Stephen Hawking's Brief Answers to the Big Questions

Product Description

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The world-famous cosmologist and author of A Brief History of Time leaves us with his final thoughts on the biggest questions facing humankind.

“Hawking’s parting gift to humanity . . . a book every thinking person worried about humanity’s future should read.”—NPR

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Forbes • The Guardian • Wired

Stephen Hawking was the most renowned scientist since Einstein, known both for his groundbreaking work in physics and cosmology and for his mischievous sense of humor. He educated millions of readers about the origins of the universe and the nature of black holes, and inspired millions more by defying a terrifying early prognosis of ALS, which originally gave him only two years to live. In later life he could communicate only by using a few facial muscles, but he continued to advance his field and serve as a revered voice on social and humanitarian issues.

Hawking not only unraveled some of the universe’s greatest mysteries but also believed science plays a critical role in fixing problems here on Earth. Now, as we face immense challenges on our planet—including climate change, the threat of nuclear war, and the development of artificial intelligence—he turns his attention to the most urgent issues facing us.

Will humanity survive? Should we colonize space? Does God exist? ​​These are just a few of the questions Hawking addresses in this wide-ranging, passionately argued final book from one of the greatest minds in history.

Featuring a foreword by Eddie Redmayne, who won an Oscar playing Stephen Hawking, an introduction by Nobel Laureate Kip Thorne, and an afterword from Hawking’s daughter, Lucy, Brief Answers to the Big Questions is a brilliant last message to the world.

Praise for Brief Answers to the Big Questions

“[Hawking is] a symbol of the soaring power of the human mind.”—The Washington Post

“Hawking’s final message to readers . . . is a hopeful one.”—CNN

“Brisk, lucid peeks into the future of science and of humanity.”—The Wall Street Journal

“Hawking pulls no punches on subjects like machines taking over, the biggest threat to Earth, and the possibilities of intelligent life in space.”—Quartz

“Effortlessly instructive, absorbing, up to the minute and—where it matters—witty.”—The Guardian

“This beautiful little book is a fitting last twinkle from a new star in the firmament above.”—The Telegraph

Features

• Brief Answers to the Big Questions Hardcover – October 16, 2018

Top Reviews

Wonderful work (... and @Diane)
by Jason (5 out of 5 stars)
October 21, 2018

I loved this book! Any fan of Hawking's work should enjoy it, for sure. I really liked the "pondering" and "musing" pace and feel. I'd recommend it to anyone.
@Diane... Whenever I encounter something to which I feel the need to respond, I'm usually pretty good at keeping my emotions at bay, and I sincerely try to (and, usually do) keep my cool, put myself into the other person's shoes and think about my rebuttals logically. Over the years I've always felt a little guilty because, even though I'm amicable and nice most of the time, I just feel bad when I make someone else feel bad, regardless of how correct I might feel that I am. After seeing your comment, however, I really have to say congratulations... you've convinced me that I really shouldn't be so hard on myself.

Pathetic? I guess our definitions are a tad juxtaposed. I've always taken that word to mean "causing or evoking pity, sympathetic sadness, or sorrow." It baffles me that you can throw the book at another human being, (one who had PLENTY of reasons to wallow in self-pity, mind you, but didn't) simply for disagreeing with you, and do so under the guise of "defending yourself," all the while implying a whine that these disagreements are an "attack" on your religion. To me, THAT is the self-pity party that fits more in line with the definition of "pathetic," wouldn't you agree? Scientific discoveries are no more responsible for attacking religion, or having a motive or agenda to remove your belief in God, than learning about gravity is responsible for children eventually coming to the conclusion that reindeer can't fly. I'm sorry, Virginia, but we lied. I don't know if you just simply can't grasp how it appears to the outside world, but your comment does nothing more than make you look like a petulant toddler in a tantrum because you can't have any ice cream, and THEN taking all of the ice cream and flushing it down the toilet to make sure no one else can have any. If the weather man conveys some data that it is probably going to rain tomorrow, do you start a revolution to rise up against the hidden agenda of meteorology to wipe the concept of picnics off the face of the Earth? Of course not, that would be ridiculous, right?

Stephen Hawking was a brilliant man. He contributed so much to his field of science and had a genuine concern for the progression and well-being of humanity as a whole. I would honestly love to see your list of contributions toward bettering mankind. I have the sneaking suspicion that it would be just like mine, "pathetic." Have you actually read Hawking's work? Have you ever actually read any physics book? This is a problem in so many other areas of life and society, where someone knows "just enough to be dangerous." You are a perfect example of this idiom in action, and your comment is perfectly indicative of someone learning what 2+2 is and then feeling they can successfully argue the elements of General or Special Relativity.

You can't berate atheists, or any nonbeliever for that matter, for being intelligent or knowledgeable about any topic, when you refuse to educate yourself with information that is freely available to, and very easily obtained by, anyone. Hearing someone whine that "you atheist's just think that you're sooooo smart," gets old, really quickly. The real irony of it is that, compared to you, that statement admittedly holds some water. But as a general rule, there is nothing that you couldn't understand yourself if you would quite simply take the time to learn about it. Instead of pointing and laughing at these ridiculous nonbelievers running around and learning stuff, I'd suggest that you push yourself way out of your comfort zone sometime and actually give it a try. You might surprise yourself.

Look, all condescension aside, I know you have your beliefs. I know, from your perspective, Hawking is an expression of the things you feel are chipping away the the moral fabric of this world. You unknowingly got an honorary induction to my short list today, and with all of the misinformation I've seen lately, you just happened to be the lucky straw that broke the camel's back, and for that, I'm sorry. I'm not going to change any of this, because I can't lie and say I didn't mean what I said, because I did. But, believe it or not, I do care about you and your position. And even though I'm an atheist, I very much want to live in a world where people can have faith and conviction about anything they want without having to prove it to the entire flippin' planet in order to feel justified in feeling the way they do, and more importantly, not condemn others for thinking differently. I'm not convinced that God exists, but if you are, then right on. I mean, I get it man, I used to be a Christian myself. You shouldn't feel threatened by the world because it seems like it's trying to take something away from you that you know full well cannot ever be taken from you. Let's try to get this ship turned around and start acting like the amazing creatures we really are by helping each other move forward, instead of tearing each other down and holding up progress for the sake of making a point.

The man who wrote this book did his part, now let's get out there and start doing ours. We can do this.

I loved this book. Rest in peace, Stephen.
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There is no God
by Anonymous (5 out of 5 stars)
October 17, 2018

"There is no God. No one directs the universe," he writes in "Brief Answers to the Big Questions."
"For centuries, it was believed that disabled people like me were living under a curse that was inflicted by God," he adds. "I prefer to think that everything can be explained another way, by the laws of nature."
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Travel through the insight of a cosmic pioneer
by Han Dong Kwan (5 out of 5 stars)
October 18, 2018

As a teenager with good grades in maths and science at school, "a brief history of time" seriously rocked my brain and made me fall in love with physics in the late 80s. Currently I hold a master's degree in physics and I am now in my mid 40s. I am thankful to Prof Hawkings for once again creating this masterpiece where he has summarized his life long research into a book so easy to understand and appreciate.

Set your mind free and travel through the grand cosmic time and space as Prof Hawkings reveals answers to puzzles and paradoxes set to us by our universe. Does he have THE ANSWER? Maybe not but you can't go wrong getting some insights into the mind of one of the greatest pioneer in physics of our lifetime.
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Errors in the book.
by ARSHID PANDIT (2 out of 5 stars)
November 2, 2018

I am a big fan of Stephen Hawking, but it seems this book was rushed through. On Page 73 looks like who ever wrote this, does not have any idea about the structure of DNA. It says the two Chains in the helix are linked by nucleic acids and further mentions that there are four types of nucleic acids- adenine, cytosine, guanine and thymine; these are actually called as bases. While as the actual nucleic acids are deoxribonucleic acid (DNA) and Ribinucleic acid(RNA).

