In the Beginning: After COBE and Before the Big Bang

by John Gribbin

Analyzes the consequences of the most recent discoveries in the field of astronomy, discussing the findings of the COBE satellite, which prove the Big Bang theory but pose other important questions about the origin of life.
Preface
Prologue
The Birth of the Universe
What is Life?
What is the Universe?
Is the Universe Alive?
Further Reading
Index

Genres: Science, Physics, Nonfiction, Astronomy, Popular Science

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

John R. Gribbin is a British science writer, an astrophysicist, and a visiting fellow in astronomy at the University of Sussex. His writings include quantum physics, human evolution, climate change, global warming, the origins of the universe, and biographies of famous scientists. He also writes science fiction.

Reviews

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

“In the Beginning” weaves the compelling, creative, and concise into a deeply stimulating science saga. In this cosmology-biology-chemistry hybrid, John Gribbin masterfully uses COBE’s Rosetta stone confirmations to construct an edgy picture evolution---one to make you rethink “existence” and “alive”. Drawing lines between the cell and the cosmic, the reader is left astonished by a beautifully reasoned tale---that our universe, is, in the literal sense, living. Gaia, COBE, neutrinos, and the raw elements of life take starring roles in this book, and Gribben’s astrophysical enthusiasm shines through on these topic. However, science readers beware. Like most astrophysical books from the 1990s, “In the Beginning” suffers from the constant evolution of new theories and discovery that tip chapters of this book towards irrelevancy, The Big Freeze and Big Rip theories and LIGO’s gravitational waves displace much of this book’s endgame. Solar System views can feel distinctly redundant. Grammatically, the use of analogies is excellent and well-placed, and the minimal reliance on quotes is refreshing. The downsides are an abuse of commas, which can overcomplicate sentences desperately needing clarity. The flow between concepts can border on dry, which does fuel a distinctly “Thesis-like” feel to this book. If, like this reader, you bring some prior science-astronomy knowledge to the table, you’ll greatly enjoy what “In the Beginning” has to offer. Read thoughtfully, this book is profound expression of scientific reasoning, with many lessons to offer. You’ll leave its pages with a new, and probably impassioned view, on how life connects.

[John Schaefers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Birth of a Living Universe Ideas.

It was a logical fairly easy read and the more one knows about the Universe, the more questions are needed to be answered. The author does a great job of walking even the novice thru the theories. It was done very well. I would recommend it to all. The ending really raises many questions and shows we are like babies in understanding our universe, we have so much to learn yet. The ending raised many unanswered thoughts that I hope he or someone will follow up on. We live in amazing times.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gribben has long been a personal favorite among populizers of science. I am not yet convinced about the Gaia hypothesis applied to the Earth much less the universe, but he makes an intriguing case. If Cosmology is your cup of tea, you won't want to miss it.

[Larry · Rating 3 out of 5]

During the pandemic I have been pulling off old books from my shelf that I have never actually read, so I decided to give "In the Beginning" a try.

Nearly 30 years ago, Gribbin produced an excellently written book ,as usual, this time on cosmology and the origins of life. There are some very good explanations of astronomical topics, the cosmic microwave background and so on, but the book is very much out of date (the edition I read was from 1993) and the assertions about the Earth, Galaxy and Universe being literally alive (albeit no claim of them being conscious) are, in my book at least, sensationalistic and completely indefensible. As far as I can tell, the events Gribbin attributes to "evolution" (in the sense that life forms evolve) are completely physical and bear no more evidence of life than eruption of a geyser or the formation of a crystal lattice. But do keep in mind that it is an "old" book and Gribbin may well have altered his viewpoint.

In general, even if the claim of the Universe being "alive" were realistic, it does not broach the subject of ultimate origin, as to why the physical laws are such as they are, except the common conjecture that there may be an infinitude of universe, each with different laws, and we happen to have one where life is possible.

The is no mention that I could see of a reason that there are an infinitude of universes, which would be the next obvious question. I am *not* suggesting Intelligent Design or any intervention of a deity, but the question of "Why is there something rather than nothing" (first articulated by Leibnitz, I think) is all that Gribbin attempts to answer. Basically, as with other cosmologists and physicists, he says that they Universe may have come from nothing, literally, as a separation of negative energy (e.g., gravity) and positive energy (matter) exactly cancel each other out, leaving.... nothing.

But this only describes a potential process, saying nothing at all as to why the process is even possible. This, in my opinion, is the ultimate question, and one that probably can not be answered to the satisfaction of limited human mind.

