Book Review: Brief Answers to the Big Questions by Stephen Hawking

Brief Answers to Big Questions has been drawn from the personal archive of Stephen Hawking. It was in progress when Hawking passed away. Hawking’s academic colleagues, his family and the Stephen Hawking Estate helped in compilation of the book.

In total there are ten questions which Hawking addresses in the book.  In the first chapter about the existence of God, the author says that his work is about finding a rational framework to understand the universe around us and he does not in any way give the impression to disapprove the existence of God by his work. He further says that the universe was spontaneously created out of nothing, according to the laws of science. Hawking personally believes that there is no God.

The discovery of the expansion of the universe was one of the great intellectual revolutions of the twentieth century, says Hawking. Hawking opines that the present rate of expansion one can estimate that galaxies must have been very close together 10 to 15 billion years ago. I find it difficult to understand when Hawking says that ‘it is meaningless to ask what came before the Big Bang’. He suggests so because according to him there is no notion of time available to refer to.  

The author is of the view that if there is intelligent life elsewhere, it must be very long away otherwise it would have reached the Earth. Furthermore, he talks about genetic engineering, DNA, nuclear war and many other questions of science. While defining a scientific law, the author says that a scientific law is not a scientific law if it only holds when some supernatural being decides to let things run and not intervene.

I personally did not know much about the black hole. Hawking writes so simply that things are easy to understand even when one reads it for the first time. Hawking writes that John Michell, a Cambridge man first discussed black holes in 1783. According to Hawking, a black hole is a region where gravity is so strong that light cannot escape. When a black hole is created by gravitational collapse, it rapidly settles down to a stationary state, which is characterized by three parameters: the mass, the angular momentum and the electric charge. A number of people using different approaches have confirmed that black holes emit thermal radiation. In addition to that, the author states that a black hole is a region of space-time where gravity is strong, space-time is violently distorted and so one expects its symmetries to be broken. Hawking is optimistic that we are moving towards a solution in discovering more about the reality of black hole.

Addressing the question of time travel the author believe that keeping in view our present understanding rapid space travel and travel back in time cannot be ruled out. The Cambridge scientist further writes that climate change, deforestation, over-population, famine, lack of water, disease and war are solvable issues but so have remained unsolved. He informs the reader that populist politicians are being opted by the public, who have limited experience of government and who are yet to be tested in time of crises. Hawking says: “I am convinced that we should leave Earth. If we stay, we risk being annihilated”.

Answering the question of colonizing space by humans, Hawking says that: “If humanity is to continue for another million years, our future lies in boldly going where no one else has gone before”. Hawking adds that whatever human civilization has achieved is a product of human intelligence. He mentions Elon Musk warning that superhuman artificial intelligence could have both adverse and beneficial effects. How we connect to the digital world is key to the progress we make in the future, says Hawking. As far as communication is concerned, he opines that the future of communication is brain-computer interfaces. Moreover, the author supports the use of internet for educational purposes and summarizes our future in the following words: “Our future is a race between the growing power of our technology and the wisdom with which we use it. Let’s make sure that wisdom wins”.

Lastly one of the greatest scientist of this age does not want a super-elite to develop who would only have the understanding of science and technology. If this happens it would be dangerous, as per Stephen Hawking. It is because of this reason he wants the younger generation to know more about science and the discoveries in science.

Read More

Book Review: Savage Frontier- A History of the Anglo-Afghan Wars by D.S. Richards

First published in 1990, and the later edition of 2003 of this book is what I read. Richards was a RAF navigator in the second world war. He developed an interest in military history and this book of his is an account of the British Indian Army’s struggle against the enemies on the frontier region. Richards tries to cover various important events from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

The various campaigns of the British in fighting, defending and helping various Amirs of Afghanistan are mentioned. Some of the rulers were supported by the British whereas other did not get the same amount of attention. The first, second and third Afghan war are also briefly discussed by the author. With that the significant developments in between are also under discussion. The Chitral Campaign of 1895 is also highlighted as a separate chapter in this book.

Campaign against Faqir of Ipi in 1937, soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the turmoil within Afghanistan is discussed by the author. The ferocity of the Ghilzais, murder of Burnes brothers, war of succession between the Amirs and the role of fanatics in war making is also debated by Richards.

The areas of Kabul, Kandahar and Herat, Jalabad, Khyber and Waziristan are presented by the author as these areas had major encounters with the British on the frontier during the great game. Classification of tribals, their movements, habits and war making skills are also included by the author in this account. At times the author also shows the biases of the colonial forces when describing the local social environments of the region under focus.

Overall this book is not a comprehensive one yet, it provokes the reader into events and other accounts of colonial officers who played pivotal role in the great game period and beyond.

