Tracing the Veins: Of Copper, Culture, and Community from Butte to Chuquicamata
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Thoroughly researched and written from the heart.
Tracing the Veins: Of Copper, Culture, and Community from Butte to Chuquicamata
Janet L. Finn
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

EconomicsEconomics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books | Agricultural | Commercial Policy | Comparative | Consolidation & Merger | Cooperatives | Debt & Deficits | Development & Growth | Econometrics | Economic Conditions | Economic History | Economic Policy & Development | Exports & Imports | Free Enterprise | Inflation | International | Labor & Industrial Relations | Macroeconomics | Microeconomics | Money & Monetary Policy | Natural Resources | Privatization | Public Finance | Statistics | Sustainable Development | Theory | Unemployment | Urban & Regional
GeneralGeneral | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
IndustrialIndustrial | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ChileChile | South America | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
MontanaMontana | State & Local | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
Social HistorySocial History | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Race Relations | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Anthropology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Archaeology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Science | Subjects | Books
History of TechnologyHistory of Technology | Technology | Science | Subjects | Books
Social AspectsSocial Aspects | Technology | Science | Subjects | Books
All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Business & InvestingBusiness & Investing | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
NonfictionNonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ScienceScience | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:
  1. Peruvian Street Lives: Culture, Power, and Economy among Market Women of Cuzco (Interp Culture New Millennium) Peruvian Street Lives: Culture, Power, and Economy among Market Women of Cuzco (Interp Culture New Millennium)
  2. Weaving a Future: Tourism, Cloth, and Culture on an Andean Island Weaving a Future: Tourism, Cloth, and Culture on an Andean Island
  3. Intercultural Utopias: Public Intellectuals, Cultural Experimentation, and Ethnic Pluralism in Colombia (Latin America Otherwise) Intercultural Utopias: Public Intellectuals, Cultural Experimentation, and Ethnic Pluralism in Colombia (Latin America Otherwise)
  4. Transborder Lives: Indigenous Oaxacans in Mexico, California, and Oregon Transborder Lives: Indigenous Oaxacans in Mexico, California, and Oregon
  5. Indigenous Movements, Self-Representation, and the State in Latin America Indigenous Movements, Self-Representation, and the State in Latin America

ASIN: 0520211375

Book Description

This tale of two cities--Butte, Montana, and Chuquicamata, Chile--traces the relationship of capitalism and community across cultural, national, and geographic boundaries. Combining social history with ethnography, Janet Finn shows how the development of copper mining set in motion parallel processes involving distinctive constructions of community, class, and gender in the two widely separated but intimately related sites. While the rich veins of copper in the Rockies and the Andes flowed for the giant Anaconda Company, the miners and their families in both places struggled to make a life as well as a living for themselves.
Miner's consumption, a popular name for silicosis, provides a powerful metaphor for the danger, wasting, and loss that penetrated mining life. Finn explores themes of privation and privilege, trust and betrayal, and offers a new model for community studies that links local culture and global capitalism.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Thoroughly researched and written from the heart........1998-09-29

Having grown up in Butte Montana and being very familiar with Ms. Finns work, I cannot say enough about how valuable this book is in terms of telling the long-untold story of women in the mining community.

Her intense and thorough research is extraordinary and her heartfelt personal connection to the subjects she deals with make it an engrossing book. I recommend it to all who would understand the universal plight of women creating culture in a society which chose to largely ignore them - a society that could not have existed without them and their heroic efforts.
Global Companies: The Political Economy of World Business (American Assembly Books)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Global Companies: The Political Economy of World Business (American Assembly Books)

    Manufacturer: Amer Assembly
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

    Production & OperationsProduction & Operations | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
    RelationsRelations | International | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
    ASIN: 0133571459
    Government-Sponsored Enterprises: Mercantilist Companies in the Modern World (Aei Studies on Financial Market Deregulation)
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Classic Study of Government Sponsored Enterprises
    Government-Sponsored Enterprises: Mercantilist Companies in the Modern World (Aei Studies on Financial Market Deregulation)
    Thomas H. Stanton
    Manufacturer: AEI Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

    Company ProfilesCompany Profiles | Biography & History | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
    EconomicsEconomics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books | Agricultural | Commercial Policy | Comparative | Consolidation & Merger | Cooperatives | Debt & Deficits | Development & Growth | Econometrics | Economic Conditions | Economic History | Economic Policy & Development | Exports & Imports | Free Enterprise | Inflation | International | Labor & Industrial Relations | Macroeconomics | Microeconomics | Money & Monetary Policy | Natural Resources | Privatization | Public Finance | Statistics | Sustainable Development | Theory | Unemployment | Urban & Regional
    GeneralGeneral | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
    Production & OperationsProduction & Operations | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
    New Business EnterprisesNew Business Enterprises | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Reference | Subjects | Books
    ASIN: 0844741604

    Book Description

    This book traces the origins of GSEs, contrasts investor-owned and cooperative GSEs, and examines such issues as activities and the quality of oversight.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Classic Study of Government Sponsored Enterprises.......2007-01-03

    Among the small fraternity of analysts that follow Government-Sponsored Enterprises (GSE's), Thomas Stanton is well-known and respected. According to Stanton, a GSE is "a GSE is a privately owned, federally-chartered financial institution with nationwide scope and specialized lending powers that benefits from an implicit federal guarantee of all its obligations to enhance its ability to borrow money" (pp. 1-2). The six GSEs are: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Farmer Mac, Sallie Mae, the Farm Credit System, and the Federal Home Loan Banking System. His book "is about the institutional design and the structure of the GSE as a special type of institution authorized, defined, and shaped by law" (p. xiii).

