Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries

Neil is a legend, his way of thinking is truly unique and his work is an enjoyable and an enlightening read.

Love this book by Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson....bought it before his performance and meet and great at the Providence Performing Arts Center! A very knowledge and "Down-to-Earth" guy! Easy to talk to and he provides excellent answers! Thank you Dr. Tyson!

Bought for eighteen year old son considering astrophysics as a career. He seems to be enjoying the book so far.

I looove Dr. Tysons books i listen to him all day every day at startalk radio . the book came in great condition brand new great size. Its a great passtime to read it i absolutely love it and recomme d it

If you love Neil deGrasse Tyson then you will love this book. No one can bring the cosmos to you like this guy. He takes complex astrophysics theories and makes it easy for everyone to understand. His light and entertaining writing style sprinkled with bits of humor makes this book a great read.

Amazing read. Easily to grasp some of the most difficult material of the cosmos! Dr. Tyson does fantastic work presenting and delivering the information for all readers to understand!

Excellent read. Tyson is a master at breaking down the complex nature of everything from astrological to quantum physics in a way that is both palatable and enjoyable to read. I blazed through this in a few sittings. Great for the science buff as well as the layman.

Astroscience for the average grey cells.

a good read

Good read

Great book! Complex subject in an easy to read entertaining way.

A collection of essays by an outstanding astrophysicist. Tyson has a wonderful sense of humor that permeates the essays. He works hard to make many incredibly abstract phenomena comprehensible. Make no mistake, while this book is informative it is not a good entry level book about the heavens for the average layman. A scientific background makes it eminently more readable.

A bit deep in some places, but quite clear in others. Well worth the time to read and digest and maybe acquire a better understanding of what we think we know versus the still unknown.

Not as comprehensive as some books about science out there, but it's nice if you only have a few minutes and want to learn something simple and neat about the process of science or the way the universe works.

Is as fun to read as science fiction while being science-non fiction. Quite a material for discussions or just for thinking. Reads like charm!!!

Yay whatever

Mr Tyson, in his usual wonderful style

Great condition, pretty good book

Exactly as advertised

My son was the first to read this, and enjoyed it a great deal. He recommended it to me, and I'm glad he did. Tyson is a very good writer and a very clear thinker, and the book updated my knowledge of the cosmos in many ways, while also taking me nicely through much of the logic of astrophysics and explaining how we know what we know. A fun read, and very edifying.

This book is a collection of essays each of which can be read as a stand alone. If I was not retired I would have read this while commuting since each story could be finished while riding the subway and bus. You can't go wrong with this book.

If your somewhat interested in physics/astrophysics you’ll love this book. And if you love Neil you’ll love the audio book!

I love this book so much I had to get the physical copy! It was a great read and I would highly recommend to anyone remotely curious about space. Every book by Dr. Tyson is comprehensive due to his way with words and witty banter!

This is an extremely biased review, because I am totally captivated by Dr. Tyson's style and content of his visual presentations. With that in mind, this book to me reads exactly as that, with my imagination developing his inflexions, demeanors, etc. along the read. As far as content is concerned, great as usual, bringing science to us, neophites, in clear, understandable and many a times loaded with wit.

Purchased this book as a gift for my son. He really likes it.

Makes a lot of scientific points very approachable. Met the guy in person about 2 months after I picked up the book. Just like the writing, he was very approachable and was able to explain a lot of difficult theories in layman's terms. If I could make my teachings like that, I'd die a happy man.

Tyson is a master communicator, who is never boring nor too technical. This is a book that allows anyone to grasp the current state of physics and astronomy sciences. As an engineer, I’ve missed the technical tidbits, but I know I’ll be a minority. Definitely recommended!

The author must be indeed a good teacher. The treatment is very clear, without even one mathematical detail or astrophysical technicality. It covers a good range of areas of astrophysics, and what is most unusual, the book also discusses related subjects that belong in sociology. This aspect makes it especially valuable; very few authors of popular science venture into sociological ramifications. All in all, I give it five stars and recommend it without reservations.

For my son and he can’t get enough. Not my cup of tea

This is a fun book to read. Both educational and humorous.

Great read, good book.

Great book easy to understand

Good

Awesome book for someone like me who has no idea what the hell is outside of our atmosphere. Enjoyable and very readable.

Great read.

Number one...it came earlier than predicted! Which was a wonderful surprise. So informative and interesting. I really think it's important to understand the world around me. I am only in 8th grade but I made my family read it too. Everyone liked it. I think it will stay on my shelf for a while.

Neil deGrasse Tyson makes esoteric facts about astronomy and cosmology interesting and exciting. He has an engaging and animated style that pulls the reader in and holds their attention. I enjoy this genre and this is one of the better books I've read in it recently.

Luckily, this book is about astronomy so it’s really cool

Amazing read, Neil is a funny writer

This book was good, and it kept me interested. He goes into great detail about everything and even makes you laugh sometimes. I carried this with me everywhere I went just so I could keep reading.

Great book and great author. I am sure if you are reading this, you are quite familiar with Neil. I found the book not only interesting, but also very easy to read. Each chapter is fairly short and enjoyable so it's a great bathroom reader. If you want more Neil, watch his videos on Youtube.

A very instructive book dealing with many fields on astronomy and physics of particles. At the end the author collects a bunch of curiosities. An engineer would profit most of the knowledge presented, but it's also much interesting for the general public since the language is very accessible

This outstanding collection of essays by a great science communicator will educate and inspire anyone with a pulse. Read it, then go out in your backyard tonight and look up! --Guy P. Harrison, author of Good Thinking: What you need to know to be smarter, safer, wealthier, and wiser

I had the chance to see a cable broadcast of Neil deGrasse Tyson talking about some really interesting things in the cosmos and was so excited by his presentation I went out and bought his most recent book. He is every bit as exciting as an author as he was on stage. I could visualize him on stage speaking to me as I read his book. It is a must read to understand some of the most recent views in astrophysics!

It will make you smarter - That could be a good thing, depending on if you want to be smarter or not. Seriously, this is a good read. It is a great way to help understand the world we live in, and the universe (or universes, depending on your particular theory). Tyson is a brilliant author with a sense of humor.

Neil deGrasse Tyson writes just as he speaks. Smart,funny and in no way pretentious. Great book.

LOVE this book - NdGT has a way of explaining and being very entertaining at the same time...

Very informative but his book and chapter titles are deceptive. It reads more like a text book but with a sense of humor. There is a lot of repetition but that's ok. A must read for those interested in a well rounded book on general astronomy.

I really enjoyed this book. I found it to be engaging, informative, and inspiring.

N. Tyson is one of the great physicist and philosophers of our time.

One of the best non-fiction authors of all time

Fascinating

Muy bueno

Great read.

Love this guys books

There are certain kinds of people in this world, an intuitive fact that everyone tends to agree with. There are some folks that can write in such an influential and interesting manner that even topics once felt universally barren become vivid and colorful. It was the discovery of Dr. Tyson's literature that has re sparked my love for books. I find myself reading more with each passing day. If you've ever wondered what its like to truly enjoy books, to feel a sense of intense satisfaction and intellectual growth then look no further. There are few and far between when it comes to folks as intelligent and as energetic as Neil deGrass Tyson and I would implore anyone with even the faintest bit of curiosity in the universe to explore this text. At any price it is money well spent.

my son likes this book

Wonderful easy read

Great read, my teenage daughter loves this book.

