Publishers Weekly
★ 03/28/2016
The human view of the universe has changed radically over the last century, and this accessible work from Natarajan, professor of astronomy and physics and Yale, highlights those changes as well as the personalities—and the battles—behind them. She begins with the momentous announcement in the early 20th century that the known universe was expanding—a concept that Albert Einstein, for one, fought and failed to disprove. Expansion suggested the idea of an ancient “big bang,” the name sarcastically bestowed by physicist Fred Hoyle, who, like Einstein, preferred a “steady-state” universe. Natarajan digs into the work, including that done by both doubters and innovators, that has helped formed the foundations of what is currently known about dark matter and dark energy, black holes (another phenomenon Einstein vehemently disliked), gravity, and the evolution of our universe. In the penultimate chapter, she examines the search for exoplanets, the multiverse, and intelligent extraterrestrial life. By introducing the major players behind each discovery, Natarajan adds a lively human touch to her discussion, reinforcing the dynamism of a field that “fans human curiosity and is driven by it as well.” Photos & illus. (May)
TLS - David W. Hughes
Priyamvada Natarajan is a professor of physics and astronomy at Yale, who has spent her life investigating dark matter, dark energy and black holes. In Mapping the Heavens, she stands back and presents a broad picture of our slow advance in measuring and then interpreting the complexity of the universe… Considering humanity in relation to the universe, Natarajan explains that we have very little idea of where we are going. She asks us to adapt Galileo’s perspective – he was the first to prove that the Moon was mountainous, and to measure the mountain heights, but was certainly incapable of predicting that a mere 360 years later we would walk on its surface or return home with suitcases of lunar material.”—David W. Hughes, TLS
From the Publisher
"Extremely well researched. . . . According to Natarajan, the word 'universe' may be on the verge of its most radical redefinition yet."—Marcus Chown, Times Higher Education"I am studying the big picture as thrillingly projected in Mapping the Heavens, a strikingly lucid account of the expansion, not just of the universe, but of the way we have tried to understand it, from the Babylonians to black holes and dark matter."—Richard Holmes, "By the Book," New York Times Book Review"By introducing the major players behind each discovery, Natarajan adds a lively human touch to her discussion, reinforcing the dynamism of a field that 'fans human curiosity and is driven by it as well.'"—Publishers Weekly (starred review)"Both novel and absorbing. . . . Her phrase 'Mapping the Heavens' is both literal and metaphorical. Natarajan describes the revolutions that have taken place in our ability to explore the structure of our universe. But the point she makes is deeper. By describing developments in cosmology—including the discovery of other galaxies, the discovery of the expansion of the universe, the existence of dark matter, black holes, and the mysterious dark energy causing the observed expansion of the universe to be speeding up—she succeeds in demonstrating how the progress of fundamental science often challenges the mental ‘maps’ that scientists conceive to represent their ideas."—Lawrence M. Krauss, New York Review of BooksWon an Honorable Mention in the Cosmology and Astronomy category for the 2017 American Publishers Awards for Professional & Scholarly Excellence (PROSE)Priyamvada Naterajan is the winner of the 2018 Gustav Ranis International Book Prize for Mapping the Heavens: The Radical Scientific Ideas that Reveal the Cosmos."Mapping the Heavens gives a highly readable, insider's view of recent discoveries in astronomy with unusual attention to the instruments used and the human drama of the scientists."—Alan Lightman, author of The Accidental Universe and Einstein's Dream"This excellent book describes the boisterous debates and hard slog whereby our current understanding of the cosmos has emerged. It's especially welcome as a faithful portrayal of how science is actually done."—Martin Rees, author of Just Six Numbers"Priyamvada Natarajan’s love affair with the heavens began in childhood, continues with her notable work in astrophysics, and is now enhanced with this insightful overview of the hottest topics in astronomy today—including black holes, dark matter, dark energy, and exoplanets. Moreover, she traces how these ideas struggled to get accepted, providing the reader with an excellent peek at how science gets done."—Marcia Bartusiak, author of Black Hole and The Day We Found the Universe"Part history, part science, all illuminating. If you want to understand the greatest ideas that shaped our current cosmic cartography, read this book."—Adam G. Riess, Nobel Laureate in Physics, 2011"Here is an authoritative guide to the major cosmological breakthroughs of the past century. Natarajan writes as an accomplished guide to contemporary astronomy including dark matter and dark energy."—Owen Gingerich, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
New York Times Book Review - Richard Holmes
“I am studying the big picture as thrillingly projected in Mapping the Heavens, a strikingly lucid account of the expansion, not just of the universe, but of the way we have tried to understand it, from the Babylonians to black holes and dark matter.”—Richard Holmes, “By the Book,” New York Times Book Review
Physics World - Lionel London
“A tour de force of the cosmos… an instructive and thought-provoking exploration of the connections, tensions and mishaps that so often accompany scientific venture.”—Lionel London, Physics World
PROSE
Won an Honorable Mention in the Cosmology and Astronomy category for the 2017 American Publishers Awards for Professional & Scholarly Excellence (PROSE).
