Brief Answers to Big Questions

The 10 questions addressed here include

1. Is there a God?
2. How it all began?
3. Is there other intelligent life in the universe?
4. Can we predict the future?
5. What is inside a black hole?
6. Is time travel possible?
7. Will we survive on Earth?
8. Should we colonise space?
9. Will artificial intelligence outsmart us?
10. How do we shape the future?

I was skeptical about this book. I wasn’t sure if I would grasp everything about cosmology, quantum physics, black holes, and string theory. That’s the amazing thing about Hawkings. He simplifies things for you, and you get the gist. His answers are straightforward, factual, and funny. He never misses an opportunity to throw in a joke. What a remarkable person and a remarkable life, and he is so honest about everything he thinks and has experienced.

© 2026 Sindhuja Cheema Enzinger. All Rights Reserved.

Joy of X - A Guided Tour of Math, from One to Infinity

It was a fun book to read.

Nonetheless, while I appreciated various concepts as I read, I regretfully struggle to recall much of it. I can recall numerous examples and recognize my own errors in forming conclusions. Yet, I find it challenging to replicate the intriguing quadratic equations or mathematical simplifications presented. I wouldn’t be able to show it to you just like that.

I liked the practical techniques for calculating the square of a number close to 50 or manually determining Pi.here were several interesting facts; one that stuck with me is that algebra comes from the Arabic word “al jabr,” which means “reunion of broken parts.” It is the title of a book written by the Persian mathematician Al-Khwarizmi. If you had a fear of math, I suggest reading this book; it will alter your perception. I think this book needs a second read for me.

© 2026 Sindhuja Cheema Enzinger. All Rights Reserved.