Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
by Neil deGrasse Tyson
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"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 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 show more 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"-- show lessTags
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Member Recommendations
themulhern Both have a lightish treatment of similar topics. I think "We Have no Idea" has more verve, though.
11
Member Reviews
A book for the modern person, apparently. Someone too busy, distracted, spiritually concussed, or algorithmically mauled to sit still long enough and ask the old questions properly.
Where did we come from?
What is all this?
Why does anything exist instead of nothing?
And why, after learning the universe is roughly 13.8 billion years old, expanding, indifferent, violent, beautiful, and mostly made of things we cannot even properly see, do I still get upset about ex-girlfriends?
That’s the trick of this book.
It compresses the cosmos without making it feel cheap. Tyson takes dark matter, dark energy, the Big Bang, atoms, galaxies, gravity, light, and our tiny little ape-brained placed inside the whole cathedral of it, and delivers everything show more with enough clarity that you don’t need a PhD, but enough weight that you still feel the floor drop out beneath you.
It is not a deep technical dive. It is a doorway labeled curiosity.
A reminder that we are not the centre. Not even close. Not the point, not the crown, not the grand final answer. We are temporary arrangements of cosmic debris walking around with opinions, debts, passwords, childhood wounds, and the astonishing arrogance to think the universe should explain itself on our schedule.
This is a sharp, accessible, beautifully paced book for anyone who wants to feel intellectually awake again without being buried alive in equations.
Read it when your problems feel enormous.
Then look up. They still matter.
Just not in the way you thought. show less
Where did we come from?
What is all this?
Why does anything exist instead of nothing?
And why, after learning the universe is roughly 13.8 billion years old, expanding, indifferent, violent, beautiful, and mostly made of things we cannot even properly see, do I still get upset about ex-girlfriends?
That’s the trick of this book.
It compresses the cosmos without making it feel cheap. Tyson takes dark matter, dark energy, the Big Bang, atoms, galaxies, gravity, light, and our tiny little ape-brained placed inside the whole cathedral of it, and delivers everything show more with enough clarity that you don’t need a PhD, but enough weight that you still feel the floor drop out beneath you.
It is not a deep technical dive. It is a doorway labeled curiosity.
A reminder that we are not the centre. Not even close. Not the point, not the crown, not the grand final answer. We are temporary arrangements of cosmic debris walking around with opinions, debts, passwords, childhood wounds, and the astonishing arrogance to think the universe should explain itself on our schedule.
This is a sharp, accessible, beautifully paced book for anyone who wants to feel intellectually awake again without being buried alive in equations.
Read it when your problems feel enormous.
Then look up. They still matter.
Just not in the way you thought. show less
Astrophysics For People in a Hurry - Tyson
Audio performance by Neil deGrasse Tyson
4 stars
I enjoyed Tyson’s lighthearted The Pluto Files several years ago. This collection of essays had a bit less humor and a lot more science, but he kept my attention throughout. I know that I’m never going to actually understand astrophysics, but Tyson makes me feel that I could if I really wanted to. I appreciate that he’s never in the least bit condescending, even if he did let me know that, “The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you.” .
I liked his justification for taking a cosmic perspective, especially, “The cosmic perspective is humble.” I’d agree that the planet might be healthier if our species truly understood show more that we are not the center of the universe. show less
Audio performance by Neil deGrasse Tyson
4 stars
I enjoyed Tyson’s lighthearted The Pluto Files several years ago. This collection of essays had a bit less humor and a lot more science, but he kept my attention throughout. I know that I’m never going to actually understand astrophysics, but Tyson makes me feel that I could if I really wanted to. I appreciate that he’s never in the least bit condescending, even if he did let me know that, “The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you.” .
I liked his justification for taking a cosmic perspective, especially, “The cosmic perspective is humble.” I’d agree that the planet might be healthier if our species truly understood show more that we are not the center of the universe. show less
“smat-ter-ing” noun — the smallest unit of knowledge, i.e. ‘factoid’, retainable by dense bodies when passing through a geeky science nebula.
I don’t know a lot about the universe other than that I’m in it, it’s very big, and I’m not. So I thought this popular book of science popularized might be just the thing. A little amuse-bouche to whet my appetite for bigger things, or just one very big thing. It’s the kind of book where, without irony or risk of ridicule, sentences can begin, “Ever since the dawn of time…” And the great thing about this subject is that with the universe expanding at its current rate, my smattering of knowledge gleaned from this book will be, relative to all the knowledge possible, nearly show more as impressive as Mr deGrasse Tyson’s. (It’s a calculus joke, I think.)
