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Stephen Hawking: A Life in Science

michael white john gribbin

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Originally published in 1992 to great acclaim, this updated edition traces the course of Hawkinga (TM)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 groundbreakinga "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 Hawkinga (TM)s science with a detailed personal history that is both balanced as well as sensitive, we come to knowa "and appreciatea "both.

As Stephen Hawkinga (TM)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.

300 pages, Paperback

First published January 1,1992

This edition

Format
300 pages, Paperback
Published
August 20, 2002 by Joseph Henry Press
ISBN
9780309084109
ASIN
0309084105
Language
English

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About the author

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michael white

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Rating(4 / 5.0, 57 votes)
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57 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
Sajou_San
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 16,2025
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Erittäin mielenkiintoinen, informatiivinen ja helppolukuinen kirja. Vaikka kirjan tiedot fysiikan tutkimuksen alalta ovatkin varmasti paljon kirjan kirjoittamisen jälkeen muuttuneet tai tarkentuneet, on tämä kirja Stephen Hawkingin elämän kuvauksen lisäksi myös valaiseva ja yksinkertainen teos siitä, miltä fysiikan teorioiden kehityskaari on kirjan kirjoittajien silmin näyttäytynyt vuonna 1992.

Suosittelen kirjaa varsinkin niille, jotka yhtään tavallista keskivertokansalaista enemmän ovat kiinnostuneita maailmankaikkeuden synnyn teorioiden kehityksestä, teoreettisesta fysiikasta tai vaikkapa vain niistä tiedemiehistä, jotka näitä asioita työkseen läpi elämänsä ovat pohtineet ja mallintaneet.
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Tobywobydog
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 16,2025
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I have two different english editions on 4y. There is another edition between autobiographies at letter H.
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11una
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 16,2025
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This was an interesting look into the great scientist's personal and professional life. There is much about his two marriages, especially the first to long-suffering Jane Hawking. There is much that reveals the great mind to host an irascible even mean-spirited personality. Since White and co-author John Gribbin have scientific backgrounds, there are gentle introductions to the ideas and concepts advanced and explored by Hawking. There is a fair amount here about his controversial remarks on God and his impressive efforts to advance his own access as a disabled person and help the cause for others.
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Sir-up
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 16,2025
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my random comments my random comments my random comments my random comments my random comments my random comments my random comments my random comments my random comments my random comments my random comments my random comments my random comments my random comments my random comments
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PedroCSilva
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 16,2025
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This is the second time that I have read the creative non-fiction book on Stephen Hawking. Right from the first word in its Preface, Michael White and John Gribbin did not fail to arrest my attention. In fact, after reading it the first time, I set it aside to read other works on the scientist, and I returned to "Stephen Hawking: A Life of Science" to gain a better understanding of some of the opinions and concepts in the book that I inadvertently glossed over in my initial reading.

I was not disappointed at all. In point of fact, this time around, I acquired a vaster understanding of Hawking, his life, his seminal work, and his unexampled successes. All credit to the writers, who are, if I am not mistaken, from a scientific background but who possess a pellucid writing style, tilting towards literariness, which makes the book a delightful read.

Taking cognizance of lay readers’ inadequacies, particularly regarding their comprehension of the scientific theories and principles that the protagonist arduously worked on—which the authors could not avoid dilating upon, as they are sine qua non of Hawking's life and mind—they strenuously essayed to make it as accessible as possible. I should acknowledge that they have succeeded in large measure in the main, but in instances when I did not fathom the scientific concepts, I should attribute it to my own nescience.

Another sterling quality about the book is, as is oftentimes done in fiction works, the writers have created contexts for the events in Hawking’s life, allowing readers to understand the background to them. It was admirably done, I should admit, at least for me, as their technique allowed me to gain a better grasp of the narrative.

Stephen Hawking is one of the best human beings whom the world has seen in the 20th and 21st centuries. He is noted for several significant reasons, such as his phenomenal mind and intelligence (this is one of the rare moments that the word “phenomenal” is accurately used, I reckon), patience, perseverance, detachment, dispassion, humility, endurance, and most important of all, how one should live in this world. Despite being a scientist, in many monumental ways, he has come across as a highly spiritual person with incredible detachment and dispassion.

The scientist possessed a remarkable mind that was so focused, pointed, and concentrated that it was conducive to dissecting any complex, intricate, and convoluted problem peculiar to our existence on earth.

In that respect, therefore, I consider him a spiritual person from whom any serious spiritual aspirant can learn multifarious lessons concerning existentialism.

Anyone who is keen on learning about what and who Stephen Hawking was will find this work to be a good introductory book.
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mori_no_shine
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 16,2025
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Гениалност, прикована в инвалиден стол – Стивън Хокинг: http://www.knigolandia.info/2010/01/b...

Всеки е чувал и виждал най-популярния учен на планетата – Стивън Хокинг. Книгата му “Кратка история на времето” е прецедент със своите милиони продадени бройки, още повече, че е посветена на теми, с които са наясно малък кръг специалисти. Но с разбираемия си стил тя позволи и нас, простосмъртните нефизици и нематематици, да се докоснем до тайните на Вселената.
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Rakeesh
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 16,2025
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Stephen Hawking: A Life in Science by John Gribbin is a biography that by who it is about deals with science particularly physics. The science chapters can be overwhelming for those who did not go far in science but add information and insight into who Stephen Hawking is. It does a good job of giving your insight to Hawking's life but leaves some questions such as how did the news of his ALS diagnosis. It is a book about a scientist who just keeps going thru the obstacles that he faces. It is an important part of the information out there on Hawking's work and life. This work included with Hawking's works are an important part of science and history.
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