The Infinite Monkey Cage: How to Build a Universe

The Infinite Monkey Cage

by Brian Cox, Robin Ince

The Infinite Monkey Cage , the legendary BBC Radio 4 programme, brings you this irreverent celebration of scientific marvels. Join us on a hectic leap through the grand and bizarre ideas conjured up by human imagination, from dark matter to consciousness via neutrinos and earthworms. Professor Brian Cox and Robin Ince muse on multifaceted subjects involved in building a universe, with pearls of wisdom from leading scientists and comedians peppered throughout. Covering billions of concepts and conundrums, they tackle everything from the Big Bang to parallel universes, fierce creatures to extraterrestrial life, brain science to artificial intelligence. How to Build a Universe is an illuminating and inspirational celebration of science – sometimes silly, sometimes astounding and very occasionally facetious.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Physics, Humor, Popular Science, Audiobook, Comedy

288 pages, Hardcover

First published October 19, 2017

About the author

Not to be confused with actor [Author: Brian Cox].

Brian Edward Cox, OBE (born 3 March 1968) is a British particle physicist, a Royal Society University Research Fellow, PPARC Advanced Fellow and Professor at the University of Manchester. He is a member of the High Energy Physics group at the University of Manchester, and works on the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, near Geneva, Switzerland. He is working on the R&D project of the FP420 experiment in an international collaboration to upgrade the ATLAS and the CMS experiment by installing additional, smaller detectors at a distance of 420 metres from the interaction points of the main experiments.

He is best known to the public as the presenter of a number of science programmes for the BBC, boosting the popularity of subjects such as astronomy; so is a science popularizer, and science communicator. He also had some fame in the 1990s as the keyboard player for the pop band D:Ream.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

There were times this made my eyes cross. But it was really really funny, and I wish I remembered all the really good quotes so that I could throw them in this review.

Yes, I am a Prof Brian Cox fan, so listening to his dulcet tones was quite enjoyable. The other cohort was a bit more brash, and I found myself turning the audio down a bit because it was too jarring compared to Brian.

It brought a tear to my eye finishing listening to this on the day Professor Stephen Hawking died, especially as they quoted him in this.

Also, reading this on Pie day was amusing.

I wish this was a better review than it is, because it deserves much more. All I can say is I really enjoyed it.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love science and knowledge and I love people who can bring life and energy to complex subjects. Brian Cox does this. I can't say I understand everything but every time I read a book like this I learn a bit more although it does lead to more questions and thoughts. It's also a saddening book at times when they discuss the issues of science being doubted, maligned and rejected. Overall, if you've got an inquisitive mind then this is well worth your time.

[Malwina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like my books how I like my men. Intelligent, extremely stupid and with a sense of humour that makes me wish for The Big Crunch to come early, but simultanously fills me with joy that i can not quite comprehend.

Nie będę tu dużo mówić: wszechświat, twoja stara żarty, star trek, feynman, egzystencjalizm łee, FIZYKA WOO i wszystko jasne

Ta książka to rozszerzona wersja filmików kurzgesagt.

Moja ocena jest totalnie subiektywna, bo chyba poprostu znalazłam tę książkę w dobrym momencie mojego życia. Optymalnie!!

[Michael Legge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shame he dies in the end.

[A gin and orange, a lemon squash, and a scotch and water, please! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much like the universe I've just built in the cellar, this book is infinitely enjoyable* and highly illuminating. Until the very end, that is, when the meter ran out and everything went dark. Or it ripped itself apart. Or it collapsed in on itself and, page by page, disappeared up its own semi-colon. To be honest, I don't know what's happened, it's too dark to see anything. And cold. Alternatively, I could be sitting in the freezer.
*enjoyable because I understood almost everything (sometimes after reading chapters more than once), such is the quality and clarity of the explanation.
Still blew my mind though. Happily.

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Brian Cox, and you havent listened to him doing the Infinite Monkey Cage series - you should. And if you are a fan and you are already enthralled with Infinite Monkey Cage series - then you should know how much of a hoot this book is going to be!!! Physics, humour, questions, craziness - all wrapped up for the dedicated non-science lay person. Good stuff.

[Umbar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I prefer the podcast more (I think the format works better for simplifying concepts and jokes land better) but this was nonetheless an entertaining read and I finish the book feeling like I have learned a lot.

[G.R. Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. So much so that I've decided to leave my current employment and attend university to get my BSc and then Phd in particle physics... might have to study maths a bit first, but I am sure it will be fine!

The whole thing is written in engaging prose and simple enough that even I understood some of it... might need to read it all a few times more to truly grasp a few more bits.

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read this book twice and listened to the audiobook (which I recommend you do even if you’ve read the book as well as it’s just brilliant) and it only gets better the more times I read it. I love the infinite monkey cage podcasts so when I found they had a book, it was a must buy. All lovers of this amazing podcast definitely need this book! And all those who are just interested in how to build a universe, from infinity to the eventual doom of our universe and more.

And of course the discussion into dead strawberries which OG lovers of the show will understand all too well.

I love books like these that can disseminate science in an interesting, understandable and engaging way. It isn’t a boring yawn reeling of facts and information but delivered in a way that’s informative but interesting and you can learn a lot. Brian and Robin are such a fantastic duo and this book really cannot be rivalled for its mix of hardcore science and hilariously funny comedy. Really is such an enjoyable book!

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love podcasts and I'm a sucker for those inevitable Christmas tie-in books, especially if (like this one) they are available as audiobooks. This one was a lot more dry than usual IMC episodes though, especially the section on building a universe which was hard to follow (to be fair I tend to listen to books while driving so I wasn't giving it my full attention). Overall though it was good, with some interesting details of behind-the-scenes physics arguments between Brian and Robin.

[Richard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing, consigned to the 'abandoned' bookshelf after about 40 pages (and subsequently the local charity shop). Instead of publishing a readable popular science book, you have one that tries (and fails) to recreate the humour of Radio 4's highly entertaining radio show/podcast 'The Infinite Monkey Cage'. As such, you're left with a fragmented experience which fails to convey the humour and anecedotal nature of the show.

[Simon Fletcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable lark of a read. Great for dipping in and out of. Ince provides the light relief to Cox's sometimes ponderous text.

[Rami Hamze · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5)

Entertaining science book in the format of a magazine or a radio show. Quite a few interesting topics including pseudoscience, cosmology, future of space exploration, and "are we living inside a simulation?"

Given the format, i found many arguements weak eg. that against conspiracy theorists who claim moon landing was staged. not that i agree with the conspiracy, but the authors' arguements were not solid.

This is my second book of Brian Cox. while i enjoy his energy and modern approach on science, i do sense a little subjectivity, that which contradicts with the nature of these topics.

[Oliver Partington · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a lot of respect for how they managed to inject humour and light heartedness while not patronising the reader by dumbing down the topic.

The downside to this, as pointed out later in the book, is really you need to read this over a longer period, annotate and re-read to get close to grasp the topics. It is not a weeks binge of a novel (how I read it!).

Always struggled with Physics in school, this book certainly helped, but some of the topics I think are too big for my head to get round without re-reading multiple times.

[Vaughan Hatton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was going to rate this book lower, until I came to the chapter where Brian and Robin remind me that, sometimes these books aren't meant to be page turners. They should make you scratch your chin and tilt your head ever so slightly. They should make you stop and think and apply what is being talked about to your everyday life. In the end I did enjoy this book.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I try to read something sciency every now and again because it's not a subject I'm terribly good with and I hope to attempt to educate myself. This was a great book for doing that although some of the particle physics went over my head.

[Jahnavi Jha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to give this book a billion stars! At this point in my life I have been reminded through this book about why I adore science and technology. Reminded me of when I was a child and I wanted to be an astronaut. Can hardly wait for the next part.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love anything by Brian Cox, I could listen to this over and over again.
Science is one of those things that I think I need to have about 5 goes at to completely retain the content. Brian Cox makes this a pleasure rather than a chore.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book

[VanessaRC · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a collection of snippets regarding different science topics seen or analized from different lenses. It may not be groundbreaking, but it brings the user closer to several different topics and laws of physics and chemistry while being very amusing and easy to follow. It's a fast and nice read.

[Ros Gaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A genuine attempt to help humanity come to terms with the extent, nature and infinity of the universe, from 3 pretty great humans 😃 I’d also highly recommend their podcast, The Infinite Monkey Cage 👍

[Liv Hawley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me feel smart

[Steven Batty · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amusing yet fascinating book.

[STU · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haven't listened to their radio show, but really enjoyed this book.
Nice style, easy humour.
Many of the concepts over my head, but learnt a fair bit.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this via Ricky Gervais's Deadly Sirius podcast when Robin plugged it. Luckily my library had a copy on the Libby app so I was able to borrow it. I didn't even realise there was a radio show (currently working my way through that now!).
Anyway, brilliant book for non expert's and general science fans like myself. Much easier to understand than some of the other astrophysics books I've read recently. Wish I'd started with this one but as Robin points out you can't just read one astrophysics book and expect to be an expert, you just need to read them and eventually it will start to make more sense!

[Isabella · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading about new theories and scientific progress about our universe and learning about its start and end. It taught me about what it means to be a scientist- finding joy in the pursuit of knowledge and accepting that knowledge of our is incomplete. I liked the “everyday normal human” style of writing with the doodles and jokes.

[Bob Small · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, 'formative. It contains a great round up of the cold/hot big bang model and how all the evidence interlocks. I read most of it sitting on the beach at Durdle Door, in the warm sunshine. What a day... But the poor strawberry....

[Raph Kazidule · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hilarious read. Enjoyed every bit of it and learnt at the same time. This sciencey book was not boring.

[Rob Frampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant distillation of topics from the 'Infinite Monkey Cage' radio series, this may just be the most accessible science book Brian Cox has produced, and that is due in no small part to the back-and-forth-with Robin Ince and the quirky carton-like illustrations that pepper the text. It balances the serious with the humorous to compelling effect. "Life, Death and Strawberries" is both entertaining and enlightening about what constitutes being alive,and the section which dismantles homeopathy is a must-read. "We are often less comfortable with evidence-based scrutiny than with a pleasing anecdote that lends credence to our preconceived views on what we wish something to be."
It's not all fun, though, and the chapter on cosmology makes for difficult reading because, let's be honest, to properly understand the subject you'll need better maths than most of have got. That's not to say it's not worth reading, and I'll definitely be going back to it to prise out some more detail, but it's definitely mind stretching stuff. It does, however, contain m favourite quotation from the book: "We are temporary assemblies of ten billion billion billion atoms, and in a century or less they will all be returned for recycling. But for the briefest of moments these atoms are able to contemplate themselves... Our purpose should be to extend their moment in the light as best we can", which is almost Sagan-like in its beauty.
The book ends with a cartoon landscape 'Guide to the Year 2050', of which the highlight is, "Social media has been replaced by a small and aggressive robot that perpetually screams abuse at you." I don't want to criticise, Brian and Robin, but I think we're already there...

[Margherita Serafini · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an open-mindingly incredible book about our universe and how it works in its very detailed (yet simplified) theories, fascinating curiosities and original ideas on how to percieve a universe full of question marks and unknown faces. It is so weird yet curious how little we know about what surrounds us and still manage to discover more and more though time. How can something come out of nothing? This is what fascinates me most and pushed me further deep into the reading as I was kind of struggling in the middle paragraph. The great thing about it is its incredible power to inspire deeper research and plant curiosity into the minds of its readers. It was definitely a bit of a challenge for me to read since it was my first scientific read ever, but it inspired me to keep reading and looking for answers whether that is in books or in unbeaten paths discovering new theories and possibly getting progressively closer to the truth, taking one step closer to discovering a future of endless possibilities for our species and many others and for the discovering of places and life into the apparently dark and cold space that surrounds us. It inspired me to keep looking and fighting to contribute in the helping of future generations and species as well as it made me deeply interested in physics, astrophysics and cosmology pushing me to keep studying them as they might be what I want to pursue as a life carreer. I would definitely reccommend though language is not quite easy at first. I personally loved it. It completely changed my perspective of the world and made me consider everything in a ore methodic, scientific way.