The writing here is breezy and efficient. Each chapter tackles some astrophysical phenomenon and provides some sense of it and, usually, its discovery’s historical significance in the development of astrophysics. You’ll get the distinct feeling that you actually understand what is going on…until you close the book and attempt to enthuse to your significant other about the wonder of invisible light. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the journey. And I do feel almost one smattering bit more knowledgeable.
Gently recommended. show less
I don’t know a lot about the universe other than that I’m in it, it’s very big, and I’m not. So I thought this popular book of science popularized might be just the thing. A little amuse-bouche to whet my appetite for bigger things, or just one very big thing. It’s the kind of book where, without irony or risk of ridicule, sentences can begin, “Ever since the dawn of time…” And the great thing about this subject is that with the universe expanding at its current rate, my smattering of knowledge gleaned from this book will be, relative to all the knowledge possible, nearly show more as impressive as Mr deGrasse Tyson’s. (It’s a calculus joke, I think.)
The writing here is breezy and efficient. Each chapter tackles some astrophysical phenomenon and provides some sense of it and, usually, its discovery’s historical significance in the development of astrophysics. You’ll get the distinct feeling that you actually understand what is going on…until you close the book and attempt to enthuse to your significant other about the wonder of invisible light. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the journey. And I do feel almost one smattering bit more knowledgeable.
Gently recommended. show less
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry is nourishment for anyone who has ever looked at the sky and pondered what is out there. Dr. Tyson provides the perfect amount of information, getting into diverse and dense topics in such a way that anyone can understand them. The only caveat to that is the book operates under the assumption that you have at least heard of some of the topics already even if you have no idea what they are. While Dr. Tyson does satisfactorily explain everything, sometimes his explanations are brief, as befits the intention of the book.
The best thing about the book is Dr. Tyson’s enthusiasm. He loves astrophysics and wants everyone else to love it too. He brings the topics down to a comprehensible level just so others show more love it as much as he does, and it works. He venerates the universe and its myriad mysteries, and his enthusiasm is infectious. Moreover, he explains why he loves it so much, and you totally understand his reasoning. After three short hours listening to Dr. Tyson speak about dark matter, the planets, elements, neutrinos, and the like, suddenly the universe holds vast appeal for you too.
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry makes me lament my career choice and wish I had given the field of astrophysics another look in college. It provides an excellent broad overview of the field, enough to make you dangerous at parties, and piques your interest to learn more about various specifics. Dr. Tyson is a delightful narrator, as anyone who has ever heard him speak can imagine. I enjoyed listening so much that I wish it had been longer and will be looking at some of his other published works. show less
The best thing about the book is Dr. Tyson’s enthusiasm. He loves astrophysics and wants everyone else to love it too. He brings the topics down to a comprehensible level just so others show more love it as much as he does, and it works. He venerates the universe and its myriad mysteries, and his enthusiasm is infectious. Moreover, he explains why he loves it so much, and you totally understand his reasoning. After three short hours listening to Dr. Tyson speak about dark matter, the planets, elements, neutrinos, and the like, suddenly the universe holds vast appeal for you too.
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry makes me lament my career choice and wish I had given the field of astrophysics another look in college. It provides an excellent broad overview of the field, enough to make you dangerous at parties, and piques your interest to learn more about various specifics. Dr. Tyson is a delightful narrator, as anyone who has ever heard him speak can imagine. I enjoyed listening so much that I wish it had been longer and will be looking at some of his other published works. show less
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, Neil deGrasse Tyson, author
The book is very readable, but perhaps not very comprehensible. As the author attempts to explain the entirety of the astrophysical world, it made one thing very clear to me. I was not up to the task. He begins his book citing the earliest scientists and the earliest theories, and he pronounces them as the only sure things, the only provable reality. It may be so, but as the pages turned, I realized another reality, most of his information was going right over my head into the astrophysical world he was describing. Like air and water, hopefully, the information would someday be recycled and retrieved in the same way he explains that water and air return.
