The Universe in a Nutshell

By: Stephen Hawking

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Length: 3 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Stephen Hawking’s phenomenal, multimillion-copy bestseller, A Brief History of Time, introduced the ideas of this brilliant theoretical physicist to people all over the world. Now, in a major publishing event, Hawking returns with a sequel that unravels the mysteries of the major breakthroughs that have occurred in the years since the release of his acclaimed first book.

The Universe in a Nutshell

• Quantum mechanics

• M-theory

• General relativity

• 11-dimensional supergravity

• 10-dimensional membranes

• Superstrings

• P-branes

• Black holes

One of the most influential thinkers of our time, Stephen Hawking is an intellectual icon, known not only for the adventurousness of his ideas but for the clarity and wit with which he expresses them. In this new book Hawking takes us to the cutting edge of theoretical physics, where truth is often stranger than fiction, to explain in laymen’s terms the principles that control our universe.

Like many in the community of theoretical physicists, Professor Hawking is seeking to uncover the grail of science—the elusive Theory of Everything that lies at the heart of the cosmos. In his accessible and often playful style, he guides us on his search to uncover the secrets of the universe—from supergravity to supersymmetry, from quantum theory to M-theory, from holography to duality. He takes us to the wild frontiers of science, where superstring theory and p-branes may hold the final clue to the puzzle. And he lets us behind the scenes of one of his most exciting intellectual adventures as he seeks “to combine Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity and Richard Feynman’s idea of multiple histories into one complete unified theory that will describe everything that happens in the universe.”

With characteristic exuberance, Professor Hawking invites us to be fellow travelers on this extraordinary voyage through space-time

The Universe in a Nutshell is an essential book for all of us who want to understand the universe in which we live. Like its companion volume, A Brief History of Time, it conveys the excitement felt within the scientific community as the secrets of the cosmos reveal themselves.

©2001 Stephen Hawking (P)2001 Random House Inc., Random House Audio, a Division of Random House Inc.

Critic reviews

"Hawking clearly possesses a natural teacher's gifts...and an ability to illustrate highly complex propositions with analogies plucked from daily life." —The New York Times

"Clear, concise and accessible. And he leavens it further with occasional wry humor.”—St Louis Post-Dispatch

“Provocative and informed ... plenty of comprehensible analogies and no small amount of humor, often self-deprecating.... Best of all, the book is liberally sprinkled with well-conceived, gorgeously rendered and frequently whimsical illustrations.”—Time

The Best

It is very educational i learned a lot about my self and the whole. which leaves to me feel he will be missed.

great ideas

loved it,, the subject matter is complicated but is well explained and gets me thinking!

I could be bounded in a nutshell

Stephen Hawking book "The Universe in a Nutshell" is a sequel to his famous "Brief History of Time" and brings to our attention some discoveries and findings in the theories of the universe that happened in almost 15 years since the first, book was published.
I'm not going to review the scientific content of this popular book - there are so many good reviews, that it does not make any sense. However, I want to mention that, as always, Hawking is the great teacher and science advocate, and when he speaks of the most difficult concepts like p-branes, singularities or time travels.

I want to stress some important things. It is admirable how he positions since in the framework of human knowledge. As a person who touches, in his research the great mysteries of the Universe, he had temptation to tend to religious, or, anti-religious interpretations of his research. However, with Stephen - it is not to happen. He says of himself as of positivist from the good school of Carl Popper.

In the past I was also scientist, and I must say - this is the only approach to science we can have and preserve science objectivity and truth searching power!

What is more important, if one is truly religious, he or she will find in Stephen Hawking thoughts, the deep confirmation of spiritual message we get from science - but it is not so simple and not straightforward, as many would expect.

It is amazing when you read, close in time about sages of Kabalah and their thoughts on many worlds G-d COULD create, and suddenly you jump into Hawkings and read about "parallel worlds" of modern theory of Universe...

The book is also great for the large dose of good humour. As for author suffering so much from incurable illness - this is just great and elevating ...

I will finish my review, with incredible connection of the book to Shakespeare Hamlet:
"O God, I could be bounded in a nutshell, and count myself asking of infinite space..."

This book is better read as a physical book

Given the complexity of the subject matter this is not suitable for audio book. It was hard to comprehend while driving or doing other activities. it demands total concentration.

Masterpiece

Hawking, one of the greatest minds of our time. This is a work of art.

Read it several times...

Great read. I've gone back through several times and have learned something each time I listen. The cadence of the reader is good, and there's a good emphasis on the British nationality of the author.

Great book. but..

Chapter four at about 11:30. The escape velocity of the sun is not 100 km/sec.

Well above my intellectual paygrade

Every once in awhile I try to run with gazelles of theoretical science! I kept up for maybe a chapter and half and then I was just eating dust. Oh well, at least I'm not planning on any time travel. Spoiler alert -- you can't! LOL!

Not quite as good as 'a Brief History of Time'

The first book that Hawking wrote, ' a Brief History of Time' was better formulated and easier to follow. Although there are more tangents with interesting topics discussed, the necessary first 2 chapters feel like an attempt at making his brief history 3 times briefer. As a result the early part feels a bit fast paced and there are occasionally bursts of quick pacing throughout the rest of the book as well. That said, if you're willing to put in some work and pay careful attention (or re-read as necessary) then the book contains a lot of fun, interesting, and mind blowing facts, discussion and speculations.