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Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries

by Neil deGrasse Tyson

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2,079477,712 (3.99)40
Neil deGrasse Tyson has a talent for guiding readers through the mysteries of outer space with stunning clarity and almost childlike enthusiasm. This collection of his essays in "Natural history" magazine explores a myriad of cosmic topics, from astral life at the frontiers of astrobiology to the movie industry's feeble efforts to get its night skies right. Tyson introduces us to the physics of black holes by explaining what would happen to our bodies if we fell into one, examines the needless friction between science and religion, and notes Earth's progression to "an insignificantly small speck in the cosmos." Renowned for his ability to blend content, accessibility, and humor, Tyson is a natural teacher who simplifies some of the most complex concepts in astrophysics while sharing his infectious excitement for our universe.… (more)
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Showing 1-5 of 46 (next | show all)
(2007)Very good collection of essays by noted popular astronomer - very readable. From Publishers Weekly:What would it feel like if your spaceship were to venture too close to the black hole lurking at the center of the Milky Way? According to astrophysicist Tyson, director of New York City's Hayden Planetarium, size does matter when it comes to black holes, although the chances of your surviving the encounter aren't good in any case. Tyson takes readers on an exciting journey from Earth's hot springs, where extremophiles flourish in hellish conditions, to the frozen, desolate stretches of the Oort Cloud and the universe's farthest reaches, in both space and time. Tyson doesn't restrict his musings to astrophysics, but wanders into related fields like relativity and particle physics, which he explains just as clearly as he does Lagrangian points, where we someday may park interplanetary filling stations. He tackles popular myths (is the sun yellow?) and takes movie directors¥most notably James CameronÂ¥to task for spectacular goofs. In the last section the author gives his take on the hot subject of intelligent design. Readers of Natural History magazine will be familiar with many of the 42 essays collected here, while newcomers will profit from Tyson's witty and entertaining description of being pulled apart atom by atom into a black hole, and other, closer-to-earth, and cheerier, topics.
  derailer | Jan 25, 2024 |
I so desperately wanted to like this book, but I just didn't. Whenever I find myself avoiding reading it means I'm not enjoying my current book, and it's time to accept that and move on.
  blueskygreentrees | Jul 30, 2023 |
I really only got halfway through...I love me some NGT, and I could tell he was trying to make astrophysics relatable, but much of it still went way over my head. I did appreciate his puns and quips. Maybe one day I'll return for another attempt. ( )
  LibroLindsay | Jun 18, 2021 |
An excellent, easy to understand, humorous collection of essays on our universe. ( )
  Jimbookbuff1963 | Jun 5, 2021 |
Sciencey stuff for the non-scientist. Interesting, accessible and slightly humorous. ( )
  JohnKaess | Jul 23, 2020 |
Showing 1-5 of 46 (next | show all)
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Epigraph
My own suspicion is that the Universe

is not only queerer than we suppose,

but queerer than we can suppose.

—J. B. S. HALDANE

Possible Worlds (1927)
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Preface

I see the universe not as a collection of objects, theories, and phenomena, but as a vast stage of actors driven by intricate twists of story line and plot.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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Neil deGrasse Tyson has a talent for guiding readers through the mysteries of outer space with stunning clarity and almost childlike enthusiasm. This collection of his essays in "Natural history" magazine explores a myriad of cosmic topics, from astral life at the frontiers of astrobiology to the movie industry's feeble efforts to get its night skies right. Tyson introduces us to the physics of black holes by explaining what would happen to our bodies if we fell into one, examines the needless friction between science and religion, and notes Earth's progression to "an insignificantly small speck in the cosmos." Renowned for his ability to blend content, accessibility, and humor, Tyson is a natural teacher who simplifies some of the most complex concepts in astrophysics while sharing his infectious excitement for our universe.

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W.W. Norton

2 editions of this book were published by W.W. Norton.

Editions: 0393062244, 0393330168

 

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