Stephen Hawking was undeniably a genius in his field, but how well do we really know the man behind the legend? The latest episode of Physics World Stories explores the life and work of the British astrophysicist and cosmologist through the lens of a major new biography.

The book is Hawking: His Life and Work , and its author, Graham Farmelo , joins the episode alongside the science writer Philip Ball , who reviewed the book for the Guardian . With the backing of the Hawking family, Farmelo held exclusive interviews with Hawking’s relatives, friends and closest colleagues. He was also granted access to a trove of previously unseen diaries and letters kept by Hawking’s parents.

Both guests are no strangers to physics biographies. Farmelo’s book, The Strangest Man: the Hidden Life of Paul Dirac, Quantum Genius , was named Physics World book of the year 2009 .…