Before the Big Bang

The Origin of Our Universe from the Multiverse

By: Laura Mersini-Houghton

Narrated by: Xe Sands

A revolutionary new account of our universe’s creation—and a breathtaking exploration of the landscape from which we sprang—from one of the world’s most celebrated cosmologists

What came before the Big Bang, and what exists outside of the universe it created? Until recently, scientists could only guess at what lay past the edge of space-time. However, as pioneering theoretical physicist Laura Mersini-Houghton explains, new scientific tools are now giving us the ability to peer beyond the limits of our universe and to test our theories about what is there. And what we are finding is upending everything we thought we knew about the cosmos and our place in it.

Mersini-Houghton is no stranger to boundaries—or to pushing through them. As a child growing up in Communist Albania, she discovered a universe beyond her walled-off world through the study of math and science, and through music. As a female cosmologist in a male-dominated field, she transcended the limits that society and her profession tried to place on her. And as a trailblazing researcher, she helped to revolutionize the study of our universe by revealing that, far from living in a cosmic Albania, with a world that ends at its borders, we are part of a larger family of universes—a multiverse—that holds wonders we are only beginning to unlock. Mersini-Houghton’s groundbreaking research suggests that we sit in a quantum landscape whose peaks and valleys hide a multitude of other universes, and even hold the secret to the origins of existence itself. Recent evidence has revealed the signatures of such sibling universes in our own night sky, confirming Mersini-Houghton’s theoretical work and offering humbling evidence that our universe is just one member of an unending cosmic family.

The incredible scientific saga of one woman’s mind-expanding journey through the multiverse, Before the Big Bang will reshape our understanding of humanity’s place in the unfathomable vastness of the cosmos.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Laura Mersini-Houghton (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

Excellent

A beautiful and provocative book weaving together both a fascinating autobiography and the latest in cosmology. Highly recommend it

Amazing book it’s a must read for those that are curious about the beginning of our universe

This book is so well written it is a must read if you want to understand how our universe came to be, and what lies beyond it. The multi-verse.

Cosmology simplified but not oversimplified

This is a terrific exposition of the science behind the Big Bang and more well presented. I had to rewind a few times to consider what was said but it never got too dense.

We are not alone in this universe

I loved her writing style mixing her personal life and history with physics. Great read.

Absolutely loved this story, this tale, the incredible journey from the shores on the beach to the edges of the multi universes

Interwoven personal storytelling with a brilliantly, finely honed instrument of mind; sharing insights of the cosmos and the heart, brings childlike joy to this listener

Enjoyable for a non-physicist

Wonderful tale and dive into the cosmos. We rarely get opportunities to learn about the most advanced sciences without feeling overwhelmed as laymen. This book offers just that

Definitely a book worth reading

According to Albert Einstein, “The definition of genius is taking the complex and making it simple.” Definitely, Professor Laura Mersini-Houghton’s book fits Einstein’s definition. Professor Mersini-Houghton pioneered the most complex and revolutionary theory of the origin of our universe making it clear and simple for the masses. In the same way, as Darwin fathered the theory of evolution making us, humans, aware of our place in the process of evolution, Mrs. Houghton goes further and develops a ground-breaking theory of the origin of our universe answering the impossible question. It is a fascinating book worth reading.

A NEW FAVORITE!

This audio book is a very personal life journey of the author Laura Mersini Houghton from growing up under a dictatorship in once past Albania, to freedom of choice in the United States. It is deeply touching and reveals the challenges of her as a young child to her career as a scientist in the fields of astrophysics and cosmology, to her family life with her husband and daughter Grace. The title of the book is what most intrigued me, BEFORE THE BIG BANG, The ORIGIN of the UNIVERSE and WHAT LIES BEYOND. How could she know this deeply hidden property that seems to extend beyond any known place and time? What Laura does through math and physics reaches beyond those unseen limits to reveal a new place and time that can be actually tested and has been revealed through current satellite technology. I relistened again to this incredible story and have added it to my favorites.
One word about the author, she is a brilliant mathematician & Physicists who incorporates "String Theory" to develop her and her colleague's techniques. Some of the topics can be difficult if you have never been exposed to this type of math, but the book is narrated exceptionally well by Xe Sands. It's as if you are in the presence of Laura as she reads with perfect annunciation of the math and science terms as well as the foreign languages sometimes incorporated.
I highly recommend this audio if you love science and math and find pleasure in learning. I have added this to my New Favorites!

Informing, Interesting, and A Personable touch

This book presents a "Before the Big Bang" theory in an informative, interesting and enjoyable way. Doctor Laura Mersini-Houghton has a writing style that makes it interesting by adding some background about her personal life. If your looking for a book that just presents the theory ("Just the facts mam, Just the facts" -- Dragnet circa 1950's) then skip this one and read an executive summary someplace else. If your looking for a book that explains Dr. Laura's theory and how she came about her genius epiphany then listen/read this book. I learned a lot and was entertained at the same time. Amazing!

Narration: Five stars plus. I felt like Dr. Laura was talking to me personally even though it was narrated by Xe Sands.
Story: To me it was five stars plus. To my wife it would be minus five stars......she would stop after reading the title.
Overall: I am fascinated by all things surrounding earths origin. This book adds to that facilitation.

An Excellent Story on the Possible Origin of Our Univers

The author gives us the necessary background information to understand how her theory of the origin of our universe comes within a ‘quantum landscape’ of universes, or multiverse. It is occasionally difficult but a few rereadings of these sections usually allowed me to get a handle on what she was saying. It does help that she writes effortlessly. As well this is a memoir and a very interesting one from her youth in communist Albania to a professor of physics at UNC. I highly recommend this work of popular science. Xe Sands narration is perfect for the story, steady and clear in the science sections, and occasionally infused with appropriate emotion in parts of the memoir. A true joy and I will undoubtedly listen again to this audiobook.