Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Introducing Stephen Hawking (Introducing (Graphic Guides))” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Introducing Stephen Hawking (Introducing (Graphic Guides))

J.P. McEvoy

3.80 · Rating details · 583 ratings · 46 reviews

Introducing Stephen Hawking is a brilliantly conceived introduction to Hawking's work, ranging from Einstein's Theory of Relativity to Black Holes and the Big Bang. It also explains Hawking's research into Quantum Gravity, which could emerge as a Theory of Everything. ...more

Get A Copy

Or buy for $4.99

Paperback, Fourth Edition, 176 pages

Published August 15th 2005 by Icon Books LTD (first published July 11th 1991)

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Introducing Stephen Hawking (Introducing, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 3.80 ·

Rating details

· 583 ratings · 46 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of Introducing Stephen Hawking (Introducing (Graphic Guides))

Feb 16, 2020 ItsSyryus rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

An exceptional and wonderful book! Whole review will be posted on Instagram at: @fantasyryus

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Jul 23, 2020 Carys rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 26, 2016 Bob Nichols rated it it was ok · review of another edition

This is a frustrating book. Key ideas are tossed out without much or with no explanatory text about how the authors got to their bottom line.* Much of the illustration and text is about Hawking as a personality, functioning at the highest intellectual level despite his disability, with the text breezing through his ideas.

Hawking’s singularity theory, the authors write, is “a point at which time comes to an end and the laws of physics break down.” Does this mean that time is the movement/dissipa This is a frustrating book. Key ideas are tossed out without much or with no explanatory text about how the authors got to their bottom line.* Much of the illustration and text is about Hawking as a personality, functioning at the highest intellectual level despite his disability, with the text breezing through his ideas.

Hawking’s singularity theory, the authors write, is “a point at which time comes to an end and the laws of physics break down.” Does this mean that time is the movement/dissipation of heat energy which stops under a singularity event? Presumably, the same goes for “space” (the authors introduce the idea by referencing “space-time” but then revert just to “time”) because it is bound up in some ultra-contraction event. Interestingly, does this mean that the big bang is not an explosion into pre-existing space, but rather, an explosion that creates space as energy and matter moves outward? This is an interesting question because the authors’ diagram (pp. 82-83) of a big bang scenario has the explosion going outward “into space,” begging the question as to what lies outside the lines of the diagram indicating the explosive expansion.

In a singularity event (“gravitationally collapsed stars,” renamed now as black holes), Hawking says that the “laws of quantum gravity take over.” This is where Einstein’s general relativity (gravitational collapse into a singularity) is a last bastion of classic physics, though the authors are not clear why this is so unless it’s meant that under singularity conditions, gravity pulls matter and energy so tight that no other gravitational effect is possible (no further room to go; is this the infinity of physicists?). One might think that this is too much for energy and matter to handle (a forcing together of sub-sub particles/energy quanta), resulting in an explosion, but Hawking does not go there. But neither does he say that energy and matter remain bound up forever (as the big bang name itself conveys). This moves the discussion into Hawking’s theory on black hole radiation where energy is released and eventually the black hole disappears, its energy having been reintegrated into the cosmic energy field.

The authors describe particles and anti-particles interacting at the boundary of the black hole, with one being absorbed and the other bouncing out and they say that this is the Hawking radiation. How does one make sense of this? The black hole per se does not disappear; rather, the radiation occurs at the black hole boundary, the event horizon. How absorption of “one of the particles into the hole” reduces the black hole’s mass density the authors don’t say.** This all has something to do with entropy and the dissipation of heat energy (movement from hot to cold), though it is not clear how that works. But clearly something is missing from that explanation as the authors later state, simply, that it is in fact the black hole itself that disappears. Quoting Freeman Dyson, the authors write that “A black hole is not absolutely permanent but will ultimately evaporate into pure radiation.” In any event, whatever happens at the event horizon, the authors describe it as the boundary between classical physics (gravity, the pulling of matter-energy into itself under the general theory of relativity) and quantum physics (uncertainty principle and what happens inside of the event horizon) and that it was Hawking, not Einstein, who unites classical and quantum physics.***

The book mentions at the end that the then pope (John Paul) was ok with modern physics to a point. Quoting what the pope reportedly said, the authors write: ‘“ It’s all right to study the evolution of the universe after the big bang, but don’t inquire into the big bang itself, because that’s the moment of creation and therefore the work of God.’”

