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Bang! The Complete History of the Universe
Who knows what Brian May was thinking when he wrote "We Will Rock You" for Queen? As a lifelong astrophysics aficionado, he may have been thinking about the origins of the universe. He's certainly been thinking about it lately. May, a freshly minted astrophysics Ph.D., joins forces with legendary astronomer Patrick Moore and astrophysicist Chris Lintott in Bang! to consider the history of the universe from the Big Bang to Heat Death.
Space, time, and matter were birthed 13.7 billion years ago and will continue on longer than we are able to comprehend. Infinitesimally small at first, the Universe is immense and ever expanding. Bang! explains how it all started, takes you on a tour of what is known about the evolution of the Universe, and posits how the end of time will come about.
This fascinating book includes photographs, short biographies of key figures, an at-a-glance timeline, a glossary of terms, and suggested resources for further exploration.
Based on the work of history's most brilliant scientific minds, this amazing story features clear, straightforward discussions of the most perplexing and compelling aspects of existence -- from the formation of stars, planets, and other galactic bodies to black holes, quasars, anti-matter, and dark matter to the emergence of life and the possibility that it could exist elsewhere.
Pick up a copy of Bang! It will, it will rock you.
Space, time, and matter were birthed 13.7 billion years ago and will continue on longer than we are able to comprehend. Infinitesimally small at first, the Universe is immense and ever expanding. Bang! explains how it all started, takes you on a tour of what is known about the evolution of the Universe, and posits how the end of time will come about.
This fascinating book includes photographs, short biographies of key figures, an at-a-glance timeline, a glossary of terms, and suggested resources for further exploration.
Based on the work of history's most brilliant scientific minds, this amazing story features clear, straightforward discussions of the most perplexing and compelling aspects of existence -- from the formation of stars, planets, and other galactic bodies to black holes, quasars, anti-matter, and dark matter to the emergence of life and the possibility that it could exist elsewhere.
Pick up a copy of Bang! It will, it will rock you.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
80 people are currently reading
873 people want to read
About the author
Brian May
84 books124 followersBrian Harold May, CBE (born 19 July 1947) is a British musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Queen.
As a guitarist he uses his home built guitar, "Red Special", and has composed hits such as "Now I'm Here", "Tie Your Mother Down", "We Will Rock You", "Who Wants to Live Forever", "Hammer to Fall", "Save Me", "Fat Bottomed Girls", "I Want It All" and "Too Much Love Will Kill You".
May earned a PhD in astrophysics in 2007 and is currently the chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University.
He was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2005 for "services to the music industry".
In 2005, a Planet Rock poll saw May voted the 7th greatest guitarist of all time. He was ranked 39th in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time", reflecting the magazine's editorial opinion.
As a guitarist he uses his home built guitar, "Red Special", and has composed hits such as "Now I'm Here", "Tie Your Mother Down", "We Will Rock You", "Who Wants to Live Forever", "Hammer to Fall", "Save Me", "Fat Bottomed Girls", "I Want It All" and "Too Much Love Will Kill You".
May earned a PhD in astrophysics in 2007 and is currently the chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University.
He was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2005 for "services to the music industry".
In 2005, a Planet Rock poll saw May voted the 7th greatest guitarist of all time. He was ranked 39th in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time", reflecting the magazine's editorial opinion.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
October 6, 2024
You may have heard of one of this book’s authors, Dr. Brian May, PhD, through his side gig as a guitarist in his college band, Queen. I suppose we all can have our little pet projects during a 3-decade break in serious astrophysics studies, even when writing a sea shanty about relativistic time travel? (and here’s the version from 1977 sung by Freddie Mercury, shortly after May decided to forgo astrophysics for rock star life).
I’m glad there are people out there, apparently Brian May (and his co-authors Patrick Moore and Chris Lintott) included, who can wrap their minds around the idea of the initially dismissively called “Big Bang”. I’m not one of them. My monkey brain shorts out trying to even come close to the neighborhood of pretending to understand any universe where anything like that can make any sense.
