Science

The Grand Design

The Grand Design

  • Downloads：5762
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-04-15 10:51:25
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Stephen Hawking
  • ISBN：0553819224
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

When and how did the universe begin？ Why are we here？ Is the apparent 'grand design' of our universe evidence for a benevolent creator who set things in motion？ Or does science offer another explanation？

In The Grand Design， the most recent scientific thinking about the mysteries of the universe is presented in language marked by both brilliance and simplicity。 Model dependent realism， the multiverse， the top-down theory of cosmology， and the unified M-theory - all are revealed here。

This is the first major work in nearly a decade by one of the world's greatest thinkers。 A succinct， startling and lavishly illustrated guide to discoveries that are altering our understanding and threatening some of our most cherished belief systems， The Grand Design is a book that will inform - and provoke - like no other。

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Reviews

Clotilde RDP ，

Un livre très instructif sur les théories physiques de la création de notre monde et de l'univers。 J'ai beaucoup aimé qu'il y ai une partie "philosophique" dans un ouvrage scientifique （il s'agit du premier ouvrage de la sorte que je lis dans je ne sais pas si cela est de même à chaque fois）。Cependant， il y a beaucoup de termes compliqués， de prérequis à avoir avant d'entamer la lecture de ce livre。Je le recommande pour les personnes ayant déjà un certains niveaux de connaissances seulement。（il Un livre très instructif sur les théories physiques de la création de notre monde et de l'univers。 J'ai beaucoup aimé qu'il y ai une partie "philosophique" dans un ouvrage scientifique （il s'agit du premier ouvrage de la sorte que je lis dans je ne sais pas si cela est de même à chaque fois）。Cependant， il y a beaucoup de termes compliqués， de prérequis à avoir avant d'entamer la lecture de ce livre。Je le recommande pour les personnes ayant déjà un certains niveaux de connaissances seulement。（il y a quand même un glossaire à la fin si vous êtes perdu dans les termes techniques！） 。。。more

Fern Adams ，

Making physics make sense！

Andiia ，

خوندن این کتاب برای من چه ماجراها که نداشت！چندین سال پیش شروع به خوندنش کردم و شاید دانشجوی فیزیک بودن باعث شد که انگیزه ام رو برای خوندن کتاب （که به نظر میاد برای مخاطب عام نوشته شده） از دست بدم。 اما در گذر زمان هر وقت سراغش رفتم از اول شروع کردم به خوندن و چیزای جدیدی دستگیرم شد！ بهانه هایی برای فکر کردن。。。 تا اینکه در دوران دکتری بالاخره خوندمش و چقدر لذت بردم。 چرا که برای من دانشجو هم کلی جزییات ظریف داشت و تلنگری بود که تو این روزهایی که به شدت درگیر محاسبات هستم جهان بینیمو از دست ندم。 خل خوندن این کتاب برای من چه ماجراها که نداشت！چندین سال پیش شروع به خوندنش کردم و شاید دانشجوی فیزیک بودن باعث شد که انگیزه ام رو برای خوندن کتاب （که به نظر میاد برای مخاطب عام نوشته شده） از دست بدم。 اما در گذر زمان هر وقت سراغش رفتم از اول شروع کردم به خوندن و چیزای جدیدی دستگیرم شد！ بهانه هایی برای فکر کردن。。。 تا اینکه در دوران دکتری بالاخره خوندمش و چقدر لذت بردم。 چرا که برای من دانشجو هم کلی جزییات ظریف داشت و تلنگری بود که تو این روزهایی که به شدت درگیر محاسبات هستم جهان بینیمو از دست ندم。 خلاصه که اگر دوست دارین سر تیتر مسایل مهمی که امروزه تو دنیای فیزیک مطرحه رو بخونین چه بهتر که به جای رسانه های زرد （！） این کتاب رو بخونین。 یکی از دوستام میگفت که گویا دختر زیبایی که بازیگر بوده این کتاب رو خونده و راه زندگیش عوض شده و الان دانشجوی فیزیکه。به نظر من نتیجه گیری نهایی کتاب بسیار سلیقه ای هست و صرفن فلسفه ذهنی خود هاوکینگ رو نشون میده。 ای کاش که واقعا نظریه （ام） همون طرح بزرگ بود！ اما میدونیم که به این سادگیا نمیشه فلسفه بودنمون رو توجیح کنیم و نظریه ام هم این روزا خیلی سر زبونها نیست。。。در مورد فلسفه وجود آفریننده البته من با کتاب هم نظرم。 。。。more

