SOURCE: "Putting Infinite Space into a Nutshell," in Economist, Vol. 307, June 25, 1988, pp. 91-2.

In the following review of A Brief History of Time, the critic states that while Hawking's theories are mind-boggling, his presentation is disappointing.

When Stephen Hawking was diagnosed as having amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressive wasting-away of the nerves that control body movements, his doctors gave him two years. Understandably, he stopped working on his PhD thesis. But at the end of two years, the disease had not progressed very far, and Mr Hawking had become engaged. He needed a job, so he needed a doctorate. That was 23 years ago.

The topic which he picked then was one which has engaged him ever since—the similarities between black holes and the big bang. His work on these subjects has made him one of the most respected physicists in the world, rising to be Lucasian professor...