Tolog Review: A Brief History of Time

A Brief History of Time
by Stephen Hawking
reviewed by Abigail Lewis

The complexities of space and time are made clear in Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time. In Hawking’s nonfiction book, he explains the concepts and theories of spacetime through simple explanations that a non-cosmologist human brain can comprehend. He starts with the basics of science in order to cover the more complex ideas. He questions popular religious beliefs and scientific theories about the beginning of time. In addition, past and modern theories of the universe, space, and time are discussed and explained with detail. Hawking teaches the history of the universe and explains the age old unanswered questions about spacetime and much more.

The concept of what is beyond the earth can be very difficult to understand to people, but Hawking does a spectacular job of making it clear. He uses simple language that everyone can comprehend to make sure that the concept is understood. Hawking makes sure that the basics are mastered because, “in order to talk about the nature of the universe and to discuss questions such as whether it has a beginning or and end, you have to be clear about what a scientific theory is”(Hawking 10). He also uses diagrams to help show the reader what it is that he is trying to describe. Hawking uses simple language that anyone can understand to describe more complex ideas. He states that, “by the wave/particle duality of quantum mechanics, light can be regarded as both a wave and a particle”(83). Then later goes into simpler terms by explaining that light can act like, “cannonballs, rockets, and planes”(83). Hawking is able to tell the reader what they need to know without confusing them.