Stephen Hawking: His Life and Work

By: Kitty Ferguson

Narrated by: Carole Boyd

Length: 12 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Stephen Hawking is one of the most remarkable figures of our time, a Cambridge genius who has earned international celebrity as a brilliant theoretical physicist and become an inspiration and revelation to those who have witnessed his courageous triumph over disability. This is Hawking's life story by Kitty Ferguson, who has had special help from Hawking himself and his close associates and who has a gift for translating the language of theoretical physics for non-scientists.

Twenty years ago, Kitty Ferguson's Stephen Hawking: Quest for a Theory of Everything became a Sunday Times bestseller and took the world by storm. She now returns to the subject to transform that short book into a hugely expanded, carefully researched, up-to-the-minute biography.

©2011 Kitty Ferguson (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Not What it Appears

Would you try another book from Kitty Ferguson and/or Carole Boyd?

No! Stephan Hawking is truly amazing and many of the stories that Ms. Ferguson tells are awe inspiring. Unfortunately Ms. Ferguson appears to have a huge chip on her shoulder over the fact that Hawking happens to be an atheist and goes off on strange religious tangents that really distract from what could have been a great story. For a better glimpse into the genius of Stephan Hawking, consider reading the books he has personally written, which are also available on Audible.

Has Stephen Hawking: His Life and Work turned you off from other books in this genre?

No

What aspect of Carole Boyd???s performance would you have changed?

None - Ms. Boyd did a fine job.

You didn???t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The stories of Hawking are fantastic, but Ms. Ferguson's religious rants are grating.

Too Much Focus on Religion

This is an interesting book on Stephen Hawkins and his work. The theories of cosmology, string theory, inflation are explained very clearly for the lay science reader. My big issue was how much the author focused on the religious aspects of his work as she seemed to become more distraught over his theories leaving less and less room for a god. If the author's concern over the religious implications of his theories were mentioned once in the book that would have been fine, however, it was a recurring topic that really detracted from what otherwise was an excellent book.

A little bit of life - a lot of work..

The title of this book is a little misleading - I was expecting a biography. More than three quarters of this book is devoted to an examination of his theories, and very little to Stephen Hawking the man. Obviously a reader is expecting some science if choosing this book, but the illness he has lived with throughout his life is relegated to playing just a bit part in this book. By the end of the book I knew less about the man than I did his theories.
I suspect that's just the way he would want it as well, but unfortunately the portrait painted of Stephen Hawking by this book is black and white rather than the colour his life of adversity, brilliance and quirkiness could have been.

An excellent mixture of biography and science

This really is an excellent balance of biography combined with really accessible explanations of the science that provide the non-physicist/mathematician with enough understanding to appreciate the magnitude of the work this incredible individual did in a life with more than usual challenges. Ms Ferguson's admiration and regard for Dr Hawking comes are apparent, but she does not shy away from the wrinkles that are part of any life.

I do not understand the criticism of some other reviewers that state that there is: 1) too much religion, or even more incomprehensible, 2) that the author has some "chip on her shoulder about his atheism". Neither statements are true, and I suspect say much more about the reviewers than either the book, or Ms Ferguson. Comment on religion has been important part of the discussion of his science and add thoughtful comment on what we understand of the various models and how a deity may or may not, or must or must not, be involved in how we understand the mechanics of existence.

Really an excellent work!

Very insightful look into a brilliant mind!

Very insightful look into a brilliant mind! It is inspirational to see how this man and his family overcame adversity and contributed so much to science and the world. Makes me want to obtain a physics degree at the age of 46!

A biography of his life AND work

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn about his life and his work. Might be a bit derivative for those who has followed his work. But there are loads of new stuff anyway^^

What other book might you compare Stephen Hawking: His Life and Work to and why?

I would compare it to "Einstein: His Life and Universe" by Walter Isaacson. Very shows many sides of the many issues in his life and shows him as a person instead of a immortal hero

What about Carole Boyd’s performance did you like?

Loved it! She makes the story come to life!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It really gave me a new way to look at his fame. I felt as if I knew him. It made me think of how we always seem to forget how even famous people are just that... people

Any additional comments?

The book might be challenging sometimes, but it's not forbidden to listen to it twice. It's worth it, if you really care about understanding it.

Biography 20 % Physics 80%

What did you like best about Stephen Hawking: His Life and Work? What did you like least?

How a person with a brilliant mind but severely disabled body not only copes with life, but actually excels others in his field equally as brilliant but not as accomplished as Hawking.BUT, although I am totally impressed by her grasp of difficult theoretical physics and attempt to bring this would to us, I really wanted more biography and much less physics. I do like science but this was way more than i had anticipated. I had to wade through the physics to get back to the biography.

Would you ever listen to anything by Kitty Ferguson again?

Maybe

What about Carole Boyd’s performance did you like?

She made me feel like she was the author having these interviews with Stephen Hawking.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

If it had less physics and more story.

Any additional comments?

I did learn a lot about cosmology and physics.

Good Technical Explanations

Any additional comments?

Explanations of very difficult concepts explained well. Life story and description of work combined was thorough and interesting.

A book about the man behind the mind

His story is interesting to say the least. Narration is good. It is more about his life than another view on his theories, but because it is written by a scientist it does make a few attempts to explain his work with black holes and the search for the theory of everything. For me, I like physics, and I like biography so this was a good mix. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is that I ended up not liking Stephen at the end.

Hawking - Interesting, Boyd - Not.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Carole Boyd. I have listened to her before many times and enjoyed her reading, however this time she seemed detached and that made it hard going. A shame because I was really looking forward to this. I don't know if it was that she wasn't that fussed or what?

Who was your favorite character and why?

Stephen, obviously. Not just for his unparalleled intelligence, humour and humility but his perseverance against odds most of us couldn't even begin to imagine.

What didn’t you like about Carole Boyd’s performance?

Her narration in other books is quite engaging, lively and seems energetic, not so in this book which is very disappointing as I was really looking forward to it. I waited to see Theory until after this book, I'm glad I did otherwise I wouldn't have bothered finishing it.

Was Stephen Hawking: His Life and Work worth the listening time?

Definitely worth listening to but in order of preference read the book, see the film listen to the audio - sorry Carole, I have heard you do better.

Any additional comments?

A very well written book with personality throughout.

Inspiration in Steven Hawkins courage & intellect

What did you like best about Stephen Hawking: His Life and Work? What did you like least?

OK audio book. Really interesting to hear the life of Stephen Hawking and I got a lot of inspiration from his courage and his intellect.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Be less technical

Any additional comments?

The book was difficult at times to follow while driving on my daily commute back and forth to work but I got the gist of some of the technical stuff.

The life and work of a genius

I got this book really very worried that it will be one of those super complex science books... but to my relief Mrs. Kitty Ferguson wrote it in a way that even the most complex physic concepts were already digested and relatively easy to understand. To be honest there were sometimes that I had to rewind and listen to them again; but in general the book takes you flawlessly through the life and work of this British genius. Theoretical physics opens up a wide vision to the understanding of the cosmos and ultimately to the understanding of us as human beings, so I think this should be a compulsory reading for anyone with an inquisitive mind. The struggles and the success that seems to appear repeatedly in the life of Prof. Stephen Hawking just add the human flavour to this wonderful book and the narration, by the soothing voice of Mrs. Carol Boyd, complements the whole experience. I strongly recommend this audio book not just to enlighten us but to satisfy the “nerd” that lives inside all of us.