The First Three Minutes

You couldn't ask for a better guide to the theory of the Big Bang than Steven Weinberg. In addition to winning the 1979 Nobel Prize for Physics, Weinberg is an exceptionally lucid author. He explains the first few minutes of the universe in accessible language, using analogies from daily life when possible. He places the theory in historical context and includes humanizing anecdotes. Raymond Todd's narration matches this clarity, delivering complex explanations with cool precision. However, the subject itself is inherently difficult, and the visual aides included in the print version are absent here. As a result, some parts are hard to follow, especially explanations of how heavier elements form. G.T.B. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine