Hawking's controversial comments see sales surge

03.09.10 - Victoria Gallagher - The Bookseller

Stephen Hawking's new book has shot up to number one in Amazon's Hot Future Releases chart after the scientist's controversial comments made the press yesterday.

A storm of publicity regarding The Grand Design (Bantam Press) ensued after Hawking's assertion that God did not create the Universe made the front of the Times yesterday. An extract from the book was published in the newspaper in which Hawking said the Big Bang was an inevitable consequence of the laws of physics and that it was not necessary to invoke God to "set the Universe going".

Articles in the Guardian, the Daily Telegraph, plus items on Newsnight and the BBC News bulletins also focused on Hawking's argument.

The book is currently at number four in Amazon's Bestsellers chart and number one in the retailer's Hot Future Releases chart. The title is to be published by Bantam Press on 9th September.

The publisher said a "high-profile" publicity campaign will kick off next week, with Hawking appearing on "Newsnight" and the "Today" Programme, plus a public event at the Royal Albert Hall on 20th October.