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The Book of the Moon: A Guide to Our Closest Neighbor
In The Book of the Moon , her lucidly written, comprehensive guide to Earth’s satellite, space scientist Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock takes readers on a journey to our closest celestial neighbor, exploring folklore, facts, and future plans.
Have you ever wondered if there are seasons on the moon or if space tourism will ever become commonplace? So has Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock. In fact, she earned her nickname “Lunatic” because of her deep fascination for all things lunar.
Beginning with the basics, Aderin-Pocock unpacks everything from the moon’s topography and composition to its formation and orbit around the Earth. She travels back in time to track humanity’s relationship with the moon—beliefs held by ancient civilizations, the technology that allowed for the first moon landing, a brief history of moongazing, and how the moon has influenced culture throughout the years—and then to the future, analyzing the pros and cons of continued space travel and exploration.
Throughout the book are sidebars, graphs, and charts to enhance the facts as well as black-and-white illustrations of the moon and stars.
Have you ever wondered if there are seasons on the moon or if space tourism will ever become commonplace? So has Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock. In fact, she earned her nickname “Lunatic” because of her deep fascination for all things lunar.
Beginning with the basics, Aderin-Pocock unpacks everything from the moon’s topography and composition to its formation and orbit around the Earth. She travels back in time to track humanity’s relationship with the moon—beliefs held by ancient civilizations, the technology that allowed for the first moon landing, a brief history of moongazing, and how the moon has influenced culture throughout the years—and then to the future, analyzing the pros and cons of continued space travel and exploration.
Throughout the book are sidebars, graphs, and charts to enhance the facts as well as black-and-white illustrations of the moon and stars.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published April 9, 2019
131 people are currently reading
3406 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
July 15, 2021
Sono affascinata dai libri di astronomia, sia quelli strettamente inerenti alla Fisica, sia quelli che raccontano la morfologia degli oggetti cosmici.
Della Luna ci siamo interessati sempre meno perché è già stata conquistata dagli uomini come astro a noi più vicino, ma di lei conosciamo poco, più presi dalla grande questioni dell'origine dell'Universo.
Questo testo, invece, la ricolloca nei nostri interessi perché nel prossimo futuro, probabilmente, sarà abitata stabilmente, sarà la piattaforma di lancio verso pianeti più lontani, forse ne saranno sfruttate le preziose risorse e si svolgeranno esperimenti scientifici peculiari. Il tutto si svolgerà in un ambiente ostile e pericoloso.
L'autrice esordisce con le scoperte dei primi osservatori, con la sua descrizione morfologica, con le astuzie per la sua osservazione anche come dilettanti. Inoltre spiega nel dettaglio le fasi lunari e i condizionamenti gravitazionali sulla Terra.
Simpatici i riferimenti ai testi poetici e alle canzoni che la nominano.
Insomma, un testo da leggere per capire tutte le problematiche che il nostro satellite ci mette sul piatto.
Della Luna ci siamo interessati sempre meno perché è già stata conquistata dagli uomini come astro a noi più vicino, ma di lei conosciamo poco, più presi dalla grande questioni dell'origine dell'Universo.
Questo testo, invece, la ricolloca nei nostri interessi perché nel prossimo futuro, probabilmente, sarà abitata stabilmente, sarà la piattaforma di lancio verso pianeti più lontani, forse ne saranno sfruttate le preziose risorse e si svolgeranno esperimenti scientifici peculiari. Il tutto si svolgerà in un ambiente ostile e pericoloso.
L'autrice esordisce con le scoperte dei primi osservatori, con la sua descrizione morfologica, con le astuzie per la sua osservazione anche come dilettanti. Inoltre spiega nel dettaglio le fasi lunari e i condizionamenti gravitazionali sulla Terra.
Simpatici i riferimenti ai testi poetici e alle canzoni che la nominano.
Insomma, un testo da leggere per capire tutte le problematiche che il nostro satellite ci mette sul piatto.
August 11, 2021
Libro che racconta, in modo comprensibile da tutti, la luna e le sue caratteristiche.
Mi è piaciuta l'ultima parte dove l'autrice inizia a ragionare su come decideremo di sfruttare il nostro satellite nel futuro: come risorsa di materie da sfruttare e da distruggere? Come un luogo che sarà la nostra seconda casa? Come base per soli studi scientifici?
Mi è piaciuta l'ultima parte dove l'autrice inizia a ragionare su come decideremo di sfruttare il nostro satellite nel futuro: come risorsa di materie da sfruttare e da distruggere? Come un luogo che sarà la nostra seconda casa? Come base per soli studi scientifici?
