Stephen HAWKING is an English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author. He is best known for his 1988 book, A Brief History of Time, which was an international bestseller. HAWKING wrote the book to explain complex theories of physics and cosmology in a way that could be understood by the general public. The book has been translated into more than 40 languages and sold over 10 million copies. HAWKING's work has made him one of the most renowned scientists of our time.