I’ll resort to just quoting this, because I can:
But even with my brain as always refusing to grasp ideas way above its understanding limit, the book was very good. It spoke to that inner child of mine (although it’s certainly not aimed at kids) who still can’t believe she hasn’t set a foot into a planetarium until 2024. Gorgeous, stunning photos, concise and simple explanations (but not so oversimplified as to be ridiculous), a bit of simple practical astronomy and a few short biographies thrown into the mix. It is a good introduction to the topic, never becoming too complicated to be enjoyable — and again, those photos are just breathtaking.
————
According to Brian May, who at the time of writing of this book was a PhD dropout from the 70s, it was his co-author here, Patrick Moore, who inspired not just this book but made May go back to finish the degree on the interplanetary dust.
As for Chris Lintott, who at the time of the writing of this book was the only actual “official” astronomer and not an amateur like Moore and May, I’d also advise his lovely Accidental Astronomy: How Random Discoveries Shape the Science of Space - a book that is also a pleasure to read and I quite adored. The enthusiasm for astronomy that this man has is contagious, and that’s a contagion I wouldn’t say no to.
4.5 stars, rounding up for this photo of Brian May encouraging every wannabe astronomer by showing his his Sun-viewing contraption made out of two wire hangers:
——————
Also posted on my blog.
Just having this Fred-Duck Mercury chill on his bandmate’s book, because why not?
I’m glad there are people out there, apparently Brian May (and his co-authors Patrick Moore and Chris Lintott) included, who can wrap their minds around the idea of the initially dismissively called “Big Bang”. I’m not one of them. My monkey brain shorts out trying to even come close to the neighborhood of pretending to understand any universe where anything like that can make any sense.
I’ll resort to just quoting this, because I can:
“In the beginning there was nothing, which exploded.”
— Terry Pratchett
But even with my brain as always refusing to grasp ideas way above its understanding limit, the book was very good. It spoke to that inner child of mine (although it’s certainly not aimed at kids) who still can’t believe she hasn’t set a foot into a planetarium until 2024. Gorgeous, stunning photos, concise and simple explanations (but not so oversimplified as to be ridiculous), a bit of simple practical astronomy and a few short biographies thrown into the mix. It is a good introduction to the topic, never becoming too complicated to be enjoyable — and again, those photos are just breathtaking.
————
According to Brian May, who at the time of writing of this book was a PhD dropout from the 70s, it was his co-author here, Patrick Moore, who inspired not just this book but made May go back to finish the degree on the interplanetary dust.
From Brian May’s article in The Guardian, celebrating Patrick Moore:
“Patrick was the reason I took up astronomy as a kid, but it was on a trip to the northern tip of Scotland to witness an annular eclipse – a rare sight – that he turned my life around again.
We sat down for a snack outdoors, and he said: "We must write a book together – the Complete History of the Universe."
I said: " Really I don't think I am capable – I have been in a different world for so long. Maybe I can help you edit it?"
He said: "Nonsense! You are going to co-author it and you're going to go back and get your PhD too!"
Well, it all came true. We wrote Bang! The Complete History of the Universe together with Chris Lintott and I finished off my PhD thesis at Imperial College. Patrick had once again brought me face to face with the universe.”
As for Chris Lintott, who at the time of the writing of this book was the only actual “official” astronomer and not an amateur like Moore and May, I’d also advise his lovely Accidental Astronomy: How Random Discoveries Shape the Science of Space - a book that is also a pleasure to read and I quite adored. The enthusiasm for astronomy that this man has is contagious, and that’s a contagion I wouldn’t say no to.
4.5 stars, rounding up for this photo of Brian May encouraging every wannabe astronomer by showing his his Sun-viewing contraption made out of two wire hangers:
——————
Also posted on my blog.