May 23, 2019
The Book of the Moon is exactly what it claims to be: a through look at our nearest celestial neighbor. In this lucid, occasionally humorous guide to all things lunar Maggie Aderin-Pocock- space scientist, science communicator, and self-proclaimed lunatic- is our guide. This isn't a typical scientific text, but it is my favorite kind. Though this small book is absolutely packed with figures and data, it also explores the deep connection that humans have had with the moon from our earliest days. After describing her background and relationship with the moon in the introduction, Aderin-Pocock breaks The Book of the Moon into four sections:
I'm currently pursuing a degree in Earth Science with special interest in Planetary Geology and there was still more for me to learn in this brief, but densely packed little book. For all the information here, I never felt bogged down. Aderin-Pocock's intense enthusiasm for the moon permeates this whole text and carried you along effortlessly. My only regret upon finishing it is that I wasn't immediately able to pick up another book by Maggie Aderin-Pocock. In less than 300 pages I'm completely convinced, the next great science communicator- among the likes of Sagan and Nye- now stands before us.
I received my copy of The Book of the Moon from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Moon 101: The Basics - A description of the physical properties of the moon, its environment, and how it formed.
Moon Past: The Moon in Our Culture - This was easily my favorite section. Topics here are broken down into groups of five. Five people, five places, five poems, five works of art, and more. The people and works featured here are refreshingly varied, a break from the Eurocentric, whitewashed version of scientific history that we're all used to seeing.
Moon Present: A Sharper Focus - Tools and techniques for observing the moon accompanied by a description of our recent past involving the moon from, the beginning of the Space Race to present.
Moon Future: What Lies Ahead? - An unbiased discussion of the future of science, commerce, and settlement on our moon.
I'm currently pursuing a degree in Earth Science with special interest in Planetary Geology and there was still more for me to learn in this brief, but densely packed little book. For all the information here, I never felt bogged down. Aderin-Pocock's intense enthusiasm for the moon permeates this whole text and carried you along effortlessly. My only regret upon finishing it is that I wasn't immediately able to pick up another book by Maggie Aderin-Pocock. In less than 300 pages I'm completely convinced, the next great science communicator- among the likes of Sagan and Nye- now stands before us.
I received my copy of The Book of the Moon from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 27, 2019
I feel smarter after reading this and the learning was completely painless. Despite imparting a large quantity of information, the author takes a light and conversational tone so that it doesn’t seem onerous at all. Quite the opposite, I was interested and engaged throughout. I was inordinately pleased to see references to everyone from Sappho and En-hedu-ana to Jan van Eyck. These are right in my wheelhouse! I do have a science background but not a math or physics based one and to be honest I tend to avoid anything too “mathy.” If it’s technical and involves a lot of numbers or, god forbid, equations then I run for the hills. There is some moderately technical stuff but it was explained clearly and simply. I am proud to say that I now understand exactly why Earth has tides and why supermoons seem to be happening every month or two. I plan to bring these things up at dinner parties from now until eternity. Thank you Maggie Aderin-Pocock for making me more interesting!
I received this book for free through a Goodreads Firstreads giveaway but this has not influenced my review in any way.
I received this book for free through a Goodreads Firstreads giveaway but this has not influenced my review in any way.
December 31, 2019
Het boek van de maan. Alles over onze naaste buur is een behapbaar non-fictie boek over de maan. Schrijfster Maggie Aderin-Pocock is een echte maangek en haar persoonlijke anekdotes en enthousiasme maken dit boek heel fijn om te lezen. Ze weet technische informatie te doseren en op een allesbehalve droge manier te omschrijven. Ook vond ik het erg tof dat er veel aandacht is voor vrouwelijke wetenschappers, poëten, .. Sowieso is het hoofdstuk over de maan in onze popcultuur erg tof. Aderin-Pocock laat je de band tussen de aarde en de maan ontdekken, in heden verleden en toekomst. Toegankelijk geschreven en in een hele fijne vormgeving.
Mijn complete recensie lees je op Boekvinder.be.
Mijn complete recensie lees je op Boekvinder.be.
December 18, 2019
Ik vond de maan altijd fascinerend. Dat bijzondere verschijnsel aan onze hemel. Zo ver weg en zo dichtbij tegelijk. Dit boek moest ik dus lezen, want je kunt nooit te veel over de maan weten. Het is een geweldig boek. Vol met wetenschappelijke kennis, maar ook met interessante weetjes. Het is een perfect cadeau voor een maangek, maar net zo goed, of misschien juist, voor iemand die het niet begrijpt. Als je dat boek leest zul je altijd naar de maan blijven kijken en afvragen wat voor invloed zij op onze planeet heeft.
