A brief history of time, a rare and bestselling popular science book, has been reprinted 30 times by Nha Xuat Ban Tre (Youth Publishing House) – Photo: T. DIEU
This book inaugurates the Science and Discovery collection published by Nha Xuat Ban Tre (Youth Publishing House) since 2008, which currently includes 53 scientific titles.
A brief history of time – the bestselling popular science book
Speaking to Tuoi Tre Online on the sidelines of an exchange session with readers, the editorial team and translators of the ‘Science and Discovery’ collection, on April 11 in Hanoi, translator Pham Van Thieu revealed that during the translation of this scientific work, although the author tried to present the major stories of space science in the most understandable way for the general public, he still feared that the book might not appeal to everyone.
He shared this with his English friend, who reassured him: “My mother knew nothing about physics, but *A brief history of time* was her bedside book.”
Hearing his friend’s words, Mr. Thieu felt somewhat reassured. However, he did not expect the book to become so popular so quickly, a reference work for students in natural and social sciences. Even today, almost twenty years later, tens of thousands of copies have been published.
Reading scientific books requires patience.
Following the success of this book, Mr. Thieu and translator Cao Chi considered creating a collection of scientific books with Nha Xuat Ban Tre (Youth Publishing House). The ‘Science and Discovery’ collection now includes over 50 titles, including a series dedicated to the astronomer Trinh Xuan Thuan.
Mr. Thieu was also specifically asked by physicist Trinh Xuan Thuan to translate the entire work into Vietnamese.
About this, Mr. Thieu stated that after completing the translation of Trinh Xuan Thuan’s first book, *Mysterious Melodies*, the author gave it to his mother. She praised the translation, which had preserved the literary quality of the original.
Since then, Mr. Trinh Xuan Thuan has entrusted Mr. Thieu with translating his book into Vietnamese.
During this meeting, readers of all generations shared their admiration for the ‘Science and Discovery’ collection in general, and for the works translated by Pham Van Thieu in particular.
When reading scientific books, translator Pham Van Thieu advises patience, a step-by-step progressive reading, and multiple re-readings; the more you read, the more interesting the text becomes.
During the exchange, scientists Vu Cong Lap and Nguyen Van Lien also shared their viewpoints on the role and importance of reading scientific books in the current era of abundant information.
According to Tre Publishing House, for over 20 years, the Science and Discovery collection has always followed the principle of making science more accessible to the general public by offering a wide range of topics: biology, chemistry, physics, cosmology, technology, mathematics, etc.
In addition to *A brief history of time*, which has been reprinted 30 times, other works have won the National Book Award.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/mot-cuon-sach-khoa-hoc-da-duoc-tai-ban-30-lan-o-viet-nam-20260411174639733.htm