April 25, 2016
Fantastic writing. I love authors, like Sean Carroll and others, who can take complex concepts and make them so simple, you not only get it but actually begin to see the world in a new and magical way. These authors excel at taking various concepts in physics and unpacking them in such a relatable way, you almost feel as if you are reading and deciphering lyrics to a song about the origin of everything.
Growing up, I was obsessed with Brain May. I owned every album and hung pictures of him on my wall, dreaming of the day I would marry Brain May. So ridiculous to think about now as an adult. Since then, I have always thought of him as an artists, a performer. As I moved away from my young girl obsession with music and traded it in for an obsession with science, I never imagined reading a book on physics penned by May and co-authors. It was such a treat.
This book is for anyone who is curious about the birth and evolution of our universe. No prerequisites required. They hold your hand the whole way.
Growing up, I was obsessed with Brain May. I owned every album and hung pictures of him on my wall, dreaming of the day I would marry Brain May. So ridiculous to think about now as an adult. Since then, I have always thought of him as an artists, a performer. As I moved away from my young girl obsession with music and traded it in for an obsession with science, I never imagined reading a book on physics penned by May and co-authors. It was such a treat.
This book is for anyone who is curious about the birth and evolution of our universe. No prerequisites required. They hold your hand the whole way.
December 11, 2019
I complained about how boring it was, but it really wasn't that boring. And it got more interesting to me the closer it got to home. The stuff about our solar system was great. And those things i learned about the moon were fascinating. I didn't know all that before.
The thing i liked about it most was it's complete lack of definitive language. Too many scientists, when discussing theory, tend to speak in absolutes. This book made it very clear that the ideas of our universe's past and future are guess work and speculation and that there are many more discoveries to be made.
Best science book i've read in a long time.
The thing i liked about it most was it's complete lack of definitive language. Too many scientists, when discussing theory, tend to speak in absolutes. This book made it very clear that the ideas of our universe's past and future are guess work and speculation and that there are many more discoveries to be made.
Best science book i've read in a long time.
August 11, 2017
Very easy and very fun to read. As a person with a good background in cosmology, I thought I would not learn from this book and, therefore, find it boring. Although it is true that I learned few things from the book, I found it very much entertaining. I would recommend this book for both amateurs and space nerds.
August 24, 2017
I can't say I understand any of it, but this was a noble effort by three eminent scientists to explain the mysteries of the universe to those of us who never quite grasped physics.
February 16, 2018
A good book for amateur astronomers.
The book steps you through the key topics in to day's astronomy.
I would recommend the book to armature astronomers at Amy level.
The book steps you through the key topics in to day's astronomy.
I would recommend the book to armature astronomers at Amy level.
September 12, 2022
Yleiskäsityken antava teos alkuräjähdyksestä ja tähtitieteen historiasta. Lopussa esiteltiin liuta arvostettuja tähtitieteilijöitä ja maailmankaikkeuden aikajana. Lopussa myös sanakirja.
September 5, 2010
Dr May, (the old queen), with the dynamic duo of 'The Sky at Night', Sir Patrick Moore and Chris Lintott, co author this complete history of the Universe.
After a brief intro, there are 7 chapters that span from Genesis to our present predictions for the end of everything, covering the past 14-15 billion years and on a further 10 billion years into the darkness. All excellently covered in just 150 pages.
Even in this limited space, Bang is littered with excellent colour photographs from the H.S.T. and similar, of the major sights of our heavens.
Published in 2006, the cosmology is as up to date and sympathetically explained for the astro minded and lay reader alike. Recommended for all ages too, even if the later chapters become bleak and scary!
After a brief intro, there are 7 chapters that span from Genesis to our present predictions for the end of everything, covering the past 14-15 billion years and on a further 10 billion years into the darkness. All excellently covered in just 150 pages.
Even in this limited space, Bang is littered with excellent colour photographs from the H.S.T. and similar, of the major sights of our heavens.
Published in 2006, the cosmology is as up to date and sympathetically explained for the astro minded and lay reader alike. Recommended for all ages too, even if the later chapters become bleak and scary!