July 26, 2022
We have all at some point in our lives, as a child or even as an adult, gazed up at the night sky and looked at the moon with great curiosity. This short and sweet book written by a physicist answers the questions we might have while gazing up at the moon. It also brought forth tons of interesting facts about our celestial neighbour.
November 11, 2019
Space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock, who holds a PhD in mechanical engineering, presents a comprehensive guide to the earth's moon for the casual observer.
The book is divided into four sections:
* Moon 101: The Basics
* Moon Past: The Moon in Our [Human] Culture
* Moon Present: A Sharper Focus
* Moon Future: What Lies Ahead?
Moon 101 provides information about the moon as a astronomical object / celestial body / physical entity. Its physical composition, structure, geography, environment, atmosphere, temperature, gravitational and magnetic fields, days/nights, and seasons are described, and theories on its formation are given.
Moon Past examines the role of the moon in human civilization from circa 30,000 BCE to 2017 CE. This chapter delves into how different cultures viewed and interacted with the moon as exemplified by people, locations, artifacts, poems, stories, and works of art.
Moon Present presents humankind's modern understanding of the moon based on current astronomy and science. This section includes explanation of the phases as well as celestial events. It is essentially a layperson's guide to moon watching. The moon landing is also touched upon.
Moon Future explores the future possibilities of space exploration, scientific research, and human habitation on the moon.
This book was written for laypeople who wish to learn more about the earth's moon, and it contains a lot of information -- perhaps more than a reader would wish for in a basic intro. But the table of contents and index are very good, so readers wishing to learn specific things can pick and choose what to read.
There is also a lot of cross-referencing within the text, which allows tells the reader where related or explanatory information can be found. Pencil sketch illustrations accompany the text, but they are hit-and-miss with some strange omissions. For example, when lunar topography is discussed, there isn't an illustration for any of the geographic features (highlands, maria, rilles, domes, wrinkle ridges, or grabens), which is a big oversight. I felt most of the phenomena that the author described should have been illustrated by a small illustration at the very least because most were difficult to picture. I did love that the drawings in the upper right-hand corner of each two page spread that cycled through the moon phases. That was brilliant.
Because the author is a scientist, there isn't any discussion of astrology involving the moon. Personally, I would have appreciated it if some tidbits about the moon and the zodiac had been included in the folklore section Moon Past.
I enjoyed this book although I felt like I was reading an unending stream of facts. As a lifelong lunatic, I've always looked up at the moon and wanted to learn more. To my everlasting disappointment, my university astronomy course turned out to be mostly physics with very little on actual celestial bodies, stargazing, or night sky watching. This guide happily filled in a few of the blanks. But despite the section on Observing the Moon (pages 135 -- 167), I am still unable to look up at the night sky and tell what exactly I'm looking at.
The book is divided into four sections:
* Moon 101: The Basics
* Moon Past: The Moon in Our [Human] Culture
* Moon Present: A Sharper Focus
* Moon Future: What Lies Ahead?
Moon 101 provides information about the moon as a astronomical object / celestial body / physical entity. Its physical composition, structure, geography, environment, atmosphere, temperature, gravitational and magnetic fields, days/nights, and seasons are described, and theories on its formation are given.
Moon Past examines the role of the moon in human civilization from circa 30,000 BCE to 2017 CE. This chapter delves into how different cultures viewed and interacted with the moon as exemplified by people, locations, artifacts, poems, stories, and works of art.
Moon Present presents humankind's modern understanding of the moon based on current astronomy and science. This section includes explanation of the phases as well as celestial events. It is essentially a layperson's guide to moon watching. The moon landing is also touched upon.
Moon Future explores the future possibilities of space exploration, scientific research, and human habitation on the moon.
This book was written for laypeople who wish to learn more about the earth's moon, and it contains a lot of information -- perhaps more than a reader would wish for in a basic intro. But the table of contents and index are very good, so readers wishing to learn specific things can pick and choose what to read.
