The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy

by Moiya McTier

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

A bit Bill Bryson, a dash Mary Roach, the canvas of Neil deGrasse Tyson, and all the excitement of a Ms. Frizzle Magic School Bus field trip. With an expertise in astrophysics and folklore, Moiya McTier is the perfect tour guide for all of us to have gazed transfixed at the heavens, full of wonder and questions. The Milky Way is a delightful and constantly surprising treat! Thrilling, eye-opening, and just plain fun.

In this approachable and fascinating biography of the galaxy, an astrophysicist and folklorist details everything humans have discovered—from the Milky Way's formation to its eventual death, and what else there is to learn about the universe we call home. 

After a few billion years of bearing witness to life on Earth, of watching one hundred billion humans go about their day-to-day lives, of feeling unbelievably lonely, and of hearing its own story told by others, The Milky Way would like a chance to speak for itself. All one hundred billion stars and fifty undecillion tons of gas of it.

It all began some thirteen billion years ago, when clouds of gas scattered through the universe's primordial plasma just could not keep their metaphorical hands off each other. They succumbed to their gravitational attraction, and the galaxy we know as the Milky Way was born. Since then, the galaxy has watched as dark energy pushed away its first friends, as humans mythologized its name and purpose, and as galactic archaeologists have worked to determine its true age (rude). The Milky Way has absorbed supermassive (an actual technical term) black holes, made enemies of a few galactic neighbors, and mourned the deaths of countless stars. Our home galaxy has even fallen in love.

After all this time, the Milky Way finally feels that it's amassed enough experience for the juicy tell-all we've all been waiting for. Its fascinating autobiography recounts the history and future of the universe in accessible but scientific detail, presenting a summary of human astronomical knowledge thus far that is unquestionably out of this world.
 
NAMED A BEST BOOK OF 2022 BY PUBLISHERS WEEKLY AND SCIENCENET
NAMED A BEST AUDIOBOOK OF 2022 BY BOOKPAGE

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538754160
Publisher:	Grand Central Publishing
Publication date:	08/15/2023
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	127,711
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Dr. Moiya McTier is an astrophysicist, folklorist, and science communicator based in New York City. After graduating from Harvard as the first person in the school’s history to study both astronomy and mythology, Moiya earned her PhD in astrophysics at Columbia University where she was selected as a National Science Foundation research fellow. Moiya has consulted with companies like Disney and PBS on their fictional worlds, helped design exhibits for the New York Hall of Science, and given hundreds of talks about science around the globe (including features on MSNBC, NPR, and NowThis News). To combine her unique set of expertise, Moiya hosts and produces the Exolore podcast that explores fictional world-building through the lens of science. When she’s not researching space or imagining new worlds, Moiya can likely be found watching trashy reality tv with her cat, Kosmo.

Table of Contents

Foreword from Moiya ix

Chapter 1 I Am the Milky Way 1

Chapter 2 My Names 13

Chapter 3 Early Years 18

Chapter 4 Creation 37

Chapter 5 Hometown 42

Chapter 6 Body 67

Chapter 7 Modern Myths 88

Chapter 8 Growing Pains 96

Chapter 9 Inner Turmoil 116

Chapter 10 Afterlife 136

Chapter 11 Constellations 144

Chapter 12 Crush 151

Chapter 13 Death 169

Chapter 14 Doomsday 188

Chapter 15 Secrets 195

Acknowledgments 217

Notes 221

Index 235

About the Author 244

Editorial Reviews

★ 06/27/2022

Astrophysicist McTier delivers in her debut a delightful report on the Milky Way’s inner workings, told from the galaxy’s imagined point of view. McTier describes in her foreword how, growing up as a Black girl in rural Appalachia, she was enamored with space, and studying it made her feel connected to people and nature, and that theme of the harmony between humans and the planet pervades what follows. McTier, writing as the Milky Way, cleverly covers the origins of the universe (“Don’t concern yourself with thoughts of what came before the Big Bang. That kind of knowledge is not for the likes of you”), how it might end (with another bang “could be kind of fun”), and key players in the history of space science, all in a droll, dignified voice gently scornful of human foible: “Your world is no longer set up to appreciate my splendor,” she writes. McTier’s narrator is authoritative, funny, and moving, whether considering humans’ insignificance or the utility of myth (“That’s what all your myths are: tools for understanding the natural world and communicating that knowledge to others”). McTier writes that her goal is to help people “understand how ephemeral existence is.” She succeeds smashingly. The result is truly stellar. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

