Stephen Hawking: Quest for a Theory of the Universe

Hawking is both a scientific superstar and a man widely admired for overcoming--indeed, all but ignoring--the degenerative muscular disease ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), which has robbed him of almost all movement but left his mind intact. Hawking is hot on the trail of the ``Theory of Everything,'' the basic understanding of how the universe came into being and what makes it tick. His brilliant theories encompass the big bang (if there was one); black holes (which may not be black); and the astonishing question of why, among the infinite possibilities, the universe chooses to exist in the unlikely way that it does. God, time, and our place in the cosmos all seem as important to him as the complex equations governing the fundamental particles. This splendid, carefully researched study of the man and his ideas--based on interviews with Hawking, a good knowledge of his subject, and many secondary sources--balances the fascination of physics (extremely well described) with the fascination of the man. By his work, Hawking has earned a comfortable home to share with his wife of 26 years and his children. Still, he and Jane Hawking are separated; she says he wants to do ``absolutely everything that comes to his notice,'' leaving little time for the family. Ego? Overcompensation? Or the sense of being so close to understanding that there's room for little else? Does the personal drama have anything to do with the universe? With this man and this universe, probably. B&w photos; graphs and diagrams; full source notes; bibliography; glossary; index. (Nonfiction. 13+) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Grade 7 Up-- Ferguson alternates descriptions of periods in Hawking's life with nonmathematical explanations of his studies in physics. She uses numerous diagrams to help readers visualize the discussions; even so, the scientific sections become progressively harder to comprehend. In the end, it is difficult to imagine that many people will plow all the way through. Those with little background will simply give up; others with enough mathematical knowledge will want to see some of the equations that lead to Hawking's startling, counterintuitive results. Such criticism can justly be leveled at Hawking's A Brief History of Time (Bantam, 1988), which also convinces readers in the opening pages that all will be comprehensible at the end. The author provides a uniquely accurate popularization of a complex subject; some bits and pieces of insight improve upon Hawking's own book. The sections on the man are very readable, certainly less repetitive and mawkish than Sheridan Simon's Unlocking the Universe (Dillon, 1991), which omits more theory and thereby makes fewer demands on his readers. Nevertheless, all three books vary as to their readability, with peaks and valleys that reach different levels. --Margaret Chatham, formerly at Smithtown Library, NY
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.