Overall the level of writing of "In the Beginning" is topnotch and the book was good in its day for the astronomical descriptions it gives. But today there are many other, more current, choices.

[Remo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gribbin tiene obras maestras, pero en este se le fue la pinza. Comienza haciendo una muy buena exposición de las implicaciones de las medidas del fondo de microondas que se habían publicado muy recientemente (y que le otorgaron un Nobel al investigador principal de aquel proyecto), para hablar de la evolución del Universo, pero luego se le va la cabeza al proponer no solo la hipótesis de Gaia, según la cual nuestro planeta en conjunto es un ser vivo (y nosotros un virus, supongo) sino que empieza a elucubrar en voz alta sobre si el Universo en su conjunto es un ser vivo, lo que podríamos llama la hipótesis Mega Gaia o hipótesis Gaiaza. Esta reflexión incluye subreflexiones como sí hay un proceso Darwiniano de Universos según el cual el nuestro es una versión muy evolucionada por selección natural de Universos antiguos y masturbaciones mentales similares. Esta segunda parte es un tanto absurda, y la estupenda primera parte no la consigue compensar.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't as good as I'd hoped. Gribbin is great, the concept of the Universe as evolutionary is great, the data is great.

It wasn't convincing as a book: the switches between biological systems and cosmological systems were not parallel enough for a sometimes high density reader who doesn't always read between the lines. There was some disorganization, I felt, as Gribbin returned to definitions of life and evolution several times.

I did find a lot of it insightful, including sections on Al-26 and the role it plays as well as some resonance and energy levels of certain nuclei which make the Universe as we know it. Expanding my mind on some of the consequences of Goldilocks numbers was extremely useful. In addition, the book's description on post-Big Bang inflation and the temperature communication paradox is outstanding.

[Haim Bresheeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the clearest books I have read on the Big Bang and everything since in Physics. Cribbing tends to be repetitive and cuts and pastes between books. I find that this one suffers less from this problem - if you are like me, someone based in the humanities and social sciences - this is a great book to bring you up to date with developments in Physics without the use of mathematics and formulae which will just fox you!


Highly recomnmended.

[Rob Sedgwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind blowing

This book has a huge scope, drawing on the world of Fred Hoyle and James Lovelock, in particular. It is very good and draws a lot of disparate material into a coherent narrative.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Gribbin writes so well! This one is from the 90s and even to my uninformed knowledge - very out of date. But it's still worth reading and I'll go on reading any of his books that come my way. What I really want is a book about galaxies and there were some tantalising titbits here.

[David Catron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting theory of a living universe, but doesn't definitely define what that means. A bit dated, so not sure if it comports with the newest data. Worthwhile reading for a mind experiment.

[Elliot Anderson-Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

interesting theory... if only I could get my brain to contort into the shapes it would have to for me to fully understand all in this book.

[J.D. Steens · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a fairly decent book if you want to challenge your standard, routine, accepted view of reality. Gribbin takes the reader on a tour of our cosmos. "Our" is used advisedly, given our status as specks in the vastness of spacetime (whatever that term really means). Gribben presents three main challenges to the reader. First, life didn't start on earth, but was imported from space. Living molecules in space landed on earth, and the rest is our history. Second, as much as we are fond of our earth, it is just a wee part of one vast, vast, vast black hole. Gribben in fact says our known universe - from the beginnings of time to its ongoing present expansion today - is a black hole. This is, of course, an expansive concept and he makes a point at noting he was the first to advance this idea, back in 1971. Third, like ourselves, and the Gaian earth, not just our universe but the cosmos itself is alive, spawning numerous universes, with some universes more successful than others at life-defining, replicating like-universes. These seem to be the main themes that seem to get smothered a bit by quite a lot of detail, but they are provocative thoughts to ponder.

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

George Gamow got me started with an interest in cosmology back when I was visiting Mother's family in Olso when I was ten. That was long ago and cosmological thinking has developed since then. I read this and some Fred Hoyle recently in order to catch up. Personally, however, I prefer the styles of Gamow and Hoyle over that of Gibbin, even though he is superior in being more current.

[Gavin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gribbin explains, in a precise and clear style, all about the big bang theory of the birth of the universe, specifically the few seconds shortly after the so called big bang.

Me, I doubt we'll ever really know how the universe came into being, but it's fun to read the various competing theories.

[Clark S · Rating 4 out of 5]

A serious look (for laymen), of the origins of the universe.

[E. G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preface
Prologue

--In the Beginning: The Birth of the Living Universe

Further Reading
Index