Battle of the Big Bang: The New Tales of Our Cosmic Origins

by Niayesh Afshordi, Phil Halper

Overview

“Excellent.”—Steven Poole, The Wall Street Journal • “Terrific.”—Liz Else, New Scientist (Best Popular Science Books of 2025) • “A brilliant overview of the state of modern cosmology.”—Alex O'Connor, alexoconnor.com • “This will expand readers’ minds.”—Publishers Weekly
 
“An intellectual feast.”—Carlo Rovelli • “A must-read.”—Sabine Hossenfelder • “Wonderfully broad and open-minded.”—Roger Penrose • “Remarkable.”—Brian Keating

A thrilling exploration of competing cosmological origin stories, comparing new scientific ideas that upend our very notions of space, time, and reality.
 
By most popular accounts, the universe started with a bang some 13.8 billion years ago. But what happened before the Big Bang? And how do we know it happened at all? Here prominent cosmologist Niayesh Afshordi and science communicator Phil Halper offer a tour of the peculiar possibilities: bouncing and cyclic universes, time loops, creations from nothing, multiverses, black hole births, string theories, and holograms. Along the way, they offer both a call for new physics and a riveting story of scientific debate.
 
Incorporating insights from Afshordi’s cutting-edge research and Halper’s original interviews with scientists like Stephen Hawking, Roger Penrose, and Alan Guth, Battle of the Big Bang compares these models for the origin of our origins, showing each theory’s strengths and weaknesses and explaining new attempts to test these notions. Battle of the Big Bang is a tale of rivalries and intrigue, of clashes of ideas that have raged from Greek antiquity to the present day over whether the universe is eternal or had a beginning, whether it is unique or one of many. But most of all, Afshordi and Halper show that this search is filled with wonder, discovery, and community—all essential for remembering a forgotten cosmic past.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780226830483
Publisher:	University of Chicago Press
Publication date:	05/29/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	368
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Niayesh Afshordi is professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Waterloo and associate faculty at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Ontario, Canada. He has contributed to Scientific American and was a consultant to PBS’s NOVA, and his work has been featured in numerous popular media outlets, such as the covers of Scientific American and Science, as well as in The Guardian and The New York Times. Phil Halper is a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and a science popularizer. He is the creator of the popular YouTube series Before the Big Bang. His astronomy images have been featured in major media outlets including The Washington Post, the BBC, and The Guardian, and he has published several papers in peer-reviewed journals. He lives in London.

Table of Contents

Preface: Before Our First Memory

1. The Beginning: Cosmology from Thales to Hawking
2. The Multiverse and the Ultimate Free Lunch
3. Hawking’s U-Turn and a Universe from Nothing
4. String Theories and Colliding Branes
5. The Big Bounce
6. Déjà Vu and the Cyclic Cosmos
7. Born from a Black Hole
8. Speeds of Light
9. Holograms and Missing Dimensions
10. Can the Universe Create Itself?
11. Science of Religion, Religion of Science
12. The End of the Beginning

Acknowledgments
Appendix: Big Bang Models Cheat Sheet
Notes
Index

Editorial Reviews

"[This] excellent book promises to map the 'quiet revolution' of twenty-first-century cosmology and introduce us to the revolutionaries. . . . What distinguishes this book from others on the subject . . . is that [Afshordi] and Halper are generously curious about alternatives and warn against the excessive skepticism of other scientists toward rival theories. Afshordi and Halper readily admit that we don’t know enough to rule out much at all. Maybe there are two dimensions of time. Maybe the whole universe is a hologram. Maybe 'geometry is an illusion.' Battle of the Big Bang brilliantly humanizes such abstract speculations by highlighting the powerplays and publicity struggles of competing scientific teams."

The Wall Street Journal - Steven Poole

"This is not only an exploration of scientific inquiry but also a compelling narrative about the evolution of ideas, from ancient Greek philosophy to modern cosmology. It offers an engaging blend of history, science, and intellectual debate and will appeal to readers with an interest in physics, astronomy, and the mysteries of existence, making it an invaluable resource for those looking to understand the origins of our universe."

Library Journal

"Battle of the Big Bang: The New Tales of Our Cosmic Origins by Afshordi and Halper surveys theories of what caused the big bang, including black holes, 'bouncing' universes, and time loops."

Publishers Weekly (Spring 2025 Fiction & Nonfiction Preview: Science)

"Discover the wild world where the universe literally forgets what's big and what's small, why some scientists think this cyclical cosmos is the answer to everything, while others call it pure fantasy―and why both camps might be having religious wars instead of scientific debates."

What the If?

May 2025 Must-Read Books

Next Big Idea Club

A remarkable guide to the perplexing world of modern cosmology, charting the extraordinary journey of the Big Bang theory from its origins to its present status as the cornerstone of not only cosmology but modern science itself. With clarity and wit, Battle of the Big Bang illuminates the perplexing discoveries, the violent debates, and the all-too-human stories shaping our understanding of the universe. More than a scientific history, this is a story of resilience, rivalry, and humanity’s relentless quest to reveal the origins of the cosmos—a must-read for anyone who has ever wondered about our place in the universe but been too intimidated to ask.

