Red Giants and White Dwarfs

by Robert Jastrow

"A masterpiece of science."—Werner von Braun.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Astronomy, Physics, Space, Science Nature

268 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1967

Reviews

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm sure the science is somewhat dated by now, but this book is written so beautifully and so clearly that I read it aloud to my children, then aged about 8 and 12. We were all enthralled.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book early in my teen years and I will never forget it. Perhaps more than any other book, this one steered my curiosity towards the hard sciences. The chapters that describe how stars are born from a simple recipe of gases and gravitation transformed how I thought about the universe, and our humble place in it. The manner in which all raw materials in our world come into being is explained so that anyone with an open mind can understand it. There was no turning back for me after this book.

The book is comparatively old and there have been many excellent and more recent on physics written. Pick up a copy for yourself or your curious teen-kids.

[J.D. Steens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book (167 pages, including pictures, diagrams, and short chapters) is a straight forward and non-complicated story of our cosmological origins. Written in 1967, this is Big History before there was such a thing. However, the book’s title, “Red Giants and White Dwarfs,” is wrong. That topic is covered, but it is a subset of a much broader swath. The book’s subtitle, “The Evolution of Stars and Planets and Life,” best describes the book’s content.

In describing DNA, Jastrow sees random mutation and natural selection as the sole factors behind inheritability. This may be too narrow as it omits Darwin’s sexual selection (mate preferences unrelated to survival benefits) and “useless traits” (passed along because they have no deleterious effect). Jastrow discusses variability, but locates its source in strict mutational terms that leaves no room for flexibility within the genetic program for learning and experience. Darwin and, subsequently, his associate, Romanes, and, later, Piaget, saw this feature even at the lowest levels of life.

Jastrow says that the nucleotides are arranged in the DNA “in a sequence special to each organism,” and that these control “the body chemistry and all the traits of the individual. Thus, the DNA in every creature contains the master plan for that creature.” Presumably, this includes behavioral traits as well as bodily structures. Does this suggest that there is such a thing as an inborn character or self? Also, Jastrow sees individual variability originating in mutations which, when favorable, spread throughout the population to become a species-wide trait. Might this be an overly broad generalization? Are there three levels of trait characteristics: (1) species-wide traits; (2) local variation of species traits (Darwin and Romanes); and (3) variation of species traits that allow for individual uniqueness?

[Eric Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Red Giants and White Dwarfs” is book two in my studies of astronomy. Jastrow’s prose is right to the point. His chapters are short and concise. Most are accompanied with photographic illustrations that reemphasize his positions. The book itself is a first edition printed in 1967, during the early phases of the Apollo Moon Shot. It is solid and of high quality paper.

The narrative is comprised of two parts; the first is astronomy and the second is evolution.
It begins at the sub atomic level; a study of the primary building blocks of mass– the electron, the proton and the neutron. It then progresses to the three fundamental forces; nuclear force, the force of electromagnetism, and the force of gravity. This short course in physics is very helpful in understanding the evolution of a star; from massive clouds of hydrogen gas, to the ultimate collapse of a Red Giant, and then the dying days of a White Dwarf.

In regards to the universe, Jastrow presents both schools of cosmology; the Steady State and the Big Bang theories. He also echoes Hoyle’s thoughts on the formation of Hydrogen in empty space and briefly touches on the discussion of a continually contracting and expanding universe.

Jastrow’s overview of the solar system follows convention; the planets formed from the same cloud of hydrogen that created the sun. As a result, the terrestrial planets are heavy in iron and the outer giants overwhelmingly hydrogen and helium. He also speculates the surface of Mars may experience seasons of “simple hardy plants”, and, that Pluto may be “similar in size and composition to the Earth”.

The final chapters explain the formation of Earth and the beginning of life. Again, Jastrow starts at the smallest elements, this time its amino acids and nucleotides. He then delves into the formation of DNA and the role that viruses play in the further evolution of life. Jastrow also cites Darwin’s “The Origin of Species” when analyzing the progression of single celled organisms to the branches of the animal kingdom.

After reading this book, two things become immediately apparent. Time, and that stars are both the creators and destroyers of life. From the very beginnings of solar formation, to the conceptions of single celled life, and then the rise of hydro-carbon man, it takes billions of years. These processes are repetitive, of which we currently do not have a count to the totality of evolutions. In regards to the Sun, it is the catalyst that spawns life in the solar system. Ultimately, when reaching its final phases of existence, it will end life. With such clarity of existence, shouldn’t we break free from the shackles of Christianity (or any other Abrahamic religion) and observe the Sun as the immediate emissary of the Creator of the Universe?

