Essay submitted for the Adams Prize by Hawking's friend Jayant Narlikar using a Machian approach to explain the steady-state theory of the universe

Narlikar, J.V., Gravitation, Mach's principle and cosmology : an essay on some geometrical problems of relativity, with special reference to the foundations of general relativity and cosmology. Photocopy of typescript.

-- Candidate for the Adams Prize of 1966.

This is one of the most significant items from Stephen Hawking's bookcases, illustrating how Hawking had friends among his scientific rivals. Jayant Narkikar was a student and collaborator of Fred Hoyle, proponent of the steady-state theory of the universe. While a PhD student at Camridge, Hawking was tutored by Narkilar while getting familiarized with the two competing theories of the universe (big bang and steady state). In fact, one of Hawking's first scientific publications was a critical commentary on Hoyle and Narlikar's theories. The exemplar in Hawking's office is Narlikar's 1966 submission for the Adams Prize, to which Hawking also sent a submission. In the end, both Hawking and Narlikar received special prizes, even while proposing opposing theories of the universe. The main prize that year was given to Roger Penrose, who had heavily influenced Hawking's work.

They remained good friends for life.

The full list of recipients ca be found here: https://www.maths.cam.ac.uk/adams-prize

Stephen Hawking's office contained more than 300 books, all located on the bookshelves above the kitchen counter. They date as early as his student years, and the bulk corresponds to his long professional career from the 1960s to the 2010s. From the 1990s onwards Stephen would have used digital versions increasingly, so the books in his bookcases were a select subset. While some items are rare copies -like the dissertations he advised or book drafts- most of the library contents are rather standard prints. The majority contain significant individual marks, and even for those that do not, the connection to Hawking is evident. Books by friends and colleagues often contain inscriptions and inserts that evidence their relationship. Others remind of places he visited, conferences he attended, or relate to having become a celebrity and inspiration throughout the world. Of the books that he authored, there are usually multiple versions, translations, and occasionally draft versions. A good portion of the books also contain inserts such as notes by the authors or editors, receipts, and occasionally unrelated material that found its way into them around the time of their acquisition. A portion of them has also been bookmarked with post-its by Stephen's assistants pointing to the sections most relevant to show visitors.