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The Nature of Space and Time

by Stephen W. Hawking (Author), Roger Penrose (Author)

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From two of the world's great physicists―Stephen Hawking and Nobel laureate Roger Penrose―a lively debate about the nature of space and time

Einstein said that the most incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it is comprehensible. But was he right? Can the quantum theory of fields and Einstein's general theory of relativity, the two most accurate and successful theories in all of physics, be united in a single quantum theory of gravity? Can quantum and cosmos ever be combined? On this issue, two of the world's most famous physicists―Stephen Hawking (A Brief History of Time) and Roger Penrose (The Emperor's New Mind and Shadows of the Mind)―disagree. Here they explain their positions in a work based on six lectures with a final debate, all originally presented at the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences at the University of Cambridge.

How could quantum gravity, a theory that could explain the earlier moments of the big bang and the physics of the enigmatic objects known as black holes, be constructed? Why does our patch of the universe look just as Einstein predicted, with no hint of quantum effects in sight? What strange quantum processes can cause black holes to evaporate, and what happens to all the information that they swallow? Why does time go forward, not backward?

In this book, the two opponents touch on all these questions. Penrose, like Einstein, refuses to believe that quantum mechanics is a final theory. Hawking thinks otherwise, and argues that general relativity simply cannot account for how the universe began. Only a quantum theory of gravity, coupled with the no-boundary hypothesis, can ever hope to explain adequately what little we can observe about our universe. Penrose, playing the realist to Hawking's positivist, thinks that the universe is unbounded and will expand forever. The universe can be understood, he argues, in terms of the geometry of light cones, the compression and distortion of spacetime, and by the use of twistor theory. With the final debate, the reader will come to realize how much Hawking and Penrose diverge in their opinions of the ultimate quest to combine quantum mechanics and relativity, and how differently they have tried to comprehend the incomprehensible.

From Publishers Weekly

This volume contains a series of lectures delivered in 1994 by Hawking (A Brief History of Time) and Penrose (The Emperor's New Mind), renowned professors at Cambridge and Oxford, respectively. The overall topic is how mathematical physics might best represent the realities of the universe. The lectures assume a rather sophisticated knowledge of physics and mathematics. The authors present alternative views on approaching a formulation that fully accommodates both quantum and gravitational (general relativity) theories in physics. One question, for example, is whether parameters in a quantum description of matter can have definite ("real") values before they are measured. The issues extend to cosmological implications and have intriguing philosophical as well as technical aspects. Although well done, the treatment in this book is not for the general reader. Illustrations.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Over the past thirty years, Stephen Hawking and Roger Penrose have done more than anyone to further our understanding of the nature of gravitation and cosmology. . . . The Nature of Space and Time is the result of their attempt to stage a structured dialogue about these problems, to isolate points of disagreement, and stimulate further investigation of these problems. . . . The debate between Hawking and Penrose is a live one between brilliant scientists. . . . This elegant little volume provides a clear account of two approaches to some of the greatest unsolved problems of gravitation and cosmology."---John Barrow, New Scientist

"A debate between Hawking and Penrose ... raises the reader's expectations of a lively interaction, and this is fully borne out in the transcribed discussion.... Hawking's effervescent sense of humour frequently enlivens the text."---Joseph Silk, The Times Higher Education Supplement

"If there were such a thing as the World Professional Heavyweight Theory Debating Society, this would be the title bout."---Christopher Dornan, Toronto Globe & Mail

"This is an interesting book to read now, but it promises to become an even more interesting book for future generations of physicists."---Robert M. Wald, Science

"I found great satisfaction and not inconsiderable benefit from my efforts. . . . The clarity and brilliance of Hawking's logic would break through in simple straightforward terms. . . . This provided a real thrill."---Lucy Horwitz, Boston Book Review

"As well as providing an accurate scientific record of the lectures, the text has lost none of the drama of the original occasion, which stemmed from the almost antithetical views of the two protagonists on almost everything except the classical theory of general relativity."---Gary Gibbons, Physics World

"This is a very courteous and intellectually stimulating exchange between two first-rate minds." ― Library Journal

About the Author

Stephen Hawking (1942–2018) was the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics Emeritus at the University of Cambridge. Roger Penrose is a Nobel Prize–winning physicist and the author of Cycles of Time and The Road to Reality (both Vintage). He is the Rouse Ball Professor of Mathematics Emeritus at the University of Oxford. Michael Atiyah, Master of Trinity College Cambridge, and former President of the Royal Society, has written a foreword for this book.

