Continuation of A Brief History of Time

Author: Stephen Hawking
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2002-01-01
Features: Stephen Hawking is one of the most internationally celebrated figures of this century. Now, for the first time, he has written a popular book that explores the extrinsic limitations of our understanding of astrophysics and the nature of space-time, offering profound insights. Its fascinating preface introduces some of the most important scientific ideas about the universe today, leaving readers in awe of the wisdom of a contemporary, imaginative, and influential thinker. Stephen Hawking, widely revered around the world as the greatest theoretical physicist since Einstein, presents a scientific masterpiece in "A Brief History of Time," which is a publishing miracle worldwide. It has sold over 10 million copies and has been translated into nearly 40 languages. Now, inspired by the award-winning documentary "A Brief History of Time," this book—A Brief History of Time: Continued—is compiled for readers who wish to learn more about Professor Hawking's life and his theories. From the outset, Professor Hawking insisted during discussions with the film director about shooting "A Brief History of Time" that it should not be a biographical film but rather one that explains his research and theories to a broad audience. As a result, this film, which cost ￡3.5 million and won the American Documentary Award, became a vivid oral history of Professor Hawking. It includes interviews with Hawking, his family, lifelong friends, colleagues, and renowned physicists, as well as a passionate journey through the evolution and nature of his scientific concepts. A documentary can never encompass all the rich personal and scientific material collected during the production process. Therefore, this book not only reflects the film but also significantly expands its content. Written in the form of candid and sincere personal interviews, it narrates Professor Hawking's life and his research work, revealing the real "person" behind his monumental theoretical framework. His mother and sister recount his childhood and adult life. His high school classmates and Oxford physics department colleagues humorously recall their carefree days at school. Teachers from Oxford and Cambridge remember him as an exceptionally brilliant young man who could not tolerate traditional learning methods. His classmates and physicist peers describe some of their and Hawking's research ideas, showcasing the reverence in which Professor Hawking's theories are held. Each interviewee is accompanied by a detailed biographical introduction, and every scientific concept discussed is explained in text. The book is illustrated with photographs of the characters and Professor Hawking's life, as well as numerous images that depict the scientific concepts discussed, including black holes and the arrow of time.