» Stephen Hawking's Universe

Stephen Hawking's Universe Reviews

Customer Rating:
Summary: Bad Makeover of a good Documentary
Comment: I bought this DVD to replace a worn Video from the BBC(British Broadcasting Commission). It was a bit of a shock. The original film has been edited and chopped up with bits of rubbish added through. It also now has a poor voice over. The whole feel of the film has been removed. All the PBS...and viewers like your rubbish? Where'd that come from. It was totallly funded via the BBC. The PBS editions mess up may have been funded by someone else. My copy is going Free as I won't be watching it again.

Sincerely, do yourself a favour and source out a BBC edition. I give it (5 Stars)It is an awesome package. Inspiring and well told. Something to watch again and again(Hence I've worn out the video cassette.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Review for Steven Hawking's Universe
Comment: Steven Hawking's Universe by John Boslough is about Steven Hawking's life and his scientific discoveries. Boslough most likely wrote this book because he was trying to recount the story of Hawking's improbable rise to the top of the scientific community. Hawking over came Lou Gehrig's disease to become one of the leading scientist in the world. This book is an excellent description of Hawking's theories, and scientific achievements. While reading it, one has to marvel at the incredible circumstances in which Hawking made his great discoveries which are detailed in the book. Hawking's story is one of the greatest in history. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in science and incredible successes stories. This book does a great job of explaining Hawking's theories as well as the man behind them. It is a great mix of commentary from the author infused with quotes from Hawking himself. It is apparent that Hawking had a hand in the content of the book which makes it an accurate source of information. It is written at a level that is easy for the lay man to understand the theories being presented. This helps the reader be able to truly appreciate the work Hawking has done in advancing the study of black holes. This book was written to detail Hawking's achievements and I strongly recommend those with an interest in science to read it because Hawking's story is truly an amazing one.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Informationally boring but definitely worth my time.
Comment: Starbucks played an integral role in the success of this series with me. However, I thoroughly enjoy cosmology so I like getting the big picture delivered by this set. The series definitely provides a clear understanding of the history of cosmology as well as current theories with as much explanation as you will find on any DVD out there. After watching Hawking's other video production, "A Brief History of Hawkings and Time", I was glad to find this series focused on the science instead of Hawkings himself. I believe the more you know about cosmology the more interesting you will find this program. Some of the information in this program is not easily understood unless you already know a little. Overall I found this program very useful. This set is an effective, comprehensive learning tool, not a day at the movies. Hawkings has definitely clicked out a pretty good program here!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: "I have sold more books on physics, than Madonna has on sex"
Comment: It very well may be that Stephen Hawking is the greatest mind since Albert Einstein. The material on this DVD is nothing less than great, but falls short in the area of production, and presentation. I think most physics/science fans still hold all documentaries of this type, in comparison with Carl Sagan's: Cosmos.

With all fairness, the structure or style of the production, is more on the lines of a news documentary, with lots of interviews, a more mystery feel to the presentation. Editing seems a little ameture'ish, it would have been nice to leave out the sponsor slots, and the usual PBS station calls, these detract heavily from the entire experience really, even though they are done at the beginning and end of the episodes only. The musical score seems fitting, but don't expect any Vangelis like tracks, as in Cosmos. The nararator does a decent job, but personally, I would have liked to hear it more from Mr. Hawking himself, via his voice synthesizer. Of course that would have made it a longer DVD, but there could have been more graphical content to accompany the dialog too.

A good DVD set, that is packed with a wealth of knowledge, but killed by production. I suggest, If you haven't already, pick up Carl Sagan's: Cosmos.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: The unfolding of everything
Comment: I come to physics, astronomy, chemistry, biology and geology as a layperson who is fascinated by the big questions of life. For me science fact far exceeds science fiction or fantasy. I cannot get enough.

I come to this whole exploration of science under the influence of Darwin, Nietzsche and Krishnamurti. To learn and understand beyond the narrowness and pettiness of the human experience. I think the human experience is infinitely enhanced, not diminished, when we see outside the box of what we have been told, beyond the truths and reality we accept without any deeper understanding than that this is what has been programmed into our brains and veins from cradle to grave.

This dvd is so layered and complex and filled with fantasic ideas and theories, that I'll surely watch it over and over again. The string theory concept, alone, is worth the price of this dvd. I had, also, purchased 'The Elegant Universe' when I ordered this dvd. The updated and added string theory perspectives add to what was said in Hawking's Universe. For me its the glue and unfolding of everything.

I wish I could be more technical but I'm too much of an infant in this arena. I seem to understand but find the words very difficult to explain the specifics of what was said. Each of the six parts goes into incredible depth. I would imagine even the experienced scientist must wrinkle his forehead when digesting the vast concepts big and small.

For me, the technology of dvd's and computers was made for this type of project. We, the layperson, can now have accessibility to a world otherwise locked up in laboratories or a chance viewing on PBS, Discovery or A&E.

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