A Brief History of the Universe
By Sarah Alam Malik, Published by Simon & Schuster (UK, February 12) and William Morrow (USA, May 5)

Published in 1988, Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time revolutionized the field of cosmology and became a bestseller. As a curious teenager, I attempted to read it, but I never finished. Now, nearly four decades later, particle physicist Sara Alam Malik offers her own perspective on cosmology with A Brief History of the Universe (and Our Place in It).

While Hawking’s work began with Aristotle’s heliocentric theory from 340 BC, Malik traces our understanding back to Babylonian astronomical observations recorded in cuneiform around the 7th century BC. The journey then progresses through the contributions of Aristotle and Ptolemy, reaching the flourishing of astronomical sciences in the Islamic Golden Age during the 6th century AD.

This concise history propels readers through significant milestones by page 47, covering Galileo’s discovery of Jupiter’s moons, Newton’s apple, and Einstein’s general relativity, ultimately exploring the mysteries of galaxies and black holes, leading to the concept of the universe’s thermal death. Malik adeptly connects cosmic-scale truths with the intricate world of quantum mechanics, stating, “The building blocks of the universe turned out to be as amazing as the structure of the universe they created.”

Unlike Hawking’s technical depth, Malik adopts a broader perspective, bringing to life characters such as Dmitri Mendeleev, who created the periodic table, and Fritz Zwicky, the pioneer of dark matter. Her narrative highlights a diverse cast, including medieval Islamic astronomers and groundbreaking women like Vera Rubin, who overcame gender barriers to reshape our understanding of galaxies.

Written with a more contemporary tone, Malik discusses topics Hawking could not forecast in 1988, such as the Large Hadron Collider, revealing the emotional impact of scientific breakthroughs like the Higgs boson discovery through compelling anecdotes.

This book is not only a “brief history of the universe” but emphasizes “and our place in it.” It narrates humanity’s discovery of the cosmos, underscoring our journey enabled by the giants before us. It evokes awe and humility, reminding us, “It remains a wonder of human existence that we can understand worlds so far removed from our own.” Each era has crafted its narrative of the universe, often believing its own version.

At its best, Malik’s work dives deeply into cosmic and quantum mysteries, aligning with her expertise in dark matter. While chapters on the origin of life, its future, and machine intelligence may feel less thorough, her warm, clear prose covers an impressive breadth within just 223 pages. As an 18-year-old, I might have navigated this complex narrative and been inspired to follow in Hawking’s footsteps.