History of Time, On the Shoulders of Giants, The Illustrated On the Shoulders of Giants, and George's Secret Key to the Universe.

Customer Reviews

It is very easy to read and understand (thanks to Hawking's lighter tone of writing). Chris Meichtry  |  22 reviewers made a similar statement
I suggest the illustrated version of the book. M. A. Thompson  |  12 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
195 of 201 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars It Will Change the Way You Look at the Universe! June 21, 2002
Format:Hardcover
Stephen Hawking is an established scientific genius, but this book establishes him as a brilliant writer - an extremely rare, yet valuable combination. A point he brings to attention is that it had been possible for the philosophers of ancient times to master practically all the knowledge of academia. Today, however, only a handful of extremely specialized scientists understand the latest ideas in their fields. While men of ancient times could easily understand the latest scientific ideas, people today are lost. Enter "A Brief History of Time." This book helps fill in that gap between an average person's understanding and the highly specialized scientists' knowledge.

This book covers ideas that are profound and affect everyone. It explains theories that concern the creation of the universe, time travel, light-speed travel, and many more topics. Imagine actually having some grasp of Einstein's general relativity. Ever heard of string theory? How might time travel actually be possible? What are these black holes of which I've heard? This book packs an incredible amount of information into its 248 pages, yet somehow is still easily read - this is the true marvel of this book.

The illustrated version is worth the extra money. It contains many updates and additions throughout the book by Hawking (including the time travel chapter!). Every (and I mean every) concept throughout the book is accompanied by at least one illustration - think about it: 240 color illustrations with only 248 pages!

Towards the middle of the book, some of the concepts get more complex (when he really gets into the details of sub-atomic particles). However, as a recent high school graduate, I can say with some level of certainty that the average person can understand 90% of this book - and those parts are the most interesting! It will change the way you look at the universe.

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37 of 39 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Better than the original May 13, 2002
Format:Hardcover
I read the original version of 'A Brief History of Time' back in 1988. At the time, Hawking was into ground-breaking territory. The fact that his theories have gained such universal acceptance and that many of them have since been proved is evidence of the brilliance of the mind that thought through the logic.

In this updated version, Hawking moves from time travel to black holes to general relativity, quantum mechanics and even string theory, he never fails to captivate and entrance, even though some of the theories are difficult to grasp.

The sections devoted to black holes and time travel are, in my view, the most interesting... putting a human slant of a highly theorical subject. With the addition of hundreds of amazing illustrations and photos, Hawking has made his revised book extremely readable and colorful, both comprehensive and comprehendable, as one reviewer put it.

An excellent introduction to relativity, big bang, and anything else you might have scratched your head about!

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43 of 47 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Lots of pretty pictures garnish History March 25, 1998
Format:Hardcover
Stephen Hawking is perhaps the pre-eminent physicist of the last half of the 20th century. No, strike the "perhaps"; there should be no doubt. His contributions to cosmology and stellar evolution alone are enough to guarantee him an honored space in the scientific pantheon.

There aren't many who could have written this book, and that Hawking has done it in the grips of a stable but still cruel malady, Lou Gehrig's disease, is a testament to his will and mounting intellect. He almost manages to carry it off.

Probably this is no fault of his own. The subject matter is, in the hands of ordinary physicists, incredibly abstruse stuff. Scientific prose is fragile; one has to handle it carefully and reread it numerous times even to begin to understand it--and that only if one is an expert in the field. To try to translate that into ordinary English, so that we mortals might understand--that is when scientific writing becomes the calling of saints.

Add onto this task the incredible popularity of this book (it, or Cosmos, I forget which, is the best-selling non-religious book of all time) the first time it was published, and you can get a feeling for what Hawking was up against. He isn't just writing for the Scientific American crowd, but for the Parade crowd and the People crowd. This is populist science.

The *Illustrated History* improves on its predecessor in a number of respects. It expands on a number of explanations that were incomplete in the first edition. It adds a new section on developments that have occurred in the meantime. And of course there are those full-color pictures, where there was previously only black and white.

(Don't pooh-pooh the pictures. Never underestimate the lasting impression of a picture that the reader *understands*.)

But there are flaws. Small flaws, but flaws nonetheless. Hawking is an engaging writer (and even, despite the voice synthesizer he uses after an operation on his larynx, a passable speaker), but he does not quite have the flair for explanation of a Sagan or a Feynman. The analogies he uses are hardly original, but long-standing ones that have withstood the test of time, and they serve him well.

When he has to stand on his own, though, as he must when he explains his own concept of imaginary time, he seems less sure of his footing. It all seems quite simple upon first inspection, and yet, when you examine it closer, it doesn't totally make sense.

But this is a minor quibble. The book is an excellent introduction to cutting edge research in cosmology, and if Hawking is not a Carl Sagan or a Richard Feynman, that is hardly a knock on him. His work, in the end, will speak for itself.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars Overrated
Makes a good impression on your coffee table, if that's what you're all about. Nice illustrations, but hardly meets the description promised in the title.
Published 1 month ago by SmoothSail
3.0 out of 5 stars good book.
unfortunately, for me the the knowledge it contain was written in other books some 5000 years ago. however that was a very crude knowledge, the book is more scientific.
Published 4 months ago by amar sharma
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Book to Expand your Science Knowledge
I enjoyed reading this book as it is well written and the illustrations are a nice touch to help get the point across.
Published 16 months ago by D. Ha
5.0 out of 5 stars Purchased for High School Senior
I purchased this book for my son. He is a High School Senior and this book was one of several choices a class he was taking. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Henry R. Hatfield
5.0 out of 5 stars A good explanation.
Stephen Hawking is probably the greatest mind of our time. He explains things so well, that even a dummy like me can comprehend.
Published 23 months ago by Claja99
3.0 out of 5 stars Illustrated Brief History of Time
I ordered this book (Illustrated Brief History of Time)for collection. I have had this book (paper back)already. But the new book came and has a small tear on cover. Read more
Published on May 9, 2011 by HQ
5.0 out of 5 stars Unraveling the Mysteries of Our Great Universe
"The Illustrated A Brief History of Time," by Stephen Hawking summarizes what is known by theoretical physicists about the universe today. Read more
Published on March 18, 2011 by Baseball Fan
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful
Very good - I had read the original version a number of years ago and I wanted to buy the book for my teenage daughter. The illustrations make a great book even better.
Published on March 17, 2011 by B. Murphy
3.0 out of 5 stars Not as impressed as I'd hoped
I really enjoyed certain parts of the book. I enjoyed the descriptions of relativity and some of the history and tests behind some of the different theorems. Read more
Published on February 28, 2011 by misterjman
4.0 out of 5 stars Get over it when there is no time
From past to current, from simple kinetics to quantum theory, this book introduces ideas gradually. A well-organized review book that will widen many eyes.
Published on October 21, 2010 by Jian Sun
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