Stephen Hawking Genius at Work

A behind-the-scenes tour of the inner sanctum of one of the world’s most prominent scientific thinkers.

In 2021, The Science Museum made a once-in-a-lifetime acquisition of the contents of Stephen Hawking’s office. This book delves into that remarkable collection, using the seminal papers, items, and curiosities in his office to explain his theories and reveal more about one of the greatest minds in modern science. It’s an unprecedented glimpse into the life of the best-known scientist of modern times.

Artifacts include:

• A Simpsons bomber jacket gifted to him following his appearance on the show
• A copy of Hawking’s PhD thesis: Properties of an Expanding Universe
• Singularities and the Geometry of Space, written at the beginning of his vital collaboration with Roger Penrose
• His blackboard, where he debated ideas and doodled with his contemporaries
• Scientific bets made with colleagues to prove (and sometimes disprove) his theories
• His Permobil F3 wheelchair and communications systems
• Hawking’s Franklin medal and his CBE

＂In this unique book, Roger Highfield’s clear expositions of Stephen Hawking’s ideas are supplemented by fascinating illustrations that convey how he lived and worked. It’s a beautifully-presented celebration of Stephen’s amazing life - how his insights and discoveries were achieved against heavy odds.＂

- Martin Rees, Baron Rees of Ludlow and Astronomer Royal

Roger Highfield is the science director of the Science Museum Group. Roger has visiting professorships at the Department of Chemistry, UCL, and at the Dunn School, University of Oxford; is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences; and is a member of the Medical Research Council and Longitude Committee. He has written or co-authored 10 popular science books, including two bestsellers. During his research, he became the first person to bounce a neutron off a soap bubble.