Facing Infinity: Black Holes and Our Place on Earth

by Jonas Enander, Nichola Smalley (translator)

A fresh, fascinating, up-to-the-moment appraisal of black holes—the massive astronomical objects with a gravitational pull so strong nothing can escape them, not even light—that situates them at the center of our understanding of our place on Earth and of the universe

Humanity’s relationship with black holes began in 1783 in a small English village, when clergyman John Michell posed a startling question: What if there are objects in space that are so large and heavy that not even light can escape them? Almost 250 years later, in April 2019, scientists presented the first picture of a black hole. Profoundly inspired by that image, physicist Jonas Enander has traveled the world to investigate how our understanding of these elusive celestial objects has evolved since the days of Michell.

With the particular goal of discovering our human connection to black holes, Enander visits telescopes and observatories, delves deeply into archives, and interviews over 20 world-leading experts, including several Nobel laureates. With Facing Infinity, he takes us on a spellbinding journey into the universe’s greatest mystery, deciphers the most mind-bending science, and answers questions surrounding how black holes work, where they come from, and what role they play in the universe.

Along the way Enander discovers how our desire to understand black holes inadvertently paved the way for the invention of Wi-Fi and the calibration of our global navigation satellites, how astronomical discovery became entangled with colonial conflicts, and how our looking outward gave us critical evidence of the impact of climate change. Facing Infinity helps us appreciate and understand as never before these mysterious celestial objects and our surprising connections to them.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Space, Collections, Astronomy

368 pages, Hardcover

First published September 4, 2025

Reviews

[Rebecca Forsberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jonas skriver otroligt gripande och förståeligt om något som är helt ofattbart svårt att förstå (även för en disputerad astronom!). Jag som alltid varit lite avigt inställd till svarta hål och fascinationen kring dom dras med i Jonas berättelse, som tar oss både genom tid och rum (pun very much intended!). Vi får följa med när de absolut första idéerna kring dessa mystiska objekt föds, till sekelskiftets pionjärer och dagens svarta hål-jägare.

Det jag uppskattar med Mörkret & människan är att, trots att historien domineras av män, låter han många kvinnliga nutida forskare komma till tals: uppfriskande! Den mängd av människor han talat med för att bygga upp sin bok ger en mångfald på synen, inte bara på svarta hål, men på priset och uppoffringarna för forskningen som gör att vi lärt oss om svarta hål.

En bok som utforskar inte bara svarta hål och deras roll i universum, men även oss som människor, vad utforskning betyder för oss, men även vad tankarna på svarta hål gör med oss.

[Linnea Strömqvist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Älskade denna bok!!! Så spännande! Och så bra skriven! Jätteintressant!

[Crystal E. Fall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Djupt fascinerande och existentiell, med en inblick både i vad svarta hål är och kan vara och i människorna bakom dessa upptäckter (och hur forskningen påverkar oss på jorden). Allt jag kunde önska mig av boken och mer därtill!

[Evelyn Jean]

Facing Infinity: Black Holes and Our Place on Earth by Jonas Enander is a breathtaking fusion of astrophysics, history, and human philosophy a book that not only explains black holes but redefines our relationship with the universe itself.

From the very first page, Enander establishes himself as both a brilliant scientist and an eloquent storyteller. With elegant precision, he traces humanity’s long fascination with the idea of invisible cosmic giants from John Michell’s 18th-century imagination to the groundbreaking 2019 image of a black hole weaving together centuries of science, curiosity, and discovery.

Yet what makes this book truly extraordinary is its human dimension. Enander does not simply describe how black holes work he reveals what they mean. He uncovers the surprising ways our study of black holes has shaped human progress, from the birth of Wi-Fi technology to the accuracy of GPS satellites, and even how our cosmic exploration mirrors our earthly concerns, including the urgent challenges of climate change.

Written with clarity and wonder, Facing Infinity transforms an overwhelming scientific concept into a profoundly human story one that speaks to our endless desire to understand who we are and where we fit in the universe. Through vivid storytelling and deep insight, Jonas Enander reminds us that even as we gaze into the darkest parts of the cosmos, we are, in truth, looking inward.

A spellbinding achievement part science, part soul Facing Infinity is destined to stand beside the works of Carl Sagan and Stephen Hawking as one of the most thought-provoking explorations of existence in our time.

[Nikki Arendse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this! Facing Infinity lets you dive into the world of black holes in a very engaging and accessible way. This book contains so much: intuitive explanations about black hole physics, personal stories from researchers (and I was happy to note: many female ones as well), the author's vivid travel stories from the observatories he visited, descriptions of the cutting-edge black hole observations, historical context, all woven together beautifully in a coherent story. And also some more unexpected stories: like how black holes influence whole galaxies and perhaps the emergence of life, how they are used to map out the surface of the Earth, and the more complicated ethical side of black hole research.

It's beautifully written as well: fun, clear, and at times poetic. It blew my mind, made me laugh, inspired me, and made me experience awe for the universe, all at the same time.

If you want to get a holistic overview of black holes I strongly recommend reading this book! Both for newbies to this topic as for more experienced readers, as the book contains a lot of new material and perspectives.

[Andrea Wenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

From an 18th-century clergyman’s radical idea to the invention of WiFi, this engrossing and easy-to-read book tells the fascinating story of our quest to understand black holes. Travel the globe as the author consults leading experts about cutting-edge discoveries, and reveals the human story behind the science. Learn how our enthusiasm for these cosmic enigmas has shaped technology, impacted society, and even taught us more about Earth.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Tania · Rating 5 out of 5]

40 quintillion a 40 followed by 18 zeros.

40,000,000,000,000,000,000 the estimated number of stellar-mass black holes in the observable universe.

A quintillion is equal to one billion billions or one million trillions. So 40 quintillion = mind blown.

[Louis Frillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fascinating history of what we do and don’t know about black holes.