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 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.

This book did exactly what it said it would do - give people who have little understanding of astrophysics in the fastest possible. It was a download about a science that spans the known universe. What it did well: There was a lot of really good information. I learned things I never knew about the universe and it helped me to understand some of the chatter I hear in other media better. It improved my understanding of the scientific discipline, what they had accomplished to date and what the current areas of focus were. It was a true, high level primer. What it could have done better: The hardest part of the book to comprehend were the first two chapters. I had to read, pause, think, reread, pause, reread, then just keep going hoping that the additional context later in the book would help me to decipher what the author meant. To be fair - it worked. The later parts of the book did make those early parts more clear and I left the book feeling like I had a solid understanding of what the book was about and what it was saying. I did skip the last chapter because, honestly, it strayed into personal philosophies of the author instead of the science which was just less interesting overall. Overall I really liked it. I would read it again and recommend it to others.

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.

Neil deGrasse Tyson’s Astrophysics for People in a Hurry is an eye-opening read for someone like me just starting to learn about space. The way he explains big, complicated ideas in simple language makes it exciting instead of overwhelming. I never felt lost, and each chapter left me curious to know more. It feels like the perfect first step into understanding the universe, both approachable and inspiring at the same time.

A good read by this author.

If you've watched Cosmos: A Space Time Odyssey hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson, then you are in for a treat with his book filled with major science ideas and discoveries. I love his creative, tantalizing sentences that make science an exciting subject. This book is also lol funny in places. While Neil deGrasse believes the universe had a beginning he is much more intrigued with cosmic evolution than the idea of God creating everything. Although he does quote one scriptural verse. "Astrophysics for People in a Hurry" can be read casually in a night. You will learn some shocking facts about elements that together are safe, but separate are trouble. There is also information on black holes, asteroids, galaxies, cosmic rays, supernovas, red giants and spectroscopy. You will also find out that neutrinos pass through your body undetected. While there was a chapter on dark matter I wish we all knew more about this subject. Neil deGrasse Tyson gives about the best explanation I've read so far. So basically, Neil deGrasse Tyson makes science fascinating for the casual reader who only has a few hours to grasp many of the main concepts an astrophysicist would have studied in depth. This book is a nice example of condensing information into short essays for easier mental consumption. You may not agree with how old the universe is or who created it, but those are small parts of the book and there is way more to learn that is fun and educational. ~The Rebecca Review

This book turns what might otherwise be complex and boring astrophysics into readable material just about anyone could get through in little time. I learned a number of fascinating things I would probably never even have cared about otherwise. It even contains humour which I found myself laughing at (and that always helps with technical content). My only issue is that it did not contain any or enough diagrams which may have helped with understanding in some places.