Brian Keating

"The universe started with a big bang. Or did it? In this book, physicist Afshordi and science communicator Halper masterfully weave together how much—or how little—scientists know about the beginning of everything. It is the ultimate origin story and a must-read for everyone curious about where everything comes from."

Sabine Hossenfelder

"Competing cosmological origin stories, new scientific ideas that upend our very notions of space, time and reality."

The Bookseller

"Five stars. . . . There have been plenty of popular science books about the big bang and the origins of the universe (including my own Before the Big Bang) but this is unique. In part this is because it's bang up to date (so to speak), but more so because rather than present the theories in an approachable fashion, the book dives into the (sometimes extremely heated) disputed debates between theoreticians. . . . It gives a real insight into the alternative viewpoints and depth of feeling."

popularscience.co.uk - Brian Clegg

"An interesting experiment of integration between two opposite ways of popularizing science. . . . The question that drives the book is direct: Was there something before the Big Bang? We do not know the answer to this question, but the book guides the reader through some of the main recent ideas about what such an answer might be. . . . A virtue of the book is that it compares strengths and weaknesses of the main current research directions. . . . Happily, the book also depicts science as a journey in which the best of our theories and observational capacities can prove themselves, and speculations are scrutinized in the light of current data and future testability. Because yes, the quest to understand what lies beyond the Big Bang is a not a free flight of imagination: it is, and it must be, primarily a quest for new observational data capable of supporting hypotheses. The 'Battle of the Big Bang' will be won on the grounds of observations."

Nature Astronomy - Francesca Vidotto

"[Afshordi and Halper] go beyond the history of the cosmos and explore speculative ideas about its prehistory. . . . These are ideas that may strike even veteran readers of popular science books as questionable or even unscientific, yet Afshordi and Halper make a convincing case that there is much to be gained by considering what happened before the classical idea of the Big Bang. . . . A compelling scientific and personal perspective on one of the biggest—yet somehow underexplored—questions in cosmology: Does the universe have a beginning? . . . Battle of the Big Bang is not a retrospective but rather a forward-looking book that details controversial theories that are still very much under debate."

American Scientist

"Was the big bang the beginning of the universe? Of our universe? Of all universes? Did the universe spring out of a singularity? Do we have any evidence for the multiverse? Did inflation have a beginning? Why do many physicists talk about inflation as having occurred not just after the big bang, but before it? . . . Together, [Afshordi and Halper] have authored . . . a brilliant overview of the state of modern cosmology on these questions."

alexoconnor.com - Alex O'Connor

"I couldn’t put this book down! Beautifully and clearly written, it offers a unique exploration of the Big Bang—not just the science we know, but the mysteries that remain. With vivid storytelling and deep insight, the authors guide readers through the origins of the universe, competing theories, and the very human struggles behind groundbreaking discoveries. This is a must-read for anyone curious about our cosmic beginnings."

Stephon Solomon Alexander

"The universe is the oldest thing in existence, yet studying its origin yields some of the freshest insights science can offer. Jointly written by a researcher deeply embedded in the field and a popularizer of ideas, equally talented at the different things they do, Battle of the Big Bang lays out everything there is to know and everything that’s still to be discovered about cosmology."

Leviathan Bookstore - James Crossley

Afshordi and Halper . . . do an admirable job of wrestling complex and wildly abstract ideas onto the canvas of the page. . . . If the science and the vanities that illuminate the cosmos are of interest to you, you will enjoy reading Battle of the Big Bang.

Newcity - Patrick Roberts

A captivating read. In many books, early-universe cosmology is presented as established. Afshordi and Halper show nothing could be further from the truth!

Robert Brandenberger

"If you want to understand the origins of our origins, from the personal journeys of those who have struggled to come to these conclusions, allow Afshordi and Halper to be your tour guides on a very remarkable journey. Five stars."

BBC Sky at Night - Laura Nuttall

It’s so good to finally get the truth about what happened at the Big Bang in book form. Not that we actually know, but that’s the point. Maybe the Big Bang was the beginning, maybe it wasn't. There are a lot of exciting possibilities, which cosmologists are actively debating, and Battle of the Big Bang lets you listen in on those heated conversations.

Sean Carroll

"An entertaining—and often refreshingly irreverent—update on the state of current collective obsessions and controlled schizophrenias in cosmology’s effort to understand the origin of the universe. . . . Despite—or perhaps because of—its focus on conflict, this book ultimately paints a picture of a vital and healthy scientific process, a kind of controlled chaos, ripe with wild ideas, full of the clash of egos and littered with the ashes of failed shots at glory."

