Neil deGrasse Tyson

There's no better guide through mind-expanding questions such as what the nature of space and time is, how we fit within the universe, and how the universe fits within us than 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 digestive chapters consumable any time and anywhere in the busy day

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry

Cat Josephson

Had to look up a lot of stuff to keep up with this book... But just because I'm stupid when it comes to science, doesn't mean this wasn't a good book. Very interesting/informative.

Lord Aragorn

A breezy read and a good intro to a lot of astrophysics

Over a year on the New York Times bestseller list and more than a million copies sold. 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 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.

Shay

Neil deGrasse Tyson is a fantastic scientific mind. Reading Astrophysics for People in a Hurry barely scratched the surface and I'm already eager to learn more about what he has to say. 

But perhaps even more important than his scientific literacy is his ability to communicate and explain complicated, scientific concepts in an accessible and intriguing way. Not a single page (or minute) of this book was boring. And coming from someone who can easily get lost in information-dense texts, this is high praise. Tyson managed to still convey a lot of information about the universe and astrophysics without making it feel overbearing. 

Time to get cosmic. There are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on any beach, more stars than seconds have passed since Earth formed, more stars than words and sounds ever uttered by all the humans who ever lived.

In fact, I would argue that Tyson is the sole reason that I now have an interest in the topic of astrophysics. 

Every cup that passes through a single person and eventually rejoins the world’s water supply holds enough molecules to mix 1,500 of them into every other cup of water in the world. No way around it: some of the water you just drank passed through the kidneys of Socrates, Genghis Khan, and Joan of Arc.

How about air? Also vital. A single breathful draws in more air molecules than there are breathfuls of air in Earth’s entire atmosphere. That means some of the air you just breathed passed through the lungs of Napoleon, Beethoven, Lincoln, and Billy the Kid.

He uses real-world examples and real-life concepts to convey how massive the universe is, how tiny molecules are, and what this means in the context of our lives. He drives home why these concepts should be important to us. Educators like David Attenborough and now Neil deGrasse Tyson are precisely the reason that I loved science as a child. 

This book as brought back so many fond memories of studying science and being in awe of our universe. It's reminded me of what it was like to be a child with a mind that just wanted to learn about new things because I enjoyed learning and I enjoyed making connections between different aspects of life. 

What we do know, and what we can assert without further hesitation, is that the universe had a beginning. The universe continues to evolve. And yes, every one of our body’s atoms is traceable to the big bang and to the thermonuclear furnaces within high-mass stars that exploded more than five billion years ago. We are stardust brought to life, then empowered by the universe to figure itself out—and we have only just begun.

This is one of those books that you can read over and over and it will never lose its value because each time you listen you have another opportunity to reflect and discover new ways to digest the information. This book is almost like therapy in a way because it makes you contemplate your own existence, where we come from, where we're going, what we know, and what we don't know. 

And it's also incredibly humbling. 

Rarely do I read a book that I immediately need to go out and recommend to everyone I know, but this was a fantastic book that I think everyone should read at least once."

Beatriz Aguiar

2.5
Fascinating while also too much?
So many things just went over my head... There was no equilibrium I thought. Sometimes it felt like he was describing really basic stuff and just assuming we understood something very complex in its nature. Not completely awful but these lapses made it a bit hard to read.

Nick Gracilla

Meandering amongst epic topics in astrophysics, Tyson’s engaging writing takes readers from the Big Bang, through dark matter and dark energy, to the foundations of chemistry is cosmology, through a delightful essay, seemingly inspired by Charles and Ray Eames’ Power of Ten 1977 film: a description of our beloved earth, from close up to the nearest star system. Highly recommended, although I’m glad I caught a few NOVA episodes earlier this year, which clarified the physics concepts.

Jessica

Just loved it. Listened to it on Audible, probably going to listen to it again and going to buy it on paper!

Liam Dyer

If you wanna know about space and stuff this is pretty short and covers some cool shit. Neil is a bit pretentious about the whole affair as usual but it's not too bad.

Siya S

It took me a long time to finish reading this so I tried listening to it instead. It worked and I recommend the audiobook version for anyone who finds astrophysics intimidating in any slightest way (like me). It's also great too that it's read by NdT himself - that man is indeed an absolute legend.

Gregory Mone

America's most celebrated astrophysicist invites young readers to explore the mysteries of the universe.

