The Grand Design

By: Stephen Hawking, Leonard Mlodinow

Narrated by: Steve West

Length: 4 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “A whirlwind tour of fundamental physics and cosmology.”—The Wall Street Journal

“Fascinating . . . a wealth of ideas [that] leave us with a clearer understanding of modern physics in all its invigorating complexity.”—Los Angeles Times

When and how did the universe begin? Why are we here? What is the nature of reality? Is the apparent “grand design” of our universe evidence of a benevolent creator who set things in motion—or does science offer another explanation? In The Grand Design, Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow present the most illuminating scientific thinking about these and other abiding mysteries of the universe, in nontechnical language marked by brilliance and simplicity.

According to quantum theory, the cosmos does not have just a single existence or history. The authors explain that we ourselves are the product of quantum fluctuations in the early universe and show how quantum theory predicts the “multiverse”—the idea that ours is just one of many universes that appeared spontaneously out of nothing, each with different laws of nature. They conclude with a riveting assessment of M-theory, an explanation of the laws governing our universe that is currently the only viable candidate for a “theory of everything”: the unified theory that Einstein was looking for, which, if confirmed, would represent the ultimate triumph of human reason.

A succinct, startling, and lavishly illustrated guide to discoveries that are altering our understanding and threatening some of our most cherished belief systems, The Grand Design is a book that will inform—and provoke—like no other.

©2010 Steven Hawking, Leonard Mlodinow (P)2010 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Introduces the reader to topics at the frontier of theoretical physics . . . more clearly for general readers than I have seen before.” (Steven Weinberg, The New York Review of Books)

“Provocative pop science, an exploration of the latest thinking about the origins of our universe.” (The New York Times)

Great

I understand this book isn't for everyone, it covers subjects that can be a little hard to grasp. It's not an anti religion book, it also talks about a lot of the history of philosophy and the evolution of mankind's train of thought about this particular subject.

bad reader

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

well, you learn a lot, but the reader is very boring

What did you like best about this story?

the content was generally very informative

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Steve West?

anyone else

Was The Grand Design worth the listening time?

so so

Any additional comments?

no

The multiverse is the answer.

It all makes sense now as I know why there is something rather than nothing.

Well done!

I do find the argument stimulating, though the more data we have the better there are theoretically challenging expanded arguments to support a cosmic view of everything.

Sartre would bebproud!!!

Hawkings presentsvthebest argument fof nonexisten e since Sartre or anypphilosopher for not prpolonging thevitable. Mankind has been afailure.
Andis
I as ttime forthetwilightofzll thegodsbas wel
.

Interesting

I’m not a physicist. I have to admit to having lost him at some point. Also, as I understand it, this book was written without some new data that may change our perceptions of reality.

Superb

The book gives a lot to think about, how we all conduct our everyday life. The book also is
showing us how everything is evolving and changing in the universe. In doing so theories are also changing to the new information. As to in our own lives. What I got out of it was God is what one believes it to be.

Fascinating but flat

This was very fascinating but unfortunately the narration was too flat and made it harder to comprehend. I had to keep referring to the printed book to look at the illustrations and re read the more complex passages.

Amazing, like all book from Stephen Hawking

I like this subject a lot, and for me Stephen Hawking is the best writer for general public (me). In this work he helps us understand the cutting edge ideas of science and physics.

Whoa!

This is a great listen if you like to let your mind wander into possiblities. Soem I caught right away and others I am still trying to grasp. I really appricated the historical review, educational and entertaining.