|
| |  | Books | Home » » A Brief History of Time | | | | | | | Description: | | A Brief History of Time, published in 1988, was a landmark volume in science writing and in world-wide acclaim and popularity, with more than 9 million copies in print globally. The original edition was on the cutting edge of what was then known about the origins and nature of the universe. But the ensuing years have seen extraordinary advances in the technology of observing both the micro- and the macrocosmic world--observations that have confirmed many of Hawking's theoretical predictions in the first edition of his book.Now a decade later, this edition updates the chapters throughout to document those advances, and also includes an entirely new chapter on Wormholes and Time Travel and a new introduction. It make vividly clear why A Brief History of Time has transformed our view of the universe. | | | Features: | |
• ISBN13: 9780553380163
• Condition: New
• Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
| | | Product Details: | | | Author:
| Stephen Hawking | | Paperback:
| 224 pages | | Publisher:
| Bantam | | Publication Date:
| September 01, 1998 | | ISBN:
| 0553380168 | | Package Length:
| 8.9 inches | | Package Width:
| 5.9 inches | | Package Height:
| 0.6 inches | | Package Weight:
| 0.7 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 326 reviews |
| | | | Used and New: | | | |
| All | |
| $4.98 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $4.99 | Used
- Good | | | $4.99 | Used
- Good | | | $5.00 | Used
- Good | | | $5.00 | Used
- Good | | | $5.29 | Used
- Good | | | $5.96 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $5.99 | Used
- Good | | | $5.99 | Used
- Good | | | $6.00 | Used
- Good | | | $6.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $6.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $6.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $6.00 | Used
- Acceptable | | | $6.00 | Used
- Good | | | $6.50 | Used
- Good | | | $6.69 | Used
- Good | | | $6.99 | Used
- Good | | | $6.99 | Used
- Good | | | $6.99 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $7.00 | Used
- Good | | | $7.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $7.00 | Used
- Good | | | $7.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $7.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $7.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $7.18 | Used
- Acceptable | | | $7.49 | Used
- Mint | | | $7.56 | Used
- Good | | | $7.92 | Used
- Acceptable | | | $7.95 | Used
- Mint | | | $7.95 | Used
- Mint | | | $7.98 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $7.98 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $7.99 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $8.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $8.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $8.00 | Used
- Acceptable | | | $8.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $8.00 | Used
- Acceptable | | | $8.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $8.10 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $8.50 | Used
- Good | | | $8.50 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $8.50 | Used
- Mint | | | $8.95 | Used
- Mint | | | $8.95 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $8.98 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | Used
- Good | | | $8.98 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $8.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $9.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $9.00 | Used
- Good | | | $9.00 | Used
- Good | | | $9.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $9.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $9.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $9.00 | Used
- Good | | | $9.50 | Used
- Mint | | | $9.50 | Used
- Good | | | $9.50 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $9.50 | Used
- Good | | | $9.54 | Used
- Good | | | $9.95 | Used
- Mint | | | $9.95 | Used
- Mint | | | $9.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $9.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $9.99 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $9.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $10.00 | Used
- Good | | | $10.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $10.00 | Collectible
- Acceptable | | | $10.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $10.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $10.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $10.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $10.00 | Used
- Good | | | $10.13 | Used
- Good | | | $10.21 | Used
- Mint | | | $10.50 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $10.66 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $10.80 | Used
- Good | | | $10.87 | New | | | $10.88 | New | | | $10.89 | New | | | $10.91 | New | | | $10.91 | New | | | $10.94 | Used
- Mint | | | $10.94 | New | | | $10.95 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $10.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $11.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $11.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $11.40 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | Used
- VeryGood | | | $11.44 | New | | | $11.50 | Used
- Mint | | | $11.50 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $11.52 | New | | | $11.64 | New | | | $11.70 | Used
- Good | | | $11.70 | New | |
| New | |
| $10.87 | New | | | $10.88 | New | | | $10.89 | New | | | $10.91 | New | | | $10.91 | New | | | $10.94 | New | | | $11.44 | New | | | $11.52 | New | | | $11.64 | New | | | $11.70 | New | |
| Used | |
| $4.98 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $4.99 | Used
- Good | | | $4.99 | Used
- Good | | | $5.00 | Used
- Good | | | $5.00 | Used
- Good | | | $5.29 | Used
- Good | | | $5.96 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $5.99 | Used
- Good | | | $5.99 | Used
- Good | | | $6.00 | Used
- Good | | | $6.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $6.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $6.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $6.00 | Used
- Acceptable | | | $6.00 | Used
- Good | | | $6.50 | Used
- Good | | | $6.69 | Used
- Good | | | $6.99 | Used
- Good | | | $6.99 | Used
- Good | | | $6.99 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $7.00 | Used
- Good | | | $7.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $7.00 | Used
- Good | | | $7.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $7.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $7.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $7.18 | Used
- Acceptable | | | $7.49 | Used
- Mint | | | $7.56 | Used
- Good | | | $7.92 | Used
- Acceptable | | | $7.95 | Used
- Mint | | | $7.95 | Used
- Mint | | | $7.98 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $7.98 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $7.99 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $8.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $8.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $8.00 | Used
