Stephen Hawking is arguably the most famous scientist in the world, and many of us may know that black holes are his forte, but do we really have any idea what a black hole is? In this remarkably engaging book, Paul Strathern not only demystifies Hawking's universe-expanding theories, but helps readers appreciate why such knowledge is essential for anyone who wants to more fully understand the world around them.Just a few of the big ideas featured in Hawking & Black Holes are: how the universe originated and what this has to do with black holes how the big bang actually worked why black holes aren't actually black Is a Unified Theory of Everything possible (the ultimate Big Idea)? Hawking & Black Holes also portrays the iron-willed determination of a man who continues to search for the key to understanding the cosmos, despite the devastating effects of motor neuron disease. Brilliantly simplifying the most complex ideas, Hawking & Black Holes will help you grasp the universe in ways you never thought possible.