For those who dabble in the wonders of space, this book was insightful on almost all aspects. Gathers many thoughts and questions and engagingly explains the facts and mysteries. I was surprised at the candid story telling and confessions of ignorance. I felt like the author was having a normal conversation at my breakfast table and wasn't talking down to me. He should, however, steer clear of religious berating, for us God AND science loving people...

Very fun and engaging book. Started a little slow for me (I've been studying space for 25 years and am also an amateur stargazer) but halfway through I started learning some interesting facts that I didn't know anything about. Within the writing, sometimes you'll get a snapshot of Tyson's ego coming through and it's slightly off-putting...but overall a great book and well worth the read!

Some chapters are fun to read. Fells short than expected.

Such a lovely book, my husband loves it.

My daughter absolutely loved this book and plans on reading it again! She said there’s so much in the book to learn..

Loved the enthusiastic approach Neil has to his subject and the way he calmly explains to us mortals and neophytes the way our world works.

Scholarly and wonderful information

Delightfully well written. I've studied astronomy, but I learned a lot more in this book. It's easy to understand without feeling either overwhelmed or condescended to.

A great light science book by an interesting writer. There isn't anything intellectually taxing presented, but the book covers a few different topics in the form of essays, and the sincerity of the author comes through in a likeable and comfortable way. If you are fascinated by your world, this book will only feed that fascination. It isn't hardcore science, but it is excellent science writing backed by hardcore knowledge. Great stuff. What more could one ask for?

It was a gift, so I can't comment on the book.. But all the mechanics in order/delivery went well...........

Neil deGrasse Tyson is my new fave. Such an easy style, the author romps from subject to subject, leaves you eager to turn the next page yet at no time did I feel the need to re-read anything to make it clearer. The author is a natural story-teller. Ideal for those (like me) who have no interest in books that require a maths degree I like a sense of humour in a writer and this book has that and a wit that enhances the read but does not leave you feeling that it's there to cover up a lack of knowledge. This guy knows his stuff and makes you want to hear it. Highly recommended.

This book plays out as an "Intro to" or "Dummies" guide to Astrophysics. Mr. deGrasse Tyson does a great job providing the reader with the history of both the universe as well as the field of astrophysics, which he does so with his trademark charm and sense of humor. This is NOT an academic text book and should not be compared to such. For those wanting to seriously delve into the field of astrophysics, they should look elsewhere. For the rest of us with a passing curiosity, this is a great book to get a taste of what the field of astrophysics is about. Mr. deGrasse Tyson does a great job with writing in such a way that the layman can catch on to the concepts and ideas he presents, as well as convey his passion for the field, all while adding a little bit of humor here and there as well. For the casual reader who wants to know a little more about the universe, this is a great book to start with. For some that will be enough, for others it might only be the beginning. Either way, its a great place to start.

Some things are just really difficult to teach. Black holes. Spectrographic analysis. Astrophysical plasmas. These subjects don’t fly into the mainstream mainly due to their own complexity and unseen indirect connection to our daily lives. So how does Neil deGrasse Tyson do it? How does he takes these erudite, complex subjects and theories and make them so appealing and accessible? I think the answer is simple. One, deGrasse Tyson is incredibly smart. Two, and I think more importantly, he is incredibly passionate and extremely enthusiastic. Think back on your days in school, who was your favorite teacher/professor? It probably wasn’t the one with the highest IQ, it was most likely the one that emoted their excitement. If you have any interest in the cosmos, this book is for you. If you have ever wondered how we know the temperature of certain stars, or how we know the distance of certain galaxies, then this book is for you. If you seek facts and wonderment, this book is for you. This book is a great book.

I've read most of Tyson's other books and have listened to more Star Talk episodes than I can count (particularly during the pandemic). Some of the themes of the recent episodes are addressed in the book, but the book is so enjoyable because it really covers a lot of topics related to astronomy, physics, biology and chemistry. Each chapter is an independent essay and so I found myself reading one a day (kind of like a science devotional). I was sad that the book ended and is one that I can see myself pulling out again from time to time to re-read. I'd highly recommend for anyone who is curious and enjoys science!

I liked it a lot. The way it is written like you are chatting with the renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson is very appealing. He uses a language and vocabulary accessible to most of the people who graduated highschool. Also the examples he gives are simple and easy to understand. I would like to see a revised version of this book, one that includes the discoveries from the latest years.

This book is AWESOME. Tyson does a great job of explaining complex processes, objects, and ideas while keeping a light tone with just the right amount of humor and sarcasm.

Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson, who is also known as the “black science guy” on various internet forums, such as reddit. Dr. Tyson’s also got some popular internet memes styled after him such as the “we got a bad ass over here” meme. However, in real life he is the director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City and is an extremely accomplished astrophysicist. In a lot of ways, he is the Carl Sagan of our generation. If you have seen the TV show Cosmos on either PBS or Fox, he is the new host for this revamped show which used to be hosted by Carl Sagan. He is very well known for his ability to take scientific concepts and distill them into something that we can understand. I’m no scientist, so I need someone who understands these concepts to explain them in a way that we can relate to. This book is a selection of small essays that he’s written for various newspapers, magazines, and internet blogs. Death by Black Hole touches on a lot of amazing scientific concepts that are almost taken by granted by a lot of people today, but it provides a foundation for everything that we do in space or dealing with the cosmos. Dr. Tyson is excellent at taking these concepts and putting them in situations that we can understand as non-scientists complete with humor. A wonderful example of this is in the essay “Going Ballistic," where he states what happens to a person who jumps through a hole dug through the center of the earth. The old “what happens when you dig all the way to China” quandary. He says, "Now comes the fun part. Jump in. You now fall continuously in a weightless, free-fall state until you reach the earth’s center, where you vaporize in the heat of the iron core.” He then goes on to ignore that complication and then talk about gravity and what happens as you move closer to and then farther from a center of mass. Dr. Tyson is one of the best scientific minds of our generation, and his major contribution to science is his ability to connect with the layman, which is you and me, and help them understand why science is so important to today’s society. So if you want a few laughs, and if you want to learn about astrophysics, astronomy, “regular” physics, and all the other amazing things that happen in our cosmos, I would recommend reading Death by Black Hole.

Lively writing as always by Tyson. My only complaint, and the only reason this isn't 5 stars, is that since this is a collection of essays, he reintroduces concepts multiple times. We learn what the Principia is many times. Probably not so bad if you're reading, since you can just skip ahead but if you're listening to it (as I was) during a commute you start to become annoyed the 5th or 6th time you learn that the Principia is Newton's explanation of his three laws of motion or the 8th time you learn about Galileo. Another complaint about the Audio book is that it isn't read by Professor Tyson, strange since he's got a marvelous speaking voice and had his own show. These complaints are minor though. The book is a merry journey through the wonders and terrors of our universe, suitable for all ages.

That Neil D Tyson can get a bit poetic in his speech, but his thoughts are worth reading. I loved the book and I had a difficult time putting it down. I would recommend watching the revamped "Cosmos" series, which is free if you have Prime, before you read the book only because you can get a sense of how Neil Degrasse Tyson sounds when he talks/things about the universe (also check out "The Inexplicable Universe" on Prime). It really does help. Either way, if you've been wondering about what the hell is going on outside of our atmosphere, this book will give you some great insights.

When you approach Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries, the first question you ask is: who is Neil deGrasse Tyson? He's sort of a celebrity among astrophysicists, if there even is such a thing. Tyson is the director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City, if that gives you an idea of his clout in the science world. Whenever there is any kind of scientific discovery in space, he's the guy to turn to. I've seen him on PBS numerous times, as well as on various news shows. He is smart, savvy, and thoroughly entertaining. Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries is a collection of Tyson's essays from a monthly column in Natural History magazine, and it could not be a more interesting book. They are very easy to read and understand; Tyson makes astrophysics comprehensible for the average reader. The essays also stand alone. There is no need to even try to read this book in one sitting - it can be devoured in pieces that are easier to sort out. It's nice when a book presents something to think about, something for your mind to stew over. It's even better when those ideas are presented in an entertaining way. Tyson is funny and his sense of humor shines through the pages. His writing is clear, precise, and very easy to digest. The stories are also very different in tone; some are lighthearted and funny. One in particular that I enjoyed is about mistakes in the movie industry. Others are more serious and somber. The thing that they have in common is that they are all well-written and thoroughly interesting. I can't pick out my favorite essays simply because there were too many that I enjoyed. Let me be clear, though: Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries is not for everyone. If you have absolutely no interest in outer space, then this book will probably bore you. If you don't like science, this book won't force the issue and make you enjoy something that you really don't. If, however, you are like me and you find it interesting, but have little real understanding of it, this book was pretty much written for you. Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries was an amazing read that I can't recommend highly enough (if you think it sounds interesting!) I absolutely loved it and cannot wait to seek out more of Tyson's work to read. (His latest book, The Pluto Files, is a humorous look at Pluto's fall from planet grace - sounds like fun!)

An interesting look through the window to the world of physics, in the fantastical way only Neil deGrasse Tyson could. This book is almost a Cosmos in book form, it's a journey through well known and lesser so ares of physics and astronomy. It's not an un-putdownable one but I think that's the nature of books of this kind, it is interesting and fun, I would say read this if you enjoy Tysons TV work as it's in a similar style to that, less of a technical book and more for us laymen.

This is a very funny, yet thoughtful book about significant scientific discoveries that are often overlooked. It is a great read for teenagers who are curious about science or for people who do not have much background in this area. Better be careful because you might even learn something.

I've really enjoyed this book, as well as Dr. Tyson's Universe Down to Earth, which I also recommend. Dr. Tyson presents interesting science explanation with well thought out wording, examples, analogy, and his hallmark sense of humor. I can just hear him speaking as I read his books. I highly recommend anything by him.

I bought this for my son, who aspires to be an astrophysicist. He began asking for this book at the beginning of fifth grade. I bought it near the end of fifth grade, and he read it within a few days. Dr. Tyson has written in a style that is easy for anyone to understand. This book proved helpful for my son's research project. He already had read different articles and stories about space/astronomy in general; this book immediately became one of his favorite nonfiction books. He has other books by Dr. Tyson as well as Stephen Hawking (as well as Lucy Hawking); however, this one provided him with a lot of information that he did not previously know. I would certainly recommend it for anyone, including young people, who are interested in space and astronomy.

This is a fun and fascinating collection of essays from a great communicator. Tyson does a great job of engaging a disparate audience without alienating anyone. If you are more knowledgeable about astrophysics, his writing style is enjoyable, but those with less knowledge will learn much without being swamped. This is a great book for the nightstand or to give as a gift.

Tyson is always an entertaining read.

Perfect, pocket-sized, and practical. This book is great for space nerds and all who look at the stars in wonder.

Have to love his enthusiasm and sense of wonder about astrophysics. He communicates complicated scientific knowledge in way that is easy to understand, and is engrossing.

Neil deGrasse Tyson explains the universe with a great sense of humor and destroys your misconceptions, ranting about ignorance the whole way. This is a must read for anyone who wishes to be an informed citizen. Think the Sun is yellow? Nope. Think objects with different masses fall at different rates? Nope. This was an eye-opening book, even though I love science. I learned quite a bit.

As usual, Dr. Tyson is superb with facts and humor!

Informative and addicting read. Really opens your eyes to many things you didn't know about the universe and the history of our discoveries.

I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Tyson and hearing him speak at a conference recently. He is a very good speaker, clearly knowledgeable about astrophysics and able to communicate that love to a general audience. I hoped that this book would reflect some of his populist-dynamism to the page. For the most part, it does. In point of fact, Death By Black Hole is a compilation of over 40 essays that originally appeared as Dr. Tyson's "Universe" column in Natural History magazine. If, because of that, there's a little repetition; well, that's to be expected. As shorter pieces that are not necessarily connected, he is able to cover a lot of ground within them from the process of science to the finer points of our study of the cosmos. In fact, I found his more general pieces to be much more engaging. His views on the process of science, the impact of science on the culture and the relationship between science and religion really pushed me whereas he can get a little "lecturey" when he really digs into the cutting edge of astrophysical research. Still, he takes us right to the edges of the universe--from Big Bang to its entropic demise. As a former teacher of math and physics, there weren't a lot of surprises for me here; however, I am always on the lookout for ways to approach these topics for the general public and I found a lot of good stuff in this book. For the general reader interested in science, this is a valuable read.

