{"product_id":"9780553907070","title":"The Grand Design","description":"\u003cb\u003e#1 \u003ci\u003eNEW YORK TIMES\u003c\/i\u003e BESTSELLER\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen  and how did the universe begin? Why are we here? What is the nature of  reality? Is the apparent “grand design” of our universe evidence of a  benevolent creator who set things in motion—or does science offer  another explanation? In this startling and lavishly illustrated book,  Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow present the most recent scientific  thinking about these and other abiding mysteries of the universe, in  nontechnical language marked by brilliance and simplicity. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAccording  to quantum theory, the cosmos does not have just a single existence or  history. The authors explain that we ourselves are the product of  quantum fluctuations in the early universe, and show how quantum theory  predicts the “multiverse”—the idea that ours is just one of many  universes that appeared spontaneously out of nothing, each with  different laws of nature. They conclude with a riveting assessment of  M-theory, an explanation of the laws governing our universe that is  currently the \u003ci\u003eonly\u003c\/i\u003e viable candidate for a “theory of everything”:  the unified theory that Einstein was looking for, which, if confirmed,  would represent the ultimate triumph of human reason.","brand":"Random House Publishing Group","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47107309437168,"sku":"9780553907070","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780553907070_p0.jpg?v=1763718414","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780553907070","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}