Astrophysics for Young People in a Hurry

Not very good - unless you like Boomer humor, anecdotes where someone is oblivious to their own assholery, and being pelted by tons of information that isn't explained in a way that helps you understand or retain it. However I listened to the audiobook which was ready by LaVar Burton, who is a national treasure. That is its only redeeming quality. Can't get over all the ableism at the very end of the book where he preaches that seeing how vast the universe is shouldn't make you feel sad, and if it does you're too full of yourself. You ever heard of mental illness, pal? Look it up some time.

Danielle Raymond 

Ecem Unal

Full of brief and to the point information. Gives enough to understand the bigger picture, and leaves enough to do our own research.

Nour sabrine

A great read for teens and people who are not essentially experts at astrophysics.

This book is a great introduction for amateurs and people fascinated with the sky and beyond that. It traces back the first atoms of the world all the way to the big bang. 

Explanations about common physics, nuclear science and chemistry to understand everything from atoms to materials and stars. 

Now for the experts, it's definitely not the book to go for. It's quite surface level even for intermediate amateurs. 

Still it was quite entertaining and informative at the same time.

Yasser Yahia

A simple enjoyable read literally for people in a hurry :)

Guillermo Rodas

It's an excellent book to start understanding the universe and some basic concepts about astrophysics.

Jordan /

This is a really cool book, and is perfect for people who don’t know much about astrophysics.

It was a fun, knowledge filled, yet thought provoking read.
Having listened to StarTalk by Neil, most of the topics were familiar but offered more detail in the book. Not too complicated nor too dumbed down to the general population. If anyone is looking to get into the vast world of Astrophysics and need a quick read then I would suggest this book.

This pretty much sums up the whole book:

During our brief stay on planet Earth, we owe ourselves and our descendants the opportunity to explore-in part because it's fun to do. But there's a far nobler reason. The day our knowledge of the cosmos ceases to expand, we risk regressing to the childish view that the universe figuratively and literally revolves around us. In that bleak world, arms-bearing, resource-hungry people and nations would be prone to act on their "low contracted prejudices." 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.

Suhasa SJ

Beatriz Baptista

Fácil de ler, comparações acessíveis, cultura geral e o humor único do Neil deGrasse, o que querem mais?

Skye Sherman

I gotta be honest... about 90% of this book went wayyy over my head. Maybe it’s because I listened to it on audio (maybe not). But the 10% I did grasp was phenomenal, inspiring, and gripping. A super quick read!

Cindy Lieberman

A short book (3.5 hours for the audiobook) that reviews basic concepts of the universe in Degrasse Tyson's modest science nerd manner -- complete with puns and good humor. There's a message here, however, about how interconnected and fragile our place is in the universe. 

"Too many people act in wanton disregard for the delicate interplay of earth's atmosphere, oceans and land, with consequences that our children, and our children's children, will witness and pay for with their health and well-being." While hardly original, the more these types of messages are repeated by leading thinkers and influencers, the more mainstream the messages will become. And the more the mainstream will embrace them. Baring an environmental catastrophe, that's one way change will happen. Hopefully it won't be too late for the planet.

Seven Echo

Its size is not an indication that this is a fast read. I heard Tyson narrating in my head which was fun. Its fascinating and dense but has certainly stoked my curiosity.

Caroline Lewicki

This was a fascinating read. I'm not a sciency person at all and I don't know if I'll retain anything I read in this book, but it was still so interesting. I highly recommend the audiobook, as Neil deGrasse Tyson reads it and his voice alone will suck you in.

Omar Fernandez

Interesting introduction to astronomy concepts.

Vanessa

Der Wissenschaftsroman „Astrophysics for people in a hurry“ von Neil deGrasse Thyson ist ein sehr lehrreicher kleiner Ratgeber. Ich interessiere mich sehr für physikalische und technische Dinge, weswegen ich unbedingt dieses Buch lesen wollte. Thyson erklärt viele wichtige Aspekte in dem Themenbereich der Astrophysik, dass der Leser in jedem Kapitel das Gefühl hat etwas Neues zu erlernen. Jedoch muss ich sagen, dass ich der Meinung bin, dass Menschen, welche nicht ganz in der Materie drin sind, es schwerer haben könnten. Es ist jedoch nicht unmöglich es zu verstehen. Das Buch kann ich jedem ans Herzen legen, der gerne etwas neues dazulernen möchte und genau so fasziniert von den Sternen ist wie ich.

Forever regretting not going with astrophysics in university. Oh well, at least I still went the STEM route, which allows me a good understanding of the science of space, and at least I can revel in the wonders of the universe through books and documentaries. Ah, I love space.

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry

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