Although it is show more written in short chapters, with easy to read sentences, and most of the theories presented have stood the test of time, like those of Albert Einstein and Issac Newton, and the inventions of Hubble and Kepler which are still front and center in scientific circles, too many years have passed between the present and the past in which I was privy to the study of astronomy, chemistry, biology and physics. I was never a scholar in those fields, but rather was more of a voyeur. So, while I may remember certain terms like comets, asteroids, bacteria, electrons, atoms, neutrinos, and ions, I sure don’t have fluency in the science of pulsars or quarks, nor did I ever hear of panspermia before. While I remember loving learning about the periodic chart, I did not remember most of the elements he introduced. I remember the more common ones like carbon, hydrogen, sodium and helium, among others, even remembering their chemical symbols, but I never heard of thorium, technetium or gallium.
My summation of the book is that while it was not a chore to read, it really is meant for someone who wants to get a bird’s eye view of the subject, someone who simply wants to review what he once knew well. This book is not a crash course, it is the “after the course” review.
The book is written with so much humor that I was encouraged to continue reading, even as I realized I was a lost cause. The astrophysics I was learning could fit into a thimble with the millions of other molecules residing there joining me! show less
The book is very readable, but perhaps not very comprehensible. As the author attempts to explain the entirety of the astrophysical world, it made one thing very clear to me. I was not up to the task. He begins his book citing the earliest scientists and the earliest theories, and he pronounces them as the only sure things, the only provable reality. It may be so, but as the pages turned, I realized another reality, most of his information was going right over my head into the astrophysical world he was describing. Like air and water, hopefully, the information would someday be recycled and retrieved in the same way he explains that water and air return.
Although it is show more written in short chapters, with easy to read sentences, and most of the theories presented have stood the test of time, like those of Albert Einstein and Issac Newton, and the inventions of Hubble and Kepler which are still front and center in scientific circles, too many years have passed between the present and the past in which I was privy to the study of astronomy, chemistry, biology and physics. I was never a scholar in those fields, but rather was more of a voyeur. So, while I may remember certain terms like comets, asteroids, bacteria, electrons, atoms, neutrinos, and ions, I sure don’t have fluency in the science of pulsars or quarks, nor did I ever hear of panspermia before. While I remember loving learning about the periodic chart, I did not remember most of the elements he introduced. I remember the more common ones like carbon, hydrogen, sodium and helium, among others, even remembering their chemical symbols, but I never heard of thorium, technetium or gallium.
My summation of the book is that while it was not a chore to read, it really is meant for someone who wants to get a bird’s eye view of the subject, someone who simply wants to review what he once knew well. This book is not a crash course, it is the “after the course” review.
The book is written with so much humor that I was encouraged to continue reading, even as I realized I was a lost cause. The astrophysics I was learning could fit into a thimble with the millions of other molecules residing there joining me! show less
Neil deGrasse Tyson, quite possibly the most beloved astrophysicist in America – if not the world, graces us with Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, a cosmic symphony for the curious mind. In his effortlessly charming and witty style, Tyson takes the infinite complexities of the universe and distills them into something digestible, profound, and playful.
With each page, he folds the vastness of space into clear and relatable language, weaving together a tapestry of stars, galaxies, and cosmic phenomena that invites even the novice to explore. Tyson’s humor is a gentle gravitational force, pulling readers closer to the core of astrophysical theory without ever overwhelming them. Like stardust in the ether, each chapter hovers with show more the simplicity of an introduction yet resonates deeply for those already familiar with the dance of planets and particles.
This book is not just an introduction to astrophysics; it’s an invitation. An invitation to look up, to wonder, to ask what lies beyond. Whether you are new to the mysteries of the cosmos or a seasoned traveler of the stars, Tyson’s words feel like sitting down with an old friend who happens to know all the secrets of the universe—but tells them with a twinkle in his eye. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry is a cosmic delight, reminding us that no matter how fast life moves, we are all part of something timeless. show less
With each page, he folds the vastness of space into clear and relatable language, weaving together a tapestry of stars, galaxies, and cosmic phenomena that invites even the novice to explore. Tyson’s humor is a gentle gravitational force, pulling readers closer to the core of astrophysical theory without ever overwhelming them. Like stardust in the ether, each chapter hovers with show more the simplicity of an introduction yet resonates deeply for those already familiar with the dance of planets and particles.
