{
  "id": 7514434,
  "title": "A new biography of Stephen Hawking gets to grips with a complicated man",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/a-new-biography-of-stephen-hawking-gets-to-grips-with-a-complicated",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-15T09:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Scientist",
    "slug": "new-scientist",
    "url": "https://www.newscientist.com/article/2589245-a-new-biography-of-stephen-hawking-gets-to-grips-with-a-complicated-man/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Stephen Hawking, the renowned physicist, has seen numerous books, documentaries, and films created in his honor. However, Graham Farmelo's new authorized biography of Hawking is the first to offer access to previously unpublished materials from the Hawking family and others. Despite this, family life is not the most captivating aspect of the book; instead, Farmelo focuses on reassessing Hawking's later years. The book's first five chapters delve into Hawking's life in detail, thanks to documents written by his parents, Frank and Isabel. These documents provide insight into Hawking's middle-class upbringing, his parents' roles in his life, and the family's experience during the Nazi V1 rocket incident.\n\nHawking's diagnosis with motor neuron disease and the family's response to the news that he would likely not survive a decade are understandably emotionally charged. Similarly, his growing romance and eventual marriage to Jane also capture attention. However, the biography has been explored in depth before, such as in Jane's autobiography and the film \"The Theory of Everything.\" It is only a quarter of the way into the book, when Hawking becomes a working scientist, that readers' interest begins to pick up.\n\nFarmelo offers a fascinating glimpse into the physics landscape of the late 1960s and early 1970s. At that time, black holes were considered \"the cosmic counterpart of the Loch Ness Monster,\" and Hawking's work on them was groundbreaking. The author's vivid descriptions and meticulous research bring the past to life, making the subject matter more engaging.\n\nOne significant issue addressed in the biography is Hawking's frequent failure to acknowledge his collaborators in his early work. Farmelo does not delve into the psychology behind this behavior but acknowledges it, emphasizing its relevance to the narrative. In the book's epilogue, Farmelo tentatively suggests that Hawking's behavior may have been influenced by a combination of factors, including a lack of original ideas, his desire for fame, and difficulties in communicating due to his deteriorating condition.\n\nOverall, Farmelo's biography provides a comprehensive and engaging look at the life of Stephen Hawking, revealing both his brilliance and his flaws. While it may not captivate readers who are already well-versed in Hawking's story, it offers valuable insights for those seeking a deeper understanding of the man behind the celebrity.",
  "summary": "Graham Farmelo has written the first authorised biography of the famous physicist. He should be applauded for digging into various controversies – but could have gone further, says Jacob Aron",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}