CERN Courier - Will Kinney

How did the universe begin? Humans have pondered this question for millennia. We still don’t know how it began—it may not even have a beginning. Many of the world’s brightest and most creative physicists are struggling with a wealth of ideas that attempt to address this profound question. Afshordi and Halper delve into their ideas, providing a lucid tour of forefront physics and the personalities that have shaped the ideas.  An exciting read for anyone who wants to ponder the deepest questions in cosmology.

David Spergel

Battle of the Big Bang is a look at how science works at the frontiers of knowledge. It’s a high-stakes game played by some of the smartest people around. As one of the players, with a theory on the table, Afshordi is in an ideal position to tell the story. And Halper, one of the best science interviewers in the business, brings a treasure trove of conversations with participants on all sides. This results in a book full of wonderful insights and back stories that will be new to many readers.

J. Richard Gott

Afshordi and Halper’s Battle of the Big Bang is a wonderfully broad and open-minded historical perspective, with much detailed analysis, of the study of the origin of the universe. It provides us with an excellent overview of the various approaches to this deep and important issue.

Roger Penrose

"Each of the more than two dozen proposals is wilder than the last. . . . With helpful diagrams and illustrations, the authors succeed in breaking down for lay readers the mind-bending physics behind each theory. This will expand readers’ minds."

Publishers Weekly

A book that leaves you feeling like you understand less about the universe than when you started it might sound like it has failed. But when that ‘understanding’ was an illusion based on dogma, and a book manages to pry open a long-sealed door in your mind, that’s a success. Battle of the Big Bang offers both intellectual humility and a reviving invitation to remain eternally open-minded. It reminded me of how far I’d drifted from being one of the fearless schoolchildren who, after I declare with certainty that the universe began with a Big Bang, ask, 'But what came before it?' That curiosity, unashamed and persistent, is far more scientific than shutting the door for fear of the uncertain.

Physics World - Emma Chapman

For years I have been watching Halper’s documentary films on the Big Bang in preparation for my debates with theists who invoke the beginning of the universe as evidence for God’s existence. Now Halper and cosmologist Afshordi have compiled into this magisterial volume the latest scientific theories about the Big Bang, the multiverse, string theories, cyclic cosmos, black holes, time, dimensions, and the ultimate question in all science and religion: why is there something rather than nothing? If you want to know what banged and why, read these invaluable answers to life’s grandest questions."

Michael Shermer

"A terrific round-up of just about every theory about the big bang: bouncing and cyclic universes, time loops, multiverses, string theory, black hole births and much more, written by a physicist with skin in the game (Afshordi) and a top science populariser (Halper). Over twelve chapters, the authors explore what they call 'science’s earliest memory,' when the universe 'sprang forth from an infinitely dense inferno' and began to expand, never once looking back. For them it is about the 'origin of our origins'—but also the need for a new physics. Their plan is to take us through a new landscape of ideas, where we discover the strengths and weaknesses of competing models and learn how science is done, including the rivalries and fights over tiny details of abstruse theories. And, of course (no spoilers), it all starts with what you think you mean by the big bang…"

New Scientist ("The best popular science books of 2025 so far") - Liz Else

"Engaging, passionate, and very well documented, this account of the intellectual struggle to figure out what actually happened 14 billion years ago, when the universe as we know it was born, is a pleasure to read and an intellectual feast of ideas."

Carlo Rovelli

"You’ve heard of the big bang, the explosive origin to our universe. But what made the big bang? What’s the origin of the origin of our universe? Halper and Perimeter researcher Afshordi offer explanations based on interviews with scientists like Stephen Hawking, Roger Penrose, and more. If you have someone wondering about the original 'chicken or the egg?' question of our universe, then this book is for them."

Perimeter Institute (2024 Perimeter science nerd gift guide)

"An entertaining—and often refreshingly irreverent—update on the state of current collective obsessions and controlled schizophrenias in cosmology’s effort to understand the origin of the universe. . . . Despite—or perhaps because of—its focus on conflict, this book ultimately paints a picture of a vital and healthy scientific process, a kind of controlled chaos, ripe with wild ideas, full of the clash of egos and littered with the ashes of failed shots at glory."

CERN Courier

"An interesting experiment of integration between two opposite ways of popularizing science. . . . The question that drives the book is direct: Was there something before the Big Bang? We do not know the answer to this question, but the book guides the reader through some of the main recent ideas about what such an answer might be. . . . A virtue of the book is that it compares strengths and weaknesses of the main current research directions. . . . Happily, the book also depicts science as a journey in which the best of our theories and observational capacities can prove themselves, and speculations are scrutinized in the light of current data and future testability. Because yes, the quest to understand what lies beyond the Big Bang is a not a free flight of imagination: it is, and it must be, primarily a quest for new observational data capable of supporting hypotheses. The 'Battle of the Big Bang' will be won on the grounds of observations."

Nature Astronomy