Science legend Stephen Hawking’s dad worried he was a slug who lounged around too much
Stephen Hawking's father expressed concerns about his son's lack of initiative and study habits in a new biography. Frank Hawking noted that Stephen seemed to have lost faith in physics and had an inferiority complex. Despite these early worries, Stephen went on to become a renowned astrophysicist and author of 'A Brief History of Time.'
- ▪Frank Hawking wrote in his diaries that he was worried about Stephen's lack of initiative and study habits.
- ▪Stephen was diagnosed with ALS at age 21 and was given two years to live.
- ▪He defied expectations and became one of the most celebrated astrophysicists, passing away in 2018.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
World News Science legend Stephen Hawking’s dad worried he was a slug who lounged around too much By Jeanne Erickson Published May 23, 2026, 3:03 p.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google Super genius Stephen Hawking was a lazy kid who “didn’t study much,” his dad said in a new biography. “We are a little worried at the way Stephen is turning out. He hangs round the house with little initiative and does not study much,” father Frank Hawking wrote in his diaries in 1961, according to the upcoming book “Stephen Hawking: His Life and Work.” Frank went on to write that his wife Isobel, Stephen’s mom, told him “he has an inferiority complex to me (he has no need to) and he has lost faith in physics at Oxford, thinking it is inferior to arts.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at New York Post.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from New York Post
