Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse TysonEven though the title says that the book is for people in a hurry, I wasn't expecting it to be just over 100 pages but that was a nice surprise because I'm not the worlds best science-y type person. In addition to being short, this book is very readable taking the history of the universe and making it well, not easy to understand, but at least palatable. I'm not sure how much of it I'm going to retain, but I'll takeaway the feeling of having read a very nice shorts intelligent book.

Four stars
This book comes out May 2

This is a book that explains the universe from the black holes to the big bang and quarks to quirks so anyone can understand it. Don't get me wrong I am sure the author Neil DeGrasse Tyson would be honored if you read the book straight through and understood and retained it all, but I personally think the book was meant to be read in chunks here and there as you can, on the bus or train on the way to work or maybe over lunch than you can think and digest that part you read for a while before going on to next.

I enjoyed this book and found it was easy to understand (most of it) and I really appreciated the humor that Mr. DeGrasse Tyson adds to the subject I especially liked the violation of momentum law, I know I won't ever forget it now. So if you have ever wanted to know a bit more about astrophysics or how the earth was formed and life began but where afraid to ask, this is the book for you.

I may not be a person in a hurry, but when it comes to math and science I'm pretty slow and I looked at this book more as a "Dummies" or "Idiots" guide and that seemed to work pretty well for me. On occasion the book got a little too technical for my simple brain, but for the most part even I was able to follow along and learn some pretty good things.

One of the very best aspects to this book is that Tyson writes exactly the way he speaks. You can't help but hear his voice saying these words as you read it. It is a very calming feeling and one filled with confidence. It also contains that wry sense of humor that those of us who have followed Tyson, even just a little, have come to expect. One of my favorite passages comes early in the book when Tyson describes 'quarks' and how they got their name. "One thing quarks have going for them," Tyson writes, "all their names are simple - something chemists, biologists, and especially geologists seem incapable of achieving when naming their own stuff."

This is a very abbreviated textbook. This isn't intended to replace the thick college physics texts, but it is, as Tyson says, intended to give the reader "a foundational fluency" in the leading ideas in astrophysics in order to be "culturally conversant."

I really enjoyed this book. There are aspects of astrophysics that I understand much better, although the true astrophysicist might find this too simple. I believe that this does exactly what it sets out to do, which is to give the layperson just enough knowledge to be able to listen intelligently and perhaps even contribute to a conversation when it turns to the stars, space, and everything in between.

Looking for a good book? <em>Astrophysics for People in a Hurry</em> by Neil deGrasse Tyson is an intelligent read, bringing the non-physicist up to speed with what is happening in the universe.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

As a busy parent of a curious 3 year-old and a casual space nerd, 'Astrophysics for People in a Hurry' was a fantastic refresher on the wonders of the universe. This is certainly not Astrophysics 101, taking the reader on a somewhat deep scientific dive, but I appreciated being tossed in, as it kept the chapters quick and engaging as I gained major insight on dark matter, gravitational theory, and why the universe really likes spheres. Worst case: I had to grapple with my recollections of high school science...or hop on Google for a quick neutrino crash course. Worth it.

Not surprisingly, Tyson's style is straightforward without being overly dry...affable without dumbing down. This is a great bedside table read to chew and dream on...or to devour in a few sittings for the truly hurried reader.

Imagine you are standing with your face up and your mouth wide open underneath a waterfall of Skittles.

At first, a few Skittles get into your mouth and you can taste them. Awesome, you think. I love Skittles.

Then, the Skittles become overwhelming, as more and more try to force themselves in, and millions and millions puddle around your feet, piling up past your knees.

That's kind of how this was.

I like learning facts, but there were SO MANY IN SUCH A SMALL SPAN. By the time I hit page twenty, I realized I was mentally absent as my eyes and mind processed words, but failed to commit those words to actual thought.

I wanted to love this book. I want you to love this book.

Alas, I just felt dumb.

The Big Bang. Quarks. Bosons. Gravity waves. Dark matter. Dark energy. Cosmic background radiation. Quasars. Pulsars. Black holes. Dwarf galaxies. Nebulae. We hear about these things on comedy shows and educational television and in science columns in newsweeklies. They suggest that the universe is even more amazing than the moon, stars, planets, and the faint band of the Milky Way we can see, along with that closest star of all, the Sun.

For as long as we have been on the planet, people have been gazing at the sky and wondering about our place in the cosmos, and how it all worked. Astrophysicists work on the second part of this question, and can tell us, at least by various physical measures, our infinitesimal size in the immensity of all things. There is the curious wonder that we can perceive and study and understand at least something of what we see by our eyes, and through the instruments we use, probe across the immense reaches of space and time. We can apply our understanding of physical laws and our observations to grasp something of the chain of causal events that result in what we see. That is what astrophysicists like Neil deGrasse Tyson do (as well as several grad student and faculty friends in astrophysics).