There is also a lot of cross-referencing within the text, which allows tells the reader where related or explanatory information can be found. Pencil sketch illustrations accompany the text, but they are hit-and-miss with some strange omissions. For example, when lunar topography is discussed, there isn't an illustration for any of the geographic features (highlands, maria, rilles, domes, wrinkle ridges, or grabens), which is a big oversight. I felt most of the phenomena that the author described should have been illustrated by a small illustration at the very least because most were difficult to picture. I did love that the drawings in the upper right-hand corner of each two page spread that cycled through the moon phases. That was brilliant.
Because the author is a scientist, there isn't any discussion of astrology involving the moon. Personally, I would have appreciated it if some tidbits about the moon and the zodiac had been included in the folklore section Moon Past.
I enjoyed this book although I felt like I was reading an unending stream of facts. As a lifelong lunatic, I've always looked up at the moon and wanted to learn more. To my everlasting disappointment, my university astronomy course turned out to be mostly physics with very little on actual celestial bodies, stargazing, or night sky watching. This guide happily filled in a few of the blanks. But despite the section on Observing the Moon (pages 135 -- 167), I am still unable to look up at the night sky and tell what exactly I'm looking at.
October 17, 2018
This book is a delightful and informative love letter to the moon. Aderin-Pocock (whose name my brain keeps wanting to change to Aldrin-Pocock because of the moon context) has a show about astronomy on the BBC, and after reading this book it's easy to understand her appeal: Like Carl Sagan or Neil deGrasse Tyson, she's good at making the science easy and interesting to understand.
The Book of the Moon is about more than science, however. Aderin-Pocock isn't just interested in the moon from a scientific perspective, she also appreciates it as a beautiful object that has had a deep impact on cultures around the world. She discusses, in a desultory way, how the moon has influenced art, poetry, and literature. Just the other day I was reading a very old science fiction story that Voltaire wrote in the 1700s, and it made me wonder what the oldest science fiction story ever written was. Boom! This book had the answer, and it was surprising.
The Book of the Moon taught me all sorts of interesting little things about the moon. For example: there are moonquakes, the moon's gravitational field is "lumpy," the moon played a key role in the evolution of life on earth, and the moon used to have magnetic fields, just to name a few. There were some things that I thought I understood before reading this book, like how the tides work, but The Book of the Moon gave me clarity and detail.
Aderin-Pocock calls herself a "lunatic," and for her this word describes people who love the moon. Who doesn't love the moon? When I was a teenager and had insomnia I would hike up the mountain behind my house at 3:00 in the morning. Nothing was sweeter or more calming than moonlight. The solar eclipse that was visible in the United States a year or two ago was literally the most awe inspiring thing I have ever seen in my life. And, this is embarrassing to admit, but I am not wholly innocent of writing poems about the moon. So, as a fellow lunatic I really enjoyed reading this book, and the next time I take a look up at the moon I'll have a better appreciation of what I'm looking at.
The Book of the Moon is about more than science, however. Aderin-Pocock isn't just interested in the moon from a scientific perspective, she also appreciates it as a beautiful object that has had a deep impact on cultures around the world. She discusses, in a desultory way, how the moon has influenced art, poetry, and literature. Just the other day I was reading a very old science fiction story that Voltaire wrote in the 1700s, and it made me wonder what the oldest science fiction story ever written was. Boom! This book had the answer, and it was surprising.
The Book of the Moon taught me all sorts of interesting little things about the moon. For example: there are moonquakes, the moon's gravitational field is "lumpy," the moon played a key role in the evolution of life on earth, and the moon used to have magnetic fields, just to name a few. There were some things that I thought I understood before reading this book, like how the tides work, but The Book of the Moon gave me clarity and detail.
Aderin-Pocock calls herself a "lunatic," and for her this word describes people who love the moon. Who doesn't love the moon? When I was a teenager and had insomnia I would hike up the mountain behind my house at 3:00 in the morning. Nothing was sweeter or more calming than moonlight. The solar eclipse that was visible in the United States a year or two ago was literally the most awe inspiring thing I have ever seen in my life. And, this is embarrassing to admit, but I am not wholly innocent of writing poems about the moon. So, as a fellow lunatic I really enjoyed reading this book, and the next time I take a look up at the moon I'll have a better appreciation of what I'm looking at.
February 12, 2020
It may be a guide to our partner but it certainly is a scientific and cultural one. Not only do we go through the physical characteristics and construction materials (not green cheese) but there are the theories of how it was formed, the effects of its gravity on the Earth, magnetic fields, different types of eclipses, human exploration through flybys and landings and the scientific explanation of how the moon effects the Earth's rotation. Supermoons, micromoons and blue moons. And of course, that's it's moving away at about one-and-a-half inches a year. Oh, and types of telescopes since the author took a class in telescope construction when younger but apparently most moon-gazing can be done with a pair of astronomical binoculars.
