PENGUIN BRIEF - A BRIEF HISTORY OF TIME

In A Brief History of Time, Hawking writes about the origin and composition of the universe in accessible terminology for the masses. By explaining complex topics such as relativity and quantum mechanics, and phenomena such as the big bang and black holes, Hawking expanded general interest in cosmology and sold more than twenty million copies of the book along the way. What distinguishes Hawking’s bestseller from traditional scientific textbooks is his ability to be clear, without the use of intimidating equations. 

What sets A Brief History of Time apart from other texts on cosmology is, according to the New York Times Book Review, that it provides readers “with a jaunty overview of key cosmological ideas, past and present” and is at its best when Hawking “allows us a peek at his impish humor, inner motivations, theoretical goofs and scientific prejudices.” By injecting his personality into what previously had been staid accounts of ancient theories, “Mr. Hawking is bravely taking some of the first, though tentative, steps toward quantizing the early universe, and he offers us a provocative glimpse of the work in progress.”

Stephen Hawking makes the point that humanity's view of the universe has undergone many changes. When the first humans looked up into the sky and wondered what it was all about, they got busy with explanations (theories or models) that would coincide with their observations. And it is the two-point efforts—combining observation and theory—that physicists have used to the present day.

Hawking, on the other hand – out of passion wrote a fact-filled, and engaging book, for people all around to perceive evolution from another impartial standpoint.

We believe that this book is suited for all individuals willing to expand their knowledge in various fields.

Stephen Hawking's "A Brief History of Time" is an explanation to the common man about the journey and discovery of the relationship of time to everything. He starts with the simple beliefs from men like Newton and progresses through quantum physics and mechanics to reveal that time is infinitely more complicated than first perceived. This is the idea I wanted to relay in my book cover design. When you first see it, it shows the basic idea of how time works in a minimalist format, but as the original cover is removed, it reveals a much more hectic and rule breaking reality.

Simon Page's posters for the International Year of Astronomy 2009