The New York Review of Books - Lawrence M. Krauss
“Both novel and absorbing . . . Her phrase ‘Mapping the Heavens’ is both literal and metaphorical. Natarajan describes the revolutions that have taken place in our ability to explore the structure of our universe. But the point she makes is deeper. By describing developments in cosmology—including the discovery of other galaxies, the discovery of the expansion of the universe, the existence of dark matter, black holes, and the mysterious dark energy causing the observed expansion of the universe to be speeding up—she succeeds in demonstrating how the progress of fundamental science often challenges the mental ‘maps’ that scientists conceive to represent their ideas.”—Lawrence M. Krauss, New York Review of Books
Owen Gingerich
"Here is an authoritative guide to the major cosmological breakthroughs of the past century. Natarajan writes as an accomplished guide to contemporary astronomy including dark matter and dark energy."—Owen Gingerich, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
via Facebook - Deepak Chopra
“Fascinating. . . shows that our current knowledge of our universe keeps on expanding month-to-month. . . a beautiful book.”—Deepak Chopra, via Facebook
BBC Sky at Night - Hazel Muir
“Natarajan bring a philosophical and well-informed historical depth to [her topic], consistently tying them in the theme of her passion for mapping… She deals with subjects that are extremely complex but makes them very clear, and the book is packed with well-researched facts,”—Hazel Muir, BBC Sky at Night
Brian Greene
“In this delightful tour of the cosmos, Priyamvada Natarajan traces the intellectual journey that has led to today’s understanding of the universe. Deftly weaving centuries of scientific progress with the curiosity, skepticism, and fortitude that made such progress possible, Natarajan captures well humanity’s passionate drive to discover.”—Brian Greene, author of The Hidden Reality and The Elegant Universe
Adam G. Riess
“Part history, part science, all illuminating. If you want to understand the greatest ideas that shaped our current cosmic cartography, read this book.”—Adam G. Riess, Nobel Laureate in Physics, 2011
Marcia Bartusiak
“Priyamvada Natarajan’s love affair with the heavens began in childhood, continues with her notable work in astrophysics, and is now enhanced with this insightful overview of the hottest topics in astronomy today—including black holes, dark matter, dark energy, and exoplanets. Moreover, she traces how these ideas struggled to get accepted, providing the reader with an excellent peek at how science gets done.”—Marcia Bartusiak, author of Black Hole and The Day We Found the Universe
Martin Rees
“This excellent book describes the boisterous debates and hard slog whereby our current understanding of the cosmos has emerged. It's especially welcome as a faithful portrayal of how science is actually done.”—Martin Rees, author of Just Six Numbers
Alan Lightman
“Mapping the Heavens gives a highly readable, insider's view of recent discoveries in astronomy with unusual attention to the instruments used and the human drama of the scientists.”—Alan Lightman, author of The Accidental Universe and Einstein's Dream
JULY 2016 - AudioFile
Listeners will be mesmerized by this audiobook as it unfolds its little-known cosmological booty. Using pacing, expression, and a confident tone, narrator Elisabeth Rodgers gives a flawless performance. For the armchair cosmologist the acronyms are many, and the words they represent even more mind-boggling. For instance, the Big Bang theory of how the universe began has been proven because scientists identified CMBR (cosmic microwave background radiation), a hissing sound that is a known remnant of the Big Bang. Cosmologists not content with this are now looking to discover other universes in what they call “the multiverse.” It’s a spellbinding listen with a super guide. E.E.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine
