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Brief Answers to the Big Questions  By  cover art

Brief Answers to the Big Questions

By: Stephen Hawking, Professor Kip Thorne - foreword
Narrated by: Ben Whishaw, Garrick Hagon - foreword, Lucy Hawking - afterword
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Publisher's summary

Read by Ben Whishaw and Garrick Hagon, with an afterword read by Lucy Hawking.

The world-famous cosmologist and number one best-selling author of A Brief History of Time leaves us with his final thoughts on the universe's biggest questions in this brilliant posthumous work.

How did the universe begin? Will humanity survive on Earth? Is there intelligent life beyond our solar system? Could artificial intelligence ever outsmart us?

Throughout his extraordinary career, Stephen Hawking expanded our understanding of the universe and unravelled some of its greatest mysteries. But even as his theoretical work on black holes, imaginary time and multiple histories took his mind to the furthest reaches of space, Hawking always believed that science could also be used to fix the problems on our planet.

And now, as we face potentially catastrophic changes here on Earth - from climate change to dwindling natural resources to the threat of artificial superintelligence - Stephen Hawking turns his attention to the most urgent issues for humankind.

Wide-ranging, intellectually stimulating, passionately argued and infused with his characteristic humour, Brief Answers to the Big Questions, the final book from one of the greatest minds in history, is a personal view on the challenges we face as a human race and where we, as a planet, are heading next.

©2018 Stephen Hawking (P)2018 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

What listeners say about Brief Answers to the Big Questions

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interesting but not deep enough

it goes through many ideas without to deep in any... that felt odd, I wish it was longer...

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Loved it. It's inspiring. Follows current beliefs.

Loved it. I thinks this is a must read for adolescents and anyone who aspires some common good sense.

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1 person found this helpful

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Last helping hand

Over the years Stephen Hawkings books have accompanies me on travels or as in this case on long walks. The subject matters were invariably difficult and at times daunting. In this book its the same, but more so. The bigest questions possible and still more than worthwhile. It is impressive to hear how well thought through and clearly stated Prof. Hawkings manages to argue and develop his answers to the questions. The relative brevity in answering the questions, in about half an hour a question, suggests a long preparation in making the case simply, and it makes the book digestible also for an average reader. A realy enjoyable and worthwhile listening and with a sad note, this being the last helping hand Stephen Hawking could give. It is a big help.

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Incredible read from an incredible person

Hawking shone light on the most fundamental yet most difficult questions in the most intuitive way possible. An inspirational read that gets me thinking about our role and responsibility for humanity. RIP Hawking!

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A great read (listen) if you wanna get what’s the deal with literally everything.

The book is a fascinating window into science through the words of the scientist himself. A lot of interesting starting points to read more about AI, space, genetics and literary everything!

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Wonderful

Perfect pick as my first Hawking's book.
Great performance and very understandable for a young adult.

I don't have a long attention span so at times I had to rewing a minute to grasp the concept but I enjoyed 100% all of the book.

By the end I was marveled at Stephen Hawking's wonderful empathy and capacity.
Hawking's name is a household term and even though I knew of him, his absence never hit me until now. I couldn't but shed a few tears after having known what a great human being we lost 3 years ago.

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Good book covering a lot of topics

Many theories presented are just repetitions on things already written by SH in previous books. Good audible

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Marathoned in one sitting

I'm just really glad I get to be alive at this particular time when I get to learn about the universe from Hawking and people like him. I love this stuff, and this book is written accessibly enough that even I don't have trouble understanding the material (which I would in a school setting). It's inspirational, calming, and existential crisis-worthy at the same time. Wonderful all around.

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An amazing book. Worth every minute of listening

It takes genius to explain a complicated subject in such a simple way.

I didn't even know it will spark so much interest in me in cosmology and our universe. Totally recommend 👌

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Good teaser but not enough depth for me

It''s a nicely written book but really just a teaser. Great if this is the first book about scientific topics you are reading but otherwise it doesn't provide enough meet on the bone.

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