Stephen Hawking is arguably the most famous physicist since Albert Einstein. His decades-long struggle with ALS (Lou Gehrigs disease) combined with his singular brilliance as a cosmologist has fascinated both the public & his colleagues in science. In this engagingly written biography Kristine Larsen a physicist & astronomer herself presents a candid & insightful portrait of Hawkings personal & professional life. Avoiding the hero-worship sometimes found in popular works on Hawking Larsen emphasises that Hawking is first & foremost a scientist whose work has made significant contributions to our understanding of the nature & origins of the universe. Writing in non-technical language for the lay reader Larsen clearly explains Hawkings complex scientific accomplishments while telling the story of his challenging life. The topics include Hawkings early lack of focus as a college student; the impact of ALS on his career & personal life; his groundbreaking work on radiating black holes; his later cutting-edge theories of black holes cosmology & the anthropic principle; the amazing publishing success of A Brief History of Time"; & his status as a pop icon & spokesperson for the interplay of science & society. Larsen situates Hawkings sometimes-controversial work within the broader context of scientific peer review & public debate & discusses his personal life with compassion respect & honesty."