- Acceptable | | | $8.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $8.00 | Used
- Acceptable | | | $8.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $8.10 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $8.50 | Used
- Good | | | $8.50 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $8.50 | Used
- Mint | | | $8.95 | Used
- Mint | | | $8.95 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $8.98 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | Used
- Good | | | $8.98 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $8.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $9.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $9.00 | Used
- Good | | | $9.00 | Used
- Good | | | $9.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $9.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $9.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $9.00 | Used
- Good | | | $9.50 | Used
- Mint | | | $9.50 | Used
- Good | | | $9.50 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $9.50 | Used
- Good | | | $9.54 | Used
- Good | | | $9.95 | Used
- Mint | | | $9.95 | Used
- Mint | | | $9.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $9.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $9.99 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $9.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $10.00 | Used
- Good | | | $10.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $10.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $10.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $10.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $10.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $10.00 | Used
- Good | | | $10.13 | Used
- Good | | | $10.21 | Used
- Mint | | | $10.50 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $10.66 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $10.80 | Used
- Good | | | $10.94 | Used
- Mint | | | $10.95 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $10.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $11.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $11.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $11.40 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | Used
- VeryGood | | | $11.50 | Used
- Mint | | | $11.50 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $11.70 | Used
- Good | |
| Collectible | |
| $10.00 | Collectible
- Acceptable | |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
3 of 7 found the following review helpful:
 The Hobo PhilosopherJul 27, 2010
A Brief History of Time
By Stephen W. Hawking
Book Review
By Richard E. Noble
I read this book several years ago and since that time I have read it several more times. Since my first reading, I have not been able to get this book off my mind. On that account I should give it five stars. But the things that I can't get off my mind are all negative criticisms. On that account I should give it one star.
My criticisms start before I even get to the author.
In his introduction Carl Sagan speaks of "Einstein's famous question about weather God had any choice in creating the universe." Unfortunately Mr. Sagan paraphrases this one of Einstein's many famous questions incorrectly, as my memory recalls.
If there were a God why would he not have a choice in creating the universe? This paraphrasing makes no sense.
Einstein's question as I recall it was whether or not God had any choice in his own existence.
Now that is a big question to all us philosophy buffs. Mr. Sagan's incorrect paraphrasing makes Einstein's "famous question" no question at all.
Asking whether God had a choice in his own existence is a subtle way of stating the impossibility of the God concept.
If there is a God he could not have had the choice to exist or not to exist. He either was or he wasn't. If he wasn't, he could never have been because something can not come from "nothing."
The answer to the rhetorical question is that he had no choice and therefore was lacking in freedom. God can not be God and be lacking in freedom. Therefore the concept of God is untenable.
The above is not my opinion; it is simple philosophic logic that can be found in any philosophy book debating the God concept.
This was really a rhetorical question in my opinion on the part of Einstein. He was expressing his dubiousness on this subject.
If there is a God whether or not to create the universe is no problem at all; God can do as he pleases. He can create it or not create it. Who or what is going to make him do it or not do it? What logic says he can't do it? Sagan's question makes no sense.
Now we come to Mr. Hawking and friends.
Unfortunately there is a lot of sloppy language going on in the scientific community. Mr. Hawking is just one of many who "slop" around terms to the point of meaninglessness. One such term is the word "universe."
The universe is defined briefly as, "all that is." I am sorry but there can not be two "all that is." All that is, covers everything. It follows then that there can be no multiple universes, parallel universes or competing universes. There can only be one universe.
Scientists are obviously using the word "universe" with a different understanding than "all that is." Somebody should explain to readers how the scientific community is defining the word universe.
Other improperly used words are infinite and annihilate.
The universe can not be at the same time infinite and limited. An infinite universe can not expand. It is already infinite. It can't get no bigger than that.
A particle can not be annihilated and at the same time transformed into something else. If a particle is annihilated it not only disappears, it ceases to exist. It doesn't just disappear. As far as I know annihilation is impossible. Therefore if a particle turns into light and/or energy, then it hasn't been annihilated. It has been transformed. It can only be annihilated if it has been turned into nothing - and this is an impossible theoretical state. A state of "nothing" does not exist.
Space is also something. Its influences may be so minimal that they are not necessary to mathematical equations but space is more than a state or condition fabricated by gravity and other magnetic forces. There are scientists who are presently working to discover exactly what space is and what its influences are on the universe.
Light travels in straight lines in all directions infinitely - but it also bends. This is impossible. It does one or the other. It either travels infinitely in straight lines or it bend and wiggles its way through space.
If light bends and wiggles it way through space then it certainly can not be used as a measurement of the distance between planets or galaxies. Unless someone can measure the exact amount of wiggle at every distance in space - which I doubt very much is possible. What the heck are these scientists talking about?
An ellipse is an extended circle? Then I suppose a circle is a square with rounded sides. I know these guys are trying to dumb this stuff down for folks like me but if they dumb it down too much they are me and then we are all going nowhere.
