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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
My husband Jordan and I read this aloud in the car. It took us a few road trips and over a year, but we finally finished it five minutes before arriving home from Flagstaff this afternoon! This is a book I definitely wouldn't have gotten through on my own, since I've only taken one physics class, and it was in high school. Jordan had to stop and explain basic concepts several times, but I think that was fun for both of us. This book definitely shifted my worldview, or should I say universe-view. I only wish Krauss had offered more in the epilogue about finding meaning in this life, rather than dropping a bombshell and expecting people to deal with it on their own. The very last word of Richard Dawkins' afterword was "devastating," and I have to agree. I think I'll go read Kurt Vonnegut's poem "God Made Mud" to cheer myself up.
As most reviewers have pointed out, this book came to be after the enormous success that a lecture by Krauss had on Youtube on the same subject. I haven't seen it personally, but I must admit that I am inclined to recommend you to see it instead of reading this book. Or listening to it, which is what I did.
Now, don't get me wrong, I found the topic very fascinating and, while I think it could've used a better audiobook narrator (it is Krauss in my version), Krauss' writing was quite engaging and accessible. However, the book didn't need to be as long as it was, and I got the gist of it pretty quickly. Especially because in Krauss' exploration of the topic, he decided to go beyond physics to more philosophical meanderings, but his superficial approach of these didn't add much to the argument. In fact, I feel like it might have detracted from its objectiveness. Some of his key concepts, e.g. nothingness and flat universe, I think could've used more explanation. I also don't think he actually answered the main question of "why" something emerges from 'nothingness'. I might have missed something, but I'm pretty sure he just said "because it can".
Besides that, I found some of his remarks... slightly unnerving, let's say. Most likely something very entwined in my personal experience, but for example when he talked about how coincidental acts that are interpreted by some people as having meaning, really don't have any. Namely, someone dreaming of something and that exact thing happens the day after. Paraphrasing here: "oh, in such an immense span of space and time, anything can happen, so don't take that as some sort of sign". Hmm, ok? I don't even think that has anything to do with his argument, so that seems kind of a jerk move to me.
There are really interesting points of discussion presented in this book, nonetheless, and in its majority I found it enjoyable. Namely, I liked the discussion on dark energy, dark matter and general relativity. But I probably should've just watched the lecture.
Now, don't get me wrong, I found the topic very fascinating and, while I think it could've used a better audiobook narrator (it is Krauss in my version), Krauss' writing was quite engaging and accessible. However, the book didn't need to be as long as it was, and I got the gist of it pretty quickly. Especially because in Krauss' exploration of the topic, he decided to go beyond physics to more philosophical meanderings, but his superficial approach of these didn't add much to the argument. In fact, I feel like it might have detracted from its objectiveness. Some of his key concepts, e.g. nothingness and flat universe, I think could've used more explanation. I also don't think he actually answered the main question of "why" something emerges from 'nothingness'. I might have missed something, but I'm pretty sure he just said "because it can".
Besides that, I found some of his remarks... slightly unnerving, let's say. Most likely something very entwined in my personal experience, but for example when he talked about how coincidental acts that are interpreted by some people as having meaning, really don't have any. Namely, someone dreaming of something and that exact thing happens the day after. Paraphrasing here: "oh, in such an immense span of space and time, anything can happen, so don't take that as some sort of sign". Hmm, ok? I don't even think that has anything to do with his argument, so that seems kind of a jerk move to me.
There are really interesting points of discussion presented in this book, nonetheless, and in its majority I found it enjoyable. Namely, I liked the discussion on dark energy, dark matter and general relativity. But I probably should've just watched the lecture.
A challenging read, but I think I am starting to better understanding the questions that are being answered and the theories that are being casted on the frontier of cosmology.
Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation that shows the shape of our universe as it looks today (Flat). Particles and antiparticles popping in and out of existence with the help of the Higgs field. The creation of our universe from "Nothing" and its possible place in a larger multiverse disconnected by inflation.
Don't quote me - I am no scientist and may, in my search for knowledge, have gotten a thing or two wrong like a good scientist would.
Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation that shows the shape of our universe as it looks today (Flat). Particles and antiparticles popping in and out of existence with the help of the Higgs field. The creation of our universe from "Nothing" and its possible place in a larger multiverse disconnected by inflation.
Don't quote me - I am no scientist and may, in my search for knowledge, have gotten a thing or two wrong like a good scientist would.
This book is a postulation on how we can explain the existence of the universe without the hand of a "Creator" using quantum mechanics as the primary enabler. A bit challenging to read though as Krauss isn't as articulate and skilled at translating esoteric physics concepts into ideas that the layman can grasp as say a Brian Greene is (who Krauss takes a soft swipe at when he talks briefly about String Theory) I'll most likely have to read this a second time to fully grasp the implications of the possibility of a mult-verse where universes can pop into existence as a result of quantum fluctuations.
I thought this was going to be a thorough book about physics, but it was mostly a refutation to creationism. Way too many points were, "we don't know why this exists, but no way it's god." Ok... but like I'm here to learn what you do know. The origin of the universe is fun stuff to ponder, but the author spends every other sentence trying to dunk on theists, and that got old fast
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
Reading this book has proved that I’m dumber than I thought.
Overall this book was fine. Not earth shattering. Not mind blowing. Plenty of anger towards some forms of religion and not kind to string theory. A multiverse is acceptable though.