Stephen Hawking

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Stephen Hawking's 1988 best seller, A Brief History of Time, sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. It has been translated into 40 languages. Last fall, Hawking returned with a new book aimed at the general public. The Universe in a Nutshell (Bantam) already is zipping up the best-seller lists. Lavishly praised by Time magazine, The Universe in a Nutshell brims with spectacular full-color illustrations. The new book is easier to understand than A Brief History of Time. It highlights Hawking's famous wit, erudition and writing ability.

Hawking employs his brain to range around those huge theoretical topics that terrify and fascinate laypeople, particularly those who do not attribute the literal creation of the cosmos to God's hand. Questions such as: Is the universe infinite? What Omega Replica Watches is the nature of time, light, space? What is the Big Bang theory?

Asked whether physics is the most poetic of the sciences, Hawking replies, Physics is the most fundamental of the sciences. In that sense, it is the most poetic. "

Asked ...
... if having three children harmed his own research, Hawking says, "I haven't felt a conflict between my children and my work. My disability prevented me from the rough and tumble, but I gave them a lot of time and attention." His russet-haired grandson is featured in full, proud color in The Universe in a Nutshell.

Hawking was diagnosed with ALS at 21. On his Web site, he discusses his disability and reflects on a boy he met at the hospital. I had seen a boy I vaguely knew die of leukemia, in the bed opposite me. It had not been a pretty sight. Clearly, there were people who were worse off than me. At least my condition didn't make me feel sick. Whenever I feel inclined to be sorry for myself, I remember that boy.

Asked about his mixing hard science and fun details, Hawking says, "I find a few human touches help the science go down. I don't plan them, they just bubble up." Hawking occupies the Lucasian chair of applied mathematics and physics at Cambridge University. The chair's second occupant was Isaac Newton.

In the end, he writes, "I see myself as a scientist Omega Speedmaster Replica trying to uncover the basic laws that govern the universe. If I can encourage others to take an interest in those laws, I'm glad, but that has not been my primary aim."