Read More

Book Review: The Idea of History Through Ages by Tahir Kamran

Tahir Kamran, the author of this book helps the reader understand important aspects of historiography. Various theoretical forms are discussed in this work. In the introduction of this book history as a subject is discussed. Whether history is a science or art is debated. The historical method of history is given which divides into a). Preliminaries, b). Analytical method and c). Synthetic method. Detailed classification of historical evidence is also covered in the first chapter.

The second chapter is regarding the Greco-Roman historians. The definition of myth, legend and epic is covered. Starting from Herodotus, Greek historiography is briefly explained. Muslim historians of the medieval times are enclosed in the third chapter. Starting with Al- Tabari and closing with Saqi Mustaid Khan of Aurangzeb’s time period, many historians are included. This includes writers of Arab, Turk, Central Asian and Indian origin. Ibn-e-Khaldun’s views on history, political sociology, geography, education and economics is discussed. His significance and knowledge is also presented before the reader. With that, under historiography many writers who worked under Mughal rule have also been included.

Chapter four brings to light the re-emergence of history in Europe. Vice, Montesquieu, Edward Gibbon and Leopold Van Ranke are under discussion. Their influence, arguments, biases and errors are also mentioned. Historians of Europe in the nineteenth century is the fifth chapter. Under this five schools of history are mentioned. Prussian School of History, Romantic School of History, Political School of History, Oxford School of History and Cambridge School of History are briefly discussed. The writers affiliated with these schools are also reflected upon. The limitations of various works by scholars under different schools are also addressed by the author.

The sixth chapter is on History and Dialectics. Hegel and Marx are explained by the author. How Marx uses Hegel’s method to devise his own ideas is mentioned. Their different methods are also mentioned. The last chapter is about Spengler and Toynbee. Spengler demonstrated that world history is city history and that great cultures are town cultures. Moreover, he writes about civilization. Toynbee has worked on the genesis, growth, and breakdown and disintegration of civilization. This book is certainly a good read as it provides a good overview of the idea of History through ages, as the book title suggests.

Read More

Book Review: Being Pakistani- Society, Culture and the Arts by Raza Rumi

Being Pakistani is a compilation of articles by Raza Rumi that addresses topics related to devotion, literature, arts and personal experiences. Rumi writes about Sufis, legends related the Indus region and cult of the feminine in Sindh province. Moving on to literature, the author writes about Qurratilain Hyder, Manto, Intizar Hussain, Fehmida Riaz and Mustafa Zaidi. Rumi tries to bring out a new understanding embedded in the writing of these writers. He creates new meanings in their work, discusses their influence and also gives his personal encounters with a few of them. This also helps in introducing many of the contemporary writers to the readers.

Moreover, in the book, Rumi writes about arts. Within arts he explains the life and work of various maestros of the field. Some of the unsung heroes are also part of his list. Mehdi Hasan, Alamgir, Runa Laila and Asim Butt’s work are explained in great detail. Lastly, under personal essays Raza Rumi unveils his personal experiences of visiting Bangladesh. He traces the injustices with the people of Bangladesh and also talks about the hospitality that he receives in the country. Rumi’s life in Lahore and his love for the city are explained in the last chapter of the book.

Raza Rumi tries to reflect on the tradition and diversity of the South Asian region, and provides an alternate view in many subjects under discussion in the book.

Read More

Book Review: Seven Years in Tibet By Heinrich Harrer

Seven Years in Tibet is a very powerful and adventurous story of by an Austrian mountaineer. Heinrich Harrer, the author of this book was in the Himalayas attempting the infamous Nanga Parbat mountain, when the second world war broke out. Due to his nationality he was jailed in India. After two failed attempts he finally made it in his third attempt and escaped into Tibet.

His hardships including hunger, hiding from wild animals, traveling through inhospitable terrain and finally entering Lhasa in Tibet, is a wonderful sorry to read. Harrer stayed there for seven years. During this time, he learnt the language, studied the local customs, befriended people, became friend and tutor of the Dalai Lama. In 1951 the red army invaded Tibet and Dalai Lama fled to India with a hundred thousand Tibetans. The author accompanied Dalai Lama to India.

Throughout the book the author has chronologically explained the events during his journey. His days in internment and his partners in the escapement of prison are explained. Furthermore, the rituals, social norms, religious festivities, means of livelihoods, entry into the forbidden city are clearly mentioned. The author works for the government, helps in gardening, makes a small cinema for the Dalai Lama and assists in saving parts of Tibet from flooding by improvising an embankment.

The author regrets leaving Tibet as the political realities change in Asia and the red army invades Tibet Heinrich Harrer leaves Tibet unwantedly. Lastly the author says: “My heartfelt wish is that this book may create some understanding for a people whose will to live in peace and freedom has won so little sympathy from an indifferent world.”

Read More