Stephen Hawking by Kristine M Larsen
Stephen Hawking is arguably the most famous physicist since Albert Einstein. His decades-long struggle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), combined with his singular brilliance as a cosmologist, has fascinated both the public and his colleagues in science. In this engagingly written biography, Kristine Larsen, a physicist and astronomer herself, presents a candid and insightful portrait of Hawking's personal and professional life. Avoiding the hero-worship sometimes found in popular works on Hawking, Larsen emphasizes that Hawking is first and foremost a scientist whose work has made significant contributions to our understanding of the nature and origins of the universe. Writing in nontechnical language for the lay reader, Larsen clearly explains Hawking's complex scientific accomplishments, while telling the story of his challenging life. Topics include Hawking's early lack of focus as a college student; the impact of ALS on his career and personal life; his groundbreaking work on radiating black holes; his later cutting-edge theories of black holes, cosmology, and the anthropic principle; the amazing publishing success of A Brief History of Time; and his status as a pop icon and spokesperson for the interplay of science and society. Larsen situates Hawking's sometimes-controversial work within the broader context of scientific peer review and public debate, and discusses his personal life with compassion, respect, and honesty.
[T]he story of his life…is told with sympathy, and skilfully interwoven with the developments in Hawking's pioneering theories in cosmology, black holes in particular, and the search for the theory of everything… [A]n intriguing work. Early in her book, the author says that Hawking does not like biographies, so would probably not read this one. Want a bet? * Gnomon *
In an elegant, pristine universe black holes are decidedly messy. Apprentice physicists may try to sweep them under the cosmic carpet and hope no one notices the lump. The masters, like Hawking, relish the messy bits, the structure of space-time, the no-boundary concept, the baby universe. Larsen makes such messy bits, and Hawking's expertise in straightening them out, accessible to general readers and sets the concepts within the framework of Hawking's career and personal life. As a result, along with explanations of the theory of everything we learn why Hawking turns up so much in the media as one of the greatest and certainly one of the most easily described physicists on the planet. * SciTech Book News *
His devilishly complex cosmological theories are handled engagingly in accessible language for the lay reader. [T]his is a touching portrait that will grace any bookshelf. * Astronomy Now *
[T]his is a well-written introduction to Hawking and his work that is worth having. * SB&F *
In an elegant, pristine universe black holes are decidedly messy. Apprentice physicists may try to sweep them under the cosmic carpet and hope no one notices the lump. The masters, like Hawking, relish the messy bits, the structure of space-time, the no-boundary concept, the baby universe. Larsen makes such messy bits, and Hawking's expertise in straightening them out, accessible to general readers and sets the concepts within the framework of Hawking's career and personal life. As a result, along with explanations of the theory of everything we learn why Hawking turns up so much in the media as one of the greatest and certainly one of the most easily described physicists on the planet. * SciTech Book News *
His devilishly complex cosmological theories are handled engagingly in accessible language for the lay reader. [T]his is a touching portrait that will grace any bookshelf. * Astronomy Now *
[T]his is a well-written introduction to Hawking and his work that is worth having. * SB&F *
Kristine Larsen is Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Central Connecticut State University.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780313323928 |
| ISBN 10 | 0313323925 |
| Title | Stephen Hawking |
| Author | Kristine M Larsen |
| Series | Greenwood Biographies |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing Plc |
| Year published | 2005-06-30 |
| Number of pages | 190 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |