Hawking's "The Grand Design" Book

[CraigS]

I happened to get a quick look at Stephen Hawking's new book "The Grand Design" this week.

Its a very interesting and easy-to-read book, covering many concepts we've discussed here at IIS over the last few weeks about origins of life, the Universe, etc.

I also found a very interesting review by Roger Penrose, who, among many other achievements, was awarded the 1998 Wolf Prize for physics, which he shared with Hawking. Penrose's review of Hawking's book is an extremely interesting read in itself, and gives interesting insights into both his and Hawking's views on Quantum Mechanics (often not the same).

Anyway, from my quick read of certain sections of Hawking's book, I'd definitely recommend it. Its about $35 from most bookshops. It is well written by co-writer Leonard Mlodinow, and appears to be very clear and concise, utilising easy to understand analogies. It also brings one's Hawking book collection right up-to-date with current mainstream cosmological theory.

Cheers

[Suzy]

This is the book, right, that he caused a commotion with regarding God?
Still, if it's a Hawking's book, it's bound to be good.

I was skimming thru "The University in a Nutshell" by him as well, at a bookstore the other day and that looked a good read as well. More targeted to beginners by the looks of it (perfect!) kept simple and easy to understand.
Last I heard, in one of his documentaries, I got the impression (I say impression because I can't quite remember if I'm right or wrong) that he was becoming a believer in string theory. I wonder what he says about that in this book.

[CraigS]

Yep Suzy …

Its the one that led to his statements about God.

He's come around to talking about string theory more. In the past, he's really given it a big 'prod' in the proverbials ! The final page of the book gives a big plug for M-Theory as being the most likely unifying theory of everything.

Everything else looked to be all fairly standard.

Penrose's commentary in the link below gives an idea of the kind of bloke Hawking is … he's a mischief-maker .. y'know just like a hamster … or something like that.



Cheers

[Suzy]

Thanks Craig .
Mischief maker eh?!