Cover of A Briefer History of Time

A Briefer History of Time

by Stephen Hawking, Leonard Mlodinow · first published 2005

9mentions
4recommended by
9HN commenters
2010–2026first – last mentioned

44% recommend44% neutral11% critical

The science classic made more accessible and more concise. Illustrated. Updated with new research.Stephen Hawking's worldwide bestseller, A Brief History of Time, has been a landmark volume in scientific writing. Its author's engaging voice is one reason, and the compelling subjects he addresses is another: the nature of space and time, the role of God in creation, the history and future of the universe. But it is also true that in the years since its publication, readers have repeatedly told Professor Hawking of their great difficulty in understanding some of the book's most important concept

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Mentions per year

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What Hacker News says

  • Element_ · Mar 29, 2010 · Recommends

    A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson A Briefer History of Time - Stephen Hawking

    on “Ask HN: Interesting (Non software) books?” ↗
  • hsdropout · Oct 8, 2026 · Recommends

    …Odyssey https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/44f995ae-fa5a-4641-a696-... The Experience of Insight: A Simple & Direct Guide to Buddhist Meditation Ram Dass, Robert Hall, Joseph Goldstein https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/7588c259-a0c0-4481-81ed-... A Briefer History of Time Stephen Hawking, Leonard Mlodinow https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/c10780bc-8dcb-4620-9193-... Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software Charles Petzold https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/92559554-10f1-4cdf-8a9b-...…

    on “Book recommendations from Hacker News?” ↗
  • ErrantX · Apr 17, 2010 · Recommends

    It's a good list; but lets not ignore the pure sciences either! Text books are usually pretty boring so "A Briefer History of Time" should be on there. "Nemesis" maybe because it's a good story as well.

    on “Books all kids should read at school (a list)” ↗
  • 7thaccount · Apr 3, 2024 · Recommends

    …popsci books in my youth like "A brief history of time" from Stephen Hawking (it's written for normal people). That's probably the best book you'd want. He later wrote a more modernized version called "a briefer history of time" as well. They both cover time dilation from a high level iirc. Of course, to truly understand you'd need to learn the math. I'm looking forward to doing that during retirement in a few decades.

    on “White House wants Moon to have its own time zone, Coordinated Lunar Time (CLT)” ↗
  • Toddward · Jun 3, 2011 · Mentions

    …was just about to ask this same question. My New Years resolution for this year was to read two books a month. I just finished reading "In the Plex" by Steven Levy and I'm starting Stephen Hawking's "A Briefer History of Time." It should take me no time to blow through the latter, so I'm looking for suggestions as for what to read next.

    on “Ask HN: What books are you reading” ↗
  • vo1d · Dec 19, 2017 · Mentions

    - The Innovator's Dilemma by Clay Christensen - Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman - A Briefer History of Time by Stephen Hawking - The Lean Startup by Eric Ries - Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson - The Industries of the Future by Alec Ross - Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss - Start with No by Jim Camp…

    on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2017?” ↗
  • Jerrrrrrry · Oct 6, 2024 · Critical

    …had, link seemingly impossibly unrelated phenomenon together using similar models and patterns, and leave with a much more intuitive understanding about complexity, randomness, and chaotic systems. A Briefer History of Time: For those who truly would like to exalt their personal God of the Gaps to the small unit.

    on “Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read?” ↗
  • themantri · Apr 18, 2020 · Mentions

    My reading list: 1. A Briefer History of Time 2. Serious Cryptography 3. Lifshitz & Landau's Fluid Mechanics 4. Expert C Programming: Deep C Secrets Edit: Add spacing

    on “What are you reading in summer of 2020?” ↗
  • INTPenis · May 14, 2018 · Mentions

    …enjoy Tolkien over Disney any day because I don't even view them in the same league. Disney took ancient mythology and did with it what could be compared to the simplified version of Hawkings book "A Briefer History of Time". In the case of dwarves I feel that it doesn't change anything if you bastardize something that is already based on mythology. If anything this to me new revelation about Tolkien is a negative rather…

    on “Tolkien Expressed a “Heartfelt Loathing” for Walt Disney” ↗

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