*E.g., The authors state, for example, that Einstein dismisses the force of gravity, which made it unnecessary therefore “to explain the odd coincidence that inertial and gravitational mass are exactly the same.” The book is filled with these leaping statements that makes it hard for the lay reader to follow its key arguments.

**“Hawking considered what might happen at the surface of a black hole (i.e., at the event horizon), “where the intense gravitational field interacts with these virtual pairs [particle and antiparticle]. It seems the intense gravity at the surface of the black hole can attract one of the particles of the virtual pair into the hole (negative energy), reducing the mass of the black hole, while the other unpaired particle (positive energy) escapes in the form of radiation and can be detected by an outside observer….”

***Hawking “was in effect combining quantum mechanics and general relativity in a single calculation for the very first time.”
...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

May 27, 2019 Mohamed IBrahim rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Wonderful book

This book is the best book I read about the Stephen hawking contributions to cosmological, yes it is very simple and avoid the technical details and depend on the mental pictures just as hawking himself used to do after his ALS.

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

May 25, 2018 Di Salas rated it it was amazing

A beautiful read. While very light (can be easily read in an afternoon while enjoying the wonderful pictures), it doesn't shy away from the concepts it has to explain in order to understand the Professor's legacy.

Every concept shown is first introduced in its historical context: where were we before? What did we know? And which ideas were floating in the air? It moves from the beginning of the XXth Century, when science was believed to be finished, to the atomic revolution during WWII, introduci ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Mar 22, 2014 Eloise Sunshine rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I must say I did enjoy every single page of this book! If you care to take interest into our universe and how things work in it, then this book is definitely a good place to start your journey of discovery and gathering of knowledge.

I don't remember much of the physics taught back in school and I was probably also rarely attending the classes. It was no obstacle to perfectly well understand the theories and natural laws described in here. Perhaps I thought a few times there could've been a littl ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Aug 07, 2019 Ansove rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This book was very great.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Mar 03, 2017 Allthatcraic rated it liked it · review of another edition

Really interesting and a good introduction to Hawkins's theory and astrophysics for those like me who did physics only until the GSCE. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Nov 17, 2011 Icon Books rated it it was amazing

Shelves: popular-science

'An ideal introduction' Independent 'Astonishingly comprehensive - clearer than Hawking himself' Focus

Stephen Hawking is the world-famous physicist with a cameo in "The Simpsons on his CV", but outside his academic field his work is little understood. To the public he is a tragic figure - a brilliant scientist and author of the 9 million-copy-selling "A Brief History of Time", and yet confined to a wheelchair and almost completely paralysed. Hawking's major contribution to science has been to in ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Nov 30, 2016 Bader rated it liked it

Shelves: science

It was a lovely journey.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Sep 08, 2020 Granthana Sinha rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Introducing Stephen Hawking: a graphic guide by J. P. McEvoy & Oscar Zarate

📓Genre: Biography Science Graphic Novel

Star: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

🔖I wasn't exactly planning to read a biography, but the first few pages kept me captivated & I ended up finishing the book in a couple of days.
🔖The book not only talks about Stephen Hawking's scientific achievements, but also beautifully highlights the life's works of the world-famous physicist with simple diagrams for better understanding.
🔖Stuck with motor neurone di ...more

flag Like · see review

Aug 28, 2020 gabriellalodia rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: have-it, favorites, introducing-series

I didn't expect that I would've truly, truly enjoyed this book! I had several of the introducing series and this one definitely will stay on the top list. The writer and illustrator didn't only talk about Hawking's life per se, but also the basics of Newton Laws and Einstein's contribution in physics, as well as some other scientists who was working on similar topic!

I've been learning physics since middle school but this is the first time that I came to truly appreciate the beauty of it. Also, h ...more

flag Like · see review

Sep 13, 2019 Gulo rated it liked it · review of another edition

Great intro/refresher. Passed on to middle school aged neighbor after reading.

My one takeaway quote:

"The uncertainty principle, as elucidated by Werner Heisenberg in 1927, states that there are limits on how accurately we can observe certain physical quantities, such as position, momentum, energy and even time. This is not a limit on our instruments but an inherent characteristic of the Universe, which does not reveal any (emphasis in original) quantity with absolute precision."

-McEvoy and Za ...more

flag Like · see review

Oct 11, 2019 Shobhit rated it liked it · review of another edition

The book introduces contributions Stephen Hawking made to scientific world. The author tried to make the concepts understandable to someone having basic science background.

I missed reading more about Hawkings personal life, challenges. Hawking told the author that he feels he is lucky to have got ALS but still having sharp mind. But going deeper into his lifestyle is something I wanted to read more.

The book is good read to get general idea of Einstein theory of relativity, quantum physics and th ...more

flag Like · see review

Jun 03, 2019 Johannes Duckeck rated it it was amazing

Shelves: biographies

One of the better Introducing... books! This one goes in depth on its subject, but also does a good job of imparting knowledge of the surrounding topics and necessary background information. It ties them in very smoothly and balances peripheral and specific Hawking knowledge perfectly.

My only complaint about this book is that it hasn’t been revised or appended since its release in 1995, despite being released in a new format. It does seem quite dated.

flag Like · see review

Apr 20, 2020 Prabin_p rated it really liked it

The book makes for a nice reading at leisure. It suites complete beginers to physics or people with no science background as they get to follow the creation of a genius in view of the theories he proposes. Following the line of theories that make our present understanding of the cosmos today is a great journey put into the book with astonishing clarity and ease.
Even people with a physics background will find the development of the story interesting and the graphics just makes it better.

flag Like · see review

Jul 17, 2018 Megha Kumar rated it it was amazing

An amazing introduction to the works of the great Hawking. His famous theories relating to black holes and the origin of the universe; "Quantum Gravity", and the theories will lead to it, all of this condensed and put forth incredibly.
A little intimidating at first, with all the excess of information, but worth a plunge! ...more

flag Like · see review

Jul 05, 2020 Snehasish Nayak rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This book is more concerned about the brief history of the advancements in the field of Cosmology, and Astrophysics rather than Stephen Hawking only. From Einstein's theory of Relativity to Hawking's Radiation every term can be found inside it. However, It does not include the deep technical descriptions about them. Which makes the book easy to understand by a layman. ...more

flag Like · see review

Apr 11, 2019 Bob rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: science-nature-etc, biography

Has all the information about cosmology that I ever want to know. I was impressed by the efforts of the researchers into this subject; I do not have high confidence in their conclusions. Maybe they are more or less right, maybe not.

flag Like · see review

Oct 14, 2019 Persephonie rated it liked it

Shelves: non-fiction

I don’t know how much of this information will stick in my head, but it was a very interesting and comprehensive look at Stephen Hawking’s contributions to cosmology as well as other attributing minds.

flag Like · see review

Nov 18, 2017 Dan Cohen rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: science-and-maths, biography

Well written and illustrated.

flag Like · see review

Dec 20, 2018 Kevin Zamora rated it liked it · review of another edition

Perspectives, insight, thought provoking for median knowledge.

flag Like · see review

May 02, 2019 Rakesh rated it it was amazing

Shelves: science

Good as a introductory book on concepts. Touches on all physics without the hardcore maths. Worth keeping on your shelf as the illustrations are superb and makes it a interesting read

flag Like · see review

Jul 18, 2019 Mark Sullivan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Nice book on a difficult topic

I would recommend this book to those who know a little bit of physics and need a simple explanation. I liked the organization of the material.

flag Like · see review

Dec 31, 2019 Miko Murray rated it liked it

3.5 stars

flag Like · see review

Mar 27, 2020 Cris Cruz rated it liked it · review of another edition

Good book

Good book visually, not many pictures for a graphic guide but I guess thats the point, enough graphics to go along with your reading.

flag Like · see review

Apr 11, 2020 Corrie Aw. marked it as not-finished

Cant't remember what I read for even two minutes and decided to give up. Physics somehow go over my head. ...more

flag Like · see review

Apr 04, 2011 Chris rated it liked it

At first glance it appears to be a little comic book about Stephen Hawking. Closer to the truth is that it's a little comic book about quantum mechanics, black hole properties, singularities, etc (even better). Highly superficial and light, but at least this cursory introduction uses diagrams rather than scary equations. I approve. ...more

flag Like · see review