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A Brief History of Time Let's face it. Most of us cannot give a satisfactory definition of the theory of relativity. In fact, there are probably few of us who care. Throw in some quantum physics and Newton's law of thermodynamics and we soon find ourselves feeling as though we have been caught somewhere between a supernova and the fourth dimension. But even though most of our knowledge of the universe is limited to what we have learned from Buzz Lightyear and Spaceman Spiff, A Brief History of Time is an informative and important read worth considering. If you were unaware, author Stephen Hawking is hailed as the most important theoretical physicist since Einstein. In fact, he can just as easily make Einstein’s theories look like alien food as point out their importance to the development of the field. (Hawking currently holds the position of Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge, one formerly held by Isaac Newton.) So it comes as no small accomplishment that he condenses one of the most complicated fields of science into an approachable handbook for the average reader. Weighing in at just 198 pages, A Brief History of Time is non-intimidating. And, the reader soon finds that the concepts are described in a understandable, almost conversational prose. Hawking covers everything from the beginning of the universe to black holes to the possible end of it all, juxtaposing humor and good-natured fun along the way. What is particularly striking is Hawking's honesty. Not only does he not purport to have all of the answers, he clearly documents where ongoing discoveries have proven his early assumptions wrong. For example, Hawking describes how he and a colleague developed a new mathematical technique that proved that “there must have been a big bang singularity”1 at the beginning of the universe. He then goes on to state that “it is perhaps ironic that, having changed my mind, I am now trying to convince other physicists that there was in fact no singularity at the beginning of the universe...!”2 This type of candid self-incrimination makes for an enlightening and entertaining read. One disadvantage is that when the book was originally published, the Berlin Wall was still standing, the first President Bush was about to take office, and the internet was still Al Gore's little secret. This means that in the last 15 years there has been a wealth of knowledge collected that no doubt reinforces some of these concepts and refutes others. However, this book still serves as a well-qualified introduction to the difficult concepts that previously only specialists in the field could elucidate. Here Hawking delivers what is essentially a layman's guide to quantum physics, time, an expanding universe, and relativity. The book remains relevant because it breaks down what is literally “rocket science” into an understandable summary of man's knowledge of the universe. So why is all of this important? Well, Hawking speaks candidly about the theories of quantum physics and what they say about the existence of a Creator. While evidence for or against creation is not a goal of this book, Hawking does not skirt the issue. Although he leaves the reader to draw the conclusions, Hawking gives us a bit of insight when he states, profoundly, that “if we find the answer to (why it is that we and the universe exist), it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason—for then we would know the mind of God.”3 Even though that will never happen on this side of eternity, Hawking has brought us all aboard for the quest. And he has done it in terms that even Buzz Lightyear can understand.
ninetyandnine.com © 2003, David Bunch --------- David Bunch will be dressed as Buzz Lightyear at the local Hallelujah Night come October. 1. Page 50. 2. Page 50. 3. Page 175. |
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