The Edge of Knowledge

Unsolved Mysteries of the Cosmos

By: Lawrence M. Krauss

Narrated by: Lawrence M. Krauss

Length: 7 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

Lawrence Krauss explores the greatest unanswered questions at the forefront of science today, and likely for the coming century and beyond.

Internationally known theoretical physicist and bestselling author Lawrence Krauss explores science’s greatest unanswered questions.

Three of the most important words in science are I don't know. Not knowing implies a universe of opportunities—the possibility of discovery and surprise. Our understanding of science has advanced immeasurably over the last 500 years, yet many fundamental mysteries of existence persist: How did our universe begin? How big is the universe? Is time travel possible? What’s at the center of a black hole? How did life on Earth arise? Are we alone? What is consciousness, and can we create it?

These mysteries define the scientific forefront—the threshold of the unknown. To explore that threshold is to gain a deeper understanding of just how far science has progressed. Covering time, space, matter, life, and consciousness, Krauss introduces listeners to topics that will shape the state of science for the next century, providing us all passport to our own journeys of exploration and discovery.

©2023 Lawrence M. Krauss (P)2023 Lawrence M. Krauss

Critic reviews

“The Edge of Knowledge takes us on a stirring tour of the cosmic frontier, where our knowledge is incomplete, our understanding is fragmentary, and our insights are flawed. But that’s precisely the terrain that science navigates daily when decoding the operations of nature. And for that, there’s no better tour guide than Lawrence Krauss.” (Neil deGrasse Tyson, author, Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization)

“What an achievement: science, the beauty of science, the adventure of science so well expressed. Even a wretched innumerate like me can grasp the excitement of the key stories in discovery that Lawrence Krauss tells with such spellbinding clarity and generous authority. Throughout it all runs a vivid and deeply important reminder of science’s respect for mistakes: doubt, the unknown and contingent truths that are always up for being questioned, reassessed, and refined. A book that reawakens wonder.” (Stephen Fry, actor, author, broadcaster, and campaigner, and author most recently of Fry’s Ties)

“With the ease of a master, Lawrence Krauss takes us on a sightseeing tour to the biggest unknowns in the universe. A breathtaking trip to the frontiers of knowledge and beyond.” (Sabine Hossenfelder, physicist and author of Existential Physics: A Scientist’s Guide to Life’s Biggest Questions)

How mind bogglingly big it is

We enjoyed this sit back and listen to Lawrence Krauss enjoying what he does best….teach. Thank you for reading to my family. Golden Retriever Reedus & Boarder Collie Dani California.

The known unknown and the unknown unknown

This book was an excellent review of the concepts in others that I have read. It put into an easily understood form some of the ideas of quantum theory. I appreciated that the author delved into consciousness

Great audiobook for thinkers.

This book has deeply resonated with my own thoughts about life in a broad context. It explores the most important human questions, including possibility of time travelling, AI, the origin of life, quantum physics, and more, in a scientifically entertaining way.

as always- Dr Krause is fascinating

I have listened to most of Dr krause's books and I have always enjoyed them. I have to admit that the physics and explanations often go over my head. I enjoyed this book especially because he did come back to the bigger questions and address them in a general way.

An Understandable Exploration

This is a terrific book. I happened to listen to the audio version, and Lawrence. I was terrific at the Audio as he was with the contact.

An Intriguing Cosmic Journey - Love It!

Dr. Lawrence M. Krauss's "The Edge of Knowledge: Unsolved Mysteries of the Cosmos" takes readers on a captivating voyage through the enigmatic realms of the universe. This thought-provoking book offers a fascinating exploration of some of the most perplexing mysteries that continue to baffle scientists and cosmologists alike.

Krauss, a renowned physicist and cosmologist, demonstrates his ability to distill complex scientific concepts into accessible language without sacrificing depth. His writing is both engaging and intellectually stimulating, making this book a compelling read for anyone curious about the universe's deepest secrets.

First, Dr. Krauss teaches us the difference between the known unknown and the unknown unknown. One of the book's strengths lies in its selection of mysteries, which range from the origin of the universe to the nature of dark matter and dark energy, and even the possibility of extraterrestrial life. Each chapter delves into a different cosmic puzzle, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state of scientific knowledge while also emphasizing the mysteries that remain unsolved.

Dr. Krauss excels in conveying the excitement and wonder of scientific inquiry, which is infectious and inspiring. He outlines various hypotheses and theories put forth by scientists and the ongoing experiments designed to shed light on these cosmic conundrums. This approach encourages readers to appreciate the collaborative and evolving nature of scientific discovery.

Nonetheless, Dr. Krauss's enthusiasm for the subject matter is evident throughout the book, and he succeeds in conveying the sense of awe that arises from contemplating the mysteries of the cosmos. His willingness to confront the limitations of current scientific understanding adds an element of humility and respect for the unknown.

In conclusion, "The Edge of Knowledge: Unsolved Mysteries of the Cosmos" by Dr. Lawrence M. Krauss is a captivating exploration of the most profound questions humanity has ever asked. While it may require a bit of patience and a willingness to grapple with complex ideas, the book rewards readers with a deeper understanding of the universe's mysteries and the thrill of scientific exploration. Whether you're a seasoned cosmology enthusiast or just starting your cosmic journey, this book offers a thought-provoking and enlightening experience that will leave you pondering the mysteries of the cosmos long after you've turned the last page.

A Book about The Known Unknowns

Time, Space, Matter, Life, & Consciousness. These are the Concepts Krauss addresses in this work. In my experience Krauss can be a very difficult read. His brilliance is unquestionable but when he delves into the Mysteries of Physics and The Cosmos he often loses me. The first couple of Topics pretty much did this again.

Things got better in the section on Matter but again, whenever he mentioned Quantum anything, I broke out in a cold sweat. I did though very much understand and enjoy most of the Life and Consciousness chapters.

He expands on much of Damasio’s theories of the operation of The Brain and Consciousness that I have been impressed by and did a great job of explaining those issues quite clearly.

This was a very worthwhile experience. Any lack of clarity lies in the Brain of this Reader!

Four Stars. ****

I enjoy getting to know the unknown

Great as always, but I wish he would pause just a bit more between sentences so we busy seekers of knowledge could break more easily to deal with distractions.

Good Book, Slightly Dated

I have great respect for Lawrence Krauss, but I wonder why he pronounces EXtant as exTANT, and why the producer never picked it up and corrected him. The predictions on AI did not age well.

he lacks knowledge about his topics

his depth of knowledge in most of the topics in the books is surpassed by a wiki article. Interesting my enough biologists never try to pose as an expert on physics... what suprised me the most was how often he's demonstrably wrong about physics. a topic he should know alot about. And complaining about political correctness after being thrown out from the university for sexually harrassing people is a bit strange. His reading sounds tired and stale... He really lacks energy