On the Origin of Time

In "On the Origin of Time," Thomas Hertog, Stephen Hawking's closest collaborator, unveils the intellectual titan's final, revolutionary thoughts on the cosmos. This book dramatically revises the theories presented in "A Brief History of Time," tackling Hawking's enduring question: how did the universe become so perfectly suited for life? Hawking's earlier work faced a crisis when it predicted a myriad of bizarre universes—a multiverse—most of which couldn't sustain life. Over two decades, Hertog and Hawking delved into extreme quantum physics, cosmic holograms, and the universe's deepest origins. Their groundbreaking discovery reveals a profound level of evolution where physical laws themselves transform and simplify, with particles, forces, and even time fading away. This led to the radical idea that the laws of physics are not immutable but co-evolve as the universe takes shape. Published in Hawking's final days, this theory offers a new, Darwinian perspective on cosmic origins, promising to redefine our understanding of our place in the universe and standing as Hawking's potentially greatest legacy.