That’s why I wanted to read this new book by Tyson — to understand a little better what my friends are working on. And thanks to Tyson, I can say that indeed, I think I understand a bit better. For example, I understood that the first fraction of a second in the life of the universe was immensely significant to the way things are. I learned that there was an important transition that occurred when the universe was about 380,000 years old that can be detected in the form of cosmic background telescopes, a discovery first made by some Bell Labs telecommunications researchers.

I found out that the space between the galaxies is not empty and may be one of the most interesting things astrophysicists can study. I have friends doing dark matter research, and I discovered that there may be more of this than “visible” matter. At least in terms of the physical chemistry that makes up my body, I learned that Joni Mitchell was right: we are star dust. The stuff of my body was once the stuff generated in the core of stars and in their explosions. “All the light we cannot see” is not just the title of a great novel, but also reminds us that some of the most interesting aspects of light are in portions of the spectra our eyes cannot see.

Neil deGrasse Tyson is probably the most well-known living writer and speaker on astrophysics, a successor in this work to the late Carl Sagan. He is both an active researcher, and has a knack for explaining this research in understandable terms while ushering us into the wonder he encounters as he studies these things. And that brings me to one of the most fascinating aspects of this book.

Tyson has inserted this statement about himself into his Wikipedia article: “Neil deGrasse Tyson, widely claimed by atheists, is actually an agnostic.” It is fascinating that he draws the title of his first three chapters from either biblical themes, or a best seller on the life of Christ: “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” “On Earth as in the Heavens,” and “Let There Be Light.” Perhaps this is just cleverness in setting up his discussions of the Big Bang, the universality of physical laws, and the origins of light. But it strikes me that for Tyson, these scientific realities supplant the spiritual realities alluded to in the title references. Later in the book, he makes this clearer in his reflections on the cosmic perspective. He writes a series of statements on the cosmic perspective, a few of which I will quote here:

“The cosmic perspective is humble.

The cosmic perspective is spiritual–even redemptive–but not religious.

. . .

The cosmic perspective opens our eyes to the universe, not as a benevolent cradle designed to nurture life but as a cold, lonely, hazardous place, forcing us to reassess the value of all humans to one another.

The cosmic perspective shows Earth to be a mote. But it’s a precious mote and, for the moment, it’s the only home we have.

The cosmic perspective finds beauty in the images of planets, moons, stars, and nebulae, but also celebrates the laws of physics that shape them.”

While Tyson refuses the term “religion” for what he calls “the cosmic perspective,” it is clear that for him, this is ultimate reality, the really “real.” There is a kind of spirituality in this writing. His research teaches him humility, has a redemptive quality to it (I’m not sure what he means by this) and seems to enhance his solidarity with other human beings and his care for our common home. The laws of physics are a kind of delight to him on which he meditates day and night (cf. Psalm 19).

I’m a Christian theist, and I point these things out in Tyson neither to debate him nor denigrate him. Rather, I found his book important for understanding not only the basics of astrophysics and the current state of the research (which I did) but also for understanding the mind of this scientist, who is humbled and finds beauty in the cosmos, and who struggles with “the lonely, hazardous place” our universe is (a major reason for his agnosticism as I understand it). It helps me understand why he has captured the imagination of many through his writing and media appearances.

Tyson also makes me wonder whether we Christians might do better to enter deeply both into the wonder and the haunting questions he asks than to engage in wars against science. It makes me wonder whether we might sensitively explore what is it about us humble creatures that we have this insatiable curiosity to explore the cosmos, and a sense that despite our objective insignificance, we are significant both individually, and to one another. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry actually invites us to do a very unhurried thing and consider what we are learning about the cosmos and how it relates to the big questions each and all of us face here on earth.

_________________________

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher via a pre-publication e-galley through Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

This is everything it says on the tin. As a bit of background - I haven't yet read any of Tyson's other books. My science background is limited to high school science classes that weren't even as advanced as physics/bio/chem, though we did have a few good sessions on forensics... I have a friend who is an astrophysicist and I read some science fiction books... and that's it. So keeping all that in mind - I was able to not only understand this book, but enjoy it. Neil DeGrasse Tyson, from what we already know of his excellent shows and cameos on tv, has a way of spinning massive theories into something you can understand over a cup of tea and half your attention.

It is utterly amazing how the universe works - he explains something so utterly cosmic and then says 'a trillionth of a second has passed since the beginning', which is just mind blowing.

It's a short book at 140 or so pages, and the chapters are short, which makes it a book you can pick up and put down when you have the mental space to breathe around it and absorb - for me, at least, with my previously mentioned lack of scientific background. Because it's so short it's a little hard to review - though that could also be because it's hard to share the amazing things you learn in this book without basically copy-pasting entire sections.

