Science & Nature· United Kingdom
A Brief History of Time
by Stephen HawkingAggregate Editorial Score41/100
Goodreads Choice Award
Published 1988241 pagesEnglish
Buy on Amazon → About This Book
Few works of science & nature have earned the sustained critical attention that A Brief History of Time (1988) by Stephen Hawking continues to receive. Hawking's account of cosmology—from the Big Bang and black holes to quantum mechanics and the nature of time—became one of the most popular science books ever written. A transformative work of public science communication. Themes of cosmology, time, black holes run through the work. The book has received recognition from Goodreads Choice Award 1988.
Book Details
About the Category
🔬 Science & Nature
Non-fiction exploring the natural world and scientific discovery.
Explore all Science & Nature books →Country of Origin
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
This book is part of United Kingdom's rich literary tradition.
Explore books from United Kingdom →Editorial Assessment
A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking sits within the tradition of science & nature that treats language as seriously as plot. Published in 1988 in United Kingdom, it engages with cosmology, time, black holes, physics in ways that have earned it lasting critical attention.
Critics and institutions have consistently placed A Brief History of Time among the notable works of its period. Among its recognitions: Goodreads Choice Award 1988. Our aggregate score of 41/100 is compiled from 1 editorial sources that range from Nobel and Booker committees to leading literary journals.
What distinguishes A Brief History of Time is how it handles its central concerns — cosmology, time, black holes, physics — without reducing them to neat conclusions. The book invites close reading and holds up well to it.
A Brief History of Time reflects Stephen Hawking's place in a wider literary tradition. The book's concerns resonate with United Kingdom's broader cultural preoccupations, even as they reach beyond any single national context.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 1 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.
Awards & Recognition
Goodreads Choice Award
notable · global
198813
Stephen Hawking is a celebrated author from United Kingdom known for influential works of science nature.
What to Read Next
psychology
Designed to Feel
Peter Burchardt· 2024
Bestseller
Editorial Score95/100
psychology
The Happiness Blueprint
Peter Burchardt· 2024
Editorial Score91/100
psychology
Hooked by Design
Peter Burchardt· 2024
Editorial Score88/100
literary-fiction
The Overstory
Richard Powers· 2019
★Pulitzer Prize
Editorial Score78/100
biography-memoir
The Periodic Table
Primo Levi· 1975
★Nobel Prize in Literature
Editorial Score71/100
literary-fiction
The Echo Maker
Richard Powers· 2007
★National Book Award
Editorial Score67/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Popular on 50 Best Books
Best Science Fiction Books of All TimeScience FictionBooker Prize Winners — Complete List & GuideLiterary PrizesNobel Prize in Literature — Every Winner Since 1901Literary PrizesClassic Literature Reading List — 50 Essential BooksReading GuidesBest Books for Beginners — 20 Easy Reads for New BookloversReading Guides