The companion book to the six-part public television series coming in the fall of 1997, written to allow nonscientists to better understand the mystery and majesty of the cosmos.At last -- a science book for the rest of us! More than 9 million people around the world bought Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time, making it one of the most widely read scientific titles ever published, but many simply couldn't understand the complex concepts of space and time it discussed. Now David Filkin, producer of the upcoming public television series Stephen Hawking's Universe, and former head of BBC Television's Science Department, presents the companion book to that series, which explains, in simple layman's terms, the origin of the universe, the meaning and nature of time, the properties of other galaxies, and many other subjects of Professor Hawking's fascinating research. By simplifying these latest findings in astrophysics, Filkin makes clear to the average reader just how close Stephen Hawking and his colleagues have come to understanding the secrets of the universe. Featuring a wonderful selection of mesmerizing, full-color photographs of the cosmos and a foreword by Stephen Hawking himself, Stephen Hawking's Universe is a great way to learn about our universe without going back to school.