Astrophysics for People in a Hurry

This book is exactly what its title suggests: astrophysics for people in a hurry. It is a brief, clear, concise overview of the current.state of astrophysics, covering everything from the Big Bang to the evolution of the universe, the development of planets and stars, the evolution of life on earth, astrophysics and chemistry, asteroids, comets, the whole shebang. And, it's wonderful! Over the last couple of decades, we have been blessed with a number of books by eminent scientists who clearly explain the latest findings and theories in physics, astronomy, and biology. These books have helped those of us who majored in the liberal arts (i.e. people who can't do math) to attain basic literacy in the hard sciences. For anyone who hasn't read a book that introduces complex scientific theories and discoveries to the average person, Professor Tyson's book is a wonderful place to start. Professor Tyson has a gift for making very complex concepts and theories comprehensible to the layperson. There are other scientists who have written similar books, and I've read all or most of them, but I believe that when it comes to clarity and ease of comprehension, Professor Tyson's books might be the best available. For anyone who thinks that this book might be dry and dull, I can assure you it's not. It's a lot of fun, and Professor Tyson has a GREAT sense of humor. This is a quick read, and I learned a lot. But most of all, as the book's last chapter illustrates, it's very important for us to have the "cosmic perspective." To understand the vastness of the universe, to appreciate its wonder and its terror, the cosmic perspective helps us to realize how precious and beautiful our own little part of the universe is and the importance of our caring for it and preserving it for future generations. Professor Tyson does a wonderful job of explaining how we are not only part of the universe; the universe is part of us. He helps us to understand that our short, fleeting participation in a universe filled with such wonders is cause for rejoicing. Great book. Buy it; read it. You'll love it.

I loved this book. It is well written, easy to follow, and keeps you engaged. There is no extravagant astrophysics language so it is perfect for someone interested in the field. I am not a reader but this book was wonderful, I couldn't put it down.

I see one or two star reviews because this is difficult to understand for novices or passers-by looking to glean some basics about the cosmos. I believe this is because people read the title and expect the book to contain basic, introductory information. Here the title may be interpreted as a ‘Astrophysics for Dummies’ or ‘Astrophysics 101’ type of study, but the book’s title, and more so the book’s epigraph, (“For all those who are too busy to read fat books yet nonetheless seek a conduit to the cosmos”) suggest that a lot of information is presented in a concise read with a plethora of details shortened in summary. And so it is. Some low to middling reviews lament Mr. Tyson’s glazing over topics with less detail than would be preferred. Here I believe the brevity offered for each topic is exactly what the title promises: a quick, detailed read with an assumption that the reader has a basic understanding of math and science that informs astrophysics. And so the 12 chapters, each broken in to smaller, quick-burst summaries, provide history and present-day knowledge of the topics that explain mankind’s understanding of the universe. Granted, I am not an astrophysicist, nor am I of much value to any form of science or math in general, being that I’m massively right-brained, more a musician, poet, satirist, writer, philosopher. But I love the cosmos! I find a beauty in the universe that quickens my heart, inflates my lungs, consumes my mind, floods my spirit, and allows deep fascination to etch itself within my soul. The unfathomable expanse in which this little blue planet upon which we live exists, like a infinitesimal Lilliputian in a Brobdingnagian sea, is simultaneously mesmerizing and terrifying. In the beauty of what appears to be chaos is actually scientific principle governed by concrete, scientifically sound laws. I find peace and am stilled by the possibilities. Also, Neil deGrasse Tyson’s approach to the universe, and his intense interest in things which affect our daily lives on earth but aren’t particularly relevant to astrophysics, is unique, funny, easily interactive, and deeply moving. So, yes, I read this book, I understood the basic principles of science, the bases of mathematical models, all concepts absorbed by my artistic lens which is informed by my penchant for learning as an autodidact. I’m greatly pleased! Our universe is gorgeous and the laws that govern its existence are enjoyably complex but herein adroitly explained.

A well-written book with interesting information. I recommend buying it.

Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson is the current title-holder of America's most beloved scientist. He is a frequent guest on TV and radio shows explaining the universe in a way that is accessible to most, and he also has a knack for humor and embraces his celebrity with genuine modesty. Director of the famed Hayden Planetarium, Dr. Tyson continues the legacy left behind by astronomer Carl Sagan as the go to person for guiding the average person across all 13 Billion years of the history of our universe. "Astrophysics for People in a Hurry" is a brief and breezy introduction to everything from astrophysics, to the laws of gravity and motion, general relativity to the origin of the periodic elements. He starts with an explanation of the big bang that was easy to digest for anyone with a moderate interest in science. As the book progresses he narrows down to the formation of gas clouds and early super massive stars. Then Dr. Tyson begins to explain how stars like our sun were formed and how scientists are able to measure distance between stars. He goes on to explain the various theories that have been suggested over the centuries about how the universe is constructed and behaves. Finally he delivers a narrative of how our planet was formed, how the solar system was slowly discovered by scientist over the last 250 years. Dr. Tyson uses language that most people who made it through high school chemistry or physics would be able to understand. There is no high concept ideas that make most people's heads spin, or loose talk about string theory or multiverses; he keeps it relatively simple, only alluding to the many "exotic" theories about the universe and its origins. He often injects humor through his footnotes, and yes there is even one instance of a fart joke (for science!). Much in the vein of Bill Nye his passion for science and his desire for understanding comes through in a relatable and genuine way. My reason for reading this book was based mostly on the fact that I have always shared Dr. Tyson's fascination with the cosmos and have asked myself the questions many people ask him when given the chance: What is our place in the universe? Are we alone? Is time travel possible? This book is useful because it makes big, huge, expansive ideas like these small enough to make sense, even if just for a few moments. It's both a guidebook to the universe, and a reference book to be called upon later. It's funny and awe-inspiring. Its author is both brilliant and an everyman. I was entertained and informed, and it only made me want to know more.

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry is a cogent introduction to the scientific field of Astrophysics. Never in a hurry to get through a science book, I made sure I highlighted cool/interesting facts. In this short and well written book, esteemed science educator and author Neil Degrasse Tyson really unveils what the "cosmic perspective" truly is. To put it succinctly it's our existential appreciation of nature and life as we know it, and on one hand the significance of the cosmos and it's doing in creating our planet and home, Earth; and on another our true insignificance as we face the perspective of the vastness of outer space. It creates a paradox, because as insignificant as we may be in the domain of the immeasurably large and ever-expanding cosmos, we can find significance in the fact that we can - with modern day scientific data - understand that insignificance! And as a result, our egos don't mean much. We are all made of stardust and we have breathed in at least one of the same oxygen molecules as Abraham Lincoln and Julius Caesar. What is xenophobia and how myopic is it to think that we are intrinsically "better" than any other human on this planet? To those who truly grasp this cosmic perspective. Here is just my own little thought experiment: what if, in 30,000 years from now we are many of thousands of years into the colonization of Mars. And there's a full fledging society in planet Mars, with its own rules and customs. Would there be immigration legislation directed towards Martian immigrants? Imagine our planet being embraced as one home, instead of a landscape for many different countries. Do you think immigration from Mexico or Africa would be a thing? Or would it just be considered as moving from one area to another like we do towns within our states? What if I changed the scenario and in this case planet Earth was suffering from drastically dangerous weather fluctuations due to the lack of climate change legislation from the society 30,000 years ago. And because of these perilous and apocalyptic conditions the future inhabitants of Earth wanted to move to Mars for a better life. But then immigration laws of Planet Mars made it strenuous and in many cases prohibitive. As it always takes on form or another, what if discrimination and prejudice under these circumstances were directed towards the inhabitants of the dangerous planet Earth? Would we still discriminate against each-other and engage in petty territorial disputes or would we unite as inhabitants of our beloved planet who all share the same goal of a better life? THIS is the Cosmic Perspective. Thank you Dr. Tyson for writing such a wonderful book. It justifies my gratitude for being alive and living. Especially in an age where it's possible to grasp the perspective. Sincerely, Mike Morgenstein