Neil deGrasse Tyson is an astrophysicist with the American Museum of Natural History, where he serves at its world-famous Hayden Planetarium. Readers of Natural History magazine will be familiar with the topics covered in this book. Each of the book's 42 chapters first appeared, in one form or another, on the pages of Natural History magazine under the heading "Universe" and span the 11-year period of 1995 through 2005. This is a great book to learn about our universe. I love the author's sense of humor. It was hilarious when he told James Cameron that he had the night sky all wrong in his movie Titanic. To this, Cameron replied, "The film, worldwide, has grossed over a billion dollars. Imagine how much more money it would have made had I gotten the night sky correct!" The author mentions other Hollywood goofs concerning our universe, like Disney's Black Hole. Tyson takes readers on an exciting journey through space. Tyson shows how what we once believed isn't necessarily true. For example, scientists once believed that it would be impossible to go faster than the speed of sound; we would never be able to reach space; we would never walk on the moon etc... Now we say that we could never go faster than the speed of light. Will we one day? Interesting thought. What we think off as impossible is actually not impossible. Today we know that life can survive in impossible environments. For example, in volcanoes, in Antarctica etc. So too life could survive in space. The color of the universe is gray. What color is the sun? White? Yellow? Orange? Read the book. "If the sun were yellow, like a yellow light bulb, then white stuff such as snow would reflect this light and appear yellow." Are there Canals on Mars built by intelligent beings? Some theories speculate that in order to survive global warming, Martians built canals from the North Pole where the icecaps are, to the much needed interior where water was scarce. Tyson explains how one could come up with such an erroneous assumption. It is believed that Europa might have water under its surface where life could abound. After all, water was brought to our planet by asteroids and comets. Drake's equation shows that there must be life elsewhere. We once believed that earth was the center of the universe. Now we know it is not. Why should we think we are the only intelligent beings in the universe? There are many galaxies with planets revolving around their suns. We are not unique. The moon has a unique place in our galaxy. There are those who want to project strong laser-like light on its surface to carry advertisement on its surface. Imagine looking up at the night sky on the moon only to see a Pepsi ad projected on its surface. Others want to get rid of it by blowing it up. "It's the only way to rid the world of scorching deserts and arctic winters," says Professor Alexander Abian, a mathematician at the University of Iowa. He claims that by getting rid of the moon, the Earth will then be able to shift into a "more desirable orbit." Abian suggests strategically placed hydrogen bombs on the moon can either blow it apart, or send it careening into outer space. The change would make our weather less extreme, turn our deserts into fertile farm land, and make the north and south Polar Regions livable. On a more scientific and acceptable proposition, NASA wants to build its telescope on the moon because, you guessed it, the moon has no light pollution. Did you know that it would only take a few hours for a broadcast from Earth to reach Saturn? One day we may very well communicate with other civilizations scattered around our universe. Tyson explains all the ways the cosmos wants to kill us, and had been doing so for millions of years. For example, scientists know that in a few billion years, an expanding sun will vaporize the earth, provided it's not been previously destroyed by a rogue black hole or a comet. If there was a Big Bang, where did the elements come from? And if the universe is expanding but finite, into what is it expanding? Another universe? What goes up does not necessarily have to come back down. Take the golf balls on the surface of the moon. They went up with Armstrong and never came back down. The sun does not rise from the east and set in the west. Sometimes in goes in a straight line and sometimes it never sets or rises. Don't believe me? Spend your summer in the North or South Pole. How come total solar eclipses seem rare, but actually happen every couple of years? Did you know there is an asteroid that in 2029 will come so close to Earth that it will pass underneath some of our satellites and if its path travels through certain spot or "keyhole" by Earth, its orbit will fluctuate enough to send it on a collision course with Earth in 2037? This is really a fun book. I found myself laughing out loud and smiling at many passages, as well as being astonished at the many revelations the author makes. This book will make you think just how small and insignificant we are in the universe. It will also make you wonder what is beyond the universe. I always wanted to be Captain Kirk and go explore the universe. Many concepts in this book aren't simple, and prior knowledge of the universe is required to fully understand this book. And one more thing: This book is not about black holes. Tyson reflects: "What are the lessons to be learned from this journey of the mind? That humans are emotionally fragile, perennially gullible, hopelessly ignorant masters of an insignificantly small speck in the cosmos. Have a nice day."

Could have been named "The Essential Tyson ". If you only read one of his books, make it this one. It is a compilation of the subjects of his talks, writings, radio shows, etc assembled into a coherent flow heavily seasoned with wit and humor....and you can learn something.

The content is exactly as expected; the only reason I subtracted a star is because the removable cover is not centered. It seems to be a simple error in cutting the material to length.

Even if you have just a cursory knowledge of the sciences and perhaps less of the cosmos, but are curious as to what it all is and how it all got there, then this book is for you. Tyson doesn't go in to excruciating detail and explains things how my parents might understand. And that is not easy to do! With some wit and gentle handling of sensitive topics like religion, he lays out the case well as to why our universe is incredible and why the scientific method is our best hope for an educated and competitive society.

I didn't think anyone was dumber than me when it came to astrophysics. While I am still in the woods when it comes to understanding the cosmos, I gained a high amount of knowledge from this book. I will keep it handy as a reference. Highly recommended read for anyone interested in science.

I read this one after "Astrophysics for people in a hurry" and I prefer the latter. This one has several repetitions (it is a compilation of different essays on various cosmology topics, but some essays include paragraphs explaining the same thing a couple of times). It is still a 4-star book, but those repetitions end up being kind of distracting in the long run.

It’s Neal - great representative for his field - book matches what we’ve come to expect from him. Easily to understand with a field many would otherwise understand or have interest.

The title of my review is an anagram for a Latin phrase that translates to "I have observed the most distant planet to have a triple form." Written by Galileo in 1610, its intended purpose was to establish priority for his discovery of Saturn's rings, while continuing his exploration of the planet until he was ready to make a formal announcement. This is just one of the hundreds of interesting facts scattered throughout "Death by Black Hole," a collection of 42 essays by Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, originally published over a twelve year period in Natural History Magazine. "Death by Black Hole" is part of the emerging trend of hard science books written by accredited scientists, which seek to convey complex subject matter to the average reader. You don't see too many of these books because the people who would be needed to write them are usually too busy writing papers with subjects like "Non-LTE Plasma Diffusion in Inhomogeneous Atmospheres." Those gifted with such knowledge mostly write for their peers. Even books written with a mass audience in mind, such as those by Stephen Hawking and Carl Sagan, can be difficult for the lay person to understand. Fortunately, the cosmos has gifted our tiny ocean planet with Tyson, who is quickly becoming the "Mr. Wizard" for a new generation. Although this book is a selection of previously-printed essays, it is edited together to form cohesive ideas about the nature of our universe. The seven sections of the book are divided as follows: 1. The Nature of Knowledge - How are scientists able to presume that the Big Bang occurred 13.7 billion years ago? How can we study the elemental components of a star that has long since died? Tyson looks at the physicality of laws and how science is exploring beyond our five senses. This section gives a good primer on many of the most basic questions those new to cosmology might have, and how our knowledge has expanded throughout history. 2. The Knowledge of Nature - This section is probably the most "scientific" of the book and goes a lot more into the nature of elements. It definitely helps to have a very basic understanding of atoms, matter, electrons, and photons. If you don't, Tyson still explains things fairly well, but you may have to read it a couple times. The next chapters discuss the exploration history of the planets and smaller non-planetary objects (I'm looking at you Pluto), quantum theory, and special relativity. 3. Ways and Means of Nature - Do you like pie? Of course you do, who doesn't? Do you also like pi? If so, chapter eleven is for you as Tyson looks at what makes this constant and others so interesting. And if there's one thing that's important to astrophysics, it's constants. An entire chapter is devoted to the most famous constant of all - the speed of light in a vacuum. Several other chapters are devoted to the important that density and mass have on objects in the universe, star light, radio waves, color, plasma, and heat. 4. The Meaning of Life - A look at how humans developed from all of this cosmic material, and explanation of how all of us are made of star dust. If any of this section is lost on you I encourage you to give it another read, as it's one of the most fascinating in the book when you take it all in. The possibility of life (intelligent or not) in the universe is also expounded on 5. When the Universe Turns Bad - Another fascinating chapter that discusses all the ways the universe "plans to kill us." Whether our sun runs out of hydrogen and envelopes us in a fiery death, or we are hit by an asteroid before we have time to send Bruce Willis into space to blow it up, it is clear that eventually our planet will cease to exist. 6. Science and Culture - How society reacts to cosmic discovery and how that reaction has changed over time. Tyson makes the following statement that I think sums up this section nicely and leads into section 7: "when people believe a tale that conflicts with self-checkable evidence it tells me that people undervalue the role of evidence in formulating an internal belief system." Tyson discusses several examples of this including why our society insists on removing the number 13 from buildings, exclaiming that Polaris (the North Star) is the brightest star in the sky, and why we keep portraying the sun as yellow when it is actually white. 7. Science and God - The presumed disconnect between science and religion, and how some scientists are able to allow their religious faith to coexist with the empirical evidence they know about the universe. As a subject I have often struggled with, I found this to be a very interesting section for Tyson to include, and a great way to end his book. He provides some interesting insight into religion without outright dismissing it as other scientific books have done, and even describes his own views on it (although you have to look for them). Given that it is a collection of self-contained essays, it can seem like some of the chapters don't flow as nicely into each other and seem a little disjointed. However I think the editing does a great job of covering that up and I didn't notice it too much while reading. Some readers may find a few of the chapters a bit too "sciency" for them and hard to grasp, but overall I think the book works very well for the reader who has an interest in the world around them and wants to know more. Neil deGrasse Tyson is probably the foremost expert for bringing difficult material to a general audience and "Death by Black Hole" is no exception. If you're still undecided about purchasing the book, you can read the first 134 pages of it at Publisher WR Norton's web site. Do a search for it by name, the click the "Inside the Book" link from the product page.

