Over a year on the New York Times bestseller list and more than a million copies sold.The essential universe, from our most celebrated and beloved astrophysicist.What is the nature of space and time? How do we fit within the universe? How does the universe fit within us? There’s no better guide through these mind-expanding questions than acclaimed astrophysicist and best-selling author Neil … acclaimed astrophysicist and best-selling author Neil deGrasse Tyson.
But today, few of us have time to contemplate the cosmos. So Tyson brings the universe down to Earth succinctly and clearly, with sparkling wit, in tasty chapters consumable anytime and anywhere in your busy day.
While you wait for your morning coffee to brew, for the bus, the train, or a plane to arrive, Astrophysics for People in a Hurry will reveal just what you need to be fluent and ready for the next cosmic headlines: from the Big Bang to black holes, from quarks to quantum mechanics, and from the search for planets to the search for life in the universe.
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I enjoyed this book and felt like I learned a lot — it’s a quick read explaining many aspects of the universe including recent research. Tyson has a way of making complex concepts accessible and fun, ranging from dark matter to gamma rays to pulsars to a scientific theory about how we might all be Martian descendants. Interesting read.
A witty book about astronomy and science. It talks about the math but does not burden the reader. De Grasse Tyson has interesting insights into why science is important.
“We are stardust brought to life, then empowered by the universe to figure itself out—and we have only just begun.”
I truly believe that mankind will never know the depths of space and the why’s and how’s of it all. I’m not being pessimistic; I believe space is infinite and thus we can never know. And if you ponder on infinity too long you’ll likely go clinically insane. This is why I, a science girl, chose a field of study outside of astrophysics. I don’t think I could ever be satisfied with that one single drop of knowledge comparatively. However, I still am interested…as are so many others as evidenced by 2017’s goodreads choice award votes. Congrats to both the readers who voted and Neil deGrasse Tyson for the recognition. Everyone benefited!
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry is just what the title implies. It’s a scaled down version of astrophysics that still has enough substance and quality information to plump up our brains. This quick read is good if you want a fairly brief intro into the subject or if you want to see if any of the big, mainstream theories have changed from long ago school days. This book could be considered somewhat dry reading material for anyone who finds they’re actually not all that interested in the subject, but it seems many readers have enjoyed it. Science for the win!!
Note: The audiobook version is narrated by the author Neil deGrasse Tyson.
My favorite quote:
“The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you.”
Great book to read if you like science but can’t do the math.
If anyone can wrap up a complex scientific topic into an easy-to-understand package, it’s Neil deGrasse Tyson. This book will obviously appeal to people new to the mind-boggling topic of astrophysics (and leave their minds far less “boggled”), but is also perfect for readers familiar with astrophysics but who might like a concise refresher. Above all, this little book covers a wide range of subjects from the tiniest quarks to the vastness of the universe with conversational language and some Tysonian humor.
Listen to the Audiobook!
This book is the sort of brain (and world-view) exercise we should all be enjoying more often. DeGrasse Tyson can spin a yarn with the best of them, and this book is full of tales, tips, and transcendence (along with the astrophysics. 🙂
After you chuckle and sigh your way through this one, be sure to pick up We Have No Idea and continue the journey!
~D. L. Orton, author of the best-selling Between Two Evils series. Get the 1st book in the series, Crossing In Time: A Dystopian Love Story (Between Two Evils Book 1), for free right now!
Neil DeGrasse Tyson starts this book by saying “the universe is under no obligation to make sense to you”. That sets the tone of both the text and Tyson’s way of thinking. To read «Astrophysics for People in a Hurry» you have to tone down your ego put away all our upbringing that made us think too highly of humanity. It’s the universe we’re talking about here, and we’re less than a pixel in a photo.
At the same time, Tyson’s witty writing make a seemingly dense subject aprochable, and you will very likely come out on the other side of this book with a renewed appreciation for science and the abundant mysteries we’re yet to solve.
Neil deGrasse Tyson is so brilliant he can explain astrophysics for non-physicists!
Tyson continues to be one of my favorite authors, because he is able to explain complex ideas very simply. This was not a fast read for me, but very satisfying.
It’s incredibly difficult to summarize advanced mathematical concepts into simple lay terms, but Neil DeGrasse Tyson definitely did it. It was simple to read and his humor made it a page-turner. Before I knew it, I was half way through the book. While I would recommend it for anyone interested in space science, I think teens/young adults would really benefit from it. It supplements their high school/college level physics courses; and might even make a arduous concept comprehensible.
What a treat! Very difficult and important stuff made fun and fully digestible. Thanks, doc!
Great book by a great astrophysicist. Quick read for peope who have kids or grandkids showing an interest in science.
Though Tyson has his critics, I am certainly not one. He, like Carl Sagan before him, has an uncanny way of discussing unbelievably complicated scientific topics and bringing them down to the level that mere mortals can, if not fully understand, then at least catch a glimmer of. I also believe that he truly wants the reader, the viewer, his students, and everyone in the auditorium to understand the things that he does. And he does a phenomenal job of breaking things into pieces that we can mentally digest. Yeah that whole Pluto thing, did not endear him with the masses (he didn’t decide that on his own, ya know!), but this book and his revised “Cosmos” TV series highlight the talent he has for bringing things that are truly out of this world, back down to Earth.
good read for anybody that has an interest in science
One of the most exciting books I have ever read. Just right for people who are not well versed in science. Enjoy!
A quick, fun overview. Not in depth, but a fast-paced read.
Twelve essays on various intriguing topics in astrophysics. Easy to digest and punctuated with Neil deGrasse Tyson’s trademark humor.
Heavy,but this man seems to make so much possible !
Just read the book. It’s fantastic!
A whirlwind tour of physics for the non-scientist. Charming to read and very undertandable