Want to read
January 16, 2016Brian May of Queen!
December 27, 2014
13.7 Billion years summed up in one book. waht could be better?
December 10, 2018
This book can be considered non-fiction, but it would also fit in a genre about theories. It tells how the big bang unfolded, then how the universe became transparent and lit up, then how solar systems, galaxies, planets, and suns were made. After this, the book tells about our solar system and about each planet. We are told how each planet was made, and in what order, and out of what. Last it tells us about life and about how there should be other forms of intelligent life out there.
The book keeps repeating the phrase __*10^-___ seconds after the big bang the universe became _______. We are given an exact timeline of the universe after the big bang. This phrase is exactly what it seems to be, this happened, then this long later this happened. This makes the reader think in larger terms than they would if 0.000000000001 seconds is what was written. This allows them to more fully grasp the size of the universe and what is being discussed in the chapter.
I enjoyed this book. It was simple to read, yet it taught me so much that I didn’t already know. I didn’t know that the CMB radiation helped cause static on the radio and on TV. I was bummed that only 100 pages of the book were actually text and the rest were just appendix. I would have been much happier if they had made the whole book text and only a small appendix.
The book keeps repeating the phrase __*10^-___ seconds after the big bang the universe became _______. We are given an exact timeline of the universe after the big bang. This phrase is exactly what it seems to be, this happened, then this long later this happened. This makes the reader think in larger terms than they would if 0.000000000001 seconds is what was written. This allows them to more fully grasp the size of the universe and what is being discussed in the chapter.
I enjoyed this book. It was simple to read, yet it taught me so much that I didn’t already know. I didn’t know that the CMB radiation helped cause static on the radio and on TV. I was bummed that only 100 pages of the book were actually text and the rest were just appendix. I would have been much happier if they had made the whole book text and only a small appendix.
January 19, 2024
“Bang!, The complete history of the Universe”.
Written by Brain May, Patric Moore and Chris Lintott.
5th edition 2015
Published by Andre Deutsch
A Division of the Carlton Publishing Group
ISBN 987 0 233 00480 8
Penguin Books.
www.BangUniverse.com
Nice Christmas present and I really enjoyed reading the well explained topics concerning astronomy and tips and tricks for the amateur stargazer. Also enjoyed the biographies of the (most) important astronomers, especially the descriptions of their character.
Below the contents of this book in order to give some inkling of the topics described.
Preface
Introduction The Lure of the Skies
Chapter 1 Genesis: In the Beginning
Chapter 2 And Then There Was Light
Chapter 3 The Evolving Universe
Chapter 4 Starts and Planets
Chapter 5 The Emergence of Life
Chapter 6 Into the Future
Chapter 7 The End of the Universe
Epilogue
Practical Astronomy
Biographies
Time Line of the Universe
Glossary
Index
Further Reading
Written by Brain May, Patric Moore and Chris Lintott.
5th edition 2015
Published by Andre Deutsch
A Division of the Carlton Publishing Group
ISBN 987 0 233 00480 8
Penguin Books.
www.BangUniverse.com
Nice Christmas present and I really enjoyed reading the well explained topics concerning astronomy and tips and tricks for the amateur stargazer. Also enjoyed the biographies of the (most) important astronomers, especially the descriptions of their character.
Below the contents of this book in order to give some inkling of the topics described.
Preface
Introduction The Lure of the Skies
Chapter 1 Genesis: In the Beginning
Chapter 2 And Then There Was Light
Chapter 3 The Evolving Universe
Chapter 4 Starts and Planets
Chapter 5 The Emergence of Life
Chapter 6 Into the Future
Chapter 7 The End of the Universe
Epilogue
Practical Astronomy
Biographies
Time Line of the Universe
Glossary
Index
Further Reading
January 9, 2022
Priviți în sus într-o noapte senină şi veţi vedea stele - sute, poate chiar mii de stele, dacă aveţi norocul să locuiţi departe de poluarea luminoasă a oraşelor moderne. Cerurile par cuprinse de flăcări. Mulţi oameni ştiu astăzi că aceste puncte minuscule, sclipitoare sunt sori, mulţi dintre ei mult mai mare mai fierbinți şi mai puternici decât al nostru, şi că Pământul pare o planetă insignifiantă, poate chiar mai puţin importantă in Universul vast decât un singur fir de nisip în deşertul Sahara. Dar ce se ascunde îndărătul tuturor acestor astre? Cum a apărut Universul? Cum evoluează el şi cum va sfârşi, dacă într-adevăr va dispărea vreodată?
