The Theory of Everything: The Origin and Fate of the Universe by Stephen W Hawking (PDF)

Description

Based on a series of lectures given at Cambridge University, The Theory of Everything presents the most complex concepts of physics— both past and present— in a clear and accessible manner. Stephen Hawking enlightens readers and exposes them to the rich history of scientific thought and the complexities of the universe in which we live. Using computer-assisted technology, Hawking reads from his own work.

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: About the Author Stephen W. Hawking (1942-2018) was widely considered to be the world’ s greatest mind–a brilliant theoretical physicist whose work reconfigured models of the universe and redefined its basic governing laws. He was the recipient of many awards, medals, and prizes. In 1982, he was awarded the CBE, and in 1989, he was made a Companion of Honour. His books include The Theory of Everything (2006).

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐This book is a collection of seven lectures by Hawking in which he discusses the universe expansion, black holes, the arrow of time, and the theory of everything. The two lectures on black holes were particularly interesting because he provided a history of the development of the subject by various physicists, to include his own work with Roger Penrose. The study of black holes was actually originated in 18th century when the life cycle of a star was studied. When the Chandreskhar limit was introduced in the 1930s, white dwarfs and neutron stars were studied leading to the possibility that a star can collapse to a point. Later Hawking and Penrose showed in the 70s a black hole is the point of singularity with infinite density and the event horizon is boundless allowing nondecreasing behaviour. His discussion of how various theories of black holes evolved is a fascinating story of scientific discovery. I wish he included more indepth details of measurements done in those studies, such as luminosity and red shift measurements. His lecture on time is based on the three different arrows of time: thermodynamic, psychological, and cosmological. Hawking suggests the psychological arrow is determined by thermodynamic arrow, and, that there can only be intelligent beings if they agree with the cosmological arrow. He also discusses if time can reverse if the universe collapses and entropy decreases. But a student of his developed a more complicated model showing disorder would continue in a no boundary condition and hence time arrow would not be reversed. His whole approach of tying thermodynamics, psychological time passage and cosmological activity together is revealing and explore not only physical possibility but touches also logical possibility. His lecture on the theory of everything examines string theory as a candidate to be such a theory, which he discusses the well known difficulties of string theory having over 10 dimensions, multiple infinities, string wave relation to particles. But he thought the issues will eventually be resolved. So he does not dismiss string theory as a viable candidate. More interesting is he does not believe there is no ultimate theory of the universe but only an unending sequence of theories offering better explanation one after the other. He thinks the Planck energy 1019 GeV would be the upper limit that cuts off the proliferation of theories.In typical Hawking lucid writing style, he is able to deliver the clearest and lively explanation of these complex cosmological theories that anyone can understand.

⭐In this book Stephen Hawkings relates to what the subtitle says: “The Origin and the Fate of the Universre” from seven of his letures on his theories and beliefs of his cosomology. Mr/Dr. Hawkings does a tremendous job in explaining the history of astronomy with his seven lectures which include…” Ideas (history) About the Universe,The Expanding Universe, Black Holes, Black Holes Ain’t So Black, The Origin and Fate of the Universe, The Direction of Time, and The Theory of Everything.” Mr. Hawkings explains these very complex theoris in everyday layman’s language to his readers.He uses real life and portended examples to explain his theories.He makes these very complex theories understandable to the layman. He writes with enthusiam without challenging anyones’ theories or faith. His style of writing in not self-centered nor is it arrogant like so many scientists do. His style is invitiing, exciting, and very knowledgeable. I highly recommend this book,”The Special Anniversary Edition,” to all and everybody, especially the amateur astronomy buffs and the every day layman.

⭐*Please note the comments in the “update” towards the end of this review as the current Kindle version of the book does in fact include illustrations*As someone who has purchased and read almost every book available by Stephen Hawking, I was excited about this book when I found it on Amazon. I have several other “illustrated” versions of Hawking’s books and those have become my favorite versions because I love the large format and the illustrations inside are generally really well done and actually help with the text, especially for those people who have a hard time mentally visualizing the theories explained within.For some reason I picked this book to be my first Kindle book by Hawking. Perhaps I thought I just couldn’t “wait” for the physical book to arrive.Big mistake.***The Kindle version of this book has absolutely NO illustrations whatsoever***Let me repeat that: The Kindle version of this “Illustrated Theory of Everything” has NO ILLUSTRATIONS. No color illustrations. No greyscale illustrations. No black-and-white illustrations. No line-art. None whatsoever. None on the Kindle 3G. None on the Kindle Reader for Mac. None on the Kindle reader for iPad.There are not even any LINKS to illustrations.In summation, do NOT buy this book on Kindle. If you want to buy it for Kindle, I wouldn’t even recommend the non-illustrated version. I suspect most people would be better off with Universe in a Nutshell, The Grand Design, or Brief History of Time. The text only portion of this book is exceedingly short and offers essentially nothing new from those other books.****Update March 8, 2012****After the helpful suggestion of another Kindle-version reader, I contacted Kindle support and was able to get an updated version of the Kindle book. This does include illustrations, which add substantially to the book. The illustrations are good quality and appropriate. Reading the book on Kindle Reader for iPad works pretty well, with full-color photos which are in-line (two-finger gesture to expand the pictures). On my Kindle 3 (Kindle with Keyboard), some of the images have very low contrast. Many of the images also have a light grey text which is somewhat difficult to read, even when expanded.Other than the presence of illustrations in the updated kindle version, the best update is the presence of highlight boxes (kind of like side-bars but in-line) which break up the text and enhance the experience.I am updating my rating to 3 stars. I would give it more, but the number of illustrations are rather sparse and for b&w Kindle owners, there are certainly limitations. I have other Kindle books which are not advertised as “illustrated” which have similar numbers of illustrations (chapter heading pictures, or just other pictures that enhance the content.)

⭐If your name is Steve, you know…

⭐”One evening in November … I started to think about black holes as I was getting into bed.” (P 75) As one does. He points out that, with his disability, getting into bed takes a long time.This is typical of the way Hawking mixes biographical details and scientific, astro-physical thinking of the rarest kind in this little book, but “little” only in the physical sense as it opens the mind to the vastness of the universe.The notion of the widely-accepted expanding universe led him to consider (with Roger Penrose) the reversing of time and to what it would lead, i.e. a big-bang, singularity. This was his work until 1970 and that November evening. Since then his pioneering thinking on black holes has provided some startlingly original ideas.The “theory of everything” is the physicists’ Aladdin’s Cave, Holy Grail or, in Hawking’s case, tomorrow’s desk job.Disappointing in some ways, i.e. its brevity and (for Hawking’s followers) its repetition but it is worth the investment in time and, short as it is, that is not long.

⭐A thoroughly interesting read of developments in space knowledge over the last 50 years. Easy to read with detail explained in simply. Facinating

⭐“ The reward of understanding the universe may be a glimpse of “ the mind of God” . Hawking.It would be more appropriate if we say understanding the formation and “management “ of the universe would make it easier to understand the existence of God. What Hawking tried to unfold what is in universe has been pointed out in the Books of Heaven, Torah, Bible and Quran. Like all scientists he has endeavored to find the causes of certain happenings in the universe and as of now seems to have succeeded but he departed this world without being certain Who or What Power is behind all these happenings.

⭐Tis is the first book of this kind I have read but it won’t be the last. Wonderful book

⭐A good read if you are interested in theory of modern astronomy

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