    While much of what Stanton writes about in this book is well-known in the fraternity of GSE analysts, few others are privy to these insights. The background on these institutions is mostly chronicled in law, the federal register, and studies commissioned by Congress that most people would find inaccessible. Occasionally, newspaper and magazine articles and technical studies appear that provide insights. The problem is that many of the studies and reports that appear are commissioned by the GSEs themselves, their supporters, and detractors. It can accordingly be difficult at times to separate objective information from other materials. Stanton's contribution is that he provides a coherent overview of the GSEs as institutions.

    Stanton is also willing to take on difficult subjects. For example, Stanton writes that "the political process does not handle probabilities well. Members of Congress may be insensitive to the results of the regulator's actions in reducing the changes of financial difficulties; by contrast they are likely to be instantly sensitive to any actions of the regulator that reduce immediate benefits to constituents." (p. 46). Stanton's insights into GSE behavior make his book a classic in the policy genre that is both very readible and very quotable.
    LA Lega: The Making of a Successful Cooperative Network
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      LA Lega: The Making of a Successful Cooperative Network
      Piero Ammirato
      Manufacturer: Dartmouth Publishing Group
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

      GeneralGeneral | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
      Management & LeadershipManagement & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books | Business Ethics | Consolidation & Merger | Decision-Making & Problem Solving | Distribution & Warehouse Management | Industrial | Information Management | Leadership | Management | Management Science | Motivational | Negotiating | Operations Research | Planning & Forecasting | Pricing | Production & Operations | Project Management | Quality Control | Risk Assessment | Statistics | Strategy & Competition | Systems & Planning | Systems Analysis | Teams | Total Quality Management | Training
      CooperativesCooperatives | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Italy | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
      Social HistorySocial History | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books
      Local GovernmentLocal Government | Levels of Government | Political Science | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
      ASIN: 1855218399
      Multinational Companies from Emerging Economies: Composition, Conceptualization and Direction in the Global Economy (International Political Economy)
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Multinational Companies from Emerging Economies: Composition, Conceptualization and Direction in the Global Economy (International Political Economy)
        Andrea Goldstein , and Timothy M. Shaw
        Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Hardcover

        Policy & Current EventsPolicy & Current Events | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
        Development & GrowthDevelopment & Growth | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
        Economic Policy & DevelopmentEconomic Policy & Development | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
        InternationalInternational | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | International | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
        GlobalizationGlobalization | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
        All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
        ASIN: 023000704X
        Release Date: 2007-06-12

        Book Description

        This comprehensive study of the rise of multinational corporations from emerging economies explores the basis of their success. The need to compete internationally characterizes the current phase of globalization, and drives firms to invest abroad at an early stage of their history. Andrea Goldstein argues that the history of multinational business offers valuable lessons for the present and shows how emerging multinationals are embedded in dense political, social and ethnic networks.
        The Political Economy of the Company
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          The Political Economy of the Company

          Manufacturer: Hart Publishing (UK)
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Hardcover

          GeneralGeneral | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
          MicroeconomicsMicroeconomics | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
          TheoryTheory | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
          Business LawBusiness Law | Reference | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
          Public PolicyPublic Policy | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | Law | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | Business | Law | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | Law | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
          ASIN: 1841131202

          Book Description

          This collection of essays by a distinguished team of authors drawn from a variety of disciplines seeks to build on the insights of the economic analysis of company law and broaden understanding by examining the company in a wider historical, legal, political, and sociological context. Issues discussed include the attitudes of political parties in the UK to the company, the rise of the non-executive director, and the evolution of the nexus of contracts theory of the company. There is a strong comparative theme, with discussions of the political and sociological context of corporate governance in France, Germany, and Japan, together with developments at the European level.
          Review of the Proceedings of the Committee of the House of Commons on Banks of Issue, 1840. And an Inquiry into the Effects of the Bank Restriction and ... political economy of the late David Ricardo
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            Review of the Proceedings of the Committee of the House of Commons on Banks of Issue, 1840. And an Inquiry into the Effects of the Bank Restriction and ... political economy of the late David Ricardo
            William Leckie
            Manufacturer: Adamant Media Corporation
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Paperback

            Banks & BankingBanks & Banking | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
            All Amazon UpgradeAll Amazon Upgrade | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books
            Business & InvestingBusiness & Investing | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books
            Business, Law & PoliticsBusiness, Law & Politics | Historical Reproductions | Formats | Books
            ASIN: 1421223996
            Release Date: 2001-05-30