This short book is aptly titled, providing a quick, fun introduction to astrophysics via a series of astronomy essays. The author's enthusiasm for his subject is clear and appealing. I breezed through the book, highlighting notable passages, almost always entertained. Here, for instance, is an extract from near the end of chapter four, where he describes just how energetic cosmic rays are: "... most of these charged particles are protons, the nuclei of hydrogen atoms, and are moving at 99.9999999999999999999 percent of the speed of light. Remarkably, these single subatomic particles carry enough energy to knock a golf ball from anywhere on a putting green into the cup." I highly recommend this as a thoroughly enjoyable dip into astronomy, yet I nonetheless have two reservations. Firstly, the book seems, to me, to lack a solid overarching structure. The existing pieces are good, but it feels as if there are other pieces missing, or perhaps that the existing pieces might have been better presented in a slightly different order. (This is likely because the book is based on a series of essays.) For instance, I think a longer description of stellar evolution would help somewhere within the first few chapters. Likewise, I'd have appreciated more discussion of nucleosynthesis, which would have fit well into chapter seven. Secondly, the book has neither pictures nor diagrams, but astronomy pictures are things of beauty that would have complemented the text. For those looking for a text that delves deeper, I've read two books recently that cover the same broad area: Brian Greene's "The Elegant Universe" and "The Universe in a Nutshell" by Stephen Hawking. Both are less suited to those in a hurry, requiring more time and effort to read (the book by Greene especially). Yet I found that effort amply rewarded and highly recommend both books. About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).

I enjoyed the book very much. It explores many topics of interest on the cutting edge of Science. The author puts it in plain language without losing the essence of the science.

Without knowing much about science and physics, the author still managed to make me understand the universe.

Great read

I recently started reading Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson, and I honestly didn’t expect to enjoy it this much! I’m not quite finished with it yet, but I’m really glad I picked it up. Even though it’s about space and big scientific ideas, it’s written in a way that’s easy to understand—even for someone like me who is 10. The chapters are short, which makes it perfect if you don’t want to read for too long at once, and each one explains something really interesting about the universe, like how stars are born, what black holes are, and how everything is connected. What I like most is how it makes you feel small but also kind of special at the same time. It makes me think about how huge the universe is, but also how amazing it is that we get to learn about it. Some parts made me go “wow” because I never thought about space that way before. It’s definitely interesting and totally worth buying, especially if you’re curious about space or just want to learn something cool without it being boring or too complicated. I would recommend it to kids and adults because it’s fun, smart, and makes you think. Overall, even though I haven’t finished it yet, I already think it’s an awesome book and I’m really glad I started reading it! 🌟

Great book, the things are easily explained and it has good quality.

Our universe is an amazing ‘place’. It houses unimaginably large and strange objects. Since Galileo and Newton, we have come to know a lot about the universe. We have realised how insignificant our world is in comparison to the stellar objects it contains. At the same time, we have no clue about most things in the universe. Having a glimpse of what we know and what we don’t know can be a humbling experience at least and a mind-blowing one if you have a little more than a passing interest. In Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, Neil deGrasse Tyson has done a remarkable job at giving us that glimpse in a way everyone can understand. The book starts at the big-bang. “In the beginning, nearly fourteen billion years ago, all the space and all the matter and all the energy of the known universe was contained in a volume less than one-trillionth the size of the period that ends this sentence.” It explains how the universe expanded and what it contains now. Mr. Tyson ensures that what we don’t understand in the cosmos—things like dark matter and dark energy—are as interesting as the things we do have some understanding about—like stars, black holes, asteroids, planets, etc. Towards the end, he explains how our Earth might look to the aliens and how they might find us—if any intelligent life ever exists out there—before ending the book with thought-worthy reflections on the cosmic perspective. The book is thoroughly enjoyable even for someone who is not much familiar with physics. If you are someone on whom the night sky normally has a thought provoking effect, it is a must-read.