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Big Bang: The Origin of the Universe Paperback – Illustrated, November 1, 2005

by Simon Singh (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 682 ratings
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A half century ago, a shocking Washington Post headline claimed that the world began in five cataclysmic minutes rather than having existed for all time; a skeptical scientist dubbed the maverick theory the Big Bang. In this amazingly comprehensible history of the universe, Simon Singh decodes the mystery behind the Big Bang theory, lading us through the development of one of the most extraordinary, important, and awe-inspiring theories in science.

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  1. Print length
    532 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    November 1, 2005
  4. Dimensions
    7.9 x 5.3 x 1.7 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    0007162219
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0007162215
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“It’s hard to imagine a grander, more thrilling story…fast-paced…hugely entertaining…Big Bang is, quite literally, cosmic.” — New York Times

“Inimitable. . . . There’s no better account of the big bang theory.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A clear, lively, and comprehensive view of the way science arrived at the leading theory of how everything began.”- — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“This book is a blast...who knew that the Big Bang could be so much fun?” — James Gleick, bestselling author of CHAOS and FASTER

“Singh is one of the best science journalists writing today...Impressive.” — London Times (Sunday)

“An expert but friendly guide to help you decode the mysteries [of the universe] with crisp, clear running commentary.” — Sylvia Nasar, author of A Beautiful Mind

“Singh’s unerring eye for picturesque anecdotes and his capacity for simplifying complex scientific ideas is a winning formula.” — Saturday Daily Telegraph (London)

“(Singh) is a gifted expositor, ready to venture to places other science popularisers don’t even try to reach.” — The Mail (on Sunday)

“Highly readable… Singh brings the colourful protagonists in his story to life.” — New Scientist

“Singh spins tales of cryptic intrigue in every chapter.” — Wall Street Journal on The Code Book

“Entertaining and satisfying. . . . Offers a fascinating glimpse into the mostly secret competition between codemakers and codebreakers.” — USA Today on The Code Book

“Enthralling...commendably lucid...[Singh’s] book provides a timely and entertaining summary of the subject.” — Economist on The Code Book

“Brings together...the geniuses who have secured communications, saved lives, and influenced the fate of nations. A pleasure to read.” — Chicago Tribune on The Code Book

“An absorbing tale of codemaking and codebreaking over the centuries.” — Scientific American on The Code Book

“The history of mathematics comes alive even for those who dread balancing their checkbooks.” — Publishers Weekly on Fermat's Enigma

“An excellent account of one of the most dramatic and moving events of the century.” — New York Times on Fermat's Enigma

“Fascinating…Simon Singh loves storytelling and has a knack for digging up underappreciated characters.” — New York Newsday

“Singh is a gifted writer…a good storyteller…and [he] knows how to describe and explain complex and esoteric subjects.” — San Diego Union-Tribune

From the Back Cover

A half century ago, a shocking Washington Post headline claimed that the world began in five cataclysmic minutes rather than having existed for all time; a skeptical scientist dubbed the maverick theory the Big Bang. In this amazingly comprehensible history of the universe, Simon Singh decodes the mystery behind the Big Bang theory, lading us through the development of one of the most extraordinary, important, and awe-inspiring theories in science.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper Perennial; Reprint edition (November 1, 2005)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 532 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0007162219
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0007162215
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.9 x 5.3 x 1.7 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 682 ratings

About the author

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Simon Singh

Simon Singh

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Simon Singh is a science journalist and TV producer. Having completed his PhD at Cambridge he worked from 1991 to 1997 at the BBC producing Tomorrow's World and co-directing the BAFTA award-winning documentary Fermat's Last Theorem for the Horizon series. He is the author of Fermat's Last Theorem, which was a no 1 bestseller in Britain and translated into 22 languages. In 1999, he wrote The Code Book which was also an international bestseller and the basis for the Channel 4 series The Science of Secrecy.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
682 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and understand. They appreciate the author's ability to make complicated subjects clear to the layman. The history of humankind's attempts to explain the big bang is presented in an enjoyable manner. Readers enjoy the storytelling and end-of-chapter summaries. Opinions differ on the pacing - some find it first-rate and fascinating, while others consider it basic.

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ReadabilityEase of understandingHistoryStorytellingPacing
60 customers mention "Readability"60 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and enjoyable. They say it provides a useful overview of cosmology for beginners and students. The book is described as the best work by Simon Singh and recommended reading for introduction to cosmology classes.

"...This is by far the best book from Simon Singh. A well articulated story starting from Ancient Greeks to the modern Nobel prize winners...." Read more

"...This really is a superb book, and very well written...." Read more

"This is one of the best books I've ever read describing the history of astronomy as it pertains to the development and eventual acceptance of the..." Read more

"...It is a broad, useful overview that serves well as an introductory text for neophytes and students, but it will be disappointing to scholars of all..." Read more

52 customers mention "Ease of understanding"52 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to understand. They praise the author's ability to make complex subjects clear to the layman. The writing style is described as funny and well-written, providing a clear insight into how science evolved.