Milad Rami ，

کتاب خیلی خوبی بود و برای بار دوم خوندمش اکثر فصل های کتاب طوری توضیح داده شده که برای آدمای معمولی که چیز زیادی از فیزیک نمیدونن قابل فهم باشهبعد از اینکه کتاب رو میخونید متوجه میشید که خیلی بیشتر از قبل میدونید و اطلاعاتی بهتون میده که هم جالبن و هم جدید همین باعث میشه به مطالب کتاب علاقه مند شید。دو فصل از کتاب مربوط به آزمایش های مختف بود که نیازه چندبار خونده شن و دیگه مثل درس فیزیک میمونن :））） ولی در کل کتاب خیلی سنگینی نیست و به کسایی که به این سبک موضوعات علاقه دارن پیشنهاد میکنم。

Adelina ，

2，5 starsThe first 3 chapters really got me，but then I wasn't feeling it anymore and it got boring， i almost fell a sleep。I recomend it only if you are into sience and read every book about it！ 2，5 starsThe first 3 chapters really got me，but then I wasn't feeling it anymore and it got boring， i almost fell a sleep。I recomend it only if you are into sience and read every book about it！ 。。。more

Valeriana ，

I thought this would be a dense， difficult read。 Wow， was I wrong。 Pleasantly surprised how funny， relatable， and understandable it was。 Couldn't put it down。 I thought this would be a dense， difficult read。 Wow， was I wrong。 Pleasantly surprised how funny， relatable， and understandable it was。 Couldn't put it down。 。。。more

D L ，

If I were smarter this would probably get 5 stars。

Jonathan Li ，

The book explains a lot of otherwise confusing subjects in Quantum Physics in a succinct way， and I particularly liked the analogies deployed to help me grasp some of the more difficult concepts。However， the book seems only half completed。 It just goes on to say the M theory can be the unifying theory， but that's it。 A concept or a bright spark， but not even a scientific hypothesis that's testable。 A major disappointment after such an enjoyable read for the most part of the book。 It would be bet The book explains a lot of otherwise confusing subjects in Quantum Physics in a succinct way， and I particularly liked the analogies deployed to help me grasp some of the more difficult concepts。However， the book seems only half completed。 It just goes on to say the M theory can be the unifying theory， but that's it。 A concept or a bright spark， but not even a scientific hypothesis that's testable。 A major disappointment after such an enjoyable read for the most part of the book。 It would be better positioned as a podcasts series explaining and evaluating existing scientific approaches， than one that builds up to a superior theory with suggested evidence or tests now or in the future。 The book is a good read for the background and the wonderful way it explains past discoveries， but what the author wants to convey to the reader is more philosophy than science。 。。。more

Mihai Chindris ，

A very interesting read。 It enriched my understandings of the universe and of the other universes that are out there （because， according to the book， there are more than one universe， each one with its one history）。 I also approached my role in this 'grand scheme/design' on a whole another level， by gaining new insights into what it all means， from the place I am standing on this Earth to the 'great unknown' that's ever expending and continuing to surprise us with something brand new， day by day A very interesting read。 It enriched my understandings of the universe and of the other universes that are out there （because， according to the book， there are more than one universe， each one with its one history）。 I also approached my role in this 'grand scheme/design' on a whole another level， by gaining new insights into what it all means， from the place I am standing on this Earth to the 'great unknown' that's ever expending and continuing to surprise us with something brand new， day by day。 I thoroughly enjoyed this books and I plan to read the others that Stephen Hawking has authored and co-authored and， there's a high likelihood that I'll read any other book related to the subject of physics， now that I have grasped some pretty basics & fun understandings from this particular book。 Read it， even if you're not into physics。 You'll learn something new about this topic， at least。 Read it， try to understand it， speak with someone about it， cause YOLO！ 。。。more

Diem Nguyen ，

A very comprehensible book explaining about our universe， the multiverse theory and the M-theory - the ultimate goal of discovery process to understand our galaxy （and other galaxies）

Mark ，

This book has some interesting stuff。 Overall I would give it 3。5 stars

Somormujo ，

4，25/5

Chris Blue ，

Not entirely easy read but able to take a non scientist on a scientific journey and keep you engrossed。

Logan A ，

A beautiful look into the building blocks of our universe， from the infinitesimal to the infinite。

