Cosmic Queries: StarTalk's Guide to Who We Are, How We Got Here, and Where We're Going

by Neil deGrasse Tyson, James Trefil (Contribution by), Lauren Fortgang (Read by), Lindsey N. Walker (Editor)

Overview

Now in paperback, this New York Times bestseller tackles the world's most important philosophical questions about the universe with wit, wisdom, and cutting-edge science.

For science geeks, space and physics nerds, and all who want to understand their place in the universe, this enlightening new book from Neil deGrasse Tyson offers a unique take on the mysteries and curiosities of the cosmos, building on rich material from his beloved StarTalk podcast.

In these illuminating pages, illustrated with dazzling photos and revealing graphics, Tyson and co-author James Trefil, a renowned physicist and science popularizer, take on the big questions that humanity has been posing for millennia—How did life begin? What is our place in the universe? Are we alone?—and provide answers based on the most current data, observations, and theories. Populated with paradigm-shifting discoveries that help explain the building blocks of astrophysics, this relatable and entertaining book will engage and inspire readers of all ages, bring sophisticated concepts within reach, and offer a window into the complexities of the cosmos.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781665019422
Publisher:	Blackstone Publishing
Publication date:	03/02/2021
Sales rank:	512,572
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 5.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Neil deGrasse Tyson is an American astrophysicist, author, and science communicator. In 2017 he became the first American to win the prestigious Stephen Hawking Medal for science communication. He is the Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space and a research associate in the Department of Astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History. From 2006 to 2011 he hosted the educational science television show NOVA ScienceNow on PBS, and in March 2014 he became host of the television series Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, an update of Carl Sagan’s Cosmos: A Personal Voyage. Tyson has written several New York Times bestselling nonfiction books.

Robert M. Hazen is the author of more than 350 articles and 20 books on earth science, materials science, origins of life, history and music. A Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, he received the Mineralogical Society of America Award, the Ipatief Prize, the ASCAP-Deems Taylor Award, and other awards for his research and writing. Hazen is a researcher at the Carnegie Institution for Science and is Robinson Professor of Earth Sciences at George Mason University. His recent books include Genesis: The Scientific Quest for Life's Origins and The Sciences: An Integrated Approach (with James Trefil).

Lauren Fortgang, a graduate of Fordham University’s Theater Program, is an actress, costume designer, and narrator. She has recorded everything from video games to textbooks. Her audiobook narrations have earned AudioFile Earphones Awards and placed her as a finalist for an Audie Award in 2014.

Editorial Reviews

"[An] exuberant and enticing resource."—Booklist

"A lively, richly illustrated celebration of scientific inquiry."—Kirkus Reviews

"A well-organized and well-written book … Tyson explains the cosmos in an understandable way for those who have had some science interest, exposure or classes but who have not majored in science. He is one of the few scientists that can break it down in an understandable way and keep it very interesting."—@litandlife

"Based on the popular talk show and podcast StarTalk, this collection of essays explores many of the universe’s most intriguing mysteries. From dark matter, the Big Bang, and other space oddities to quarks, multiverses, and other quantum curiosities, . . . the authors invite readers to contemplate these fascinating questions which scientists have pondered for centuries. As expected from National Geographic publications, the book is beautifully illustrated. Its stunning color photographs enhance the enjoyment of this cosmic reading journey."—Library Journal

"I love Neil deGrasse Tyson. You can just feel his joy in everything space related and his love of sharing his knowledge."—@bookscookslooks

"In the gulf between the depths of human curiosity and the limits of human ignorance” is a space to ask questions, write astrophysicist Tyson (StarTalk) and physicist Trefil (Imagined Life) in this breezy survey of physics’s curiosities. . . . Lay readers curious about the mysteries of the universe will want to take a look."—Publishers Weekly

"Tyson and Trefil succinctly lead the reader through almost every aspect of cosmic history while addressing age-old questions with new verve. . . . Despite the book’s title, arguably its real value is in just how efficiently it covers what we currently know about this chunk of spacetime we call home."—Forbes.com

"Cosmic Queries is a book that can bring astrophysics into the orbit of even the most novice space explorer. … I have never been so at ease reading a science text in my life. The illustrations were so helpful and the format kept me interested throughout the pages. Neil deGrasse Tyson’s engaging style is what really brought me into the book and kept me glued to its pages."—@amysbooketlist (5-star review)

“If you’re a fan of Neil deGrasse Tyson’s StarTalk podcast, you’re bound to find much in this book to enjoy.”—BBC Sky at Night Magazine (4-star review)

From the Publisher