“I had not expected ‘A Brief History of Time’ to be a best seller.”
- January 8, 1942 – March 14, 2018
- British
- Theoretical physicist, science writer
- Announced the black hole singularity theorem and Hawking radiation, and contributed to the popularization of science with his book “Talking about the Universe”
Quote
“I had not expected ‘A Brief History of Time’ to be a best seller.”
Explanation
In this quote, Stephen Hawking reflects on the unexpected success of his first popular science book, A Brief History of Time. When the book was first published in 1988, it aimed to make complex concepts in theoretical physics—such as black holes, quantum mechanics, and the Big Bang theory—understandable to the general public. Despite its technical subject matter, the book became a global phenomenon, becoming one of the most well-known and widely-read books on science.
Hawking’s surprise at the book’s best-seller status is a testament to the public’s interest in science and curiosity about the universe. At the time, most science books were either highly technical or overly simplified, leaving a gap for an accessible yet intellectually rigorous work. A Brief History of Time found a unique balance, attracting readers who were eager to understand the mysteries of the universe, even without a deep scientific background. It spoke to Hawking’s belief in the importance of making science accessible and engaging for everyone, not just academics.
The success of A Brief History of Time also helped cement Hawking as a global figure in both science and popular culture. It introduced many people to cosmology and sparked a renewed interest in scientific literacy. Hawking’s unexpected commercial success with the book highlighted a broader shift in how science could be communicated and appreciated by the public, and it also paved the way for future works in popular science writing.
