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  • Before the Big Bang

  • The Origin of Our Universe from the Multiverse
  • By: Laura Mersini-Houghton
  • Narrated by: Xe Sands
  • Length: 5 hrs and 45 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (14 ratings)

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Before the Big Bang

By: Laura Mersini-Houghton
Narrated by: Xe Sands
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

What came before the Big Bang, and what exists outside of the universe it created?

Until recently, scientists could only guess at what lay past the edge of spacetime. But as pioneering theoretical physicist Laura Mersini-Houghton explains, today new scientific tools are giving us the ability to peer beyond the limits of our universe and test our theories about what is there. Her groundbreaking research suggests that we sit in a quantum landscape whose peaks and valleys hide a multitude of other universes, and whose topography holds the secret to the origins of existence itself. Recent evidence has revealed the signatures of one such sibling universe in our own night sky, confirming Mersini-Houghton's theoretical work and offering humbling proof that our universe is just one member of an unending cosmic family.

A mind-expanding journey through the multiverse, Beyond the Big Bang will reshape our understanding of humanity's place in the unfathomable vastness of the cosmos.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Laura Mersini-Houghton (P)2022 Penguin Audio
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What listeners say about Before the Big Bang

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A great story intertwined with futuristic science

I need to start by saying the reader was terrible. Far too fast and a little patronising; clearly not interested in science. That said the book is great. The theory is clearly laid out and made as understandable as it can be when discussing string theory landscapes. on a personal note I will say that the proof(supporting evidence) for this theory relies on measurements in the cosmic microwave background that have already been used as "proof" in other theories, but still worth the time to read and understand what's on offer here.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Turbo boosted headache

Totally spoilt as it is read so fast bla bla bla. I cannot believe the speed this is read. hard topic and is blown apart by the narrator. must have been on speed or coke. not natural to read that fast. buy the book and read it yourself. could not listen to this. nightmare.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Should have been a biography.

The book is more writes in more depth about the author's life experiences.it is also let down by narration that isn't bad in itself but is just not suited to the subject matter.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Misleading

The book, unfortunately, is marketed a bit dishonestly. The degree to which the author's theories are actually supported is not very high, and she isn't a particularly profilic as a researcher in terms of published works or citations. Her conclusions, albeit intriguing, are not well supported by published research, and have garnered valid criticism. The claims of testability are also a bit dubious.

The book is about as much a biography as it is a book on actual science. The author levies heavy criticism on the former, totalitarian regime of Albania, which, far as I know, is completely warranted. Less warranted, perhaps, is the praising of USA. The political and biographical content of the book is not mentioned in any of its descriptions, weirdly enough.

The author makes sure that you understand that she is very smart. Which is probably true, but comes off as egoistic. The book is poorly structured and goes on tangents a lot.

The reader is kinda fine. Speaks a little too fast. She lives with the content of the story, which is good and bad; on one hand, the narrator captures the excitement of the author, but also her condescending tone.

Rather bad book in all honesty. I'd only recommed if you want to hear her biography.

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