If you don't have time to read his books, you can rent the DVD's about his 'Brief History of Time' which does a decent job of examining Hawking's brilliant observations of the universe.  Anyone who helps human beings to greater understand how the universe works is an emancipator and a raiser of consciousness.  Always will be a nerd- but a HOF one at that. . .

You know you've arrived when they put your head in a jar on Futurama...

I'd willingly be a nerd if I could have his brain.

Intriguing guy.

Good writer too, and able to explain some pretty complex stuff in terms lay people can understand. That's a considerable, and underappreciated talent.