September 6, 2018
Brilliant book. It’s well written for sure - clear and understandable but it’s hard going and more of a study than a read - certainly not a light read with its small type no breaks and just fact after fact. However the chronological order is what makes the book plus the no nonsense writing. It’s fact explanation fact insight repeat. I read a lot on astrophysics and this is the book I’ll come back to learn. Superb but I’ll need to read it at least once more and it’s not a beach read:)
September 7, 2019
It does inspired me to be an astronomer. Hahaha!
This book really help me realised there are so many things that we didn’t know and never know.
The only thing that spoilt this book is the design of the book (I read the 4th edition). Hope font and line spacing can be 1px bigger. The design does help my eyes fatigue faster and sleep soundly.
This book really help me realised there are so many things that we didn’t know and never know.
The only thing that spoilt this book is the design of the book (I read the 4th edition). Hope font and line spacing can be 1px bigger. The design does help my eyes fatigue faster and sleep soundly.
September 29, 2020
Although being quite a heavy read (not one that reads well if you're remotely tired) I didn't really find myself learning much that I didn't already know. To be fair I'm a massive geek for astrology and physics so that's not much of a surprise. I imagine this book would suit someone less well versed a bit better.
Chris
Chris
June 15, 2025
I picked up this book because I recognized one of the authors as a member of Queen. Furthermore, I am interested in Astronomy and Cosmology. The book covers the Big Bang Theory and how we came to coin the name and understand it.
The book has gorgeous photos of planets and stars.
I enjoyed the book. Thanks for reading my review, and see you next time.
The book has gorgeous photos of planets and stars.
I enjoyed the book. Thanks for reading my review, and see you next time.
February 11, 2024
Nice coffee table book with lots of stunning pictures. I have to admit that I was a little disappointed - I was hoping to find something uniquely "Brian May" in the writing, but the text was very ordinary.
September 4, 2025
A beautifully produced book full of photos. It is an attempt to relate the history (and future) of the universe to the 'less expert 'reader but I must admit that the science was mostly beyond me. Hopefully I have absorbed the gist of the story.
August 29, 2017
"OK" is exactly it; it was not very well written. Some of the explanatinos were too short or somewhat confusing.
June 14, 2018
Enjoyable, but mainly interesting for readers who are new to astronomy.
October 25, 2020
Good solid introduction to the science of space. Have fun with fundamental physics...!
September 7, 2023
Full of beautiful pictures and offered a concise description of the development and (rather grim) possible end of the Universe.
March 15, 2024
This is definitely not for anyone who already has astronomy/cosmology knowledge. But for a total profane as myself, it's fascinating.
October 22, 2010
Bang! takes the lay reader through pretty much everything they could want to know about basic cosmology and current theories of the universe, from less than a second after the Big Bang to billions of years into the future. Unlike a Brief History of Time, this one can be read and understood! Equally important, with a generous selection of pictures, it can be enjoyed.
Holding this book in your hand, it becomes immediately obvious that a great deal of effort has gone into producing it, from the 'lenticular explosion' on the front cover, to the first class illustrations heading each chapter. The photographs of planets, stars and galaxies are glorious, and there are even a few taken by the authors themselves.
Bang! is more informative than most coffee-table books on this subject, but it still manages to avoid getting too bogged down in the detail. It does a good job of covering a lot of ground and covering it well, but there have to be limits to any book of this kind, and while it touches on some of the underlying science such as wave-particle duality, it chooses not to expand on it.
