Friendly Guide to the Universe: A Down-to-Earth Tour of Space, Time, and the Wonders of the Cosmos

by Nancy Hathaway

Features a time-line history of the universe, explanations of key astronomical concepts, explorations of the heavenly bodies, notes on the works of Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton, and much more.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Astronomy

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[GoldGato · Rating 4 out of 5]

Then I felt like some watcher of the skies
When a new planet swims into his ken.
(Mr. Keats)

There's a passage in the section on Space Trash where author Nancy Hathaway describes the trillions of particles of space debris created by mankind thanks to all of the satellites and rockets and discarded other items we have sent outside of our own polluted planet. She details what would happen when even a sliver of a paint chip might rip through a spacesuit. It's as though humans infect everything, even when we just want to expand our horizons.

I state this because this book is more than just a guide to astronomy...it's full of poetry and thoughts nestled in with the facts. Oh book, where were thee when I needed thee at university? Those constellations never made sense to me (mainly because they never looked like crabs and bulls), but this book shines new light on our starry, starry skies with a dollop of fun.

Copernicus proved that Ptolemy was wrong.
Kepler proved that Copernicus was wrong.
Galileo proved that Aristotle was wrong.
But at that point the sequence broke down, because science then came up against that incaclculable phenomenon...an Englishman.
(George Bernard Shaw on Isaac Newton)

As the reader, I very much enjoyed the way the book was presented. The planets and galaxies and stars and pulsars, for instance, each get their own section but within each section are other added tidbits, such as Edgar Allen Poe or Bode's Law or Raisin Bread analogies or everything you wanted to know about meteors. James Joyce-isms are sprinkled throughout and poets abound. Mercury is "a squirting lacquey of the sun, who seldom shows his face in these parts, as if he were in debt". Written before the snooty-toots downgraded Pluto from its planetary status (I feel Pluto is a victim), this is still a vibrant look at the universe .

When I was in college, there were two sorts of science courses: courses for those who wished to become scientists, and courses for the rest of us. This book is for the rest of us.

As well it should be.

Book Season = Year Round (Betelgeusian)

[Adolf Boldú · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es tracta d'una obra divulgativa de l'astronomia molt ben plantejat i expressat, on multitud de temes d'aquesta disciplina sòn exposats amb competència i rigor, i on un di sentit de l'humor apareix den alguns moments. Molt aconsellable per als que s'inicien en l'astronomia, però també de cara als ja iniciats que volen refrescar certs punts potser oblidats.

[Bryan Whitehead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of all the astronomy books I’ve read to date, I think this one is my favorite. It is not a comprehensive introduction to the science or hobby of astronomy, nor does it pretend to be. Instead, author Nancy Hathaway seeks to present astronomy in its various aspects, not merely as a science but also as a social and historical phenomenon. For example, rather than just rattle off a list of Tycho Brahe’s discoveries, Hathaway delves into his personal history, his island Uraniborg, his motives for exploring the heavens and his importance in the history of the science. This delightful book is full of all sorts of detours and diversions that make the subject less of a task to learn and more of a pleasure to experience. Further, Hathaway exhibits a love for the human warmth of astronomy and a genuine sense of humor that more technical writers often lack, to the substantial detriment of their writing. Those looking for astrophysical formulae or dramatic, coffee-table-book color photos will need to seek elsewhere, but for astronomy “outsiders” seeking a way in, this book is an excellent jumping-off point.

[Wickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wirklich gut geschriebenes Buch, das sehr flüssig zu lesen ist. Besonders gut fand ich auch, dass die Autorin sich mit den „grossen Köpfen“ der Astronomie befasst, von denen viele scheinbar nicht gerade angenehme Zeitgenossen waren. Soziale Krüppel, oder missverstandene Zarte Pflänzchen?

[Manel De · Rating 4 out of 5]

Està bé Per tenir una visió completa de la história de l’univers.

[Glen Engel-Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this one up on the strength of the previous “Friendly Guide” (The Friendly Guide to Shakespeare), and was not disappointed. While Hathaway’s book is ostensibly about the universe, and does contain quite a bit of information about the subject, a better description might be “Lives of the Astronomers.” From Nicolas Copernicus to Stephen Hawking, Hathaway tours the universe by taking a time trip through the many advances of astronomy. Like the guide to Shakespeare, the chapters are short, and sidebars abound. I spent about three months working my way through the book, reading a section or two a night. While it isn’t a substitute for Astronomy 301 (the math quotient was thankfully low), this is a nice book for those of us who like to know a little about a lot.

[Ed S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Constantemente volteamos al cielo y nos preguntamos qué hay más allá cuál es nuestro lugar en el universo? Éste libro nos lleva de la mano desde los primeros astrólogos hasta los últimos avances en astronomía, de una manera sencilla, y llena de anécdotas, historias, y datos importantes sobre la ciencia de los cielos. Lectura muy recomendada para todos aquellos amantes de las ciencias y para todos aquellos que aunque no tengan un gran entrenamiento, quieran saber sobre universo entero desde los átomos hasta la supernovas.