I could actual hear Tysons voice reading this to me. His wit and passion shine through, and make even the most confusing principles and theories fun to learn about.

A bouquet to Neil DeGrasse Tyson for an entertaining narrative on things cosmic. I love his style, but with only 100 pages to go, I'm wondering when the black hole thing will be presented. But no big deal; even if there is no mention of black holes, other than in the title, the book is just a fun read. Now, a brick to the publishers. The type-set ink on odd number pages is inadequate. On even number pages, it is marginal. As well, I read while walking on a treadmill and use a book holder. The binding is so stiff that changing pages often results in the book dislodging from the holder. Shape up W.W. Norton.

Books like this should be required reading in high school. If there is a man that can take the confusing, challenging, and awesome subject of astrophysics, and make it palatable (and even extremely enjoyable) for people with minimal backgrounds in science and mathematics, it's Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson. Want to be inspired by human intelligence and ingenuity? Read it. Want to learn about the cosmos without having a working knowledge of nonlinear differential equations? Read it. Want to be terrified of the variety of ways life on earth could be wiped out? Read it. I found this book to be enjoyable, funny, inspiring, and jam-packed with interesting facts. I highly recommend it. Be warned, though: If you read this, and are a Creationist, you're gonna have a bad time :-)

I love this book. I've read it far too many times to count, I've brought it with me across five countries in three continents and don't ever want to put it down. The essays are just too fascinating; and they're short, which is great if you just want something quick to read. I've recommend this book to all of my friends, even those who are not scientifically inclined. It raises some philosophical problems as well as scientific ones, and reminds me a little, in places, of Pascal's Pensées. A great read.

Neil deGrasse Tyson shares his knowledge of our universe in a manner that is easily understood by those of us who are not astrophysicists. He is precise in his delivery, and at times a bit humorous. I have read several of his books over the years. This one is my favorite.

Anyone interested in astronomy, whether they're a professor or have a casual interest in our universe will likely enjoy reading this! Neil deGrasse Tyson takes topics that normally make people feel glazed over in confusion in a way that makes sense. He also gets his readers excited about the universe, triggering critical thinking as to how the universe works, where we come from, and what our place is in the universe. We are part of this vast universe.

Death by Blackhole, was better than expected. The way Mr. Tyson explains everything made me wish for a science teacher like him 30 years ago. There are more questions than answers after reading this book but this is a good thing. I want to learn more. I would love to go see Mr. Tyson give one of his seminars because he makes space fun for me. The book is detailed & factual but a little long in spots, a great read while in the bathroom, because by the time you get bored you are done. A great read, I recommend it to anyone interested in deep space.

I gave this to my boyfriend at Christmas and he wouldn’t put the book down for ten minutes. He just kept reading and reading through the book and sharing parts he found interesting. If you are looking for an interesting and educational read I would recommend this.

DEATH BY BLACK HOLE is a good book. Neil deGrasse Tyson is among America's leading astrophysicists, and certainly its most successful in communicating to nonspecialists. In very readable prose, he takes us through a Cook's tour of our solar system, starting with the various revolts among astronomers that took us away from an Earth-centered universe toward a sun-centered one (heliocentrism), then toward our modern understanding of the solar system as nowhere near the center of our galaxy (the Milky Way) that is nowhere near the center of the billions of galaxies that constitute the known universe. My personal favorite chapters in this book are the interior ones where Tyson unveils his specialty, spectroscopy, and shows how it has determined that most of our known elements and no small amount of chemical compounds (like ammonia) were born in the process of fusion in the largest stars (far larger than our own "dwarf") that then went super- or hypernova, scattering these elements -- to get a little fanciful -- to the solar winds and eventually to us. But here's the problem that makes DEATH BY BLACK HOLE merely a good book, not a near-great one: it was based on columns Tyson wrote for a journal that apparently ran at greater intervals than the couple of chapters even the most casual reader will go through in an evening. There was no editing out of re-taught facts and theories, so the reader is exposed to a good deal of "Previously, on DEATH BY BLACK HOLE," when a little trimming and redaction would have saved this glitch from happening. Also, by the book's concluding chapters we start to hear more about Tyson's thoughts on how we non-specialists should approach the cosmos. He is well equipped to do this, and welcome to do this, but nonetheless the topic of this book has edged out of 'Cosmic Quandaries' into social and educational quandaries of the author's delineation. Therefore, what should have been a five-star book becomes a four-star collection of columns in book form.

Neil DeGrasse Tyson makes astrophysics accessible to the lay person. His humor and wit makes this a great read. I believe I am actually starting to understand the last 13.7 billion years!

It was a gift for someone who loves this stuff...good enough to be passed on with a good recommendation.

Good

This book is thought provoking & insightful. I have read it twice and would highly recommend this book. Another good book by an excellent author.

Anyone who wants to understand our awesome universe, and what makes it tick, would be well advised to “take this ambrosia” for the mind! NDT is one of my “heroes”!

Entertaining, but at times redundant (it's just a collection of essays) and a bit all over the place. If you are entirely unfamiliar with modern physics this will likely satisfy you, but if you've read any other popular science books, you can probably skip it.

I've always been interested in the cosmos but I'm veeery bad at science and math so I just figured it just wasn't my forte, but I stumbled across this and I understood it! Neil makes everything easy to comprehend and I enjoyed all his theories. It's defiantly staying on my bed side table for me to delve into anytime I want!

I'm just a regular guy with no background in physics/science and this book was perfect. It's not dull, and actually quite the opposite! There is an enormous wealth of information in this book which is delivered in a down to Earth and sometimes humorous way. A MUST READ!

Neil deGrasse Tyson covers a lot of ground in his essays. Death by Black Hole warns us of the major danger of getting a little too close to an event horizon. Much worth learning and pondering in this book!

Sorry, I find this book not as exciting as his shows. There are lots of interesting facts that are in the book but I don't care much for the style.

3 hunting

I'm writing for my 13 year old, who I bought it for...he says he loved it because it was really interesting. It explains difficult concepts in interesting ways. Neil DeGrasse Tyson's voice is very engaging.

