A Universe from Nothing

Why There Is Something Rather Than Nothing

By: Lawrence M. Krauss

Narrated by: Lawrence M. Krauss, Simon Vance

Length: 5 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

Where did the universe come from? What was there before it? What will the future bring? And finally, why is there something rather than nothing?

Krauss’ answers to these and other timeless questions, in a wildly popular lecture on YouTube, has attracted almost a million viewers. The last of these questions in particular has been at the center of religious and philosophical debates about the existence of God, and it’s the supposed counterargument to anyone who questions the need for God. Scientists have, however, historically focused on more pressing issues—such as figuring out how the universe actually functions, which could help us to improve our quality of life.

In this cosmological story that rivets as it enlightens, pioneering theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss explains groundbreaking scientific advances that turn the most basic philosophical questions on their head. One of the few prominent scientists to have actively crossed the chasm between science and popular culture, Krauss reveals that modern science is indeed addressing the question of why there is something rather than nothing—with surprising and fascinating results. The beautiful experimental observations and mind-bending theories are all described accessibly, and they suggest that not only can something arise from nothing, something will always arise from nothing.

With his characteristic wry humor and clear explanations, Krauss takes us back to the beginning of the beginning, presenting recent evidence for how our universe evolved—and the implications for how it will end. It will provoke, challenge, and delight listeners as it looks at the most basic underpinnings of existence in a whole new way. And this knowledge that our universe will be quite different in the future has profound consequences and directly affects how we live in the present. As Richard Dawkins described it, this could potentially be the most important scientific book with implications for supernaturalism since Darwin.

©2012 Lawrence M. Krauss (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Nothing is not nothing. Nothing is something. That’s how a cosmos can be spawned from the void—a profound idea conveyed in A Universe from Nothing that unsettles some yet enlightens others. Meanwhile, it’s just another day on the job for physicist Lawrence Krauss.” (Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist, American Museum of Natural History)

An important book

Two of the most fundamental questions in science are: (1) How did chemistry change into biology - the origin of life, and (2) What caused the Big Bang. This book answers thar latter question.

Any shortcoming is with my understanding

I am fascinated with physics, but I really struggle understanding a lot of the more complex ideas. Krauss does a wonderful job of putting this incredible theory into a format that at least makes sense to the non scientist.

Krauss is great

I'm not going to pretend that I understood half of it, but I enjoyed being exposed to it

great. listened to it over and over many times.

listened to it over and over. Lawrence Krauss is a wonderful writer. I've liked all his books.

Too Technical for me

What did you like best about A Universe from Nothing? What did you like least?

I like the whole hypothesis and the turnaround of his inquiries. His attention to detail and his lack of sweeping statements that have no backing is refreshing.

What could Lawrence M. Krauss have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

For me---For me, he could have dumbed it down and made it more accessible for someone who is curious, of average intelligence and who WANTS to understand what he is talking about and why he states what he states.

What does Lawrence M. Krauss and Simon Vance bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Research and years and years of study with the best minds.

Was A Universe from Nothing worth the listening time?

Nope. I tried several times and the amount of data for ME requires a book to look at the sentences and then to digest and then look again at times. I simply could not stay with what he was saying and I aborted part way through.

Any additional comments?

This review could be saying more about my own ability to listen to dense material with audiobooks. I simply could not stay with it.

great book!

this book had me rethinking everything I thought I knew about physics. He explains well his mathematic principles and theories behind the universe and everything. it turns out that Douglas Adams was wrong , the answer to life, the universe, and everything is in fact 0 not 42

What a wonderful book!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I loved it and would recommend it to anyone who asks.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Universe from Nothing?

Chapter 5, read it and then "nothing" ever the same.

Great book but not Richard Dawkins voice.

Books get 5 stars. Amazing! Only downside is that the afterword was not narrated by Richard Dawkins.

Science with a chip on its shoulder

I thought I was getting a book to explain science, not one that seems obsessed with attacking creationism (including a strange attack on American schools, a bastion of his own scientistic views). Most of his attacks just come off as petty arguments from authority. Overall, it's a good book. I did learn more about dark energy, which apparently should really just be called the energy of space itself, but I guess that isn't sexy enough for modern physicists.

Answers to the Age Old Questions

If you could sum up A Universe from Nothing in three words, what would they be?

Krause provides an excellent rebuttal to the old theological saw that there must be a creator god. Without one, we are forced to explain how something, the universe, came out of nothing. Thanks to Krause, we now know there is empirical evidence that the appearance of subatomic particles from nothing is actually a rather banal occurrence. He goes on to provide a very plausible explanation of our current understanding of cosmology. One that is far more bazaar and interesting than anything organized religion offers.

What other book might you compare A Universe from Nothing to and why?

This book fits very nicely on the shelf with Dawkins' 'God Delusion', Sam Harris' 'The End of Faith', and Hitchens' 'God is Not Great'.