I took two Astronomy classes in college which places me with slightly more knowledge of the heavens than average. My interest in the subject has persisted, and I now engage the occasional YouTube podcast on the subject. Neil de Grasse Tyson's Astrophysics for People in a Hurry caught my eye as a reigning bestseller highlighted in his January 2018 appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. I decided to give it a try, being a fan of his accessible approach to the intimidating topic and enthusiastic personality.
Astrophysics was not the introductory text I was expecting, but instead remained true to its title. The book launches into the major topics of modern astrophysics with an assumption that the reader is scientifically literate and able to comprehend complex topics. It took me a moment to readjust to the higher level of reading required, but once I did I found that Tyson found a good balance between simplistically accessible and intimidatingly complex. Throughout the book I found concepts that were new to me and required me to slow down and think through each passage, but alongside those were more familiar topics which Tyson addressed precisely and without wasting words. Although the point of the book is length, additional editing could be used. Some of the bizarre concepts of the cosmos could use a slower introduction, while some of Tyson's personal anecdotes take up space without being necessary to the text.
Although Tyson's anecdotes were a bit much at times, he maintains a friendly and welcoming tone throughout. Using this enthusiastic, knowledgeable persona makes reading Astrophysics for People in a Hurry far more entertaining than reading a textbook or encyclopedia on any relevant topic. I found Tyson's writing voice came through differently than his screen persona. His writing is slightly more pretentious and combative, but he is unapologetic and it distinguishes his writing voice as his own. I did not always agree with Tyson, but I appreciate that he committed to writing his own way and owning it.
Tyson closes the text in the same way that he closes episodes of Cosmos: how does astrophysics matter? Tyson makes an argument for the benefit of engaging the workings of our Universe and how it can be a source of inspiration. Tyson's ability to frame astrophysics in a culturally relevant and practical way makes his work much more meaningful to non-scientists like myself.
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry is hard not to recommend for anyone interested as it is so comprehensive and quick to read, even if some chapters require much more focus than others. It's a great introduction to the subject since it does not require a great commitment and does not unnecessarily dwell on any singular topic for long. Reading this may inspire interest in any number of areas, such as pure physics, chemistry, biology, or quantum mechanics. Tyson's style can be disagreeable but remains personable and fun, making for a much better reading experience than other options on the subject material. I will certainly pick this book up again to refresh my memory in due time.
B+
88
+ precisely written and dense
+ written casually and with personality
+ holistic overview of the subject
- some concepts less accessible than others
-some personal anecdotes unnecessary
+/- Tyson's personality