Rock Star is the eagerly-awaited second book by award-winning author Geoffrey Notkin, and star of the popular television adventure series, Meteorite Men. In this remarkable personal memoir, Notkin describes his exciting and sometimes astonishing, quest for meaning and understanding in an unexplainable universe. From the smoking volcanoes of Iceland to the sunblasted wasteland of Chile’s Atacama Desert, and the Australian Outback to the Siberian Arctic, Geoffrey Notkin recounts a forty-year odyssey of adventure that takes him to some of the world’s strangest and wildest places—where music and meteorites are often the only sign posts.
A two-time Emmy Award winner, Geoffrey Notkin hosted the hit television "Meteorite Men" for Science Channel, and "STEM Journals" for Cox Media. He has also appeared in programs for Disney, Discovery, TLC, A&E, National Geographic Channel, History Channel, Travel Channel, NASA, PBS, and the BBC. Notkin is a science writer, memoirist, columnist, television and film producer, photographer, world traveler, TEDx speaker, and adventurer.
An award-winning author, Notkin has written four books and hundreds of published articles on science, adventure travel, history, and the arts, with his work appearing in USA Today, Wired, Forbes, Robb Report, Smithsonian, Scientific American, Reader’s Digest, Astronomy, Sky & Telescope, The Village Voice, Rock & Gem, Geotimes and many other national and international publications. He is the author of two science columns: "Meteorwritings" for Geology.com and "Throwing Pebbles at the Sky" for the National Space Society.
Notkin has worked with many of the world’s important science institutions including The American Museum of Natural History, New York; The Natural History Museum, London; The Vienna Museum of Natural History, Austria; The Center for Meteorite Studies at ASU, Tempe; the Institute of Meteoritics at UNM Albuquerque; and the Oscar E. Monnig Meteorite Collection in Fort Worth, Texas. He is a long-time member of the Explorers Club and the Association of Applied Paleontological Sciences. Notkin sits on the Board of Directors of the Astrosociology Research Institute, the Board of Governors of the National Space Society (NSS), and is President Emeritus of the NSS.
Adventuring has taken Notkin to over sixty countries and some of our planet’s most remote areas including Siberia, Chile’s Atacama Desert, the Sahara, and the Australian Outback and he has three times crossed the Arctic Circle. He was born in New York City and raised in London, England, studied literature, writing, design, geology, astronomy, and photography London, Boston and New York and graduated with honors from New York City's prestigious School of Visual Arts.
The asteroid 132904, discovered at Mount Palomar Observatory, was officially named "Notkin" by the Minor Planet Center at Harvard in recognition of his contributions to science, education, and the arts.
I happen to be a geology and space science nut, but you don't have to be one of these to enjoy Geoff's tales. Most of them revolve around meteorite hunting expeditions around the world, but Geoff also shares childhood stories that led to his fascination with meteorites as well as stories about his rock band performing days. His writing style is sophisticated,entertaining, and often humorous. It's not all about him either-you meet all his team members and scientists he works with along the way and he always gives due credit to every contributor. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
A most enjoyable read! One of the best, certainly the most entertaining autobiographical, books I have ever read! Geoffrey Notkin tells you his story throughout the very distinctive chapters, as if he was talking to you specifically. His dry, blunt sense of humour is brilliant, and well timed. and If you are a fan of the subject matter, or a fan of the show 'Meteorite Men', or even like a good adventure story, then I highly reccomend this book. If you're not a fan, read it anyway damnit! You will be glad you did.
I totally loved this book!! Although the book promotion led me to believe I have heard of the author, apparently "I don't get out much!" or rather, I don't watch TV much! This book was compelling, interesting, and just great! The pictures following Geoffrey's travels were wonderful! I whole-heartedly recommend this book! This review was provided in exchange for a copy of the book from the author and Goodreads Firstreads.
This grand tale of adventure was destined to be. With the innocent sense of adventure young Mr. Notkin sends chills up any parent's spine with his foray into a live volcano with a narrow escape.
To learn about this episode and the other great series of adventures that compose the story of his life, read this gripping story for yourself.
You will enjoy this unlikely, yet very real story.
really, you have to love Geoffrey Notkin. he is larger than life in person and it comes through on the page. his memoirs are interesting, just scientific enough to feel smart and just funny enough to keep the pages turning. a thoroughly enjoyable book and i highly recommend it!
This was such an entertaining book so many twists and turns, highs and lows and ups and downs I couldn't put it down! You never knew what was coming up next. Truly an amazing job well done!
Geoff writes with such an easy and entertaining style it's as if you are a compadre sitting across from him at the kitchen table. Oh to be the third penguin in that bucket!