            Book Description

            This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 1841 edition by J. Unwin, London.
            State Holding Companies and Public Enterprises in Transition
            Average customer rating: Not rated
              State Holding Companies and Public Enterprises in Transition
              Anjali Kumar
              Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Hardcover

              Development & GrowthDevelopment & Growth | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
              GeneralGeneral | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
              FinanceFinance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books | Banks & Banking | Corporate Finance | Foreign Exchange | Inflation | Interest
              ManagementManagement | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
              Production & OperationsProduction & Operations | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
              New Business EnterprisesNew Business Enterprises | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
              Public PolicyPublic Policy | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
              ASIN: 0333598288
              Tracts on political economy,: Viz. 1. Britain independent of commerce; 2. Agriculture the source of wealth; 3. The objections against the corn bill refuted; 4. Speech on the East India trade
              Average customer rating: Not rated
                Tracts on political economy,: Viz. 1. Britain independent of commerce; 2. Agriculture the source of wealth; 3. The objections against the corn bill refuted; 4. Speech on the East India trade
                William Spence
                Manufacturer: Priv. Print
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Unknown Binding

                GeneralGeneral | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
                AgriculturalAgricultural | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
                GeneralGeneral | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
                ASIN: B0008587PW
                Transition to Survival: Enterprise Reconstructing in Twenty East German and Hungarian Companies, 1990-1997
                Average customer rating: Not rated
                  Transition to Survival: Enterprise Reconstructing in Twenty East German and Hungarian Companies, 1990-1997
                  Enese Lieb-Doczy
                  Manufacturer: Ashgate Publishing
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Hardcover

                  Economic Policy & DevelopmentEconomic Policy & Development | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
                  IndustrialIndustrial | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
                  ManagementManagement | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
                  New Business EnterprisesNew Business Enterprises | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                  ASIN: 075461168X

                  The Universe in a Nutshell
                  Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
                  • Among the deepest, borderline-philosophical questions in modern physics is that of the origin and formation of the Universe
                  • Still half confused and amazed
                  • The Universe in a Nutshell
                  • For general audience a.k.a Averagely Intelligent audience
                  • Fantastic DEEP read
                  The Universe in a Nutshell
                  Stephen William Hawking
                  Manufacturer: Bantam
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Hardcover

                  AstronomyAstronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
                  Astrophysics & Space ScienceAstrophysics & Space Science | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
                  CosmologyCosmology | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Science | Subjects | Books
                  CosmologyCosmology | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books
                  Quantum TheoryQuantum Theory | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books
                  AstronomyAstronomy | Astronomy | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                  Astrophysics & Space ScienceAstrophysics & Space Science | Astronomy | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                  CosmologyCosmology | Astronomy | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Physics | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                  Quantum TheoryQuantum Theory | Physics | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                  Look Inside Science BooksLook Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
                  Similar Items:
                  1. A Briefer History of Time A Briefer History of Time
                  2. A Brief History of Time A Brief History of Time
                  3. The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory
                  4. God Created the Integers: The Mathematical Breakthroughs That Changed History God Created the Integers: The Mathematical Breakthroughs That Changed History
                  5. Relativity: The Special and the General Theory (Penguin Classics) Relativity: The Special and the General Theory (Penguin Classics)

                  ASIN: 055380202X
                  Release Date: 2001-11-06

                  Amazon.com's Best of 2001

                  Stephen Hawking, science's first real rock star, may be the least-read bestselling author in history--it's no secret that many people who own A Brief History of Time have never finished it. Hawking's The Universe in a Nutshell aims to remedy the situation, with a plethora of friendly illustrations to help readers grok some of the most brain-bending ideas ever conceived.

                  Does it succeed? Yes and no. While Hawking offers genuinely accessible context for such complexities as string theory and the nature of time, it's when he must translate equations to sentences that the limits of language get in the way. But Hawking has simplified the origin of the universe, the nature of space and time, and what holds it all together to an unprecedented degree, inviting nonscientists to share his obvious awe and love of the unseen forces that shape it all.

                  Yes, it's difficult reading, but it's worth it. Hawking is one of the great geniuses of our time, a man whose life has been devoted to thinking in the abstract about the universe. With his help, and pictures--lots of pictures--we can seek to understand a bit more of the cosmos. --Therese Littleton

                  Book Description

                  Stephen Hawking’s phenomenal, multimillion-copy bestseller, A Brief History of Time, introduced the ideas of this brilliant theoretical physicist to readers all over the world.

                  Now, in a major publishing event, Hawking returns with a lavishly illustrated sequel that unravels the mysteries of the major breakthroughs that have occurred in the years since the release of his acclaimed first book.

                  The Universe in a Nutshell

                  • Quantum mechanics
                  • M-theory
                  • General relativity
                  • 11-dimensional supergravity
                  • 10-dimensional membranes
                  • Superstrings
                  • P-branes
                  • Black holes

                  One of the most influential thinkers of our time, Stephen Hawking is an intellectual icon, known not only for the adventurousness of his ideas but for the clarity and wit with which he expresses them. In this new book Hawking takes us to the cutting edge of theoretical physics, where truth is often stranger than fiction, to explain in laymen’s terms the principles that control our universe.