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Red Giants and White Dwarfs by Robert Jastlow
Published by: Signet Books, The New American Library, Copywrited 1967, 1969, first printing June 1969
Review Date: 3/16/2017

So this is a... fifty year old science book? It's not a work of fiction, that's for certain, and it covers scientific topics and details I missed, somewhere in my schooling, assuming that it was in my schooling at all. Although it does manage to break it down into words I can understand, since the topics are quite often somewhat beyond me. I didn't do well in science class. Which doesn't mean a lot to a bunch of people, but being able to understand the science as Jastlow writes it, despite it being a little outdated by modern design, is still a huge accomplishment for me. So he did well just on that venue alone.
However, I'm not sure any of the science is wrong. It is science we're talking about, after all. Nothing he mentions in the book feels anything less than established fact, except where he points out that he's mentioning theories. And even admitting the potential for being wrong is a huge step in the right direction. I'll have to do some research one day to see if any of the mentioned theories panned out one way or another. Even though, as it's a book about how the solar system was made to how human beings came into existence, and we haven't had a lot of breakthroughs in those factions of science, it's probably not far off the mark even today.

If you enjoy old science books, or you like seeing how people viewed the world fifty years ago, or you just really, really want to see how a well put-together science text should be, I highly recommend this one. (Bonus! It'll also help you decide how to make a magical textbook, too.)

Jastlow does good work. I should check to see if there's anything else he's done. I'm awfully curious.

--Natasha

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It is remarkable that all objects in the universe, from the smallest nucleus to the largest galaxy, are held together by only three fundamental forces-a nuclear force, the force of eletromagnetism, and the force of gravity."

[Michèle Marchand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone should read this book! It's an end to end explanation of how we got here today. It starts at the very beginning with the molecules in the universe all the way until human life today. So fascinating and really puts everything into perspective.

[GreyAtlas · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick afternoon read that covers a wide range of topics and includes some beautiful vintage photos. Written in a language simple enough for everyone without being childish. Overall, a satisfying and enlightening read.

[Anthony Defreitas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outdated but great writing. Extremely cool photography. It’s a great science read that deserves the popularity it received in its past. Informative and beautiful the writer touches everything from the beginning of the universe to the creation of man.

[Matt Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

The numbers and stats are mind boggling.

[Douglas Reedy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good book to read. The problem is it being 2026, it's so outdated.

[Erik Graff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I obtained this book from Natural History magazine, probably for renewing the subscription I'd held throughout high school, perhaps for joining their natural history book club. I read it on the bluff at grandmother's in southwest Michigan. Owing to the weather and temperature, I presume this was on a weekend in the early fall, after I'd returned from Hawaii, after the Chicago Democratic Convention and after school had started.

This may have been the first significant cosmology book I'd read since George Gamow back in the summer between fifth and sixth grades. As such, it included much new (to me) information about the types, origins and histories of stars, Gamow having written decades previously. I'd read the occasional article in Scientific American to keep abreast of things, but this book served to tie the information together. Jastrow also addressed some of my earlier concerns about xenobiology and the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligence.

[Carol Mann Agency]

Dr. Jastrow places the facts before us so lucidly that the Cosmos becomes a living thing. -- John Barkham Reviews

Jastrow's scientific credentials are impeccable. And he knows how to write for the layman. -- The New York Times

Lucid, delightful, instructive. -- The Wall Street Journal

Robert Jastrow ranks among the top writers on astronomy. -- Publishers Weekly

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's about what the title says. It's dated now but was a good read with lots of interesting information, and well written.

[Robert Lent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this multiple times when I was growing up. It may be a little dated, but was a good read, quite understandable to a layman.

[Harry Flynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done, easily maintains your interest.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Describes the life cycles of stars.

[Nick Mille · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was good. I thought the facts in it were very interesting

[Stephen Frantz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be the first science book I ever read. It started convince me I wanted to go into science.

[Bill Robson]

Great book

[Aaron Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Stars are the source of the energy by which all beings live. When the light of the last star is extinguished, life must end throughout the universe.”