Stephen Hawking's goal in writing A Brief History of Time (first published in 1988) was to write an easily accessible book for layman with little or no prior scientific knowledge. The book introduces readers to ideas like the creation and development of the universe (specifically, The Big Bang Theory), space, time, quarks, gravity, general relativity, and quantum mechanics (among many other topics).
The work of a well-respected academic, A Brief History of Time catapulted Hawking into the public eye -- and into superstardom. Upon release, the book became an instant bestseller. Over the course of 20 years, it has sold more than 10 million copies. Publisher's Weekly loved the book, opining that "The merit of this book is Hawking's ability to make these [complex] ideas graspable by the lay reader."
Since its release, A Brief History of Time has been adapted into both a film and, surprisingly, an opera. The film, which was directed by acclaimed documentarian Errol Morris, received largely positive reviews. The opera was never released.
