The Gateway Biographies series (4 new titles) promises "highly readable" stories of some of the twenty-first century's most prominent public figures, and in that it largely succeeds. These are your classic biographies, told straightforwardly through broad, chronological narratives, progressing through landmark moments, supplemented by quotations, full-color photographs, and occasional sidebars. Stephen Hawking chronicles the highlights of the iconic physicist's long career and personal life. Each title is well-sourced, with back matter including thorough source notes, selected bibliographies, and further-reading lists, in addition to a recap of the biography's timeline. These titles do a good job of distilling the stories of large figures into tightly crafted narratives. In a publishing landscape where quality nonfiction is reaching readers through exciting pecially visually w forms, this series feels a bit like more of the same-old, but it remains a solid choice for older elementary or high/low readers embarking into the world of research.