Brief Answers to the Big Questions

The world-famous cosmologist and #1 bestselling author of "A Brief History of Time" leaves us with his final thoughts on the universe's biggest questions in this brilliant posthumous work. How did the universe begin? Will humanity survive on Earth? Is there intelligent life beyond our solar system? Could artificial intelligence ever outsmart us? Throughout his extraordinary career, Stephen Hawking expanded our understanding of the universe and unravelled some of its greatest mysteries.

But even as his theoretical work on black holes, imaginary time and multiple histories took his mind to the furthest reaches of space, Hawking always believed that science could also be used to fix the problems on our planet. And now, as we face potentially catastrophic changes here on Earth - from climate change to dwindling natural resources to the threat of artificial super-intelligence - Stephen Hawking turns his attention to the most urgent issues for humankind. Wide-ranging, intellectually stimulating, passionately argued, and infused with his characteristic humour, "Brief Answers to the Big Questions", the final book from one of the greatest minds in history, is a personal view on the challenges we face as a human race, and where we, as a planet, are heading next. A percentage of all royalties will go to charity.

Foreword: Eddie Redmayne
An introduction: Kip Thorne
Why we must ask the big questions
Is there a God
How did it all begin
Is there other intelligent life in the universe
Can we predict the future
What is inside a black hole
Is time travel possible
Will we survive on Earth
Should we colonise space
Will artificial intelligence outsmart us
How do we shape the future
Afterword: Lucy Hawking
Acknowledgments
Index