First Impulse Series -- A Brief History of Time: Continuation

Author: Stephen Hawking (United Kingdom) Translated by Hu Xiaoming/Wu Zhongchao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1992-06-01
Features: Stephen Hawking is one of the most internationally renowned figures of this century. Now, for the first time, he has written a popular book that explores the external limitations of our understanding of astrophysics and the nature of space-time. The book is thought-provoking: its engaging preface introduces some of the most important scientific ideas about the universe today, giving readers a glimpse into the wisdom of a highly imaginative and influential thinker of our time. Professor Stephen Hawking's scientific masterpiece, "A Brief History of Time," is a publishing miracle worldwide. It has been printed over 10 million copies and translated into nearly 40 languages. Now, from the award-winning film documentary "A Brief History of Time," comes this book, "A Brief History of Time: Continued," edited for readers who want to learn more about Professor Hawking's life and theories. From the start, when discussing the filming of the film "A Brief History of Time," Professor Hawking insisted that it should not be a biographical film but one that could explain his research theories to a broad audience. As a result, this film, which cost 3.5 million pounds and won the U.S. Documentary Grand Award, became a vivid oral history of Professor Hawking. It includes Hawking, his family, lifelong friends, colleagues, and world-renowned physicists, as well as an passionate overview of the evolution and nature of Professor Hawking's scientific concepts. A documentary can never fully cover the wealth of personal and scientific material collected during the filming process. Therefore, this book is not only a reflection of the film but also significantly expanded in content. The book tells the story of Professor Hawking's life and research through honest and sincere personal interviews, revealing the real "person" behind his monumental theoretical framework. His mother and sister narrate his youth and adulthood. His high school classmates and Oxford Physics Department colleagues recall their lazy school days with intimate humor. Professors from Oxford and Cambridge remember him as a brilliant young man who could not tolerate traditional learning methods. His classmates and physicist colleagues describe some of their and Hawking's research ideas, showing the high regard in which Professor Hawking's theories are held. Each interviewee is accompanied by a detailed biography, and each discussion of scientific concepts is accompanied by textual explanations. The book includes photographs of the characters and life photos of Professor Hawking. It also features numerous illustrations of the scientific concepts discussed, including black holes, the arrow of time.