"...He can explain difficult, mind-bending concepts and vast measurements of scale better than probably anyone alive...." Read more

"...This is what Simon Singh tells us in a very funny and highly explanatory style: in fact, every time we need a drawing he puts it, and when (or if)..." Read more

"...This book provides a concise sequence of discoveries leading to the success of the Big Bang Theory, without losing logical flow...." Read more

"...Well written, easy to follow, lots of illuminating examples, hits all the highlights. Singh is a very good teacher...." Read more

45 customers mention "History"45 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's history of cosmology engaging. They say it provides an excellent introduction to the modern era history of astronomy and cosmology related to the big bang. The book takes readers back in time, covering early astronomical achievements like determining the size of the earth. It provides a chronological historical approach to the big bang theory, logically leading readers through the history and evolution of cosmology.

"Big Bang is a very comprehensive summary of Physical Sciences, leading to Astronomy and eventually to Cosmology...." Read more

"...Chapter 1 covers among other things: Early astronomical achievements such as determining the size of the earth, distance to the sun, development of..." Read more

"...In fact, this book is a history of the entire science of cosmology, and so it begins with tribal myths, and the first struggles of the pre-Socratics..." Read more

"...good but I loved "The Big Bang" because it put forth a chronological historical approach to the big bang theory...." Read more

14 customers mention "Storytelling"12 positive2 negative

Customers enjoy the storytelling in the book. They find it engaging and entertaining, with great descriptions of scientific discoveries and ideas. The end-of-chapter summaries provide clear reviews of each chapter. Many readers consider this to be the best nonfiction book they have read.

"...This is by far the best book from Simon Singh. A well articulated story starting from Ancient Greeks to the modern Nobel prize winners...." Read more

"...scientific information, the writer also provides small interesting stories about the scientists involved, making reading the book an enjoyable..." Read more

"I wish this book were available when I was at school. It is a great story telling and I couldn’t put it down...." Read more

"...It is the best non fiction book I have ever read. It was only natural for me to sample other works by Simon Singh and I am not disappointed...." Read more

9 customers mention "Pacing"6 positive3 negative

Customers have different views on the pacing of the book. Some find it an excellent primer and well-put-together, while others consider it basic and not really a page-turner. The book provides a review and historical overview from Ptolemy through Tycho.

"...book is not a comprehensive review of the Big Bang but it is a fantastic start. Once I started to read it, I had a hard time putting it down...." Read more

"...For example, the book has little or no mention of matter versus anti-matter, quarks, W+ W- Z particles, which are all shown in the clipping...." Read more

"The book arrived on time and in good condition...." Read more

"Not much here I haven't seen before, but nicely put together...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Prasad Ganti
    5.0 out of 5 stars Big Bang-A history of Cosmology
    Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2008
    Verified Purchase
    Big Bang is a very comprehensive summary of Physical Sciences, leading to Astronomy and eventually to Cosmology. This is by far the best book from Simon Singh. A well articulated story starting from Ancient Greeks to the modern Nobel prize winners. He describes in detail the Greeks assumptions of a round and spinning earth. And their measurements of Earth's circumference (Eratosthenes), relative sizes of moon and earth (Anaxagoras), and the distance to Sun (Aristarchus).

    Moving to the middle ages, the story of Tyco Brahe who took observational astronomy to an entirely new level of accuracy. Tyco's experimental data was interpreted correctly by Kepler who was myopic and suffered multiple visions from birth. Experiments of Galileo with pendulum, falling bodies, his observation of planets with the newly invented telescope and his ultimate friction with the Church. He mentions how Galileo could uniquely maintain religious beliefs and scientific dogmas in his mind at the same time, without any conflicts.

    On how Newton stood on the shoulders of the Giants and built on the planetary model to explain Gravity. William Herschel used telescope to discover the distant planets and their satellites. He came up with a rough size of the Milky Way Galaxy. His son John started recording the celestial pictures on newly invented medium-photography. With this technique, Astronomy entered a new phase.

    Beyond the Renaissance, how Einstein comes up with his thought experiments leading to theories of relativity (Special and General). For the first time I could understand that Special theory of relativity applied to bodies moving at constant speeds while General theory applied to accelerating or decelerating bodies. Time dilation and length contraction occur in fast moving bodies. How his theories lead to Alexander Friedman's prediction of an evolving Universe. How George Lemaitre's concluded that General theory of relativity implied a moment of creation, and hence Big Bang. And Einstein ended up denouncing both of them and came up with a Cosmological constant, which proves to be the biggest blunder of his life. George Lemaitre is a Belgian monk, who like Galielo, had a good balance between Science and Religion. Letting neither interfere with the other, but at the same time being deeply involved with both.

    John Goodricke discovered that the Cepheid stars have variable brightness. Because, unlike our Sun, they are not in a state of equilibrium. They go thru cycles of contraction and expansion. Henrietta Leavitt found a relationship between the period of fluctuation and apparent brightness by collecting data from a group of Cepheids in the Magellanic cloud. A team of astronomers found the distance to one Cepheid. Henrietta's theory was used to calculate distances of other Cepheids. Hale's efforts to build bigger and bigger telescopes. Edwin Hubble's greatest contribution by using these telescopes to prove that Andromeda is a separate Galaxy and that the Universe is undoubtedly expanding. Hubble's law vindicated George Lemaitre and Alexander Friedman.

