The Theory of Everything
The Origin and Fate of the Universe

Stephen W. Hawking

8/25/2005

Stephen Hawking is an...astrophysicist? a mathematician? theoretical physicist? OK, he studies the universe and tries to figure out what makes it do what it does. He develops (and many times proves) theories about black holes, stars, relativity, our solar system, and other astronomical anomalies.

Yet the man can explain his work in regular people talk - those of us not up there on that genius plane or overly knowledgeable about science. After reading (actually, I listened to the audiobook that he narrates) this book, many of the science fiction phenomenon I read about now have more of a basis. Many of these facts and theories Hawking relates have come to me in bits and pieces through my reading and science fiction lore both reading and visual. But this was the first time I got the information from someone who really knows.

This book is great. I understood what he was trying to tell his audience. I laughed at his jokes (they have to be good to get past the vocal synthesizer), and had many AHA! moments. I'm still shaking my head from when he had a black hole orbiting the Earth for a power source.

I was also impressed about his dealings with the concept of God. I am used to an attitude from scientists that God can't exist. As much as I love science fiction, often my nerves grate when religious folks are disdained or considered weak, foolish, or mislead. But here is Hawking, a leader in his field, admitting that God may exist - that everything he has studied has not disproved God. I keep my beliefs low key, especially here in my review pages, but they are still part of me. Hawking's attitude was the final piece of glue to keep my attention throughout the book.

Yes, many parts of The Theory of Everything are still above my head. There were times I tuned out. Yet I had those AHA! moments as well - more than I would have foreseen. I'm sure if I read this again, or more of his books, I'll have more of those moments.

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