Also negative 270.4 degree Centigrade is equal to negative 454.7 degree F.
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The most reasonable conclusions from the most rational and brilliant mind
by Nelson Almeida (5 out of 5 stars)
October 17, 2018

This book collects the scientific thoughts and evidence-based conclusions from one of the most rational and gifted minds in the recorded history of human kind. Although the book maintains the same super engaging and impressive narrative of previous books by Dr. Hawking, this ones converges specifically on his science-based conclusions about the "big questions". He again makes his thoughts appear intuitive and simple, yet they come from the one of the most objective, impartial, rational and brilliant scientific minds the human race has ever produced.
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Terrific book by Hawkings
by K. Ridouh (5 out of 5 stars)
October 27, 2018

Bought this book not expecting much from it. Ended up being pleasantly surprised. Hawking has a way of explaining even the most complex things in a very simple, no nonsense, and straightforward manner.
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Utterly superb farewell from a truly great man
by Delta D. (5 out of 5 stars)
October 30, 2018

Ten short essays addressing perhaps the most fundamental questions of our era. Each is addressed with profound wisdom and great clarity. Fact is clearly separated from opinion, and the opinions are presented with respect. Writing a book as good as this would be a crowning lifetime achievement for many of us. That it was a relatively lightweight spinoff from his real work underscores his genius.
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A Small Walk With A Giant
by David (5 out of 5 stars)
October 22, 2018

Not being a mathemetician (calculus put paid to my ambition to be an engineer) or even an acquintance, I still felt a great sense of loss on hearing of Professor Hawking's passing earlier this year. Most members of my generation have grown up and grown older with him always there, always puttting out new ideas, new thoughts, new discoveries for us to ponder and try to understand. To have the oppurtunity to read this book, to understand on a lay-persons' level what he considered important enough to devote himself to is a pleasure. His style of writing is clean, clear and pleasant. It doesn't bog down in minutiae, yet never feels as if he is speaking down to you. Some of the subjects he touches on will bring sharp rebuttals from certain parts of society, but that goes hand-in-hand with being a thinker that will speak what he (or she) firmly believes. Regardless, it has been a pleasure to take a small walk down the path treaded by one of our giants. Highly recommended.
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Like Einstein's "Ideas and Opinions"
by Harry J. Foxwell, PhD (5 out of 5 stars)
November 21, 2018

Albert Einstein "figured out the Universe", so clearly

he must be "smart about EVERYTHING"; people asked him all

kinds of questions expecting that he knew the answers to

them all. In 1954, he published "Ideas and Opinions",

covering such topics as politics & government, scientists

and other famous people, social issues, religion & god,

Jewishness, Germany, America, and various scientific theories.

Many of these notes and essays certainly showed his deep and

clear thinking, although some revealed naivete about non-science

topics. He was indeed a physicist, not a Renaissance Man.

I was reminded of Einstein's book as I read Hawking's

final words in "Brief Answers to the Big Questions".

Certainly worth reading, and in no way do I diminish

his genius as equal to Einstein's. But there is certainly

a bias in his selection of what he considered to be

THE big questions, and his answers/opinions about such

matters as extraterrestrial life or artificial intelligence,

while compelling, should not be taken as conclusive.

Indeed, in some of his essays he admits to the possibility

of being wrong.

Hawking was adept at explaining difficult scientific concepts,

and that makes reading "Brief Answers", as well as his

earlier books on Time and the Universe quite rewarding.
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Sad babling of ideas between reality and pure fiction
by Germanp (1 out of 5 stars)
November 13, 2018

I don't know who actually wrote this book because it is a pure rambling of personal thoughts mixed with facts from all over literature and mixed with pure fiction. This book brings nothing to the reader. I know most of Hawking's previous work which was coherent but this book is completely different, hence my question mark on who actually wrote it.

It seems more a last attempt to profit from Hawking's name.

Highly not recommended !

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