Probably like most potential readers from outside the U.K., I was first made aware of this book because I'm a Queen fan - since Brian May is both the guitarist for that band and a PhD astrophysicist. Obviously his latter qualification gives him the authority to co-author the book, and if his former qualification helps him sell more books, he won't mind. Readers in the U.K. might well be as familiar with Sir Patrick, Fellow of the Royal Society and TV-show host. Thus, the authors of this book have the populist credentials to combine with the scientific credentials, which bodes well for its readability. And this book is eminently readable. Not only that, but for a relatively modest price, it is packed full of photos, diagrams, and drawings, all in full colour. The book is handsomely packaged and printed on high-quality glossy paper. I only mention this because, again, the price belies the quality of the product.
The scope of the book is exactly as advertised on the cover - "The Complete History of the Universe." As such it is a cosmological book, with reader-friendly (and, I think, as scientifically accurate as it is possible to be without delving into advanced mathematics) coverage of the Big Bang, expansion of the universe, the formation of the solar system, and the eventual fate of the universe. It ranges from the large (looking at the universe as a whole) to the subatomic, with a discussion of the fate of the elementary particles of which all matter is made. Ample evidence (and discussion) is devoted to the big cosmological questions: an infinitely expanding universe vs. a big crunch model, the evidence for the existence of dark matter, the relationship between time and distance, etc.
By its very nature, a book that deals this extensively with big ideas won't have much room for the details of trivial matters such as the Solar System. In my opinion this is a failing of the book - planets and their moons are barely mentioned except in groups (the "gas giants are...." or "the moons of Jupiter are...."). Extrasolar planets are essentially non-existent. Oddly, given this omission, there is a large amount of time devoted to observational astronomy - while the names of the constellations are useful (and make finding your way around the heavens), they are arbitrary groupings arising from Earth's sightlines with no real physical existence. Similarly, the sections on telescopes and observing are a little dull and go on too long.
Still, a very attractive and interesting book. Most armchair astronomers are likely to learn at least a few new things, because of the sheer breadth of the material. Even if they don't they are sure to revel in the beautiful pictures and diagrams, and gloat over the relatively cheap selling price.
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Top reviews from other countries
Client d'Amazon
Bang! Le Dr May et compagnie
Reviewed in France on November 25, 2017
Client d'Amazon
Reviewed in France on November 25, 2017
I received the book very well and on time. It is a very good one. Astrophysics lovers will like it a lot!
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Angelo Barbato
All you need to know about the cosmos for dummies.
Reviewed in Australia on April 28, 2021Celuloso
El libro muy bueno... pero muy pequeño.
Reviewed in Spain on February 16, 2014