Hawking
On sale
24th September 2026
Price: £30
‘When one is faced with the possibility of early death, it makes one realise that life is worth living.’ Stephen Hawking
An insatiable curiosity and appreciation for life powered Stephen Hawking to the furthest reaches of the universe and human achievement: during his remarkable lifetime he shed light on many of the mysteries of black holes and made key contributions to our understanding of the beginnings of the universe, all while captivating the world and selling more than 25 million copies of A Brief History of Time.
A brilliant theoretical physicist, Hawking lived one of the most extraordinary lives of the past century. And yet, none of this should have been possible. Aged 21, he was given only a few years to live – and spent the next fifty-five showing what can be achieved despite near-hopeless odds.
Drawing on his parents’ previously unseen letters and diaries, and exclusive interviews with Stephen’s family, friends and closest colleagues, Costa Award-winning biographer and physicist Graham Farmelo reveals the complex man behind the theories and global celebrity – and the resilience, fortitude and support that enabled him to defy his life-limiting diagnosis.
Vividly told and rigorously researched, Hawking is the definitive portrait of an exceptional man and extraordinary intellect.
An insatiable curiosity and appreciation for life powered Stephen Hawking to the furthest reaches of the universe and human achievement: during his remarkable lifetime he shed light on many of the mysteries of black holes and made key contributions to our understanding of the beginnings of the universe, all while captivating the world and selling more than 25 million copies of A Brief History of Time.
A brilliant theoretical physicist, Hawking lived one of the most extraordinary lives of the past century. And yet, none of this should have been possible. Aged 21, he was given only a few years to live – and spent the next fifty-five showing what can be achieved despite near-hopeless odds.
Drawing on his parents’ previously unseen letters and diaries, and exclusive interviews with Stephen’s family, friends and closest colleagues, Costa Award-winning biographer and physicist Graham Farmelo reveals the complex man behind the theories and global celebrity – and the resilience, fortitude and support that enabled him to defy his life-limiting diagnosis.
Vividly told and rigorously researched, Hawking is the definitive portrait of an exceptional man and extraordinary intellect.
Reviews
This is a compelling and deeply human biography of Stephen Hawking, capturing both the remarkable scientist and the complexity of the man. It offers rare insight into how theoretical physicists think and work, while also showing how Hawking lived with profound health challenges, sustained by family, nurses, friends, collaborators and his enduring fascination with physics. It brings to life not only Hawking's scientific imagination, but also the courage, humour and relationships that shaped his life
The incredible life and science of a man who accepted no boundaries. (Only after reading this wonderful book will you understand the full meaning of the previous sentence.)