This book plays out as an "Intro to" or "Dummies" guide to Astrophysics. Mr. deGrasse Tyson does a great job providing the reader with the history of both the universe as well as the field of astrophysics, which he does so with his trademark charm and sense of humor. This is NOT an academic text book and should not be compared to such. For those wanting to seriously delve into the field of astrophysics, they should look elsewhere. For the rest of us with a passing curiosity, this is a great book to get a taste of what the field of astrophysics is about. Mr. deGrasse Tyson does a great job with writing in such a way that the layman can catch on to the concepts and ideas he presents, as well as convey his passion for the field, all while adding a little bit of humor here and there as well. For the casual reader who wants to know a little more about the universe, this is a great book to start with. For some that will be enough, for others it might only be the beginning. Either way, its a great place to start.

Some things are just really difficult to teach. Black holes. Spectrographic analysis. Astrophysical plasmas. These subjects don’t fly into the mainstream mainly due to their own complexity and unseen indirect connection to our daily lives. So how does Neil deGrasse Tyson do it? How does he takes these erudite, complex subjects and theories and make them so appealing and accessible? I think the answer is simple. One, deGrasse Tyson is incredibly smart. Two, and I think more importantly, he is incredibly passionate and extremely enthusiastic. Think back on your days in school, who was your favorite teacher/professor? It probably wasn’t the one with the highest IQ, it was most likely the one that emoted their excitement. If you have any interest in the cosmos, this book is for you. If you have ever wondered how we know the temperature of certain stars, or how we know the distance of certain galaxies, then this book is for you. If you seek facts and wonderment, this book is for you. This book is a great book.

I've read most of Tyson's other books and have listened to more Star Talk episodes than I can count (particularly during the pandemic). Some of the themes of the recent episodes are addressed in the book, but the book is so enjoyable because it really covers a lot of topics related to astronomy, physics, biology and chemistry. Each chapter is an independent essay and so I found myself reading one a day (kind of like a science devotional). I was sad that the book ended and is one that I can see myself pulling out again from time to time to re-read. I'd highly recommend for anyone who is curious and enjoys science!

I liked it a lot. The way it is written like you are chatting with the renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson is very appealing. He uses a language and vocabulary accessible to most of the people who graduated highschool. Also the examples he gives are simple and easy to understand. I would like to see a revised version of this book, one that includes the discoveries from the latest years.

This book is AWESOME. Tyson does a great job of explaining complex processes, objects, and ideas while keeping a light tone with just the right amount of humor and sarcasm.

Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson, who is also known as the “black science guy” on various internet forums, such as reddit. Dr. Tyson’s also got some popular internet memes styled after him such as the “we got a bad ass over here” meme. However, in real life he is the director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City and is an extremely accomplished astrophysicist. In a lot of ways, he is the Carl Sagan of our generation. If you have seen the TV show Cosmos on either PBS or Fox, he is the new host for this revamped show which used to be hosted by Carl Sagan. He is very well known for his ability to take scientific concepts and distill them into something that we can understand. I’m no scientist, so I need someone who understands these concepts to explain them in a way that we can relate to. This book is a selection of small essays that he’s written for various newspapers, magazines, and internet blogs. Death by Black Hole touches on a lot of amazing scientific concepts that are almost taken by granted by a lot of people today, but it provides a foundation for everything that we do in space or dealing with the cosmos. Dr. Tyson is excellent at taking these concepts and putting them in situations that we can understand as non-scientists complete with humor. A wonderful example of this is in the essay “Going Ballistic," where he states what happens to a person who jumps through a hole dug through the center of the earth. The old “what happens when you dig all the way to China” quandary. He says, "Now comes the fun part. Jump in. You now fall continuously in a weightless, free-fall state until you reach the earth’s center, where you vaporize in the heat of the iron core.” He then goes on to ignore that complication and then talk about gravity and what happens as you move closer to and then farther from a center of mass. Dr. Tyson is one of the best scientific minds of our generation, and his major contribution to science is his ability to connect with the layman, which is you and me, and help them understand why science is so important to today’s society. So if you want a few laughs, and if you want to learn about astrophysics, astronomy, “regular” physics, and all the other amazing things that happen in our cosmos, I would recommend reading Death by Black Hole.

Lively writing as always by Tyson. My only complaint, and the only reason this isn't 5 stars, is that since this is a collection of essays, he reintroduces concepts multiple times. We learn what the Principia is many times. Probably not so bad if you're reading, since you can just skip ahead but if you're listening to it (as I was) during a commute you start to become annoyed the 5th or 6th time you learn that the Principia is Newton's explanation of his three laws of motion or the 8th time you learn about Galileo. Another complaint about the Audio book is that it isn't read by Professor Tyson, strange since he's got a marvelous speaking voice and had his own show. These complaints are minor though. The book is a merry journey through the wonders and terrors of our universe, suitable for all ages.

That Neil D Tyson can get a bit poetic in his speech, but his thoughts are worth reading. I loved the book and I had a difficult time putting it down. I would recommend watching the revamped "Cosmos" series, which is free if you have Prime, before you read the book only because you can get a sense of how Neil Degrasse Tyson sounds when he talks/things about the universe (also check out "The Inexplicable Universe" on Prime). It really does help. Either way, if you've been wondering about what the hell is going on outside of our atmosphere, this book will give you some great insights.

When you approach Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries, the first question you ask is: who is Neil deGrasse Tyson? He's sort of a celebrity among astrophysicists, if there even is such a thing. Tyson is the director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City, if that gives you an idea of his clout in the science world. Whenever there is any kind of scientific discovery in space, he's the guy to turn to. I've seen him on PBS numerous times, as well as on various news shows. He is smart, savvy, and thoroughly entertaining. Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries is a collection of Tyson's essays from a monthly column in Natural History magazine, and it could not be a more interesting book. They are very easy to read and understand; Tyson makes astrophysics comprehensible for the average reader. The essays also stand alone. There is no need to even try to read this book in one sitting - it can be devoured in pieces that are easier to sort out. It's nice when a book presents something to think about, something for your mind to stew over. It's even better when those ideas are presented in an entertaining way. Tyson is funny and his sense of humor shines through the pages. His writing is clear, precise, and very easy to digest. The stories are also very different in tone; some are lighthearted and funny. One in particular that I enjoyed is about mistakes in the movie industry. Others are more serious and somber. The thing that they have in common is that they are all well-written and thoroughly interesting. I can't pick out my favorite essays simply because there were too many that I enjoyed. Let me be clear, though: Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries is not for everyone. If you have absolutely no interest in outer space, then this book will probably bore you. If you don't like science, this book won't force the issue and make you enjoy something that you really don't. If, however, you are like me and you find it interesting, but have little real understanding of it, this book was pretty much written for you. Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries was an amazing read that I can't recommend highly enough (if you think it sounds interesting!) I absolutely loved it and cannot wait to seek out more of Tyson's work to read. (His latest book, The Pluto Files, is a humorous look at Pluto's fall from planet grace - sounds like fun!)

An interesting look through the window to the world of physics, in the fantastical way only Neil deGrasse Tyson could. This book is almost a Cosmos in book form, it's a journey through well known and lesser so ares of physics and astronomy. It's not an un-putdownable one but I think that's the nature of books of this kind, it is interesting and fun, I would say read this if you enjoy Tysons TV work as it's in a similar style to that, less of a technical book and more for us laymen.

