<p>Ugggggg .... I have been trying to write this review for four days. Maybe it takes me a percentage of the time I took to read the book to formulate a review? It did take me over a week to read <A href="https://www.librarything.com/work/18242951/book/147536414">Welcome to the Universe</a>, with Neil deGrasse Tyson's name in bigger font than the other two co-authors. At first that made me sad for the other two authors, but then I got miffed over J. Richard Gott's chapters, where there's a lot of <i>I did this!</i>, which probably shouldn't annoy me as much as it did, since he did figure this stuff out, but it seemed kind of braggy to me and I just want to learn abstractly about science, not be amazed that the author I'm reading now did this stuff. </p>

<p>So I got annoyed. </p>

<p>Cool idea I did get from <A href="https://www.librarything.com/work/18242951/book/147536414">Welcome to the Universe</a>: think of everything as bread. Slice horizontally (like here in North America) for one slice of space-time, but slice on an angle (like a baguette) for a relative slice of space-time. The bread is still the same, but how one views what's happening in/on the bread changes. I'm glad I got to that before I got fed up with physics.</p>

<p>Ooh -- and something else -- I found out what word I wanted for a review of another <A href="http://www.reluctantm.com/?p=5997">physics book ages ago</a>: <i>falsifiable</i>. I couldn't remember that word, but much of what was written in <a href="https://www.librarything.com/work/19347907/book/140176598">The Universe is a Machine</a> wasn't falsifiable, so, from a science perspective, those ideas were kind of a non-starter. But that has nothing really to do with the book I'm supposed to be reviewing ... </p>

<p>I'm in a weird place with physics books. I probably have enough math background that if I really wanted to, I could read textbooks rather than pop-science books (albeit much more slowly, and with a pad and pencil in hand for figuring things out), but I don't want to read a physics textbook. But then I read pop-science books and get frustrated that details I want to understand (like math stuff) is missing. But I don't want to read a physics textbook. But I want to know more about what's behind the science, which is generally math that I could probably understand given enough time and pencil lead. But I don't want to write physics notes in bed. But I want to know more!</p>

<p>Is the moral that I should stop reading about cosmology and relativity? I mean, both of those things are going to go scootering on along in life without me understanding them or not. </p>

<p>Science is hard.</p>

<p><A href="https://www.librarything.com/work/18242951/book/147536414">Welcome to the Universe</a> by Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michael A. Strauss, and J. Richard Gott went on sale September 1, 2016.</p>

<p><small>I received a copy free from <a href="https://www.netgalley.com/">Netgalley</a> in exchange for an honest review.</small></p>

'Welcome to the Universe: An Astrophysical Tour' by Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michael A. Strauss, and J. Richard Gott III is a phenomenal book about the universe. I was a fan of 'A Brief History of Time' by Stephen Hawking, and this book goes steps beyond with newer research.

This book was inspired by the introductory astronomy course that the three authors taught at Princeton. The chapters are shared among the authors and cover a vast array of material. I read about the size and scale of the universe, and how things get measured. How stars radiate energy, and how we might calculate where life could be found. The story behind why Pluto is not a planet and the interesting reaction Neil deGrasse Tyson got about it is amusing. There are chapters devoted to Einstein and his special and general theories of relativity.

The math is broken down pretty well, but I confess that much of it was over my head. I did better with the diagrams and pictures. You should really plan to read this in book form or a color tablet. I started reading it on my Kindle in black and white and switched over to a tablet, and I was happy I did. There are many illustrations, photographs and charts, and they are better viewed in color.

In spite of feeling a bit over my head, I still enjoyed the book and it's approach to the subject. I didn't feel like it was "dumbed down" but I had no problem following along. The writing style feels like a lecture from a professor who is completely engaged with their subject. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the universe who is not daunted by a bit of a challenge.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Princeton University Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

A fascinating take on the universe that was confusing at times, but in the end worth it.

An extraordinary read that reveals to the scientist or only passionate of science some important keys of the world. To be read on repeat every time when you want a reminder about how beautiful our world is and how interesting are the works of science!