Customer Reviews

Universe in a Nutshell/Illustrated Brief History of Time (Boxed Set)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought this set because it was not much more than just purchasing an Ilustrated Brief History of Time. After reading both, it was apparent to me I could have chosen just one and gotten 90% of the information contained in both.

I first read Illustrated Brief History of Time. Hawking does a great job of explaining complex subjects in simple plain speak which does not feel over your head. His descriptions of Relativity, Quantum Theory, String Theory, and other topics are great and easily understood by someone with a limited science background. Those with a science background, such as myself, my wish for more in depth analysis at times, but that is not the focus of book, it is more an overview. There is a list of further reading books if one is interested.

I then read Universe in a Nutshell. The book started very similar to Brief History and although it was layed out a bit different the content was very similar, in fact some of the illustrations were exactly the same. There was a little more on String Theory in this book, but not enough to justify buying both unless you are a die hard Hawking fan.

Overall, I would recommend buying just one and saving a few bucks to buy one of the other books on the recommended reading list if you want to delve deeper.

I've read both, and assuming you have basic physics/mathematics in your background (say, an intro college class or a good high school class), they are excellent! Otherwise, probably a bit deep.... The guy is amazing.

When I bought Stephen Hawkings first book, the multimillion best seller, A Brief History of Time, I didn't know why I bought it and along with 90% of others, I didn't read it.

There is much speculation about why we all did this. Inquisitivenes of a Physically Impaired Physicist? Egotistical dinner party host who not only chooses great wine, but understands physics as well!

Did the 'upwardly mobile' set all cruelly steal this from Stephen's first book, just as nature was cruelling stealing his mobility.

No. The answer is that we are all secretly fascinated about what is 'out there', where did we come from. What's it all about Stevie?

This second volume, The Universe in a Nutshell attempts to explain the unexplainable with beautiful Salvador Dali-like illustrations, and a style of words which are easy to digest.

Buy the set if you want to be inched closer to the ultimate truth of how we got here, and what are the forces that hold us together. But like an ant in a balloon, dont expect to know who blew up the ballon, or who's watching you through it, as you try to figure it all out. Steven provides some educated guesses, and they provide a wonderful voyage through space and time. Fear not if you don't follow it all - to paraphase the great scientist Heisenberg when talking of quantum mechanics, if you think you've understood it - then you don't really understand it

"Universe in a Nutshell" and "Brief History of Time" are two books worthy of your time if you're even remotely interested in our planet and the universe. These books could never be called light reading. However, they are highly interesting and thought provoking.

Box set was in better condition than seller had described. So happy with the purchase, looking forward to buying more in the future.

Hawking is excellent in this book, combining humorous interludes and spectacular pictures with an otherwise difficult and complex subject. These books make everyone want to be an theoretical physicist. Even if your understanding is tenuous at best, you can still appreciate the subject and join everyone in the appreciation of the profound impact this topic has had on the world we know and love.

Stephen Hawking uses a mixture of humor and wit to explain some of the most difficult concepts of our time. The book contains illustrations that give visual aid to otherwise inconceivable ideas. I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. It provides a provocative view of our universe, while encouraging stimulating thoughts of the vast limits of existence. I would encourage readers to brush up a little on their physics so that they don't feel too lost, in which case unless you're a genius physicist you most likely will need to do so.

LISTENING TO STEPHEN HAWKING'S THEORY'S AND PROJECTIONS, I'VE LEARNED THE TRICK TO UNDERSTANDING HIS WORKS IS TO PLAY IT OVER AGAIN. SOMETIMES I'LL PLAY HIS AUDIOBOOKS TWICE IN A ROW, THEN PLAY IT AGAIN A FEW WEEKS LATER. THE UNIVERSE IN A NUT SHELL HAS SIMILARITIES THAT ARE IN HIS CAMBRIDGE LECTURES. HIS "ASSAYS" AUDIOBOOK ALSO HAS SIMILARITIES. HIS IDEAS ARE PUT INTO UNDERSTANDABLE TEXT. SOMETHING YOUR AVERAGE SCHOLAR PROBABLY COULD NOT DO. IT'S FACINATING TO CATCH WHAT'S BEING EXPLAINED AND SAY"WOW" OUT LOUD. KEEP THE GREAT WORK COMING.

With all due respect, brilliance is looking at Genesis 1:1. There we have the answer. This book is a huge roundabout way of getting to the first verse of the bible, which the book falls short of doing although the name of God is mentioned in the book. How can a brilliant writer acknowledge God yet miss God's explanation of the issue at hand? Steve, read genesis 1:1.