ISBN-10

0691037914
ISBN-13

978-0691037912
Publisher

Princeton University Press
Publication date

January 28, 1996
Language

English
Dimensions

6.61 x 0.67 x 9.57 inches
Print length

150 pages
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Princeton University Press (January 28, 1996)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 150 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0691037914
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0691037912
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.61 x 0.67 x 9.57 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #935,606 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #76 in Applied Physics
- #942 in Quantum Theory (Books)
- #33,376 in Unknown

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4.5 139 ratings

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Stephen Hawking

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Stephen Hawking's ability to make science understandable and compelling to a lay audience was established with the publication of his first book, A Brief History of Time, which has sold nearly 10 million copies in 40 languages. Hawking has authored or participated in the creation of numerous other popular science books, including The Universe in a Nutshell, A Briefer History of Time, On the Shoulders of Giants, The Illustrated On the Shoulders of Giants, and George's Secret Key to the Universe.

(Stephen William Hawking; Oxford, Reino Unido, 8 de Enero de 1942 - Cambridge, 14 de marzo de 2018) Físico teórico británico. A pesar de sus discapacidades físicas y de las progresivas limitaciones impuestas por la enfermedad degenerativa que padecía, Stephen William Hawking es probablemente el físico más conocido entre el gran público desde los tiempos de Einstein. Luchador y triunfador, a lo largo de toda su vida logró sortear la inmensidad de impedimentos que le planteó el mal de Lou Gehrig, una esclerosis lateral amiotrófica que le aquejaba desde que tenía 20 años. Hawking es, sin duda, un ejemplo particular de vitalidad y resistencia frente al infortunio del destino.

Fue miembro de la Real Sociedad de Londres, de la Academia Pontificia de las Ciencias y de la Academia Nacional de Ciencias de Estados Unidos. Fue titular de la Cátedra Lucasiana de Matemáticas (Lucasian Chair of Mathematics) de la Universidad de Cambridge desde 1979 hasta su jubilación en 2009. Entre las numerosas distinciones que le han sido concedidas, Hawking ha sido honrado con doce doctorados honoris causa y ha sido galardonado con la Orden del Imperio Británico (grado CBE) en 1982, el Premio Príncipe de Asturias de la Concordia en 1989, la Medalla Copley en 2006, la Medalla de la Libertad en 2009 y el Premio Fundación BBVA Fronteras del Conocimiento en 2015.

Alcanzó éxitos de ventas con sus trabajos divulgativos sobre Ciencia, en los que discute sobre sus propias teorías y la cosmología en general; estos incluyen A Brief History of Time, que estuvo en la lista de best-sellers del The Sunday Times británico durante 237 semanas.

La Editorial Alvi Books le dedicó, como tributo y reconocimiento, este espacio en Amazon en 2016.

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4.5 out of 5

139 global ratings

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Randall R. Scott

Wonderful But Very Technical

Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2020

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This is a wonderful book, but it's not for the faint of heart. I've read physics for years, and most of this went right over my head. This is not a "science education for layperson" book, nor does it intend to be. The chapters are presentations given in a 1994 debate between Hawking and Penrose at a professional conference at Cambridge. There's a 2010 update at the end. Again, it's a fantastic book, but keep in mind that it's aimed at physicists.

2 people found this helpful

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Joe S.

Hawking and Penrose talking it out, what could be better?

Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2020

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Hawking and Penrose talking it out, what could be better?

Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2014

Verified Purchase

This is a fairly technical book, not a book that "explains science to the lay person." You have to have some familiarity with general relativity and the math that goes with it. I'll keep reading it, but much of it will go over my head. Just so you know.

11 people found this helpful

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Mary Echternacht

A very important lecture in physics by one of the greatest physicists ever

Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2014

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This is a very educational book covering the lectures of one of the greatest physicists ever who explains a very complex subject in terms that are understandable and will get you thinking about the universe that combines space and time in a multi-dimensional level

3 people found this helpful

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Jeremy L. Mosher

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2018

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The progression of deep ideas between the best minds in the planet...

Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2019

Just as described

Not for the Mathmatically Challenged

Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2009

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If you liked "The Road to reality" and have an understanding of the Mathmatics of Quantum Physics and Relativity then you will enjoy this book. Otherwise don't bother.

5 people found this helpful

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Susan Drumel

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2018

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Like to learn about space

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