Genesis: The Story of How Everything Began

Genesis is Guido Tonelli's remarkable book. It contains a fundamental statement to which all points arising are derivative . . . thanks and wonder are truly due.“But original chaos, understood as the void, is anything but disorderly. There is no more strictly ordered, regulated and symmetrical system than the void. Everything belonging to it is strictly codified, every particle of matter goes hand in hand with its corresponding antiparticle, every fluctuation dutifully observes the constraints of the uncertainty principle, everything moves to a cadenced and well-tempered rhythm, a perfect choreography without improvisation or virtuosic excess.”In Italian (the language in which the original was written) the words 'well-tempered' are 'ben temperato' which brings out more clearly the 'well-timed' (rather than the 'well-beaten') properties of this 'code'.'Without improvisation' the significance of this cadence (the harmonic series) leads deteministically to 'Phi', a key feature of the Higgs Boson, the data-based confirmation of which is largely the narrative of this truly remarkable narrative.The statement confirms that order preceds chaos.A vital lesson for our trouble times.

I was really looking forward to reading this. I am a huge fan of Carlo Rovelli and enjoy science books on all sorts of topics from physics, astronomy, genetics ... as well as having a passion for history, philosophy and the arts. I was utterly astonished at the tone and approach of the author. I was immediately stunned that the book opens with the 'out of Africa' theory and puzzled that someone of this scientific calibre seems unaware of the weight of studies raising issues with this doctrine as with the Darwinian model of human evolution. I could have got past this if the tone taken with the reader wasn't so patronising. He makes it clear that he believes himself to be of far greater intelligence than any reader could possibly be while making broadly sweeping and unnerving statements about the human condition. His view, in my humble opinion, is deeply polarised and I was reminded of Avi Loeb's assertion that science is driven by those looking to proclaim and congratulate their own intelligence in search of the next prize.I was looking forward to reading the book advertised in terms of the reviews printed on the cover and I loved the premise but two chapters in and I was left puzzling as to who this book was written for? I will be writing a more comprehensive review on these issues on Instagram @trutonereads for anyone interested.I bought this book for a scientific viewpoint, what I got was someone who thinks they have a monopoly on truth. Disappointing. I would have thought someone involved in activities at CERN would have been far more interesting. First book I have bought in years where I really have wanted my money back.

I liked every aspect of it, although I found it intellectually challenging even for an engineering degree.Well Done.

From the Big Bang to eternal hope, the story of everything and everyone. The science is staggering but the synthesis is even better. An excellent read.

I could highlight nearly every sentence in this superbly written book. All the incredible events over billions of years that enable us creatures to be here now

A tour de force of scientific view of genesis from Big Bang to formation of stars and galaxies and solar system.