    Ralph Alpher and George Gamow predicted that in the early Universe, after the Big Bang, matter existed as plasma, which cooled to 3000 degree centigrade and condensed to atoms, as the cosmic fog lifted, and Cosmic background radiation was emitted in all directions. This red shifted light in the microwave region was discovered by Penzias and Wilson of AT&T. Fred Hoyle, in spite of his adherence to the loosing Steady State theory, made a significant contribution to the explanation of the nucleosynthesis of heavy elements from dying stars.

    Final chapters on the COBE's (Cosmic Background Explorer) precise measurements of Cosmic background radiation and subtle temperature differences in radiation of early Universe, leading to creation of Stars and Galaxies. This was the climatic moment for the Big Bang theory.

    This book is a must read for anyone interested in Cosmology.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Colin Povey
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book that covers the width of the Universe
    Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Big Bang is in essence a history of astronomy, or more precisely, cosmology, the study of the universe. Obviously, this is quite a large field of study, but one that Simon Singh accomplishes beautifully.

    Despite his education, Simon Singh can write, and write well. He can explain difficult, mind-bending concepts and vast measurements of scale better than probably anyone alive. And what do I mean by 'despite his education', for Simon Singh is really Simon Singh, Ph.D., with a degree in particle physics from Cambridge University, the school that gave us such scientists as Sir Isaac Newton, Stephen Hawking, Charles Darwin, James Clerk Maxwell, Rutherford, and Alan Turing. After working at CERN in Switzerland for a while after graduation, he decided to become an author, journalist, and TV producer, with the goal of bringing science to the everyday man (and woman). The problem is, of course, that most scientists cannot write, at least stuff that you and I can understand. Well, Dr. Singh can do that.

    The Big Bang traces the history of the theory of the Earth and the universe from the ancient Egyptians calculating, with remarkable accuracy, of the size of the Earth, to experiments requiring sophisticated satellites that must orbit the earth for years, making measurements that are impossible to make from earth, before useful data can be collected from them.

    Dr. Singh talks about how astronomers calculate the distance to planets, other stars, and even other galaxies. He talks about telescopes, compasses, and radio telescopes. He talks about gravity, spacetime, and relativity. He talks about measurements being taken that must be accurate to four or more decimal places to be useful.

    This really is a superb book, and very well written. I have just read it, but plan on reading it again within a few months, to help cement some of the knowledge into my brain.

    Highly recommended.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A joy to read
    Reviewed in Canada on March 9, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Fantastic book. Scientifically rigorous, clear explanations and diagrams, easy to follow and beautifully written. I struggled with and couldn't follow Weinberg's "The First Three Minutes" but I loved loved loved this book.
    Report
  • José C.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Otimo
    Reviewed in Brazil on March 1, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Livro recomendado numa palestra de astronomia bastante esclarecedora. O palestrante disse que o que ele falou está nesse livro.
    Report
  • Horacio Munguía
    3.0 out of 5 stars una historia bien contada.
    Reviewed in Mexico on May 23, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Después de haber leído "El Libro de los Códigos" y "El Enigma de Fermat" la lectura de este libro no entusiasma como pudiera esperarse. Sin embargo, el relato es apegado a la historia y suficientemente explicado para un lector con educación media.
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  • Raju
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of the finest popular science Book
    Reviewed in India on January 24, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I felt it would be gross injustice, if I don't share my experience of reading this wonderful book.
    Author explains the historical context of how astronomy evolved over the years starting from earth centred model of universe- ptolemy model of universe till finally ending upto Big Bang. The narrative is gripping. I don't think the concepts explained can be simplified any further. He maintains equal balance of historical narrative of people involved with anecdotes while not loosing broad scientific explanation of astronomy.
    He explains the conflicting theories about their acceptability in tabular form, which is quite good to summarise and keep track. similarly the end of each chapter had a brief summary in two pages, i.e. the gist of the chapter, which is good because of the long narrative of the chapter, at times we may tend to forget the whole story, these two pages summarised the whole chapter quite well.
    I felt book should have been more popular than what it is now. Highly readable Book, which is worth every penny for anyone who is curious about history and evolution of Astronomy.
    I wish he writes more books, may be one on history of mathematics.
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  • Paolo marchi
    5.0 out of 5 stars Big Bang and a lot more science!
    Reviewed in Italy on January 6, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I immediately fell in love with this book since the beginning. It's a wonderful journey through the history of science from Copernicus era to the most recent evidence supporting the Big Bang Model. The author really takes the reader into the fundamental aspects of the scientific method: how it works, how different generations of scientists were needed to move discoveries forward either improving previous theories or destroying previous false claims. Before speaking about details of the Big Bang Model, Simon Singh takes the reader on a chronological journey through all the science and technology that have been essential to building the fundamental blocks of this Model and its supporting evidence. Full of anecdotes, scientists' quotes and curiosities, the narrative of this book is so effective and clear in explaining difficult scientific concepts, always supported by summaries and schemes to keep the reader on track within this beautiful journey throughout Science.
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