The Shortest History of Time

The Shortest History of Time is more than an extensive commentary on the complex concepts and theories described in the legendary A Brief History. The authors, Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow, after 17 years and many changes in astrophysics, look at timeless questions from a new perspective: about the nature of space and time, the role of God in the creation of the world, and the past and future of the universe. Data obtained from astronomical observatories, space telescopes, and physical laboratories have become a solid foundation for theoretical physics, which has been fighting for a coherent, unified field theory that should combine all known types of interactions for several decades. Many believe this theory is string theory, the premises and consequences of which are thoroughly interpreted by Professors Hawking and Mlodinow. Dark matter and dark energy, which we know only through gravitational effects, time travel, which the authors believe is not worth betting on for now — all of this has become the focus of their attention. The book makes the most complex puzzles and sharp contradictions understandable, which are straining to be resolved at the forefront of the science of the universe. The edition contains 37 illustrations that complement and enhance the text.