Brief Answers to the Big Questions
Stephen Hawking
Hardcover, 230 pages
Publication Date: October 16, 2018
Publisher: Bantam
Genre: Nonfiction, Science/Physics
Until a few months ago, I did not believe I was capable of reading a Stephen Hawking book. Daunted by terms like quantum gravity, M-theory in eleven dimensions and warped space-time, I stayed far away from Hawking. I am not a scientifically-inclined person, and I used this fact as an excuse to avoid learning about science in my free time.
Then, back in January, my husband purchased “Brief Answers to the Big Questions” and finished it in the span of a weekend. As he told me about the book, he shared how surprised he was with the clarity and readability of Hawking’s writing. Clarity and readability are not characteristics I would normally attribute to the writing of a man who spent his life studying metaphysics. After reading a few pages, however, I realized it was true.
Stephen Hawking writes with a kind, earnest voice. It is readily apparent he writes his books with the sole purpose of sharing what he has discovered with his readers. I had no idea physics and cosmology could be so understandable. A chapter or two in “Brief Answers” still certainly went over my head, but for the most part, I was able to understand what Hawking was saying, and it made a lot of sense.
“Brief Answers to the Big Questions” covers a wide range of topics, from the origins of the universe to space travel and colonization, black holes and environmentalism. Hawking goes beyond science and physics to touch on philosophy, religion and the future of humanity. He talks about where science has come from and where it is going, in respect to his own field of study and others.
Sadly, Hawking passed away in 2018, and “Brief Answers” was published after his death. In many ways, this book is an excellent summary of Hawking’s life work, and people who were impacted by him were able to pay him tribute through “Brief Answers.” Eddie Redmayne, a British actor who portrayed Hawking in the 2014 film “The Theory of Everything,” wrote the foreword. Kip Thorne, a leading voice on general relativity who worked with Hawking extensively, wrote the introduction. Hawking’s daughter, Lucy, wrote a touching afterword about her father.
All in all, this was a touching book, an informative one and a great introduction to Hawking. For those hesitant to dive into the complex world of metaphysics, “Brief Answers” is an excellent place to start. It provides a glimpse into the subject matter of Hawking’s other works like “A Brief History of Time.”
Hawking provides compelling calls to action within the text as well. His stance on climate change and other threatening environmental problems is summed up succinctly on page 147: “these are all solvable but so far have not been solved.” In addition to encouraging everyone to actively work to reverse the damage we have caused the planet, Hawking also petitions everyone to become technologically and scientifically literate in a world which is becoming increasingly dependent on both.
Hawking was an advocate for science, space and humanity itself, and I wish everyone would read the astounding “Brief Answers to the Big Questions.”
Paige Holmes is a junior journalism major from Topeka, KS. Reading is her favorite thing to do because it teaches one how to think, imagine and live. Paige believes there is no better way to learn something or be entertained than by reading a book. Her favorite genre of books is fantasy/thriller and her favorite book is ‘Opening Moves’ by Steven James.
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