A half century ago, a shocking Washington Post headline claimed that the world began in five cataclysmic minutes rather than having existed for all time; a skeptical scientist dubbed the maverick theory the Big Bang. In this amazingly comprehensible history of the universe, Simon Singh decodes the mystery behind the Big Bang theory, lading us through the development of one of the most extraordinary, important, and awe-inspiring theories in science. “The history of mathematics comes alive even for those who dread balancing their checkbooks.” - Publishers Weekly on Fermat's Enigma “Singh spins tales of cryptic intrigue in every chapter.” - Wall Street Journal on The Code Book “Simon Singh casts a celestial light on the origins of the universe in this essential look at how our world came to be. Imagine taking a trip through time and beyond the stars with the cosmic philosophers―from Pythagorus and Copernicus to Einstein and Hubble―as travel companions. And an expert but friendly guide to help you decode their mysteries with crisp, clear running commentary.” - Sylvia Nasar, author of A Beautiful Mind “(Singh) is a gifted expositor, ready to venture to places other science popularisers don’t even try to reach.” - The Mail (on Sunday) “Singh’s unerring eye for picturesque anecdotes and his capacity for simplifying complex scientific ideas is a winning formula.” - Saturday Daily Telegraph (London) “You can’t know the universe, these days, without knowing the Big Bang. Singh’s book is a fine place to make its acquaintance.” - Discover magazine “Singh is a gifted writer…a good storyteller…and [he] knows how to describe and explain complex and esoteric subjects.” - San Diego Union-Tribune “Singh spins out the drama with verve and wit . . . a perfect book for anyone who wants to know what science is all about.” - Scientific American “It’s hard to imagine a grander, more thrilling story…fast-paced…hugely entertaining…Big Bang is, quite literally, cosmic.” - New York Times “Singh is a very gifted story teller who never misses a chance to make his subject clearer of more entertaining . . . a brilliant book.” - The Independent (on Sunday) “Inimitable. . . . There’s no better account of the big bang theory.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review) “A clear, lively, and comprehensive view of the way science arrived at the leading theory of how everything began.”- - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Highly readable… Singh brings the colourful protagonists in his story to life.” - New Scientist “Singh is one of the best science journalists writing today...Impressive.” - London Times (Sunday) “Fascinating…Simon Singh loves storytelling and has a knack for digging up underappreciated characters.” - New York Newsday “Brings together...the geniuses who have secured communications, saved lives, and influenced the fate of nations. A pleasure to read.” - Chicago Tribune on The Code Book “An excellent account of one of the most dramatic and moving events of the century.” - New York Times on Fermat's Enigma “An absorbing tale of codemaking and codebreaking over the centuries.” - Scientific American on The Code Book “As in his previous books, Mr Singh explains even the most complicated ideas with subtlety, grace and wit. . . . Exemplary.” - The Economist “An expert but friendly guide to help you decode the mysteries [of the universe] with crisp, clear running commentary.” - Sylvia Nasar, author of A Beautiful Mind “This book is a blast. You would expect Simon Singh to be cosmic, mind-expanding, and munificent with history and ideas. But besides all that, who knew that the Big Bang could be so much fun?” - James Gleick , bestelling author of CHAOS and FASTER “This book is a blast...who knew that the Big Bang could be so much fun?” - James Gleick, bestselling author of CHAOS and FASTER “Enthralling...commendably lucid...[Singh’s] book provides a timely and entertaining summary of the subject.” - Economist on The Code Book A half century ago, a shocking Washington Post headline claimed that the world began in five cataclysmic minutes rather than having existed for all time; a skeptical scientist dubbed the maverick theory the Big Bang. In this amazingly comprehensible history of the universe, Simon Singh decodes the mystery behind the Big Bang theory, lading us through the development of one of the most extraordinary, important, and awe-inspiring theories in science. Simon Singh received his Ph.D. in particle physics from the University of Cambridge. A former BBC producer, he directed the BAFTA Award-winning documentary film Fermat's Last Theorem and wrote Fermat's Enigma , the best-selling book on the same subject. His best seller The Code Book was the basis for the BBC series The Science of Secrecy .