Then is the cultural aspects she includes - some poems, some paintings (you have to personally look them up on the internet - no samples), some ancient places dedicated to the moon as well as some ancient artifacts. Some fairy tales and near-modern science fiction stories.
As well as what the future may lead our companion - from it's eventual escape from Earth's gravity (don't worry, it'll take about a billion years to even get to the point where it stops stabilizing the Earth's rotation), the Outer Space Treaty which means no one owns the moon, possible commercialization of resources, tourism, proposed moon bases verses Mars bases.
And lots of other topics. Seriously, this book attempts to answer - at least with an overview in some cases - just about every question a person could have regarding the moon. Even why some people - especially those who are obsessed with the moon - cheerfully call themselves lunatics.
At times, I got the impression that it was geared for younger readers and then she would write about gravity and the why tides affect the planet and moon as they do along with the sun's impact and I'd wonder.
If you look at the outside upper corner of the pages - as read from the front of the book - there's a flip book of the moon going through it's phases. Nice touch.
2020-031
Then is the cultural aspects she includes - some poems, some paintings (you have to personally look them up on the internet - no samples), some ancient places dedicated to the moon as well as some ancient artifacts. Some fairy tales and near-modern science fiction stories.
As well as what the future may lead our companion - from it's eventual escape from Earth's gravity (don't worry, it'll take about a billion years to even get to the point where it stops stabilizing the Earth's rotation), the Outer Space Treaty which means no one owns the moon, possible commercialization of resources, tourism, proposed moon bases verses Mars bases.
And lots of other topics. Seriously, this book attempts to answer - at least with an overview in some cases - just about every question a person could have regarding the moon. Even why some people - especially those who are obsessed with the moon - cheerfully call themselves lunatics.
At times, I got the impression that it was geared for younger readers and then she would write about gravity and the why tides affect the planet and moon as they do along with the sun's impact and I'd wonder.
If you look at the outside upper corner of the pages - as read from the front of the book - there's a flip book of the moon going through it's phases. Nice touch.
2020-031
March 8, 2019
A lovely overview of the moon, including not just scientific facts about its topography and makeup but also it’s cultural relevance and prominence in myths and poetry throughout history, its power over the earth, ending on a look to its future and the possibility of settlement on the moon.
As a fellow lunatic I really enjoyed this and liked Aderin-Pocock’s easy, conversational style of writing, which makes the book accessible without being patronising.
The fact that I keep telling everyone and which has stayed with me the most is that the moon is moving away from the earth at the rate our fingernails grow!
As a fellow lunatic I really enjoyed this and liked Aderin-Pocock’s easy, conversational style of writing, which makes the book accessible without being patronising.
The fact that I keep telling everyone and which has stayed with me the most is that the moon is moving away from the earth at the rate our fingernails grow!
January 30, 2020
this was everything i wanted ‘astrophysics for people in a hurry’ to be tbh
aderin-pocock manages to make complex science approachable without overly simplifying or removing key details. her passion is evident in her prose and she manages to cover an astounding amount in such a small book.
aderin-pocock manages to make complex science approachable without overly simplifying or removing key details. her passion is evident in her prose and she manages to cover an astounding amount in such a small book.
December 9, 2018
I AM SO IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK. As a full-fledged "lunatic", I adore every word of it and can't stop talking about it. Maggie Aderin-Pocock is amazing, and this book is a perfect expression of her love for the moon. The Book of the Moon explores our nearest neighbor from an astronomy perspective, as well as the culture and history of moon gazing, moon travel, and even some poems and science fiction related to the moon. The tone is engaging and easy to follow, even though it doesn't hold back on advanced concepts. I can't wait to buy it as a gift for everyone I know. If you've ever looked at the moon and wanted to know more about it, you must read this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 12, 2020
An enjoyable read about our closest celestial neighbor, which will bring out the inner lunatic that lies within all of us.
July 28, 2020
I listened to the audiobook of Maggie Aderin-Pocock's The Book of the Moon: A Guide to Our Closes Neighbor in one of my attempts to branch out from my usual horror, thriller, and sci-fi reads. I picked this book because, I mean, who doesn't like the moon?
My brain is wired more for creative arts than it is for science and I'm really sad about that. I want to enjoy science things so much more than I do. So I have to admit that, even though I really wanted to learn more about the moon, my stupid brain just couldn't pay attention as much as I wanted it to when reading this one.
