读书笔记， 《My Brief History》

读书笔记， 《My Brief History》

I'm so proud of myself for the effort in reading this book in a paperback. It is a small book in size. Considering a scientific giant of who Steven Hawking was, his writing is rather reader friendly and down to earth. It's one of those books once you pick up, it's hard to put down. He actually has a good sense of humor. I've read through the part that he had graduated from Oxford and went to Cambridge for graduate school. To my surprise, students in Oxford (at least his friends) were not hard working people. They didn't want to show that they studied hard. They competed who's did not have to work hard but still could survive the harsh academic disciplines just by their mental brightness. Also, he had opportunities to study with some great minds in these great universities. Great teachers were so important for a bright young student's development.

The British school system was an elite education system in the 1950's. Students were classified into A, B and C streams from their earlier ages. Students in the A stream were destined to better academic universities. And others would be sent to technical training schools. And these selections would not stop until they finished high school. Every year they were ranked within their classes. Certain top percentages of students would be classified as A stream students. I can see that one of the advantages of the system was the tax payers would save some money on training the right people for their right careers.

It was interesting that he went to Cal Tech and live and work there for a period of time in the 1970's. I kind of agree with his opinion about the American's "can do" attitude comparing to those of British's conservative, restrictions and seem not much things can get them exited, because that was my short experience too, when I went there in Briton. Hawking, even in wheel chair at the time, was very active in research. He liked to bet against other professors on certain topics. At one particular bet on particle physics and black holes, if he lost, the other famous professor would receive a one year subscription of the "Private Eye" magazine. If he won, he would receive a one year subscription of the "Penthouse" magazine. It was a surprise for me to know that these great scientists having this kind of sense of humor. If you haven't heard of the Penthouse, you may have heard it's competition: "Playboy" magazine.

Hawking married with three children. Hawking was elected to be member of a really exclusive research committee. When his health condition was getting worse and worse, his then wife was so worried about he would be dead soon and she might need help for taking care of their children. She dated a musician and eventually the man moved into their house. When his wife and the musician's relationship got too intimate, Hawking finally couldn't stand it and moved out. At that point he was totally disabled. He's not only quadriplegic, but also lost his voice and hearing. Previously he could write research papers and books by dictating. By then he could only input word letter by letter by raising his eye brows to another person who showed him the letters and accept it. Then he received help from Intel and other high tech companies that provided him a computer input device that allowed him to input words by moving his chin slightly for 3 words per minute. And a voice simulation device that allowed him to give speech. With these help, he continued to write 7 books and many research papers! I felt ashamed about myself when I read to this point with all the resources that's available for me and still think my life is tough! And I was also so inspired.) Later he was elected to a prestigious professorship at Cambridge that previously held by Sr. Isaac Newton. What an honor it was.

His another book 《A Brief History of Time》was wildly successful. It was on the New York Times' best seller's list for more than 140 weeks. Instead of the Big Bang theory about the birth of our universe, he proposed a theory of "no boundary" of the universe. It's a rather long story to discuss this here. I don't intend to explain it here and make believe that I have already understood it. And the last chapter of his book was entitled "No Boundaries". As an almost totally disabled person, he's had a life that's truly no boundary. He is a top scientist in the field of theoretical physics. He has written many books. He's visited every continent in the world, spoken in the Great Hall of China, being the anchor person for the 2012 London Olympic Games. What else can a man ask for? I think he is not only a nerdy scientist, he is also a real tough man that stand tall in his own way. I can't help thinking about a quote that I have read previously and like to remind myself all the time:

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming -- WOW--What a ride!!!"