Stephen Hawking was a renowned physicist and cosmologist who made groundbreaking contributions to the field. He was known for his work on black holes and the origins of the universe, as well as his sense of humor. Despite being diagnosed with ALS, which initially gave him only two years to live, he defied the odds and continued to work and inspire others. He communicated primarily through facial muscles in his later life and was also an advocate for addressing social and humanitarian issues. His final book, "Brief Answers to the Big Questions," addresses important questions such as the survival of humanity, space colonization, and the existence of God. It includes a foreword by Eddie Redmayne, an introduction by Nobel Laureate Kip Thorne, and an afterword by his daughter, Lucy.