"Astrophysicist McTier delivers in her debut a delightful report on the Milky Way’s inner workings. . . McTier writes that her goal is to help people 'understand how ephemeral [our] existence is.' She succeeds smashingly. The result is truly stellar."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"[C]reative, humorous and enormously entertaining. . . As with any translation from another tongue, readers may marvel at the role of the translator in creating a book that is both informative and truly inspirational. Here, it's clear Dr. McTier has harnessed the sense of marvel she felt as a child, when she imagined the sun and moon as celestial parents who watched over her and talked to her on a regular basis. That childlike wonder, combined with her expertise in mythology and astronomy, makes her the perfect human to assist in telling this story."—Bookpage, starred review

"As a character, the Milky Way is a cross between a Greek goddess and GLaDOS, the artificially superintelligent computer system from the Portal video-game series. She gossips about other galaxies, teaches us about her past and imparts a primer on astrophysics, all the while relishing every opportunity to throw shade on humankind’s egocentrism and closed-mindedness."—Scientific American

"[A] one-of-a-kind look at our galaxy. . . Educational, informative, and original, this will leave readers eagerly anticipating McTier’s next book."—Booklist

"McTier sprinkles humor throughout her whimsical look at the cosmos. . . [T]he author clearly knows her subject and delivers enough fascinating information to keep the pages turning."—Kirkus Reviews

"It's about time we heard the story of the Milky Way in its own words. The good news is that our galaxy is not only ancient and majestic; it's also whimsical, amusing, and downright chatty. Moiya McTier's book is an entertaining introduction to some of the most profound features of our astrophysical neighborhood."—Sean Carroll, New York Times bestselling author of Something Deeply Hidden

"If you want to learn about the Milky Way, who better to go to than the source? Well, up until now, the Galaxy hasn’t been talking – but all of that has changed! Turns out, the Milky Way has a sense of humor, an attitude, and, frankly, isn’t super impressed with us as of late. If you’re looking for a fun and unique way to learn about astrophysics – this is the book for you! "—Kelly Weinersmith, New York Times bestselling author of Soonish

"A direct, fun, and charming mix of the science, folklore, and history of our Milky Way galaxy.  And since that galaxy is technically composed at least in part by ME, I cannot help but take some of the credit."—Ryan North, New York Times bestselling author of How to Invent Everything

“With The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy, Moiya McTier gives us an exciting romp through the universe from the perspective of a most unexpected guide: our local sentient collection of stars, gas, dark matter, planets, and its wayward humans. What an exciting way to learn about everything in the universe, from its earliest moments to star births and deaths. Only here will you learn what the Milky Way thinks of its neighbors. McTier invents the genre of cosmic gossip — what fun it is!”—Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, author of The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred

"McTier's sharp wit and sharper intellect strike the perfect tone for this breezy take on the history of our galaxy. Truly the biggest tell-all story in the universe!"—Paul M. Sutter, PhD, astrophysicists and author of Your Place in the Universe

“Brilliantly blending astrophysics and mythology, McTier has crafted an out of this world work of genius. The Milky Way is a remarkably clever, eye-opening entry into the astrophysics cannon that radically changes our perspective on space and our place in the vast cosmos. As entertaining as it is informative, this book is an essential read for earth dwellers who want a better understanding of our galactic home.”—Stephon Alexander, author of Fear of a Black Universe

“A deliciously hilarious/irreverent and irresistible romp shimmering with astrophysics facts and cutting edge observations. A first “person” perspective that only an astrophysicist can provide. McTier’s humor and keen eye for detail pens the autobiography that our home galaxy deserves!”—Brian Keating, Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor of Physics at UC San Diego and author of Losing the Nobel Prize and INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE: Think Like a Nobel Prize Winner