                  Like many in the community of theoretical physicists, Professor Hawking is seeking to uncover the grail of science — the elusive Theory of Everything that lies at the heart of the cosmos. In his accessible and often playful style, he guides us on his search to uncover the secrets of the universe — from supergravity to supersymmetry, from quantum theory to M-theory, from holography to duality.

                  He takes us to the wild frontiers of science, where superstring theory and p-branes may hold the final clue to the puzzle. And he lets us behind the scenes of one of his most exciting intellectual adventures as he seeks “to combine Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity and Richard Feynman’s idea of multiple histories into one complete unified theory that will describe everything that happens in the universe.”

                  With characteristic exuberance, Professor Hawking invites us to be fellow travelers on this extraordinary voyage through space-time. Copious four-color illustrations help clarify this journey into a surreal wonderland where particles, sheets, and strings move in eleven dimensions; where black holes evaporate and disappear, taking their secret with them; and where the original cosmic seed from which our own universe sprang was a tiny nut.

                  The Universe in a Nutshell is essential reading for all of us who want to understand the universe in which we live. Like its companion volume, A Brief History of Time, it conveys the excitement felt within the scientific community as the secrets of the cosmos reveal themselves.

                  Customer Reviews:

                  5 out of 5 stars Among the deepest, borderline-philosophical questions in modern physics is that of the origin and formation of the Universe.......2007-09-27

                  Earlier attempts to formulate an answer that takes into account existing theories and observations have failed because of obstacles posed by gravity. The Nature of Space and Time pitts two heavy weights trying to provide a loop quantum gravitational model that successfully merges current ideas, and which may enable us to overcome such difficulties. Stephen Hawking shot to fame in the world of physics when he provided a mathematical proof for the Big Bang theory. This theory showed that the entire universe exploded from a singularity, an infinitely small point with infinite density and infinite gravity. Hawking was able to come to his proof using mathematical techniques that had been developed by Roger Penrose. These techniques were however developed to deal not with the beginning of the Universe but with black holes.

                  Science had long predicted that if a sufficiently large star collapsed at the end of its life, all the matter left in the star would be crushed into an infinitely small point with infinite gravity and infinite density...a singularity. Hawking realized that the Universe was, in effect, a black hole in reverse. Instead of matter being crushed into a singularity, the Universe began when a singularity expanded to form everything we see around us today, from stars to planets to people. Hawking realized that to come to a complete understanding of the Universe he would have to unravel the mysteries of the black hole.

                  Hawking and his fellow physicists embarked on an extraordinary intellectual expedition to tame the black hole. Slowly physicists were coming to understand this most destructive force of nature. But Hawking realized that there was something missing from the emerging picture. All work on black holes to that point used the physics of the large-scale Universe, the physics of gravity first developed by Newton and then refined by Einstein's theories of general and special relativity. Hawking realized that to come to a full understanding of black holes, physicists would also have to use the physics of the small-scale Universe, (the physics that had been developed to explain the movements of atoms and sub-atomic particles, known as quantum mechanics.) The problem was that no one had ever combined these two areas of physics before. But that didn't deter Hawking. He set about developing a new way to force the physics of quantum mechanics to co-exist with Einstein's relativity within the intense gravity of a black hole.

                  After months of work Hawking came up with a remarkable result. His equations were showing him that something was coming out of the black hole. This was supposed to be impossible. The one thing that everyone thought they knew about black holes was that things went in but nothing, not even light itself, could escape. But the more Hawking checked, the more he was convinced he was right. He could see radiation coming out of the black hole. Hawking then realized that this radiation (Hawking Radiation) would cause the black hole to evaporate and eventually disappear. Although Hawking's theories about black hole evaporation were revolutionary, they soon came to be widely accepted. But Hawking knew that this work had far more fundamental consequences. In 1976 he published a paper called 'The Breakdown of Predictability in Gravitational Collapse'. In it he argued that it wasn't just the black hole that disappeared. All the information about everything that had ever been inside the black hole disappeared too.

                  There are limits to what science can know. For many years no one took much notice of Hawking's ideas until a fateful meeting in San Francisco. Hawking presented his ideas to some of the world's leading physicists. In the audience were Gerad t'Hooft and Leonard Susskind, two leading particle physicists. They were shocked. Both realized that Hawking's 'breakdown of predictability' applied not only to black holes but to all processes in physics. According to Susskind, if Hawking's ideas were correct then it would infect all physics, there would no longer be any direct link between cause and effect. Physics would become impotent. Since that meeting arguments effectively boiled down into two camps. On the one side were Susskind and those who believed that Hawking was wrong: information could not be lost. On the other were Hawking and those who believed that physics would have to be rewritten to take into account the uncertainty about information that Hawking had uncovered. Until a paper emerged by a young mathematician Juan Maldacena. It claimed to be a rigorous mathematical explanation of what happened to information in black holes. It showed that information was not lost. Hawking, it seemed, was on the losing side. But he was not convinced. Hawking set to work with a young research student, Christophe Galfard, to try to pick apart the Maldacena paper. They thought they could use the same mathematical techniques employed by Maldacena to prove that information was in fact lost. But after two years they still could not prove their thesis.

                  Hawking was soon back at work, working on a new proof for the information paradox. But he was to defend his long held belief that information was lost in black holes, instead he claimed that he could now prove the opposite. Hawking presented the outline of proof that he hoped would at last solve the problem that he had posed almost 30 years earlier. But despite the bold claims, some physicists remain unconvinced. Over a year has passed and he has still not presented a fully worked mathematical proof to back up his ideas. But Hawking is a stubborn man. If Hawking is going to change his mind on a view he held for almost 30 years then it will be with his own proof, in his own time. In spite of failing health and increasing problems communicating with his colleagues, he is still working on the proof. If he succeeds in completing a proof that convinces his colleagues, he will not only have solved one of the most difficult problems in physics but he will have managed to have produced ground breaking work at the very end of his career. A feat that even his hero Einstein could not accomplish. If not, Hawking will have inspired some future physicist, who will eventually complete the paradox and answer the question 'What happened before The Big Bang?'
                  --B.D.

                  4 out of 5 stars Still half confused and amazed.......2007-09-20

                  Dr. Hawking begins every chapter in this book with an intriguing question such as "Is time travel possible?" Instead of providing a response and proceeding to explain, prove or disprove his assertions, he delves into the detail of the theoretical physics aspect of time travel, and then somewhere in the middle of the chapter the following appears: "It seems, therefore, that quantum theory allows time travel on a microscopic scale." Hooray! It's fine and dandy that microscopic particles can travel through time. Please tell us about spaceships, humans, aliens, ANYTHING larger than a microscopic particle traveling to the past or the future. Here's what Hawking divulges two sentences later: "Can the probability in the sum over histories be peaked around spacetimes with macroscopic time loops?" This sentence alone mentions three complicated concepts covered in other chapters, albeit not in sufficient detail. And therein lies my biggest criticism of this book:

                  The uninitiated reader can easily lose her comprehension because of the layout and depth or lack thereof of material suited more to readers who have a physics background.

                  As was the case with his previous bestselling book , Mr. Hawking provides neither the technical detail to satisfy the knowledgeable, nor the simplified information for the lay person.

                  Nevertheless, Dr. Hawking deserves recognition for using his celebrity status in the world of theoretical physics combined with his remarkable effort to simplify and bring to the masses difficult concepts that only a handful of people in the world can fully grasp, especially given his dire physical condition afflicted by his decades old fight with Lou Gehrig's.

                  3 out of 5 stars The Universe in a Nutshell.......2007-09-16

                  The definition of science is "observation of data to form hypothesis." Stephen Hawkins is a "theoretical physicist." Theory is not science. He has some very interesting ideas, yes. He is an incredibly gifted individual, yes. However, his ideas are based on mathematics - not physical data. - conceptual "data." There are times in his book where he correctly states that his ideas are only theories. He then goes on, in the majority of the work, to use words such as "proven," "proved," etc. He may mean that the numbers work out, but the context may cloud the "theoretical" nature of this work. He sometimes states his ideas are proven without mentioning that his proof is "in the numbers" on paper - not in the actual, physical world.

                  There are times when he shuns scientific rules (such as the laws of thermodynamics) for the benefit of reaching the desired goal. At other times he holds these very same rules up as unalterable - when it benefits his desired goal.

                  The author's ideas are based on assumptions (theory). He sometimes gives a number of results of his ideas. The author then chooses the favorable result and uses it to build more on his theories. This is a repeated cycle in the book. How many times can assumed favorable conditions be used to make up more assumed favorable conditions without losing a grasp on what is factual?

                  Such a situation occurs when he makes a factual statement that time must have a shape. Prior to this statement, he has been in the theoretical world and then makes an astounding discovery and states it as fact!

                  Mathematics is what a great deal of the author's ideas are based upon. It is said that it is mathematically impossible for a bee to be able to fly. Equations can, sometimes, lead to beneficial knowledge - and have in the past. But predicted results (mathematically) are not always perfect and do not always pan out in reality, Ask people who spend ime in a lab how how many times "textbook answers" are reproduced perfectly in their experiments - not very often.

                  It is interesting that this book takes some religious viewpoints - such as time being created - ie. it was not always existent . The author attempts to come up with a theory for this same belief through means of what is called science - but actually is the theoretical process aforementioned.

                  I am glad there are people out there taking stabs at this area of "science." But, as in the fairy tale of "The Emperor's New Clothes," we must be careful not to blindly attribute credence to an idea, brand it as fact, accept it as such, and then use this to build upon for even more "factual" ideas.

                  Overall a good read - just be careful to remember that power and peers do not dictate when clothes are actually present.

                  2 out of 5 stars For general audience a.k.a Averagely Intelligent audience .......2007-09-03

                  This book is a completely commercial product. It's written for average people to read and memorize, so that they can impress others with. Of course, no one will argue with them for two reasons: It's written by Hawking, and it is just like saying nothing.

                  Most of the book is basically theories that, with their limited amount of knowledge about the universe, SCIENTISTS CAN explain the world with. The author turns in circles as he talks and use many vague words when there is nothing for a "general" reader to read. And he keeps putting those sidebars that are sometimes needed to understand the text. But, once you read them, you'll feel distracted....off the road. You don't know where were you and what you've been reading lately.

                  More than 50 percent of the book has no text! It's either a photo, a picture, or an illustration. You might think that's a good thing while it really isn't. The illustrations are repeated, over made, over sized, sometimes absurd. And speaking of illustrations, when ever your finger lands on one of them, you'll see your finger print clearer than the picture itself. The paper is the cheap kind that reflects light straight at your eye what ever the angle was. The hard cover will blacken your hand if you rob it or hold it for a long time, this means it will ware out quickly.

                  In conclusion, I don't recommend purchasing this book, ESPECIALLY for a Physics student.

                  5 out of 5 stars Fantastic DEEP read.......2007-07-30

                  A fasinating book, which is very well written, although the physics are a bit deep. If you like to think about why the world exhists and how, this one is for you.
                  Universe in a Nutshell/Illustrated Brief History of Time (Boxed Set)
                  Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
                  • If only it was called a novel I would give it 5 stars.
                  • My 2 cents on 2 good books
                  • Explaining the Unexplainable
                  • Good but redundant
                  • Book Report Review
                  Universe in a Nutshell/Illustrated Brief History of Time (Boxed Set)
                  Stephen William Hawking
                  Manufacturer: Bantam Dell Pub Group (Trd)
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Hardcover

                  AstronomyAstronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
                  CosmologyCosmology | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Science | Subjects | Books
                  CosmologyCosmology | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books
                  AstronomyAstronomy | Astronomy | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                  CosmologyCosmology | Astronomy | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                  Look Inside Science BooksLook Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
                  Professional & TechnicalProfessional & Technical | Boxed Sets | Formats | Books
                  ScienceScience | Boxed Sets | Formats | Books
                  Similar Items:
                  1. Illustrated on the Shoulders of Giants: The Great Works of Physics And Astronomy Illustrated on the Shoulders of Giants: The Great Works of Physics And Astronomy
                  2. God Created the Integers: The Mathematical Breakthroughs That Changed History God Created the Integers: The Mathematical Breakthroughs That Changed History
                  3. A Briefer History of Time A Briefer History of Time
                  4. The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory
                  5. A Brief History of Time A Brief History of Time

                  ASIN: 0553676431

                  Book Description

                  The Universe in a Nutshell
                  Stephen Hawking's phenomenal, multimillion-copy bestseller, A Brief History of Time, introduced the ideas of this brilliant theoretical physicist to readers all over the world.

                  Now, in a major publishing event, Hawking returns with a lavishly illustrated sequel that unravels the mysteries of the major breakthroughs that have occurred in the years since the release of his acclaimed first book.

                  The Universe in a Nutshell
                  * Quantum mechanics * M-theory * General relativity * 11-dimensional supergravity * 10-dimensional membranes * Superstrings * P-branes * Black holes

                  One of the most influential thinkers of our time, Stephen Hawking is an intellectual icon, known not only for the adventurousness of his ideas but for the clarity and wit with which he expresses them. In this new book Hawking takes us to the cutting edge of theoretical physics, where truth is often stranger than fiction, to explain in laymen's terms the principles that control our universe.

                  Like many in the community of theoretical physicists, Professor Hawking is seeking to uncover the grail of science -- the elusive Theory of Everything that lies at the heart of the cosmos. In his accessible and often playful style, he guides us on his search to uncover the secrets of the universe -- from supergravity to supersymmetry, from quantum theory to M-theory, from holography to duality.

                  He takes us to the wild frontiers of science, where superstring theory and p-branes may hold the final clue to the puzzle. And he lets us behind the scenes of one of his most exciting intellectual adventures as he seeks "to combine Einstein's General Theory of Relativity and Richard Feynman's idea of multiple histories into one complete unified theory that will describe everything that happens in the universe."

                  With characteristic exuberance, Professor Hawking invites us to be fellow travelers on this extraordinary voyage through space-time. Copious four-color illustrations help clarify this journey into a surreal wonderland where particles, sheets, and strings move in eleven dimensions; where black holes evaporate and disappear, taking their secret with them; and where the original cosmic seed from which our own universe sprang was a tiny nut.

                  The Universe in a Nutshell is essential reading for all of us who want to understand the universe in which we live. Like its companion volume, A Brief History of Time, it conveys the excitement felt within the scientific community as the secrets of the cosmos reveal themselves.

                  The Illustrated Brief History of Time
                  In the years since its publication in 1988, Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time has established itself as a landmark volume in scientific writing. It has also become an international publishing phenomenon, translated into forty languages and selling over nine million copies. The book was on the cutting edge of what was then known about the nature of the universe, but since then there have been extraordinary advances in the technology of observing both the micro- and the macrocosmic world. These observations have confirmed many of Professor Hawking's theoretical predictions in the first edition of his book, including the recent discoveries of the Cosmic Background Explorer satellite (COBE), which probed back in time to within 300,000 years of the universe's beginning and revealed the wrinkles in the fabric of space-time that he had projected.

