From the Bookshelf of Science and Inquiry…

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry

Neil deGrasse Tyson

Start date: June 1, 2019

Finish date: June 30, 2019

Discussion: Book Club 2019

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Book Club 2019

December 2019 - Uninhabitable Earth
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last updated Dec 21, 2020 08:09AM

November 2019 - Invisible Women
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What Members Thought

Nov 16, 2018 Shabbeer Hassan rated it liked it

Shelves: 2018, popular-science, physics

The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you!

And so begins, this rather short book about this grand universe we all live in. Racing from big bang theory (bazinga!), particle-antiparticle asymmetry, cosmic microwave background radiation to quasars, black holes, the ever-mysterious & enigmatic dark matter/energy and finally to our own human imagination which is capable of thinking and discovering all these mysteries, Neil Tyson indeed has managed to write a book capable of enthrallin ...more

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Nov 02, 2018 Rusty rated it really liked it

Shelves: prose, non-fiction, science

As is often the case, I have practically no memory of this book. The reason, per usual, is that I read it long enough ago that I’m having trouble remembering the details. Another great irony is that while this book is for people in a hurry, I’d assumed I’d read this tract-like book in a single setting. Nope. It probably took me two months, reading a page or so here, another page there. Since it was a Kindle book I could read it late in night in bed without a concern about keeping my wife up by h As is often the case, I have practically no memory of this book. The reason, per usual, is that I read it long enough ago that I’m having trouble remembering the details. Another great irony is that while this book is for people in a hurry, I’d assumed I’d read this tract-like book in a single setting. Nope. It probably took me two months, reading a page or so here, another page there. Since it was a Kindle book I could read it late in night in bed without a concern about keeping my wife up by having the lights on. Problem is that I tend to fall asleep before she does anyway, so there weren’t that many opportunities to read it in that situation.

Man, that was a rambly opening paragraph. Well done, Rusty.

Regardless, this book was full of tidbits, trivia & facts about space that thoroughly enjoyed. Even with my read being scattered out over such a long time, I never felt the need to go back and try to see what it was I’d previously read because there wasn’t a heavy narrative I needed to follow, just, stuff about the universe.

That isn’t to say it was a bullet pointed list of facts, though. Dr Tyson is always engaging and writes with a plain, fluid style that I find immensely readable. The words just glide right into my eyeholes and slide right on down to my brain, easy peasy.

Of course, any thoughts of Neil DeGrasse Tyson make me think of my great former internet buddy, Briane Pagel, whose books I adored, who had a somewhat fixation on all the things that he didn’t like about the man. I can’t recall the details, just my neverending amusement about it… it was like how everyone on the TV show, Parks & Recreation, inexplicably hated one of the kindest characters on the show, Jerry (Or Garry, or Terry) for no discernable reason. So weird.

I, of course, don’t know Dr Tyson, despite the fact I travelled all the way to the Hayden Planetarium last year and simply assumed he’d, I don’t know, just sense I was there and introduce himself. So there’s that. But I recall listening to a podcast recently and the host mentioned what a great guy Neil is, even when the cameras aren’t rolling and the microphones are off, about how his personality isn’t different in private because he’s not a character, but a genuine person who is passionate about science.

That doesn’t make it a fact, but I actively root for people that I believe to be nice to do well. The world sucks and I like to see people succeed who aren’t doing so by ruining things for the rest of us. So there… I think I might be done here.
...more

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Jan 30, 2018 Cori rated it really liked it

This took longer than I expected to get into, but this book beautifully illustrates the process science. What questions have we asked, what we did to search from answers, and the questions came from those processes... “People who believe they are ignorant of nothing have neither looked for, nor stumbled upon, the boundary between what is known and unknown in the universe.” - NDT

2018 Pop Sugar Reading Challenge - A Past Goodreads Choice Awards Winner

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Aug 24, 2018 Jose rated it really liked it

A perfect -if dense- summary of the current state of astronomy and astrophysics. It is written in his trademark clear and energetic style that somehow never seems to come across as overly didactic. It’s summer beach reading for nerds.

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Aug 31, 2017 Chinook rated it it was amazing

Shelves: science, space

That was fun. I mostly felt like I was understanding what I heard and Tyson is a great narrator. The universe is an amazing place. Plus, he's got jokes! ...more

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Oct 10, 2017 Pam Shelton-Anderson rated it it was amazing

Shelves: science, science-physics-math-astro

My original major was physics and astronomy and I've never lost my love for either. This book is truly amazing. Topics are explained very well but not oversimplified and the author's affinity for the subject is always there. The last chapter on cosmic perspective is simply wonderful. ...more

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