Rizky Adipratama ，

Luar biasa！

Russ Clapham ，

Educational to a degree， but reeks of arrogance。 Many opinions （such as the multiverse theory） are presented deliberately as hard facts。 This is probably Hawking’s worst published work。 Only recommended as a borrow or $2 purchase。

Chris Zhang ，

As clear as it gets。 Great companion piece to a Brief History of Time and really a fantastic primer or refresher to concepts of astrophysics and astronomy。Not the most rigorous or complete text， but this is a pop science book。 It achieves what it sets out to do in making previously academic topics accessible to a reader of general interest。No complaints - it can be read and digested fairly easily in 1-2 sittings and it opens the horizons to individual exploration on the topics。

Joaquín Costa ，

Hawking never seases to amaze。 Just amazing。

Gary ，

Einstein’s theories of Special and General Relativity opened our minds to new ways of thinking about the cosmos。 His insights， counter-intuitive to non-physicists， have been shown to be predictive as regards motions， events， and measurable states in the universe。 In his latter years he sought a Unified Field Theory， a theory of everything， but in vain。 Enter quantum mechanics which posits that at sub-atomic levels the rules of Newtonian and Einsteinian physics do not apply， and that it’s current Einstein’s theories of Special and General Relativity opened our minds to new ways of thinking about the cosmos。 His insights， counter-intuitive to non-physicists， have been shown to be predictive as regards motions， events， and measurable states in the universe。 In his latter years he sought a Unified Field Theory， a theory of everything， but in vain。 Enter quantum mechanics which posits that at sub-atomic levels the rules of Newtonian and Einsteinian physics do not apply， and that it’s current iteration， M-Theory， may be the key to a unified theory。The Grand Design is an introduction to and survey of quantum theories for the average person。 Hawking begins with a bold pronouncement that we would not all agree with: “ … philosophy is dead。 Philosophy has not kept up with modern developments in science， particularly physics。 Scientists have become the bearers of the torch of discovery in our quest for knowledge。” Chapter titles are grand and promise big things: The Mystery of Being， What is Reality？， The Theory of Everything， The Apparent Miracle， The Grand Design。I read The Grand Design， and books like it， not to understand in any depth the mathematics and physics of quantum mechanics。 I read it to expand my frame of reference， to think outside the proverbial box， to think about concepts and questions entirely new to me， to expand my mind。 Truth to told， to me it is not really important that these ideas be true， meaning probable。 What I value is that they are exciting and widen and enrich my mental world。 There you have it， the truth， the reason I read books like this。The book itself is addressed to a reader of average intelligence and is heavy with illustrations， some of which are of dubious value。 Also of dubious value are the little jokes interspersed in the text， I suppose， to lighten it。 Nonetheless， it is a beautiful， readable， and un-intimidating book。 。。。more

Robert Lee ，

an ok read explaining many aspects of cosmology。 my issue is they are pretty wide open atheists。 the explanations of the science is good though。

Meg ，

I picked this up when I saw the audiobook was only 4。5 hours and don’t regret it。 The book was really interesting， and it inspired me to spend a day on YouTube learning more about some of the experiments and quantum mechanics mentioned。 Throughout the book， Hawkings speak to a broad audience （not just experts）。 He starts with a strong overview of a scientific worldview and how to examine theories about how the world works。 （Does a theory include testable predictions？ Is it elegant？） Then， he rou I picked this up when I saw the audiobook was only 4。5 hours and don’t regret it。 The book was really interesting， and it inspired me to spend a day on YouTube learning more about some of the experiments and quantum mechanics mentioned。 Throughout the book， Hawkings speak to a broad audience （not just experts）。 He starts with a strong overview of a scientific worldview and how to examine theories about how the world works。 （Does a theory include testable predictions？ Is it elegant？） Then， he routinely backs up specific claims with examples of how we got that knowledge。 Rather than simply stating， “scientists know X” he shows how experiments helped develop this view。 He also tried to use metaphors and relatable examples to help readers conceptualice tricky concepts。That being said， there’s only so much that can be done to make quantum mechanics and cosmology approachable。 As the book progressed， more and more of it went over my head。 As I mentioned， I ended up on YouTube trying to find more examples and explanations， and still didn’t understand a lot！ Even without understanding all the details though， this is a great book for understanding how science can be applied to big questions - like the origins of the universe - and I would recommend it。 。。。more

bimri ，

I found the title a little misleading， it wasn't philosophical at all！ Nor did it solve "the problem" of grand design - indefinitely！ I found the title a little misleading， it wasn't philosophical at all！ Nor did it solve "the problem" of grand design - indefinitely！ 。。。more

