Elementary Particles and the Laws of Physics: The 1986 Dirac Memorial Lectures.

FEYNMAN, Richard P. and Steven Weinberg. [Stephen Hawking].

Item Number: 125060

Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1987.

Stephen Hawking’s first edition copy of the 1986 Dirac Memorial Lectures. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Foreword by John C. Taylor. Lecture notes compiled by Richard MacKenzie and Paul Doust. From the library of Stephen Hawking with a label to the pastedown that reads, “From the home of Stephen W. Hawking (1942 – 2018) Wordsworth Grove, Cambridge.” Stephen Hawking was a theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author who was director of research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge at the time of his death. Hawking’s scientific works included a collaboration with Roger Penrose on gravitational singularity theorems in the framework of general relativity and the theoretical prediction that black holes emit radiation, often called Hawking radiation. He was the first to set out a theory of cosmology explained by a union of the general theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. Hawking may be one of the most recognizable of theoretical physicists in part due to ALS, which gradually paralyzed him over the decades. After the loss of his speech, he was able to communicate through a speech-generating device—initially through use of a handheld switch, and eventually by using a single cheek muscle.  He is also well known since he achieved commercial success with several works of popular science in which he discussed his theories and cosmology in general. His book, A Brief History of Time, appeared on the Sunday Times bestseller list for a record-breaking 237 weeks and mentions the works of Rutherford a number of times. Very good in a very good dust jacket. A fine association linking three great physicists.

This accessible book contains intriguing explorations of perhaps the two most important conceptual breakthroughs in twentieth century physics, relativity and quantum mechanics, by distinguished physicists Richard Feynman and Steven Weinberg. Feynman's contribution examines the nature of antiparticles, in particular the relationship between quantum spin and statistics. In his essay, Steven Weinberg speculates on how Einstein's theory of gravitation might be reconciled with quantum theory in the final laws of physics. Both Nobel laureates have made major contributions to fundamental research in physics, as well as to the popularization of science. "A book that all physicists will be pleased to have on their shelves, and one that will surely stimulate aspiring theoretical physicists" (New Scientist).