All in all, I highly recommend this book to readers both with and without a scientific background. The lay reader will find it an accessible read and an awe-inspiring introduction to cosmology. The more advanced reader will appreciate the work for what it is, and marvel at the photography. For those looking for something more in-depth, I would recommend Simon Singh's Big Bang, which is another excellent but very different kind of book.
Holding this book in your hand, it becomes immediately obvious that a great deal of effort has gone into producing it, from the 'lenticular explosion' on the front cover, to the first class illustrations heading each chapter. The photographs of planets, stars and galaxies are glorious, and there are even a few taken by the authors themselves.
Bang! is more informative than most coffee-table books on this subject, but it still manages to avoid getting too bogged down in the detail. It does a good job of covering a lot of ground and covering it well, but there have to be limits to any book of this kind, and while it touches on some of the underlying science such as wave-particle duality, it chooses not to expand on it.
All in all, I highly recommend this book to readers both with and without a scientific background. The lay reader will find it an accessible read and an awe-inspiring introduction to cosmology. The more advanced reader will appreciate the work for what it is, and marvel at the photography. For those looking for something more in-depth, I would recommend Simon Singh's Big Bang, which is another excellent but very different kind of book.
November 16, 2014
While Bang! is a quick read, and somewhat outdated now despite being only a few years old (this happens in the quickly progressing field of astrophysics), much of what is in here is still pretty accurate.
The story progresses in chronological order as we presently understand the Universe to have evolved. It's a straightforward explanation I think most people could easily follow. I like that. I also enjoy the amateur astronomy intro and biographies sections.
The authors also try to make it clear that many of the details of the Big Bang theory, Cosmic Inflation, etc. are still being actively developed and may of course change as new discoveries are uncovered. That's the nature of scientific discovery.
Oh, and of course, Queen rocks! :-)
The story progresses in chronological order as we presently understand the Universe to have evolved. It's a straightforward explanation I think most people could easily follow. I like that. I also enjoy the amateur astronomy intro and biographies sections.
The authors also try to make it clear that many of the details of the Big Bang theory, Cosmic Inflation, etc. are still being actively developed and may of course change as new discoveries are uncovered. That's the nature of scientific discovery.
Oh, and of course, Queen rocks! :-)
April 6, 2009
The diagrams are helpful -- 2 stars for those. The author photo with Patrick Moore and his monocle is also priceless. But the explanations are pretty weak and difficult to understand. It's a book written by folks who probably understand this stuff pretty well, but who shouldn't be writing their own books about it. The description of the 'cosmic conspiracy' is totally baffling, and that's just the beginning.
If you're looking for something about the big bang that doesn't involve lots of mathematics, Stephen Hawking and Carl Sagan (and perhaps a few others) are still the way to go.
If you're looking for something about the big bang that doesn't involve lots of mathematics, Stephen Hawking and Carl Sagan (and perhaps a few others) are still the way to go.
January 25, 2015
Pretty good book on a wide range of universal evolutionary concepts, and awesome photos. Despite the number of photos, there is actually quite a lot to read, and it took a while to get through this one. I recommend this to n00b cosmologists looking to get a grasp on the beginning and end of the universe, along with a lot of interesting tidbits in between.
I didn't care for the authors' name dropping every few pages, but I couldn't fault them. If I were smart and famous, I'd probably want to do the same thing.
I didn't care for the authors' name dropping every few pages, but I couldn't fault them. If I were smart and famous, I'd probably want to do the same thing.
March 30, 2015
As good an introductory read to the history of the universe. The chronological order (from big bang to end of the universe) is a sensible structure - this is unashamedly for beginners, and so this beginner liked the brief, sometimes almost chatty format. With a brief history of time the most unfinished book, the one by the xylophonist, the guitarist and the other bloke, was pitched at the right level for me anyway. Nice short biographies of many of the main scientists in the appendix too.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews