A Brief History of Time (Penguin Random House), by Stephen Hawking

One of the most brilliant theoretical physicists in history writes a modern classic. It doesn’t quite sound right but Hawking’s A Brief

History of Time has helped a constellation of non-scientists understand fundamental questions of physics and our existence: where did the universe come from? How and why did it begin? Will it come to an end and, if so, how?

The book was published more than two decades ago, and with the passing of Hawking in March, it seems a reasonable time to honour the man further and remind the world of his book.

Hawking is one of the great minds of our time, but just a small part of his greatness comes from him writing in language we all can understand. His book explores black holes and quarks, antimatter and the big bang, and wondrous and unexpected possibilities. Somehow Hawking brings us closer to the ultimate secrets at the heart of creation.