DeGrasse Tyson is in the vein of Carl Sagan, bringing astrophysics close to the people who have not studied that discipline but have a keen interest in it. Great personality, very knowledgeable and very entertaining on top of it!

what a great book! extremely complex information yet explained clear and precise enough for a moron like me to grasp a lot of the concepts discussed. his writing style is both literary and informative. people like this should run our government instead of the greedy corporate eastwards that have infected D.C.! NDT FOR PRESIDENT

I'm not a scientist but I've always enjoyed physics. This book is one of the best, and one of the best written, I have come across. It has short essays on a wide variety of topics (black holes are just one topic). In my opinion, this binding is the best paperback version and I was happy Amazon had it available. Brian Greene's books are just as good, but go into greater depth on fewer topics.

Tyson offers the reader a small collection of his essays that have been published/written for his science magazine. These essays are easy to read and introduce the reader to subjects that concern cosmology. From the death of stars to the birth of the universe, Tyson offers up some dry and witty humor with his essays. Here, it is the small, off-hand comments that bring a chuckle as the reader reads about the slow and meaningless death of all that we know.

Christmas present requested by our grandchild. She is 12

What can I say it Neil degrasse Tyson. Loved the read.

I would recommend this for everyone.

As a planetarium control room operator and doing the pre-show cosmology spiels, Neil's take on the Cosmos is interesting, and his style of writing is both informative and casual. I like this book and I think re-reading it will be even better. The man certainly knows his stuff, but writing on such subject is always subjective. Ergo, his work is presented in a different tone, but so much academic (though, nonetheless, factual). Not to put words into the man's mouth, but I think he wrote this book for readers on a wide spectrum, from the novice to the more advanced astronomer. As an author writing on different erudite subject matter, I personally like this style of writing.

it is a book

Grand Daughter loves Space Odessy to the max.

This is a series of 42 essays loosely strung together and divided into several themes. Although Neil deGrasse Tyson went to some effort to tie the essays together, they are basically free-standing. All the essays are very interesting and well written. Tyson assumed that the reader had no previous scientific knowledge, so the essays are very accessible to all and many might be too elementary for some readers who have an above average scientific knowledge. Tyson writes in a very light manner and his sense of humor shines through. By the end of the book, when I turned the last page, I felt that I was saying good-bye a newly acquired friend. In this respect, Tyson is like Leon Lederman when he wrote The God Particle. I strongly recommend this book to anyone the least bit interested in science and to those who have been away from science for a while.

He is one of the great minds of 21st century. I would pretty much read anything he writes, even if it was on a napkin. Content would still be interesting with capturing enthusiasm. His point of view, and creative style of writing is inspirational to all races,colors,sex and religion. Some of the discussed topics can be highly controversial but his approach as an experienced educator makes is interesting,funny and uplifting. Go visit him at the Hayden Planetarium, NY, in person and you'll see what I mean. Some people found him to be silly in his book and more often then not, laughing at his own jokes. Well, you simply dont know the man... That is in fact, what I love about him ... That's what separates him from the rest... His humble and goofy approach to teaching science, has already positively affected the lives of many future scientists, astrophysicist, engineers alike.

If you even have the slightest interest in astrology, physics, the universe, the natural world, or just have an inquisitive mind, this book is absolutely perfect. Some of the scientific concepts are largely above my head but for the most part the general concepts are well communicated. Dr Tyson has a macgyverlike way of explaining extremely complicated scientific concepts about the universe.

I am an amateur astronomer and have been one for almost 50 years. My library shelves are filled with books on astronomy and cosmology, some of them dating back to the ancient Greeks. When I read some books, the writer gives me an impression of a bored scientist given a dull lecture that is beyond my comprehension and a waste of my time. He just drones on about abstract formulas as my tortured mind wanders. This is most certainly NOT the case with Neil deGrasse Tyson's book "Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries". Dr. Tyson's approach is that of an old friend who sits down with you in a quiet pub and opens the universe to your eyes. His well balanced and light hearted approach is a welcome experience. For example, as he describes the process of a star starting to feel its age, he states: "Meanwhile, back inside the star, fusion proceeds apace. Eventually the hot zone runs out of helium, leaving behind a ball of carbon surrounded by a shell of helium that is itself surrounded by the rest of the star. Now the core collapses again." If you want to find out what happens when the core collapses again, as he describes in exciting detail the steps leading up to a supernova, you'll need to buy his book. Right now, I'm a little over half way through his book, and I can't wait to see where he takes me next! Yes, he is someone I would really love to be able to sit down with, have a beer or two, and find out where our universe is going.

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson is a wonderful writer. He explains physics concepts with a detail and clarity that is missing even in good books like S. Hawking's, A Brief History in Time. I loved this book. The imagery is so good you can almost see the photons zipping around banging into each other in the baby universe minutes after the bang. And some of his comments about God are hilarious. I'm a believer but I have to admit that some of God's creation IS goofy, clunky, impractical and even dangerous. "Take the human form. We eat, drink, and breath through the same hole in the head." Not too smart or merely homicidal? "And what comedian configured the region between our legs -- an entertainment complex built around a sewage system." There is so much to think about in this book, you will want to read it twice... at least.

This is a highly entertaining book that covers a wide variety of subjects about the universe and explains in rather easy to understand terms many mysteries of the cosmos. Dr. Tyson has a gift in making complex subjects very accessible and captivating. He has recently become the new president of The Planetary Society (which was co-founded by Carl Sagan in 1980 and which I quickly joined after meeting Carl while working at JPL during that time). In this book, Dr. Tyson includes a selection of his essays from his work at the American Museum of Natural History, some of which were also used in his video presentation, "My Favorite Universe", available from The Teaching Company. As an astrophysicist, he presents many thought provoking realms of science in this book with an insight that few others could do. As he points out, sometimes science and especially cosmology and astrophysics don't seem to make sense to us but this is somewhat due to our own rather limited senses. We base `making sense' on what we get as inputs from our five senses. But we see only a tiny portion of the electromagnetic spectrum (the visible light) and hear only a limit audio range, smell only a fraction of what a dog can smell, etc. He describes what the world would be like to us if we could `see' in radio waves or X-rays or gamma rays or have ultrasonic hearing, or sense magnet fields, etc. What would `make sense' to us then? Only in recent times has the entire electromagnetic spectrum been opened to mankind via new types of telescopes and the discoveries from these are pouring in at an astounding rate. We even have neutrino telescopes (detectors) that can record the rare interactions of these tiny particles (billions of which pass through our bodies every second without effect). One of the great mysteries of the Sun (and other stars) has been answered by these underground `telescopes'. There is something for everyone in this book, from the amazing amount of astronomy you can do with nothing but a stick to the origin of the elements inside our very bodies to the ultimate fate of the universe. Of course in a book of this type, it would be impossible to overlook the contributions of so many great scientists and thinkers of the past who have paved the way to our present understanding. Dr. Tyson has introduced us once again to many of these people who should never be forgotten. Hopefully some young readers of this book will one day join these ranks as people who ask questions and seek out answers with open minds and provide the future generations with an even better foundation on which to build our understanding of the universe!

An excellent read by an amazing astrophysicist! This is a great book for those who are mathematically challenged and also have trouble with science concepts. He presents the science in a very user friendly way so that the average public will get an easy understanding of the scientific concepts that he presents. It will enlighten you in the most informative way. Even those of you who have a high level of science ability, will enjoy his easy presentation in this book because you will still learn some things that you did not know. He also writes it with some interesting humor. For those of you who are DeGrasse Tyson aficionados, you will be thrilled to hear that Easton Press has made this book available, signed by him and certified. I bought this Kindle version as well so that I would not be bending the pages and staining them with my fingers on my signed book.

