A Brief History of Time

**Doc M** · 02-26-2004, 01:27 PM

Has anyone ever read the book by Stephen Hawking titled A Brief History in Time? I am on my third pass on it and I am thinking about burning the book and downing a fifth of tequila..I think my brain is getting ready for a meltdown..

Doc M

**mass junkie** · 02-26-2004, 01:40 PM

I read alot of Dean R Koontz........Has the same effect on me....I'll have to look into the book that you mentioned

**Juggernaut** · 02-26-2004, 01:53 PM

I tried to read that **** book..............it convinced me that I should stick to Dr. Seuss works. Compairing smarts with this guy just proves I barely have the wherewithall to change out the batteries in his wheelchair! An amazing man for sure......

**Doc M** · 02-26-2004, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by mass junkie

I read alot of Dean R Koontz........Has the same effect on me....I'll have to look into the book that you mentioned

Mass..I'll warn you that it has to do with physics, time, space, etc..It brings it all to an entire higher level of frustration trying to understand what this absolutely brilliant man is trying to convey..

Doc M

**mass junkie** · 02-26-2004, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by Doc M

Mass..I'll warn you that it has to do with physics, time, space, etc..It brings it all to an entire higher level of frustration trying to understand what this absolutely brilliant man is trying to convey..

Doc M

now I just have to get this book

**Juggernaut** · 02-26-2004, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by mass junkie

now I just have to get this book

why? The three phone books you have to sit on to see the computer screen aren't cutting it anymore? hahahahaha J/J

**groverman1** · 02-26-2004, 02:18 PM

Isnt Hawking the man with MS who is confined to a wheelchair? He is a bright guy I think he went to MIT.

**Testify** · 02-26-2004, 02:23 PM

Yeah, I loved that book. But that kind of stuff interests me. I was surprised that someone like Hawking could write so clearly and well. Ususally people like him are too technical and dry.

**Doc M** · 02-26-2004, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by groverman1

Isnt Hawking the man with MS who is confined to a wheelchair? He is a bright guy I think he went to MIT.

Yes, he is confined to a wheelchair due to his illness..Doc M

***Cycleon*** · 02-26-2004, 02:34 PM

I remember laughing when reading the part about Hawkings having done this calculation that was over 4-5 chalboards in length and seeing the result, scratches his head in bewilderment muttering that this disproves Gods hand in the universe (how, I dont remember) - only to have a student come up to him a week later and point out that he made a simple math error on a carry over - he recalculates and sure enough! God still exists and is working in the universe

It really is interesting stuff tho - quantum physics is also a joy to slog through

I will tell you who hurts my head with their vocabulary - try reading CSLewis (not narnia) - every page is so condensed in his speaches

**tryingtogetbig** · 02-26-2004, 02:36 PM

I might have to try hawking out....might be to much for my hick ass though...we'll see....

**Testify** · 02-26-2004, 02:39 PM

Originally Posted by CYCLEON

I will tell you who hurts my head with their vocabulary - try reading CSLewis (not narnia) - every page is so condensed in his speaches

Try reading Derrida (Jaques, I think?) . . . that guy is ridiculous.

**Doc M** · 02-26-2004, 02:43 PM

After I make it through this one for the third time, I will give CSLewis a whirl and see if he can finally push me over the edge!!

Doc M

**SpunHoney** · 02-26-2004, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by Juggernaut2148

why? The three phone books you have to sit on to see the computer screen aren't cutting it anymore? hahahahaha J/J

~LMFAO,, Jugg you always know how to cheer a gal up!!!~

~If you want something to really get the gears movin try reading anything bt HP LoveCraft! He was a geniuse great horror, the scary thing is that alot of the stories are based on his own dreams!~

**Babyweight** · 02-26-2004, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by Juggernaut2148

why? The three phone books you have to sit on to see the computer screen aren't cutting it anymore? hahahahaha J/J

Jugg, thats just not right. lol...I laughed out loud at work and got alot of bad looks.

Doc M.. I thought I was the only one who read books more than once. lol
I get so flustered sometimes, it upsets me to a point where I won't finish the book sometimes! Especially if I can't see their side of thinking. Very frustrating!
Maybe I'll go on Amazon.com and order one and give it a try. The stuff really fascinates me.
BW

**symatech** · 02-26-2004, 03:32 PM

Ive read that book at least 3 or 4 times. the universe in a nut shell is good too doc. But the best one is THe Elegant Universe by brian greene. Trust me bro this one leaves them all in the dust. Check this out.... http://anabolicreview.com/vbulletin/...ad.php?t=41534

**daman1** · 02-26-2004, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by Doc M

Has anyone ever read the book by Stephen Hawking titled A Brief History in Time? I am on my third pass on it and I am thinking about burning the book and downing a fifth of tequila..I think my brain is getting ready for a meltdown..

Doc M

We were required to read something my freshman year of college for my english class. I tried reading this book and didn't care for it. I understood mildly what he was saying, but it just didn't keep my attention. He posed some illustrious conundrums with, what it seemed, fairly rational answers.

