Helpful Score: 7
This book is easily read. Mr. Hawking makes a difficult subject matter concise and understandable for readers, like myself, who find its topics challenging. While it has certainly NOT made me into a "rocket scientist", I have gained an understanding of the history of the 'big bang' and quantum theory as well as their limitations regarding a reaching a conclusion- or any definition- of the nature of the universe. Did God do it? Was God there before 'it' happened? Mr. Hawking does not have the answers to these questions but he does not ignore them. Readers with religious bias, secularists, atheists, and those who look to scientists, will benefit by having read this book.
Helpful Score: 3
An excellent summary of the state of contemporary physics. Technical enough to lose anyone who wants to do the homework on the topics, but still topical enough to get through for most. There is definitely a lot of discussion on the potential rifts between science and God, but Hawking stays ambiguous & agnostic enough to keep on topic. There is certainly a tendency to lean toward the scientific view of any scenario, but I think that is to be expected. This is certainly a must read for anyone who wants to understand the basics of contemporary physics, albeit a tad outdated at this point (if you insist on bleeding edge knowledge of course).
Helpful Score: 3
Hawking writes as plainly as possible for the non-expert reader, but the ideas get complicated eventually. At some point, I found myself reading the same way I read some science fiction. That is, just keep on and hope it makes sense before the end of the book. I enjoyed reading this famous book by such a prominent scientest. But it did not spur me to read more on the subject.
Helpful Score: 2
A fascinating look at physics, written so the average person can understand.
Helpful Score: 1
Everyone should have this on their bookshelf.