                  Eager to bring to his original text the new knowledge revealed by these many observations, as well as his most recent research, for this revised and expanded edition Hawking has prepared a new introduction to the book, revised and updated the original chapters throughout, and written an entirely new chapter on the fascinating subject of wormholes and time travel.

                  In addition, to heighten understanding of complex concepts that readers may have found difficult to grasp despite the clarity and wit of Hawking's writing, this edition is magnificently enhanced throughout with more than 240 full-color illustrations, including satellite images, photographs made possible by spectacular new technological advances such as the Hubble telescope, and computer- generated images of three- and four-dimensional realities. Detailed captions clarify these illustrations, enabling readers to experience the vastness of intergalactic space, the nature of black holes, and the microcosmic world of particle physics in which matter and antimatter collide.

                  A classic work that now brings to the reader the latest understanding of cosmology, The Illustrated A Brief History of Time is the story of the ongoing search for the tantalizing secrets at the heart of time and space.

                  Customer Reviews:

                  1 out of 5 stars If only it was called a novel I would give it 5 stars........2007-01-09

                  With all due respect, brilliance is looking at Genesis 1:1. There we have the answer. This book is a huge roundabout way of getting to the first verse of the bible, which the book falls short of doing although the name of God is mentioned in the book. How can a brilliant writer acknowledge God yet miss God's explanation of the issue at hand? Steve, read genesis 1:1.

                  5 out of 5 stars My 2 cents on 2 good books.......2005-11-30

                  "Universe in a Nutshell" and "Brief History of Time" are two books worthy of your time if you're even remotely interested in our planet and the universe. These books could never be called light reading. However, they are highly interesting and thought provoking.

                  5 out of 5 stars Explaining the Unexplainable.......2003-05-24

                  When I bought Stephen Hawkings first book, the multimillion best seller, A Brief History of Time, I didn't know why I bought it and along with 90% of others, I didn't read it.

                  There is much speculation about why we all did this. Inquisitivenes of a Physically Impaired Physicist? Egotistical dinner party host who not only chooses great wine, but understands physics as well!

                  Did the 'upwardly mobile' set all cruelly steal this from Stephen's first book, just as nature was cruelling stealing his mobility.

                  No. The answer is that we are all secretly fascinated about what is 'out there', where did we come from. What's it all about Stevie?

                  This second volume, The Universe in a Nutshell attempts to explain the unexplainable with beautiful Salvador Dali-like illustrations, and a style of words which are easy to digest.

                  Buy the set if you want to be inched closer to the ultimate truth of how we got here, and what are the forces that hold us together. But like an ant in a balloon, dont expect to know who blew up the ballon, or who's watching you through it, as you try to figure it all out. Steven provides some educated guesses, and they provide a wonderful voyage through space and time. Fear not if you don't follow it all - to paraphase the great scientist Heisenberg when talking of quantum mechanics, if you think you've understood it - then you don't really understand it

                  4 out of 5 stars Good but redundant.......2003-03-16

                  I bought this set because it was not much more than just purchasing an Ilustrated Brief History of Time. After reading both, it was apparent to me I could have chosen just one and gotten 90% of the information contained in both.

                  I first read Illustrated Brief History of Time. Hawking does a great job of explaining complex subjects in simple plain speak which does not feel over your head. His descriptions of Relativity, Quantum Theory, String Theory, and other topics are great and easily understood by someone with a limited science background. Those with a science background, such as myself, my wish for more in depth analysis at times, but that is not the focus of book, it is more an overview. There is a list of further reading books if one is interested.

                  I then read Universe in a Nutshell. The book started very similar to Brief History and although it was layed out a bit different the content was very similar, in fact some of the illustrations were exactly the same. There was a little more on String Theory in this book, but not enough to justify buying both unless you are a die hard Hawking fan.

                  Overall, I would recommend buying just one and saving a few bucks to buy one of the other books on the recommended reading list if you want to delve deeper.

                  5 out of 5 stars Book Report Review.......2003-03-12

                  Stephen Hawking uses a mixture of humor and wit to explain some of the most difficult concepts of our time. The book contains illustrations that give visual aid to otherwise inconceivable ideas. I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. It provides a provocative view of our universe, while encouraging stimulating thoughts of the vast limits of existence. I would encourage readers to brush up a little on their physics so that they don't feel too lost, in which case unless you're a genius physicist you most likely will need to do so.
                  The Universe in a Nutshell
                  Average customer rating: Not rated
                    The Universe in a Nutshell

                    Manufacturer: Bantam
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Paperback
                    Similar Items:
                    1. A Brief History of Time A Brief History of Time
                    2. Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays
                    3. Illustrated on the Shoulders of Giants: The Great Works of Physics And Astronomy Illustrated on the Shoulders of Giants: The Great Works of Physics And Astronomy
                    4. Just Six Numbers: The Deep Forces That Shape the Universe Just Six Numbers: The Deep Forces That Shape the Universe
                    5. Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man

                    ASIN: 0965326942
                    Nutshells of the Universe
                    Average customer rating: Not rated
                      Nutshells of the Universe
                      Gary F. Boothe
                      Manufacturer: PublishAmerica
                      ProductGroup: Book
                      Binding: Paperback