**symatech** · 02-26-2004, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by CYCLEON

I remember laughing when reading the part about Hawkings having done this calculation that was over 4-5 chalboards in length and seeing the result, scratches his head in bewilderment muttering that this disproves Gods hand in the universe (how, I dont remember) - only to have a student come up to him a week later and point out that he made a simple math error on a carry over - he recalculates and sure enough! God still exists and is working in the universe

It really is interesting stuff tho - quantum physics is also a joy to slog through

I will tell you who hurts my head with their vocabulary - try reading CSLewis (not narnia) - every page is so condensed in his speaches

i had no idea you were into quantum physics and such cycleon....cool man. next year or perhaps 3 semesters from now im going to take a quantum mechanics course. we'll see how it goes.

**groverman1** · 02-26-2004, 04:09 PM

Hey Doc ever read any Tolstoy?

**hercules88** · 02-26-2004, 04:14 PM

hey doc,

if your into that i would recomend a book called the elegant universe by Dr. brian green. it is an awsome book, has a little bit of everything in it. you should check it out.

**Doc M** · 02-26-2004, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by groverman1

Hey Doc ever read any Tolstoy?

Yes, very complex but good reading..I knew I shouldn't have started this thread because there were going to be a ton of books mentioned that I would want to read..I barely have time to scratch my butt and now I am going to want to run out and but a bunch of books!!!

Doc M

**Rickson** · 02-26-2004, 06:50 PM

I am actually just starting Black Holes and Baby Universes and other Essays by Hawking now and I will let you know how it goes. I thought he did a really good job of explaining complex concepts in relatively laymen terms in A Brief History of Time. I guess I will have to pick up the Elegant Universe next.

**Doc M** · 02-26-2004, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by Rickson

I am actually just starting Black Holes and Baby Universes and other Essays by Hawking now and I will let you know how it goes. I thought he did a really good job of explaining complex concepts in relatively laymen terms in A Brief History of Time. I guess I will have to pick up the Elegant Universe next.

Yes Rickson, do let us know how that one turns out..I am always a glutton for self inflicted frustration..

Doc M

**Philliagorillia** · 02-26-2004, 11:44 PM

Actually, i own and read many of hawkings books and enjoy them, yes you all may think im a huge nerd now....

**Philliagorillia** · 02-26-2004, 11:47 PM

Ohhh the elegant univese is an excellent book, its a must have, i am just now finishing up the universe in a nutshell again........

**956Vette** · 02-27-2004, 12:15 AM

once i hit the expanding universe and the uncertainty priciple, i was lost.... i really need to read over that book again.

LM1332 · 02-27-2004, 12:49 AM

hmm interesting. I am very interesting into sci-fi type of books no not star trek but actual space phenomenon and such. But have you guys read Confucius or shakespeare lol now those two confuse the hell out of me

**Philliagorillia** · 02-27-2004, 12:52 AM

Shakespeare is interesting, but im not a big fan of it, although there was a big 2 hour special over him on channel 9 the other night, it was pretty interesting....

LM1332 · 02-27-2004, 12:57 AM

no seriously if you read him its like he is not from this planet but once you take time and translate what he said its like wow **** so simple. But not simple as "i love you" it just some things in the love story/life things become clear and click with your brain

**withoutd0ubt** · 02-27-2004, 07:02 AM

I've read the book by hawking, IMO he dummies it up too much

**Elliot** · 02-27-2004, 08:08 AM

i just have one question.. why is kootz in the same post as hawkins?

**Elliot** · 02-27-2004, 08:09 AM

Originally Posted by withoutd0ubt

I've read the book by hawking, IMO he dummies it up too much

now thats comedy..

**Kärnfysikern** · 02-27-2004, 09:12 AM

I love quantym physics and read brief history of time a couple of years ago. But dont remember much of it have to give it a go again.

**samoth** · 02-27-2004, 04:19 PM

He's a good author. However, his 'laymans' books are written at an 8th grade reading level. They also tend to repeat the same material over and over and over again.

His actual research and publications within his field are much more interesting. Also, he has a pretty good book out that he and Penrose wrote called "The Nature of Space and Time" or something to that effect. That is a good high school/college level book to read about the subject.

If it's about physics, cosmology, QM, SR/GR, etc. the book needs to have a large percentage of material pertaining to mathematics. There is only so much that can be iterated and reiterated without the truth and beauty of the equations.

Physics means nothing without mathematics!!!!!!!!

**monstercojones** · 02-27-2004, 05:09 PM

hawking is one of my favorite authors...

Doc M, have you ever read anything on quantum physics?

or on the origins of religion?

theres some really interesting stuff out there...

**samoth** · 02-27-2004, 06:40 PM

Anyone here read any good books about twistor theory? Not that we're anywhere near actually uniting GR and quantum theory, but it's still really interesting.

If you read any books about this stuff, post it up -- I've never really seen anything about the subject.