About 1/2 way through the book and looking forward to the rest. I've enjoyed the authors interviews and stories on TV for years and I love his sense of humor in this book as he expertly discribes very deep subjects that could overwhelm if not told carefully and correctly.

I really love the way the author is describing fundamental astrophysics concepts and ideas such that anyone with basic science background can understand them. I highly recommend the book if you want to enlarge your knowledge universe (pun intended :-) )

Neil deGrasse Tyson has been called the successor to Carl Sagan in his efforts to make the mysterious workings of our universe understandable to the layman. He succeeds grandly in this book. Mixing his unique blend of humor with an healthy dose of science he manages to captivate the mind and help us understand the current state of knowledge regarding Black Holes, dark matter and other goings-on in parts of our galaxy where the real action is. He has repeatedly stated that "death by Black Hole" is the way he'd want to go. After reading this marvelous book I'd want to follow him down the gravity well. To quote the famous British Astronomer Sir Arthur Eddington..."not only is the universe stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we CAN imagine". Dr. Tyson shows us why in this book.

Really enjoyed reading this book. Not spellbinding but definitely held my attention more than I expected. This is my first time to read any book on astronomy or the sciences that was not assigned. I will re-read for information and content now.

I have read nearly every one of Neil DeGrasse Tysons books and are generally very well done. The same is true for this book. It was a fun and interesting read. He's an excellent communicator and it always shows in his writing style. A great book for someone who doesn't necessarily want all the data that comes with the science territory. A great read for anyone who wants to understand a bigger picture of the universe.

It was a perfect gift for my friend, he loves Tyson and he is fascinated by space

First off, I have to admit that there os a little bias in this review, as a fan of Cosmos and Neil DeGrasse Tyson, this a perfect introduction to the field of Astrophysics and touches upon brief histories of scientific discoveries as well as scientists from history. Of course, judging by the title alone, you would think this would a journey into the study of black holes, which it does touch upon after several chapters into the book. Mr. Tyson offers some interesting anecdotes in explaining the importance of scientific discoveries and theories as well as simplifying it for the average person taking an interest in Astronomy and astrophysics.

I have long known Tyson to be an excellent speaker and purveyor of scientific ideas with a Saganesque ability to convey the excitement of scientific findings with a bit more hipness and swagger to his talks than Sagan. This book is an excellent read through and through. I couldn't beat the feeling as I sat on the roof of a 14 story building in Curitiba, Brazil watching the sunset alone on the summer solstice (their winter solstice) while reading the section on Stick-In-The-Mud-Science and watching the long shadows creep across the sky and have Tyson explain to me all the celestial happenings around me (this really happened). Quite a magical read. The author presents complex scientific ideas in short, readable, cohesively-themed articles. Each article is on a topic familiar to us, upon which he expands towards scientific ideas which may be unfamiliar to us. There is enough overlap in the independent sections that the read feels like one is being 'taught' rather than just reading information. And Tyson is first and foremost a great educator. Although I did find myself trying to remember something from a previous chapter and flipping back through, I feel like I have learned a great deal about astrophysics from a book that was downright entertaining.

A really fun book to read! With his usual effervescent wit, Dr Tyson explains many of the mysteries of the universe in this collection of essays. He readily admits that while scientists don't know the answer to everything, it doesn't discourage them from looking for solutions. This book is no dull & boring science book, either. It has its hilarious moments, such as his comments about yellow snow, a beheaded chicken, & the entertainment system surrounded by a sewage dump. Tyson's clever euphemisms made me laugh out loud!

This is a great little book. Enjoyable, easy read; well, for the most part. Everything is explained in a way that the average person can at least get a basic understanding of what is being discussed, but there is still A LOT of heavy information found here. I feel I will have to read the book at least a second time just to make sure I'm getting as much out of it as I can. Tyson's witty and at the same time dry humor (the kind of humor I enjoy the most) comes through wonderfully in the text and does make for an enjoyable read. This book is a great starting point for anyone interested in gaining a better understand of the mysteries of the universe.

If you've seen Dr. Tyson on tv or Youtube videos, and liked him, you'll really enjoy this book. A collection of essays, really tat transition one to another smoothly. Dr. Tyson put the science of the heavens into something digestable for me. And, as he does when he speaks, his writing is liberally sprinkled with his humor. Well worth the time to read.

This a great book and it's very funny as well..there are little jokes in just about every second paragraph!!! and this book covers alot more than just black holes....actually you really don't get much information about black holes until you get into about chapter 14...but that's ok because there are well over 20 chapters !!!...and what else you get is invaluable information about sceince, physics , the universe.....plus the history of how we discovered all this knowledge...So you learn how it all came together and who was responsible for discovering and by what experiments they used to discover it....His chapter on how much science you can do with just one or 2 sticks stuck in the ground is simply amazing and worth the price of the book alone...

What I particularly liked about this book is that I would started most chapters and think: "Not another essay about ... again." Yet whatever the ... was de Grasse Tyson nearly always had either some fresh insight or a fresh way to present a familiar physical phenomenon. This is certainly easy reading - it should be accessible to kids in elementary school. Yet many of the topics are thought provoking. Moreover, a number of questions are raised that currently have no answer. The weaker parts of the book come when connections are made to areas outside physics and astronomy . While de Grasse makes interesting points when writing about numeracy, for instance, Paulos has addressed the topics more skillfully and in more depth. Nevertheless, I will be recommending this book even to undergraduates in mathematics when they ask about what all that abstract nonsense is good for.

I love astronomy but I am far from an astrophysicist; Neil Degrasse Tyson bridges the gap in this book. It is informative and knowledgeable; he doesn't "dumb down" the material for the layman but also keeps it interesting and lively for the person who is fascinated with the cosmos but who is not a rocket scientist. I'm looking forward to reading more of his titles.

This really is an excellent book. If you have any interest at all in astrophysics/astronomy, I would highly recommend it. Tyson has a wonderful ability to bring complicated astrophysical subjects down to everyone's level. He uses humor in his writing at all the right moments. I can't recommend it highly enough!

I feel like Neil Degrass Tyson is a friend, not a scientist. After reading this collection of his articles, I could sit and just talk with anyone about the topics, because it is so user friendly written.

deGrasse Tyson at his best. I just wish he would step down a notch so I could understand the other 45% I don't understand. Get it. Read it slowly and carefully and look up everything you don't understand and you still will feel like an idiot, but a well-informed idiot.

This is a very good read for anyone interested in learning about space. Tyson dumbs down extremely complex ideas and phenomena into something easy to comprehend!

NGT is a great writer that can explain complexity for all to understand. I love his humor. You must have an interest in learning about Outerspace.

Dr. Tyson absolutely kills it in this book. You will be thinking and questioning what you thought you knew about the universe. One excellent read! Thank you Neil.

Tyson is the funniest, most enlightening, intelligent astrophysicist I've watched and read. A wonderful way to understand what all that stuff in space really means and why! This is a great gift for those with an interest in space, astronomy, etc. Even young teens can digest this book easily. Catch Neil deGrasse Tyson on PBS (NOVAsciencenow!)

A great read!