I'm not a Big Bang guy and neither was Mr. Hubble. I have read that Mr. Hubble who established the notion of red shifts and blue shifts said that he in no way concluded from this observation that the universe is actually expanding or that any Big Bang was involved.
I think the Big Bang notion is comparable to "the world is flat" notion along with the Ptolemaic universe and phlogiston. It is being challenged by plasma theorists and others. The whole concept seems to be imploding in favor of an infinite, self-evolving universe.
I am reading a book at the moment by Eric J. Lerner "The Big Bang Never Happened." It is making some sense to my way of thinking.
Question posed in Mr. Hawking book: What was God doing before he created the universe?
Answer provided in book by St. Augustine: Time did not exist before the beginning of the universe.
So then where was God? He obviously did not exist before the universe either. Is God not a part of "all that is"? Does he exist? If so then he must have existed within the concept of "all that is" - the universe. No universe, no God.
And if the universe had no beginning - and the Big Bang can not be construed as the beginning of "all that is" -then St. Augustine may be right. Time began when the universe began; the universe always was and always will be
(in one shape or another) therefore time always was and always will be.
Mr. Hawking, Mr. Sagan and others in the scientific community I don't think are/were big on philosophy. They know their math but seem short on logic and semantics.
This book to me is pretty much an exercise in scientific madness (time going backwards, the universe collapsing, parallel universes, universes that are cone shaped, or infinite but finite and limited) but it is not just Mr. Hawking who has gone mad. He has a whole bunch lined up to jump off the edge of the universe and splatter on the nothingness below following eagerly behind him.
Books written by Richard Noble - The Hobo Philosopher:
"Hobo-ing America: A Workingman's Tour of the U.S.A.."
"A Summer with Charlie" Salisbury Beach, Lawrence YMCA
"A Little Something: Poetry and Prose
"Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother" Novel - Lawrence, Ma.
"The Eastpointer" Selections from award winning column.
"Noble Notes on Famous Folks" Humor - satire - facts.
"America on Strike" American Labor - History
"A Baker's Dozen" Short Stories
0 of 6 found the following review helpful:
Just an amusing fictionJul 12, 2010
I'm an average girl with quite average education in Accounting. I did not like this book a lot. The same things I have read in my 5th grade book about astronomy and physics. The book talks about common sense, well known to to the educated person, things and sometimes questionable examples. Say, the test with the clocks on the tower. He says that clock on the tower ticks slowly because time is less dense far from the planet. What about clocks mechanics? Maybe less gravity on the top of the tower makes parts of the clock move more freely....
Anyways, I have not learn anything new from the book, just reviewed the staff I've learned in the mid-school.
Quite amusing, though:))
 Deep!Jun 29, 2010
Stephen Hawking surveys the theories behind the history of time and the universe. He discusses how scientists have struggled with different ideas (it was thought that physics would die out as a science until the neutron was discovered in 1928), and how Einstein's theory of relativity and the strong theories of the 1980s have helped us immensely. He concludes that the universe had a beginning and that the secret of discovering time travel may have something to do with traveling through black holes (which you can't do because you will disintegrate).
Hawking leaves the question of a Creator open. If the universe did not have a beginning, then obviously, there is no need for a creator. But if it did, then the question is an open one.
Hard book to read. But worth it.
Always fascinating.Jun 15, 2010
I'm the only person I know that's fascinated with physics. When I attempted to discuss some of the theories in the book with my love ones, I was greeted with rolled eyes and yawns. Can you believe the audacity of some people? What happened to good manners? Okay, I'm not being serious. I don't expect people to share my interests. It's just that this book excited me to the point of wanting discourse. It kind of helps the knowledge sink in more.
Every light bulb moment I had while reading "A Brief History of Time" left me feeling triumphant, and there were many of those moments. I think that fact speaks well of Mr. Hawking's ability to simplify the abstruse.
 Good, not Great: Why you should buy a different bookJun 13, 2010
Stephen Hawking is certainly one of the most well-known and well-respected theoretical physicists of the last 40 years. So it goes without saying that he knows his stuff. But does that mean he can write a great book? Not necessarily.
If you don't know much about physics but want to have a very basic grasp of general relativity, special relativity, and quantum mechanics, then this may not be the book for you. Hawking doesn't do great a job of explaining these things clearly, and it ends up sounding a lot more confusing than it needs to be. This is partially because the book is so "brief" that Hawking doesn't dedicate much ink to explaining concepts. Most other books on theoretical physics which are aimed at the general public are 300-500 pages (and thus are able to explain things a bit more), whereas A Brief History is only about 180 pages.
Another problem with this book is that it's a bit outdated. As Hawking points out near the end of the book, physics (especially the theoretical kind) tends to move pretty fast, so it's no surprise that this book, which is 20+ years old, has some errors. This is, of course, no fault of the author's. It's what you expect of an older book. And although the majority of the content is still accurate, it may be better to get a more recent book.
The most interesting part of the book is learning about Hawking's take on various issues, especially the origin of the universe. To me, this makes the book worth a read.
So, if you're a fan of these Pop Physics books, then you wont regret reading A Brief History. However, if you are new to the genre, you might want to instead check out something written within the last five years.
| | |
|
