A review by karp76
The First Three Minutes: A Modern View of the Origin of the Universe by Steven Weinberg

3.0

“The effort to understand the universe is one of the very few things that lifts human life a little above the level of farce, and gives it some of the grace of tragedy." There can be no doubt that Weinberg knows this subject, that he is intimately familiar and dedicated to the pursuit and understanding of physics not only for those of that are dedicated to this pursuit but for the general public as well. Weinberg states in his introduction, "I had better say for what reader this book is intended. I have written for one who is willing to puzzle through some detailed arguments, but who is not at home in either mathematics or physics. Although I must introduce some fairly complicated scientific ideas, no mathematics is used in the body of the book beyond arithmetic, and little knowledge of physics or astronomy is assumed in advanced." Is it? The execution does not match the intention. The arguments are detailed, the scientific ideas are complicated and if you don't have some familiarity with physics or astronomy, you will be lost. And that is the stinging caveat of the book: you will learn and be immersed, perhaps even thrilled, but you may not know how or even why.