Book Summary and Reviews of Before the Big Bang by Brian Clegg

Before the Big Bang by Brian Clegg

Before the Big Bang

The Prehistory of Our Universe

by Brian Clegg

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  • Published:
  • Aug 2009, 320 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

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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Reviews

Media Reviews

"Clegg's relatively jargon-free style makes for a good introduction for general readers, even if it leaves them still wondering what did come before the big bang." - Publishers Weekly

"Starred Review. Anyone looking for an introduction to or a refresher course in cosmology need look no further." - Kirkus Review

This information about Before the Big Bang was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

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Author Information

Brian Clegg Author Biography

Brian Clegg was born in 1955 in Rochdale, Lancashire (England). He was educated at Manchester Grammar School and went on to read Natural Science (specializing in experimental physics) at Cambridge University.

Clegg has written regular columns, features, and reviews for numerous magazines. He lives in Wiltshire, England, with his wife and two children.

Link to Brian Clegg's Website

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