Skip to main content
Stephen Hawking: A Life in Science: Second Edition

VIEW LARGER COVER

Stephen Hawking

A Life in Science: Second Edition (2002)

Originally published in 1992 to great acclaim, this updated edition traces the course of Hawking’s life and science, successfully marrying biography and physics to tell the story of a remarkable man.

Stephen Hawking is no ordinary scientist. With a career that began over thirty years ago at Cambridge University, he has managed to do more than perhaps any other scientist to broaden our basic understanding of the universe. His theoretical work on black holes and his progress in advancing our knowledge of the origin and nature of the cosmos have been groundbreaking—if not downright revolutionary.

Stephen Hawking has also spent much of his adult life confined to a wheelchair, a victim of ALS, a degenerative motor neuron disease. Clearly his physical limitations have done nothing to confine him intellectually. He simply never allowed his illness to hinder his scientific development. In fact, many would argue that his liberation from the routine chores of life has allowed him to focus his efforts more keenly on his science.

Hawking certainly would have been remarkable for his cutting edge work in theoretical physics alone. However, he has also managed to popularize science in a way unparalleled by other scientists of his stature. He became a household name, achieving almost cult-like fame, with the release of his best-selling book, A Brief History of Time. Although steeped in the potentially overwhelming complexities of cosmology, he succeeded in selling millions of copies to audiences eager to learn even some of what he has to offer.

Science writers White and Gribbin have skillfully painted a portrait of an indefatigable genius and a scientific mind that seemingly knows no bounds. Knitting together clear explanations of Hawking’s science with a detailed personal history that is both balanced as well as sensitive, we come to know—and appreciate—both.

As Stephen Hawking’s new book, The Universe in a Nutshell, hits the best-seller lists, it is the ideal time for readers to learn more about this remarkable man and his vast body of accomplishments.

Joseph Henry Press logo Contractual obligations prohibit us from offering a free PDF of this title published under the Joseph Henry Press imprint of the National Academies Press.

The views expressed in this book are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Academies.

RESOURCES AT A GLANCE

Author Bio

Michael White is the author of numerous books, including the best-selling The Science of the X-Files, The Pope and the Heretic, Leonardo: The First Scientist, and biographies of Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, Isaac Asimov and other luminaries. White lives with his family in Perth, Western Australia.

John Gribbin is a prolific science writer who has penned numerous books, including Hyperspace: Our Final Frontier, Stardust: Supernovae and Life—The Cosmic Connection, In Search of Schrödinger’s Cat. Gribbin is married with two sons and lives in East Sussex, England.

Suggested Citation

Michael White, et al. 2002. Stephen Hawking: A Life in Science: Second Edition. Washington, DC: Joseph Henry Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/10375.

Import this citation to:

Publication Info

360 pages |  5.5 x 8.25 |  DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/10375

Copyright Information

The National Academies Press (NAP) has partnered with Copyright Clearance Center's Marketplace service to offer you a variety of options for reusing NAP content. Through Marketplace, you may request permission to reprint NAP content in another publication, course pack, secure website, or other media. Marketplace allows you to instantly obtain permission, pay related fees, and print a license directly from the NAP website. The complete terms and conditions of your reuse license can be found in the license agreement that will be made available to you during the online order process. To request permission through Marketplace you are required to create an account by filling out a simple online form. The following list describes license reuses offered by the NAP through Marketplace:

  • Republish text, tables, figures, or images in print
  • Post on a secure Intranet/Extranet website
  • Use in a PowerPoint Presentation
  • Distribute via CD-ROM
  • Photocopy

Click here to obtain permission for the above reuses. If you have questions or comments concerning the Marketplace service, please contact:

Marketplace Support
International +1.978.646.2600
US Toll Free +1.855.239.3415
E-mail: support@copyright.com
marketplace.copyright.com

To request permission to distribute a PDF, please contact our Customer Service Department at customer_service@nap.edu.