In an alternate history my doppelganger may have given this 3 stars. It was a toss-up. Professor Hawking's book is too short, lacks some cohesion, and leaves me desiring elaboration and substantiation in some areas, particularly the discussion of string and M theory, and he lost me with cosmic strings. But, it did hold my attention firmly, and Hawking's entertaining style deserves much of the credit. And it only made me hunger for more. So, in the end it's a great book, worthy of its title, as a seed from which greater learning can grow.