I can say it's fast-paced, well worded, easily accessible, and I highly recommend.

Admittedly, this is not my typical genre. Also admittedly, I am pretty sure I only understand a small percentage of the science. However, I was thoroughly awestruck by the concept of astrophysics, the study of the cosmos, and the hugeness of our universe and beyond. I would find myself re-reading paragraphs, attempting to understand the ideas behind dark matter, supernovas, the big bang, etc., and eventually realizing that I did not need to comprehend every little detail; it was enough to use the topic to merely open my mind to the awesomeness of our existence. And yes, it was awesome. Want to learn about where the components of the periodic table first came from or what all the black stuff is amongst the stars? Author Neil deGrasse Tyson, known for his ability to talk science in understandable language, inspired and educated me in a completely new topic. This would be a pretty cool book for a book group; it would challenge the majority of readers, provoke conversation, and bring up some rather interesting topics. Break out of that thriller/historical fiction/drama box you've been reading in and explore the cosmos!

Good for public libraries. Conversational tone makes a difficult topic easy to understand.

3.5 *'s
A short, concise, beautiful argument for why humans are not the center of any universe...I loved the idea that each galaxy is a bubble of balanced gravity within the expanding universe of dark matter and dark energy...I also loved the idea that Jupiter is acting as a sort of big sister, protecting Earth from asteroids and other assorted space junk...

Neil deGrasse Tyson's Astrophysics for People in a Hurry is an excellent, fact-packed book about science, space stuff, and physics for people who either don't have the background in any of the subjects and want to learn more or for people who don't have the time to read denser books about these subjects but still want to get a decent grasp on the concepts without spending a lot of time getting into the theoretical aspects of it.

What I think I like best about this book is the fact that you can read a chapter at a time and feel like you've learned (or refreshed your memory) about some cool stuff that you can then use as a jumping off point for more research, just feel like you can have a general conversation about whatever the chapter covered, and/or understand some of the space concepts covered in the news or on social media. What I think I disliked most was the fact that if I read multiple chapters in one sitting without taking even the tiniest break between them I felt a little lost and confused. This book is definitely something you'll want to keep on hand and flip through a chapter or two just before bed or in those times while you're commuting or on a lunch break.

NDT explains complicated subjects well a way that don't sound condescending to the average reader (or me), and he interjects a lot of humor into his writing which sometimes helps explain some of the more elaborate things. If you're interested in refreshing your astrophysics knowledge or learning more about space and what we know and don't know is out there in the universe, this is a great place to start!

Neil deGrasse Tyson is one of my favorite people. He is a brilliant and amazing scientist who can talk about complex science in a way that anyone can understand. This book is no exception to that. I will definitely be recommending this book to my AP Chem students as a fun and interesting read.

A short, sweet and surprisingly easy read! It was a great introduction to astrophysics that really prompted further thought and exploration of the subject. It was accessible (although I would say that sometimes the jokes fell a little flat in an attempt to be a little <i>too</i> accessible) and clear, and shot through with Neil deGrasse Tyson's humour and voice. It's well worth a read, and really helps put our place in the universe into perspective...even if I'm still not sure I'll ever really understand it fully.

Written in Tyson’s very conversational tone, reading this slim book is much like watching Cosmos. This book takes much of the more complex and even unexplainable aspects of our universe and makes them more understandable and easy to digest. And while I may not be able to debate the finer intricacies of cosmology and astrophysics with the professionals, I’ll at least be able to nod along and contribute a little bit in casual conversations after finishing this book. Definitely recommended for those who already have some interest but who are not deeply enmeshed in the subject matter already.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

This book was just what I wanted! The tone was conversational and easy to read, and the breadth of knowledge was impressive and very enjoyable. Neil Degrasse Tyson seems to be riding a huge popularity wave since his hosting of Cosmos, and I must say I am quite pleased to have scientists featuring so prominently in the national discourse.

Thank you Net Galley for the free ARC. This is a great book.to get the fundamentals of astrophysics.Highly recommend.

A fascinating and relatively easy read about the origin of our universe. I'm not a physicist but I have a background in science and DeGrasse Tyson really helped fill in holes in my knowledge. DeGrasse Tyson's style of writing flows wonderfully.
I especially loved the last, more philosophical, essay.

I love Neil deGrasse Tyson and the way he so easily puts concepts into terms regular people can understand. I love how excited he gets about the universe. This short and simple book is a great get intro to our place in the universe.

Also, watch the documentary "We are Stars" at your local planetarium if you get the chance (this book and that documentary go very well together).

I ❤ science!

I always like reading Neil deGrasse Tyson because he makes science accessible and interesting to people who aren't particularly scientifically inclined. Also, he's funny. Despite the fact that I know pretty much nothing about astrophysics, I found this book highly readable and educational. It's exactly what it says it is. I really enjoyed it!