Before the Big Bang

The Prehistory of the Universe

Brian Clegg

St. Martin's Griffin

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According to a recent survey, the most popular question about science from the general public was: what came before the Big Bang? We all know on some level what the Big Bang is, but we don’t know how it became the accepted theory, or how we might know what came before. In Before the Big Bang, Brian Clegg (the critically acclaimed author of Upgrade Me and The God Effect) explores the history of this remarkable concept. From the earliest creation myths, through Hershel’s realization that the Milky Way was one of many galaxies, to on-going debates about Black Holes, this is an incredible look at the origins of the universe and the many theories that led to the acceptance of the Big Bang. But in classic scientist fashion Clegg challenges the notion of the “Big Bang” itself, and raises the deep philosophical question of why we might want to rethink the origin of the universe. This is popular science at its best, exploratory, controversial, and utterly engrossing.

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Praise for Before the Big Bang

"Clegg follows the footsteps of Carl Sagan’s Cosmos, Steven Hawking’s A Brief History of Time and Timothy Ferris’s Coming of Age in the Milky Way. He shares his predecessors’ enthusiasm, eloquence and ability to explain complex ideas but provides a bonus by covering startling developments of the past decade.  Anyone looking for an introduction to or a refresher course in cosmology need look no further." - Kirkus, Starred Review  

"Indeed, the existence of so many things, from dark matter to black holes to wormholes all has to be inferred. The Big Bang, too, is only provisional and seems to be waiting for a more graceful model to replace it. In Clegg’s words, the Big Bang theory “has the feeling of something held together with a Band-Aid. Whether what came before our universe was another universe or nothing, or something else yet unconsidered, for now the most accurate answer might be: We just don’t know." -Anthony Doerr Boston Globe, July 19

 

Reviews from Goodreads

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Jeffrey  rated it  
Mar 3, 2011
A very interesting look at the current state of cosmological theory. One thing I really like about this book is that the author is not afraid to challenge the inflationary Big Bang model. It does seem rather a kluge. String theory and M-theory get scrutinized as possibly unscientific as well, si ...more
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Daniel  rated it  
Jun 8, 2010
Great book. Covered subject so someone like me (a math idiot) could understand the book. If you are just getting into astronomy this is a good place to start. ...more
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Keith  rated it  
Feb 20, 2010
This book made me realize I'm the center of the Universe. And not just my "own little" one either, but the real thing. The Big Bang started right here.

Don't worry. You are also the center of the Universe, apparently.

I've long been completely fascinated by cosmology, ...more
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About the Author

Brian Clegg

BRIAN CLEGG is the author of A Brief History of Infinity, The First Scientist: A Life of Roger Bacon, and Light Years: The Extraordinary Story of Mankind’s Fascination with Light, and Upgrade Me: Our Search for Human 2.0. He holds a physics degree from Cambridge and has written regular columns, features, and reviews for numerous magazines. He lives in Wiltshire, England, with his wife and two children.

Brian Clegg

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Before the Big Bang
The Prehistory of the Universe
Brian Clegg

Trade Paperback

Trade Paperback
St. Martin's Press
St. Martin's Griffin
February 2011
Trade Paperback
ISBN: 9780312680282
ISBN10: 0312680287
5 1/2 x 8 1/4 inches, 320 pages
$14.99
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Hardcover
St. Martin's Press
August 2009
Hardcover
ISBN: 9780312385477
ISBN10: 0312385471
5 1/2 x 8 1/4 inches, 320 pages
$25.99
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e-Book Agency
St. Martin's Press
August 2009
e-Book Agency
ISBN: 9781429987424
ISBN10: 1429987421
5 1/2 x 8 1/4 inches, 320 pages
$9.99
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