The book belongs to pseudo-science.

The reason is because time is not a physical dimension. Time is just a reference obtained by the comparison of the motion of physical means. For example, you compare the rotation of Earth with your daily duties: You said that at three o'clock you have a dental appoinment. Well, that means that when your location on Earth is -in the rotational angle with reference to the Sun- in the established angle for "3 pm"(standart), then, you say that "it is 3:00pm." But, this is just a comparison of motion betwen the rotational Earth observation and your position (motion) at certain places.

Do clocks measure the "passage of time?"....lol...since when? Where is the factual evidence to support such belief? Who did those tests?...when?...Where?...results?...Methods?...nothing!...There is not a single evidence that clocks can measure any imaginary dimension of time..all that fuss is just a mere assumption. Clocks are devices calibrated to a determinated functional work, and are not connected directly or indirectly to any imaginary dimnsion of time. Even Hawking can't define time in his book...because his definition will fall in fantasies...as fantasies are the theories of relativity.

In my opinion, Hawking worships Einstein, and Einstein was a lunatic. No wounder why this book of Hawking is full of lunatic ideas as well.

On the other hand, I will provide you the LOE (Law of Everything): The Perceptional Law. "The Perceptional Law establishes that the physical senses can perceive the physical universe in its present time only." No exceptions.

Do you see the stars at night? You see those stars in their current location and in their current and existing status. The obsolete idea that you can see the image of objects by the traveling of photons hitting your retinas is now laughable. You can see objects -only- when light reflects in their bodies. Those objects shall be existing physical means now, in order to light reflect on them and you can see their images. There is not other way. Reality rules. Anyone who swears that he can see the past of the universe -a past which doesn't exist now..such individual is hallucinating.

This book "The universe in a nutshell" has the wrong title, its title should be: "The universe according to a nuts"