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I had tried reading this book when I was in school. I remember how I understood all the words, as Prof. Hawking has refrained from using terms too technical, but couldn't stitch together a picture. And I was only gonna put so much effort into looking cool; so I left reading it halfway.

I finally read this book, having graduated in Physics; and can empathize with school-me. Chapter 2 has Friedmann models and singularities and CMBR. I felt they had been well explained for the general audience, but that is probably because I already had a fair idea about them.

The book, The Theory of Everything, is 125 odd pages long. There is only so much depth that can be present. Quasars and neutron stars are introduced casually and they disappear almost immediately. Analogies do not appear frequently; and when they do, they are concise. There is very little digression from the main subject: understanding the beginning of the universe. It is an intense book in that sense.

The latter part of the book kept me on the edge, too. Almost every line was a logical piece needed to follow the story of the universe. Unsurprisingly, I was able to comprehend less and less of it. Imaginary time and renormalization were explained almost nonchalantly.

One thing that puts me off when reading popular science books is the elaborate analogies used to explain quantum mechanics: the collapse of states, the uncertainty principle and especially coherence. Thankfully, Prof. Hawking has steered clear of watering down quantum mechanics and referencing the Schrodinger's cat. Quantum mechanics is introduced in the book when the readers are told that classical general relativity would break down at the beginning of time.

One aspect about popular science books which I enjoy is the stories about the physicists and the interactions between them. This book, given its short length, is badly lacking in that aspect.

Following Prof. Hawking all the way through would be difficult for the common reader, even though the language isn't very technical. And I can't comment on how people comfortable with advanced physics would find this. But it is a fairly good read for people with a decent grasp over high school and early college physics.