This book is not just an introduction to astrophysics; it’s an invitation. An invitation to look up, to wonder, to ask what lies beyond. Whether you are new to the mysteries of the cosmos or a seasoned traveler of the stars, Tyson’s words feel like sitting down with an old friend who happens to know all the secrets of the universe—but tells them with a twinkle in his eye. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry is a cosmic delight, reminding us that no matter how fast life moves, we are all part of something timeless. show less
This book is a compilation of Neil deGrasse Tyson’s essays on popular science for Natural History magazine. The title is a bit of a misnomer. It serves more as a refresher of scientific principles that many have studied in school, and assumes the reader understands at least some of the basics.
I enjoyed listening to the author’s narration of the audiobook. He explains scientific theories in a straight-forward manner. Starting with the big bang, the author breaks down the universe into its many components, including such topics as planets, exoplanets, dark matter, stars, dark energy, chemical elements, quarks, comets, asteroids, and so on. He covers a variety of scientific discoveries and physical laws.
I found this short volume to be show more an excellent primer on the fundamentals of the universe. It is easy to read and understand. The author even throws in a bit of wit and humor to keep it fun. show less
I enjoyed listening to the author’s narration of the audiobook. He explains scientific theories in a straight-forward manner. Starting with the big bang, the author breaks down the universe into its many components, including such topics as planets, exoplanets, dark matter, stars, dark energy, chemical elements, quarks, comets, asteroids, and so on. He covers a variety of scientific discoveries and physical laws.
I found this short volume to be show more an excellent primer on the fundamentals of the universe. It is easy to read and understand. The author even throws in a bit of wit and humor to keep it fun. show less
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(Interview of Neil deGrasse Tyson by Stephen Colbert about the book, on YouTube).
added by Cynfelyn
Tyson's storytelling had me feeling like I was cruising through space, witnessing stars being born and galaxies colliding. And let me tell you, he's got this knack for explaining crazy complicated stuff in a way that just makes sense, you know? It's like chatting with a super smart buddy who's really good at breaking things down.......
added by Almatar
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Author Information
59+ Works 15,730 Members
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson was born in New York City on October 5, 1958. Interested in astronomy since he was a child, Tyson gave lectures on the topic at the age of 15. He attended the Bronx High School of Science and was the editor-in-chief for its Physical Science Journal. After earning a B.A. in Physics from Harvard in 1980, Tyson show more received an M.A. in Astronomy from the University of Texas at Austin in 1983. He earned his Ph.D. in Astrophysics from Columbia in 1991. Since 1996, Tyson has held the position of Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium at Manhattan's American Museum of Natural History. In 2001, he was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve on the Commission on the Future of the United States Aerospace Industry. In 2004, Tyson joined the President's Commission on Implementation of United States Space Exploration Policy. He has hosted PBS's television show NOVA scienceNOW since 2006. Tyson can also be seen frequently as a guest on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Colbert Report, and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Tyson has written many popular books on astronomy, and he began his "Universe" column for Natural History magazine in 1995. In 2009, he published the bestselling book The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America's Favorite Planet to describe the controversy over Pluto's demotion to dwarf planet. His other books include Accessory to War: The Unspoken alliance between astrophysics and the military. Tyson was recognized in 2004 with the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, and Time named him one of the 100 Most Influential People of 2007. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Some Editions
Awards and Honors
Awards
Distinctions
Work Relationships
Has the adaptation
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
- Original title
- Astrophysics for people in a hurry
- Original publication date
- 2017-05-02
- Important places
- Universe
- Important events
- Big Bang
- Epigraph
- The universe is under no obligation
to make sense to you.
—N D T - Dedication
- For all those who are too busy to read fat books
Yet nonetheless seek a conduit to the cosmos - First words
- 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.
- Quotations
- The world has persisted many long year, having once been set in appropriate motion. From these everything else follows. Lucretiius, C 50 BX
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)And that would be the last gasp of human enlightenment - until the rise of a visionary new culture that could once again embrace, rather than fear, the cosmic perspective.
- Blurbers
- Stewart, Jon
- Original language
- English US
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 5,416
- Popularity
- 2,497
- Reviews
- 175
- Rating
- (3.89)
- Languages
- 18 — Catalan, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Polish, Romanian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Portuguese (Portugal)
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 57
- ASINs
- 16