From the Publisher

12/01/2022

Astrophysicist McTier engagingly narrates her delightful debut, detailing the Milky Way's life story, as told by the Milky Way itself. Listeners may be surprised at the Milky Way's snarky and condescending tone. This, strangely, is a wonderfully effective tactic. No matter how basic or complicated the astronomical information is, it is quite clear that all humans are far below them in intellect and perception. The book does give listeners a good foundation before diving into heavier topics. As an audiobook, the faux-memoir format allows listeners to breezily consume the information gossiped to them. Some listeners may doubt the veracity of the data since it's mixed into galactic love stories and petty rivalries, but listening to the acknowledgments at the end provides the author's bona fides. Listeners may also be interested to know that the Milky Way wants everyone to be accepted for who they are, understands what it means to live with depression, and thinks humanity could do a better job becoming unified enough to take care of each other and their planet. VERDICT Listeners won't want to miss this educational and fun take on the stars.—Matthew Galloway

Library Journal - Audio

Biographer to the literal stars, Dr. Moiya McTier combines her background in folklore and astrophysics into an engaging performance of the Milky Way’s life story, told from our home galaxy's point of view. McTier-as-Milky Way imbues her performance with confidence and grandeur befitting a dynamic galaxy that is billions of years old. With conversational flair and wry humor, she makes star development and other astronomical concepts occurring within our corner of the universe relatable to the human experience. The galaxy has annoying neighbors, romantic entanglements, and complex family relationships in the form of black holes, the Andromeda galaxy, and countless other celestial objects. This concise guide to our galaxy provides an entertaining experience for listeners new to its history, as well as interstellar science buffs. J.R.T. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

SEPTEMBER 2022 - AudioFile

Biographer to the literal stars, Dr. Moiya McTier combines her background in folklore and astrophysics into an engaging performance of the Milky Way’s life story, told from our home galaxy's point of view. McTier-as-Milky Way imbues her performance with confidence and grandeur befitting a dynamic galaxy that is billions of years old. With conversational flair and wry humor, she makes star development and other astronomical concepts occurring within our corner of the universe relatable to the human experience. The galaxy has annoying neighbors, romantic entanglements, and complex family relationships in the form of black holes, the Andromeda galaxy, and countless other celestial objects. This concise guide to our galaxy provides an entertaining experience for listeners new to its history, as well as interstellar science buffs. J.R.T. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

SEPTEMBER 2022 - AudioFile

2022-05-31
The history of the universe as recounted by a chatty Milky Way.

Astrophysicist, TV commentator, and podcaster McTier, who studied astronomy and mythology at Harvard, employs both to describe the cosmos from its birth in the Big Bang to its death (or fate) in the far future. Both events are speculation but accompanied by a good deal of science, although facts become more frequent as we approach the present day. As the author discovered in her studies, “science and myth weren’t as contradictory as they seemed on the surface. Both are tools that we humans use to understand how we fit in with the rest of the universe.” Rather than narrate in her own voice, she assumes the character of the Milky Way, offering a sort of cosmic tell-all: “Stars, galaxies, even hairy meatbags like you; I want to light a fire—literal or figurative—in them all!” Born about 14 billion years ago, less than 1 billion years after the universe itself, the Milky Way spent millennia watching galaxies drift away, sometimes absorbing neighboring stars and dwarf galaxies, and making “friends” in the process, including Andromeda, “the biggest and brightest and most important” neighboring galaxy. McTier detours regularly to describe creation myths of other cultures, but mostly her narrator follows classical and modern astronomers in their often misguided but sometimes impressive discoveries. Cosmology enjoys a large readership and a steady stream of popular science books. Most of them are straightforward or overly dependent on gee-whiz proclamations, but there are a few outstanding entries, including Dan Hooper’s At the Edge of Time. McTier sprinkles humor throughout her whimsical look at the cosmos, and while some serious-minded fans of astronomical science may grimace at some of the drollery, the author clearly knows her subject and delivers enough fascinating information to keep the pages turning.

A solid education in cosmology for tolerant readers.

Kirkus Reviews