Before the Big Bang: The Prehistory of the Universe - Softcover

Clegg, Brian

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0312680287 ISBN 13: 9780312680282

Publisher: St. Martins Press-3PL, 2011

Synopsis

Explores the history of the Big Bang concept. From the earliest creation myths, through Hershel's realization that the Milky Way was one of many galaxies, to the debates about Black Holes, this title looks at the origins of the universe and the many theories that led to the acceptance of the Big Bang.

About this title

Review

"Clegg follows the footsteps of Carl Sagan's Cosmos, Steven Hawking's A Brief History of Time and Timothy Ferris's Coming of Age in the Milky Way. He shares his predecessors' enthusiasm, eloquence and ability to explain complex ideas but provides a bonus by covering startling developments of the past decade. Anyone looking for an introduction to or a refresher course in cosmology need look no further." - Kirkus, Starred Review

"Indeed, the existence of so many things, from dark matter to black holes to wormholes all has to be inferred. The Big Bang, too, is only provisional and seems to be waiting for a more graceful model to replace it. In Clegg's words, the Big Bang theory "has the feeling of something held together with a Band-Aid. Whether what came before our universe was another universe or nothing, or something else yet unconsidered, for now the most accurate answer might be: We just don't know." -"Anthony Doerr"" Boston Globe, July 19"

Clegg follows the footsteps of Carl Sagan's Cosmos, Steven Hawking's A Brief History of Time and Timothy Ferris's Coming of Age in the Milky Way. He shares his predecessors' enthusiasm, eloquence and ability to explain complex ideas but provides a bonus by covering startling developments of the past decade. Anyone looking for an introduction to or a refresher course in cosmology need look no further. "Kirkus, Starred Review"

Indeed, the existence of so many things, from dark matter to black holes to wormholes all has to be inferred. The Big Bang, too, is only provisional and seems to be waiting for a more graceful model to replace it. In Clegg's words, the Big Bang theory "has the feeling of something held together with a Band-Aid. Whether what came before our universe was another universe or nothing, or something else yet unconsidered, for now the most accurate answer might be: We just don't know. "Anthony Doerr Boston Globe, July 19""

-Clegg follows the footsteps of Carl Sagan's Cosmos, Steven Hawking's A Brief History of Time and Timothy Ferris's Coming of Age in the Milky Way. He shares his predecessors' enthusiasm, eloquence and ability to explain complex ideas but provides a bonus by covering startling developments of the past decade. Anyone looking for an introduction to or a refresher course in cosmology need look no further.- --Kirkus, Starred Review

-Indeed, the existence of so many things, from dark matter to black holes to wormholes all has to be inferred. The Big Bang, too, is only provisional and seems to be waiting for a more graceful model to replace it. In Clegg's words, the Big Bang theory -has the feeling of something held together with a Band-Aid. Whether what came before our universe was another universe or nothing, or something else yet unconsidered, for now the most accurate answer might be: We just don't know.- --Anthony Doerr Boston Globe, July 19

"Clegg follows the footsteps of Carl Sagan's Cosmos, Steven Hawking's A Brief History of Time and Timothy Ferris's Coming of Age in the Milky Way. He shares his predecessors' enthusiasm, eloquence and ability to explain complex ideas but provides a bonus by covering startling developments of the past decade. Anyone looking for an introduction to or a refresher course in cosmology need look no further." --Kirkus, Starred Review

"Indeed, the existence of so many things, from dark matter to black holes to wormholes all has to be inferred. The Big Bang, too, is only provisional and seems to be waiting for a more graceful model to replace it. In Clegg's words, the Big Bang theory "has the feeling of something held together with a Band-Aid. Whether what came before our universe was another universe or nothing, or something else yet unconsidered, for now the most accurate answer might be: We just don't know." --Anthony Doerr Boston Globe, July 19

About the Author

BRIAN CLEGG is the author of A Brief History of Infinity, The First Scientist A Life of Roger Bacon, and Light Years The Extraordinary Story of Mankind's Fascination with Light, and Upgrade Me: Our Search for Human 2.0. He holds a physics degree from Cambridge and has written regular columns, features, and reviews for numerous magazines. He lives in Wiltshire, England, with his wife and two children.

About this edition

• Publisher: St. Martins Press-3PL
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0312680287
• ISBN 13: 9780312680282
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 320