Trung Phạm ，

Another Pop-sci =）） Quyển Pop-sci nào cũng viết về các kiến thức na ná nhau。 Nhưng vì bản chất là bộ môn khó hiểu nên việc đọc đi đọc lại những thông tin này cũng có ích。 Anw， sau khi dạo một vòng thì thấy đây có lẽ là dạng Tín ngưỡng mình nghiêng về nhất。 Niềm tin về khả năng và sự tò mò của con người。

Daniel Wiedrich ，

I think people would call this pop science but the concepts are still hard to visualize and understand for my brain。 Incredibly interesting though。

Ally Perrin ，

"To ask what happened before the beginning of the universe would become a meaningless question because there is nothing south of the South Pole。。。 The realization that time behaves like space presents a new alternative: it removes the age-old objection to the universe having a beginning， but also means that the beginning of the universe was governed by the laws of science" "To ask what happened before the beginning of the universe would become a meaningless question because there is nothing south of the South Pole。。。 The realization that time behaves like space presents a new alternative: it removes the age-old objection to the universe having a beginning， but also means that the beginning of the universe was governed by the laws of science" 。。。more

Łukasz ，

Mój wszechświat właśnie się wyjaśnił。 Prościej się chyba nie dało！ Piękne podsumowanie， że spontaniczna kreacja jest przyczyną， dla której istnieje raczej coś niż nic。 I początkowo myślałem， że to zaoranie wszystkich teologicznych ekscesów， ale 'Wielki Projekt' to chłodna kalkulacja i spokojne wyjaśnienie zasad istnienia wszelkiej materii。 Dla wszystkich， którzy jeszcze nie wiedzą， że żyjemy w 21。 wieku， gdzie kosmologia is the new filozofia。 Lektura obowiązkowa！ Mój wszechświat właśnie się wyjaśnił。 Prościej się chyba nie dało！ Piękne podsumowanie， że spontaniczna kreacja jest przyczyną， dla której istnieje raczej coś niż nic。 I początkowo myślałem， że to zaoranie wszystkich teologicznych ekscesów， ale 'Wielki Projekt' to chłodna kalkulacja i spokojne wyjaśnienie zasad istnienia wszelkiej materii。 Dla wszystkich， którzy jeszcze nie wiedzą， że żyjemy w 21。 wieku， gdzie kosmologia is the new filozofia。 Lektura obowiązkowa！ 。。。more

Ahmad Lalti ，

The author starts off the book with the claim that "philosophy is dead"。 In chapter two he does a quick summary of the history of modern physics completely disregarding one or two millennia of human history （ jumping from the Greeks to Copernicus completely disregarding the contributions of the Muslims and the Chinese civilizations to modern scientific thought）。He then continue throughout the book laying down his *philosophical* opinion and interpretation of modern scientific results， and framin The author starts off the book with the claim that "philosophy is dead"。 In chapter two he does a quick summary of the history of modern physics completely disregarding one or two millennia of human history （ jumping from the Greeks to Copernicus completely disregarding the contributions of the Muslims and the Chinese civilizations to modern scientific thought）。He then continue throughout the book laying down his *philosophical* opinion and interpretation of modern scientific results， and framing them as if there was a scientific consensus on those views and as if science has already given it's final verdict on the matter。 Some of those interpretations are， in my opinion， closer to pseudo-science and metaphysics than actual testable science。Finally， no one can deny that Hawking is a very good writer with a great talent of delivering his ideas clearly to the non-specialists without getting technical。 Hence the second star in my review。 。。。more

Hiba Hashmi ，

Loved this one！ Still trying to wrap my head around stuff。 And will be rereading my fav chapters all the time。

Faramarz Majedi ，

It was good but overwhelming technical data makes it a little exhausting。

Emiliya Bozhilova ，

Още в самото начало авторите хвърлят бомбата， че философията е мъртва， и само физиката ще ни посочи пътя。 Има доста приятно поднесени моменти за електромагнетизма， вълните， Големия Взрив， струнната теория， квантовата физика， законите на Нютон， М-теорията （която ми остана забита в мъглявините）。 Тези теми ги има и в други по-обзорни книги。Хубавото тук са цветните илюстрации и гланцираната хартия。 Извън тях， не се е получила особено увлекателна тази книга。

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Grand Design

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Grand Design&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Grand Design&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0