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Brief Answers to the Big Questions by Stephen Hawking - 4 stars - My Review

In the last book he wrote before his death, Stephen Hawking provides his thoughts on ten of the “big questions�� he has been asked frequently over the years:
1. Is there a God?
2. How did [the Universe] begin?
3. What is inside a black hole?
4. Can we predict the future?
5. Is time travel possible?
6. Will we survive on Earth?
7. Is there other intelligent life in the Universe?
8. Should we colonize space?
9. Will artificial intelligence outsmart us?
10. How do we shape the future?

This is a book of popular science, written in such a way as to be accessible to those not well-versed in his specialty, theoretical physics. These ten questions are posed in a straight-forward way and contain answers that touch on such complex topics, such as universal relativity, quantum mechanics, scientific determinism, string theory, gravitational waves, and the uncertainty principle. Luckily, the reader does not need a deep knowledge of any of these subjects to benefit from Hawking’s insights.

The book reads as a series of essays, with the occasional repetition. I particularly enjoyed the segments on Artificial Intelligence and finding another habitable planet in space. In addition to the scientific content, Hawking includes a partial autobiography. In relating his experiences, Hawking’s self-deprecating sense of humor shines through. It contains an Introduction by Hawking’s colleague, Kip Thorne, and an Afterword by his daughter, Lucy, describing the last years of his life and funeral.

There are significant warnings in this book, which we would do well to heed. Hawking points out that scientific understanding will be critical to the future of humanity. He provides guidance and points out some of the big challenges. Hawking remains optimistic that our global society, working together, can tackle them.