A newly released biography by Graham Farmelo, titled Hawking: His Life and Work, delves into the life of the late theoretical physicist, portraying him as an individual who possessed “an exceptionally clear, uncluttered mind.” The book, published by John Murray in 2026, chronicles how Hawking defied severe physical disability to become one of the most influential scientists of the twentieth century, transforming our understanding of gravity, black holes, and the cosmos.
Despite relying on a computer to communicate, Hawking emerged as one of the world’s foremost science communicators. His theories, though not yet empirically verified, continue to dictate the agenda in modern physics. Furthermore, his resilience and advocacy for humanity elevated him to an iconic status for those facing adversity. Farmelo dedicates the work to “anyone thinking of giving up on life,” highlighting Hawking’s ability to surmount physical limitations to produce groundbreaking scientific contributions.
The narrative emphasizes Hawking’s sociability, humor, and capacity for friendship as central pillars of his success. The author shares a personal connection, noting that they became close friends in 1996 while working at the University of Cambridge, UK, and benefited from Hawking’s generous spirit. The biography also details his dedication to students and colleagues, balancing this with an honest account of his personal struggles, including the dissolution of his two marriages and the constant health risks he faced.
Diagnosed with motor neuron disease just as he began his PhD, Hawking was given only a few years to live but ultimately survived to the age of 76. He chose to tackle the complex mathematics of Einstein’s general theory of relativity, using deep geometrical insights to master equations that govern the Universe. This academic rigor led to global recognition and the 1988 publication of A Brief History of Time, which sparked widespread public interest in cosmology.
Farmelo’s objective tone serves as a corrective to the sensationalism that often surrounded Hawking during his lifetime. The book addresses his occasional overreach, lost bets, and shifting viewpoints, including his later aspirations for a Nobel Prize. However, the review suggests the biography may understate Hawking’s broader engagement with social justice. For instance, his support for anti-apartheid efforts in South Africa and his advocacy for the Palestinian territories receive limited coverage.
Hawking’s activism included a significant friendship with Roelof Botha, South Africa’s foreign minister during the end of apartheid, and his patronage of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in Muizenberg. During a 2008 visit to AIMS, he met former President Nelson Mandela and expressed hope that Israel and Palestine would emulate South Africa’s reconciliation process. He also visited Birzeit University in 2006 and became the godparent of a Vietnamese orphan named Thu Nhàn, whom he hosted at Cambridge.
The biography traces Hawking’s academic journey from Oxford, where he was considered bright but unconventional, to Cambridge, where he studied under Dennis Sciama. Inspired by Roger Penrose’s breakthroughs on black holes, Hawking extended these methods to cosmology, leading to his seminal thesis, Properties of Expanding Universes. Farmelo’s detailed account offers a richer perspective than the 2014 film The Theory of Everything; when asked about the film’s accuracy, Hawking reportedly described it as “pure fiction” despite enjoying the portrayal.
His ability to remain sociable and humorous despite such profound physical limitations is truly inspiring. A remarkable man indeed.
Did anyone else notice how little the book covers his Vietnam advocacy? I expected more on that than what Farmelo provided here.
Finally, a biography that strips away the Hollywood glamour. Hawking was deeply human, flaws and all, and this book captures that perfectly.
I was genuinely surprised to learn about his anti-apartheid work. It feels like a crucial piece of his legacy that deserves far more attention.