• The Theory of Everything

  • The Origin and Fate of the Universe
  • By: Stephen Hawking
  • Narrated by: Michael York
  • Length: 3 hrs and 30 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,091 ratings)

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The Theory of Everything  By  cover art

The Theory of Everything

By: Stephen Hawking
Narrated by: Michael York
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Publisher's summary

In physicist Stephen Hawking's brilliant opus, A Brief History of Time, he presented us with a bold new look at our universe, how it began, and how our old views of physics and tired theories about the creation of the universe were no longer relevant. In other words, Hawking gave us a new look at our world, our universe, and ourselves.

Now, Hawking presents an even more comprehensive look at our universe, its creation, and how we see ourselves within it. Imagine sitting in a comfortable room listening to Hawking discuss his latest theories and place them in historical context with science's other great achievements--it would be like hearing Christopher Columbus deliver the news about the new world.

Hawking presents a series of seven lectures in which he describes, more clearly than ever, the history of the universe as we know it. He begins with the history of ideas about the universe, from Aristotle's idea that the Earth is round to Hubble's discovery two millennium later that our universe is growing.

Using this history as a launching pad, Hawking takes us on a fascinating journey through the telescopic lens of modern physics to gain a new glimpse of the universe--the nature of black holes, the space-time continuum, and new information about the origin of the universe. He uses this scientific basis to come up with a "unified theory of everything" that the author claims will be "the ultimate triumph of human reason."

©2007 Stephen Hawking (P)2009 Phoenix

What listeners say about The Theory of Everything

Average customer ratings
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Shares a lot of text with a Brief History of Time.

While listening to this I kept thinking I had accidentally restarted A Brief History of Time. They share quite a lot of identical material.

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17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Stephen Hawking - what more is there to say?

Any additional comments?

Being a studying theoretical physicist, I can respect Hawking's views greatly. In here, he does his best to summarize the Universe, and does so with flying colors, and in vivid detail. I would certainly recommend this audiobook to anyone who wants to discover the Universe and how it came to be. Hawking does so beautifully.

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Abridged version of "Brief History of Time

Good content, but directly out of his other books. Not much original content. Two of the chapters are direct copies of Brief History!!!

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent book and narration, though out of date

This book was an excellent collection of lectures at the time it was written, but major new discoveries since then have changed the state of knowledge. Of specific importance, it was not known at that time that the universe's expansion is actually accelerating. This discovery of this unknown expansionary force (labelled "Dark Energy") has changed much of the cosmological landscape Hawking discusses in this book.

It is still interesting as an historical viewpoint, but could be improved by having some recognition that it is out of date in the description or added as an afterword.

The reading is truly excellent. A very lively and textured narration that really brings to life Hawking's personality.

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8 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

I bought the same book twice.

This is an edited, dumbed down, and more boring version of "A Brief History of Time". Pass on this one.

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6 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Me, Me, Me & More Me

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Reads like "A Theory of Narcissism." No wonder Steven Hawking is twice divorced...

Were the concepts of this book easy to follow, or were they too technical?

Good Technical Information

What about Michael York’s performance did you like?

Nice Narration

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Too simplistic for most people.

He does not even get to String theory till the last 30 minutes and never gets to M-theory. If you have even a rough idea of what String theory is this book is too simple for you. You will be happier listening to " Parallel Worlds"

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

A bit jumpy...

This was an interesting but not very good book. The book is not really about anything in particular. It was quite interesting about once every 20 minutes for a few minutes. It is really several lectures very roughly related, one of which is directly related to the title. The lectures don't quite seem to be at an introductory level, as they are jumpy and without simple themes, yet they are also not very technical. It is not really a history either. It is a bit of a ramble around the areas that interest the author. The writing is somewhat dry and uneven and a bit pompous at times.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Simply awesome

Realy liked the voice of reader. Great and Definitely not boring. Hard to understand all, I will need to listen it one more time.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent

Where does The Theory of Everything rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I loved this book. A fascinating look into the theory. A true masterpiece

What other book might you compare The Theory of Everything to and why?

What does Michael York bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

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1 person found this helpful