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Brief Answers to the Big Questions

By: Stephen Hawking, Professor Kip Thorne - foreword
Narrated by: Ben Whishaw, Garrick Hagon - foreword, Lucy Hawking - afterword
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Summary

Read by Ben Whishaw and Garrick Hagon, with an afterword read by Lucy Hawking.

The world-famous cosmologist and number one best-selling author of A Brief History of Time leaves us with his final thoughts on the universe's biggest questions in this brilliant posthumous work.

How did the universe begin? Will humanity survive on Earth? Is there intelligent life beyond our solar system? Could artificial intelligence ever outsmart us?

Throughout his extraordinary career, Stephen Hawking expanded our understanding of the universe and unravelled some of its greatest mysteries. But even as his theoretical work on black holes, imaginary time and multiple histories took his mind to the furthest reaches of space, Hawking always believed that science could also be used to fix the problems on our planet.

And now, as we face potentially catastrophic changes here on Earth - from climate change to dwindling natural resources to the threat of artificial superintelligence - Stephen Hawking turns his attention to the most urgent issues for humankind.

Wide-ranging, intellectually stimulating, passionately argued and infused with his characteristic humour, Brief Answers to the Big Questions, the final book from one of the greatest minds in history, is a personal view on the challenges we face as a human race and where we, as a planet, are heading next.

©2018 Stephen Hawking (P)2018 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
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What listeners say about Brief Answers to the Big Questions

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Holiday read

My first audio book and I found it an enjoyable experience. I got through it a lot quicker than I would have a paper copy. Mr Hawkings is such an inspirational man and like those living in the lifetime of Einstein I feel privileged to have been alive while he was among us. Great read.

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Gives me hope for humanity

What a man, such eloquence,intelligence and grace....long live he’s legacy and influence on the world

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Fascinating!

Many of the concepts made my brain hurt, and had to listen to some of the complicated parts several times! A brilliant read though, very interesting to hear about black holes and his views on the challenges humanity will face in the near future. Truly a great loss to the world, I got very emotional during the afterword by Lucy!

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Very interesting

A very interesting book, at times far too advanced for my simple mind!

Beautifully narrated and a touching afterword.

I thoroughly enjoyed this

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A great book about a good scientist.

Thourouly enjoyable and exquistly informative book. A great mind who's strength of character gives me hope humanity has the ability to endure against all the odds.

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A perfect Kosmos

The most marvelous and state of the Art presentation of the Kosmos that can born Order and emerge Space and Matter! But a lot of chaotic science logos to darkening the most prominent reality: No sign of life, not reason ! Thus an Empty Cosmos, by Hawking' s words, with no Purpose of Meaningless !

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Amazing!!!

Fantastic book! Very informative and easy to understand. Would recommend to everyone even people with no knowledge on cosmology.

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Masterpiece from the Mastermind

Great, concise overview of familiar topics in theoretical physics, science and technology with his views on the recent advancements. His use of language is very concise, informative and easy to follow (apart from black holes chapter... holy moly). I'd like to hear more regarding his views on social sciences (cough politics cough). But definitely altered my beliefs about the future and our purpose as a species.

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BLACK HOLE

As the tile states you'll be lost forever in this book but hopefully the information wouldn't be lost!

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Terrific

hearing his iconic voice between the chapters was awesome! what a human being ladies and gentlemen... what a human being!!!!

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