                      GeneralGeneral | Science | Subjects | Books
                      GeneralGeneral | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books
                      ASIN: 1413745180

                      Book Description

                      Nutshells of the Universe presents clear, concise, and humorous explanations of modern physics and science through the use of unique analogies and simple thought experiments. It is a scholarly work of considerable depth and scope, easily understood by lay persons, and appreciated by scientists, engineers, and skeptics. A major premise of this book is that our concepts of reality are like "nutshells" that hide deeper realities, and ultimately something called the "nut."
                      The Universe in a Nutshell
                      Average customer rating: Not rated
                        The Universe in a Nutshell
                        Stephen W. Hawking
                        Manufacturer: Bantam Books
                        ProductGroup: Book
                        Binding: Paperback
                        ASIN: B000JOO210
                        The Universe in a Nutshell - Unabridged Audio Cassettes
                        Average customer rating: Not rated
                          The Universe in a Nutshell - Unabridged Audio Cassettes

                          Manufacturer: Books On Tape
                          ProductGroup: Book
                          Binding: Audio Cassette
                          ASIN: 0736689931

                          Product Description

                          Few scientists can be said to have had as great an effect on the popular perception of modern science as Stephen Hawking. The world-famous paralyzed astrophysical genius has come up with another book to follow A BRIEF HISTORY OF TIME. THE UNIVERSE IN A NUTSHELL brings us up to date on all the developments in cosmological theory since its predecessor was written. In a sparkling, easy-to-follow way, Hawking guides the reader through Einsteinian relativity, Heisenberg's Principle, a variety of string theories, M-theory, and P-branes - the larger structures into which superstrings cohere. Hawking, along with his fellow scientists, is filled with excitement that the P-brane may be one of the final steps in a Theory of Everything - explaining all forces in the Universe.
                          Hawking's brane new world. (Scientists' Bookshelf).(The Universe in a Nutshell): An article from: American Scientist
                          Average customer rating: Not rated
                            Hawking's brane new world. (Scientists' Bookshelf).(The Universe in a Nutshell): An article from: American Scientist

                            Manufacturer: Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society
                            ProductGroup: Book
                            Binding: Digital

                            NonfictionNonfiction | Subjects | Books | Automotive | Books on CD | Books on Cassette | Crime & Criminals | Current Events | Economics | Education | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Government | Holidays | Law | Philosophy | Politics | Social Sciences | Transportation | True Accounts | Urban Planning & Development | Women's Studies
                            GeneralGeneral | Science | Subjects | Books
                            Science & TechnologyScience & Technology | Subjects | e-Docs | Formats | Books
                            GeneralGeneral | Nonfiction | HTML | Formats | e-Docs | Formats | Books
                            ScienceScience | HTML | Formats | e-Docs | Formats | Books
                            ASIN: B0008ESJL0
                            Release Date: 2005-07-29
                            The Illustrated A Brief History of Time  & The Universe in a Nutshell
                            Average customer rating: Not rated
                              The Illustrated A Brief History of Time & The Universe in a Nutshell
                              Stephen Hawking
                              Manufacturer: BANTAM BOOKS
                              ProductGroup: Book
                              Binding: Hardcover
                              ASIN: B000V6BPRA
                              Universe in a Nutshell
                              Average customer rating: Not rated
                                Universe in a Nutshell
                                Stephen W Hawking
                                Manufacturer: BANTAM BOOKS
                                ProductGroup: Book
                                Binding: Paperback
                                ASIN: B000UYUHJA

                                Books:

                                1. Trial notebook: A practical primer on trial advocacy
                                2. 'West's California Codes: Penal Code 2000
                                3. Winning Trial Advocacy: How to Avoid Mistakes Made by Master Trial Lawyers
                                4. WORDS WE LIVE BY, THE: YOUR ANNOTATED GUIDE TO THE CONSTITUTION (Stonesong Press Books)
                                5. Worship His Majesty: How Praising the King of Kings Will Change Your Life
                                6. YELL-Oh Girls! Emerging Voices Explore Culture, Identity, and Growing Up Asian American
                                7. 2006 Essential Guide to the NSA Spying Controversy, Bush Administration Anti-Terrorism Wiretapping and Surveillance, Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), National Security Agency (DVD-ROM)
                                8. 3 Steel Houses: Barton Myers Associates----House Design Series II (House Design)
                                9. 7 Weeks to Safe Social Drinking: How to Effectively Moderate Your Alcohol Intake
                                10. Always on the Same Path: Essays on Foreign Law and Comparative Methodology

                                Books Index

                                Books Home

                                Recommended Books

                                1. Motocourse 2006-2007: The World's Leading MotoGP & Superbike Annual
                                2. History: Fiction or Science
                                3. Biology of Aging: Observations and Principles
                                4. Environmental Effects of Marine Finfish Aquaculture
                                5. Hall China Tea And Coffee Pots: The First 100 Years
                                6. Introductory Econometrics: A Modern Approach
                                7. Hallowed Bones
                                8. Keeping Time: The History and Theory of Preservation in America
                                9. Case: Lucio Costa Brasilia's Superquadra
                                10. Arte de Observar El Comportamiento Animal