“Big Bang: The Origin of the Universe, by Simon Singh. Finished reading 30 July 2008. 3/5 stars.
This is a very good introduction to the theory of the Big Bang model of the origin of the universe. It is written in a historical context starting with the discoveries of the size of the earth and distance to the moon by the ancient Greeks. Building up from that, Singh shows how through the centuries, scientific discoveries built on each other until the present day.
This book is ideal for the interested layperson, and is written at a high school level. What little math is used is placed in strange places where I did not feel it clarified things. Einstein's special theory of relativity is discussed to a suitable degree (using the famous boxcar thought experiments), but the discussion of general relativity was rather weak. I think this is one spot where the reader who knows little of the science involved beforehand will get confused.
One strength in Singh's approach that I really enjoyed was the checklists that were placed in the text. These checklists show the various observational problems which any model of the universe's origin must fit in order to be a viable theory. Singh uses these checklist to show how well the Big Bang theory competes with opposing theories, such as Hoyle's fascinating 'steady state' model.
Overall, ideal for beginners, too simple for those with astronomy degrees.”