Luckily, the author is very passionate about the moon to the point where she calls herself a "lunatic." Her enthusiasm and excitement about the subject definitely made this a more interesting read. The science was a bit dry, but I liked hearing about how/why Aderin-Pocock got into the subject.
I also liked the section that talked about a variety of cultural celebrations of the moon. We look at poems and myths that were, by far, the best part of this book. Unfortunately, it was shorter than I would have liked it to be.
If you want to know a bit more about the moon, then check this book out. The audiobook is somewhere around 6hrs, so its quick.
I rated Maggie Aderin-Pocock's The Book of the Moon 3 out of 5 stars.
My brain is wired more for creative arts than it is for science and I'm really sad about that. I want to enjoy science things so much more than I do. So I have to admit that, even though I really wanted to learn more about the moon, my stupid brain just couldn't pay attention as much as I wanted it to when reading this one.
Luckily, the author is very passionate about the moon to the point where she calls herself a "lunatic." Her enthusiasm and excitement about the subject definitely made this a more interesting read. The science was a bit dry, but I liked hearing about how/why Aderin-Pocock got into the subject.
I also liked the section that talked about a variety of cultural celebrations of the moon. We look at poems and myths that were, by far, the best part of this book. Unfortunately, it was shorter than I would have liked it to be.
If you want to know a bit more about the moon, then check this book out. The audiobook is somewhere around 6hrs, so its quick.
I rated Maggie Aderin-Pocock's The Book of the Moon 3 out of 5 stars.
August 22, 2023
Aderin-Pocock's enthusiasm for her subject goes a long way to justifying this, which is probably best characterized as a glorified pamphlet. You get the basic facts on our celestial neighbor delivered with maximal "science communicator" chipperness, along with some kinda glib boosterism for commercial space exploration. Aderin-Pocock doesn't bother getting into the ethical debates about exploiting space and its bodies, other than noting in passing that some people would like protections to preserve the moon, much as we've done with Antarctica. This wasn't great as a read, although what's here is informative and interesting. My takeaway is that Aderin-Pocock would be a lovely companion for a cup of tea. She seems like the best kind of lunatic, even if this book does only a middling job at selling her charms.
November 22, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️
it was just average. it is definitely not bad, but also not that good. i liked the buildup and the layout and the way the facts were brought to the reader, but if you're looking for an easy book about the moon, this would not be my first recommendation.
it was just average. it is definitely not bad, but also not that good. i liked the buildup and the layout and the way the facts were brought to the reader, but if you're looking for an easy book about the moon, this would not be my first recommendation.
December 10, 2019
Fantastic read, not too complicated with more in depth information if you want to delve further in to calculations etc.
May 27, 2021
A definite must for all moon lovers, but also space lovers in general. I can never get enough when it comes to learning about our solar system and beyond.
July 19, 2021
Learned a lot about the moon and moon missions :)
February 10, 2020
A really enjoyable book for anyone who wants to learn more about the moon. It provides the right amount of information to educate without becoming over complicated. I would have liked the diagrams to be more detailed and I think the book would have benefited from the use of actual photos rather than drawings.
January 31, 2023
Such a fun way to learn more about the moon! I love the way she combined mythology and science for a comprehensive, scientifically-sound-yet-whimsical-and-fun approach.
July 27, 2019
A nice combination of science and culture.
April 5, 2024
wish id read this and not audiobooked it... recon reading would have been better. bit woolly, interesting bits but bit underwhelming and the narration was pretentious.
October 22, 2018
*I did receive a digital version of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review*
Maggie Aderin-Pocock's new book Book of the Moon, a companion work to the BBC show The Sky at Night, is a rather unique work that combines astronomy and history in a way I've never read before. The author is a self avowed "lunatic" and is admits fully to almost always having been obsessed with the moon, which I think is an excellent qualification on writing a book on the topic of the moon. This love of our closest celestial body shows through in most of the pages and makes for an excellent read.
The book is divided into four sections: Moon 101, Moon Past, Moon Present, and Moon Future. The first section deals with describing what we know about the moon in a clear and concise way. The second section was my favorite as it blended the science of the moon with many historical and cultural references from the past. These included artistic representations of the moon in art and literature as well as historical sites associated with the moon - think of lunar versions of Stonehenge. Also included in this section were artifacts from the distant past that may be have used in association with the moon such as lunar cycle calendars inscribed on bones. The next section, Moon Present, deals with how the moon affects us on a daily basis through the tidal forces, phases of the moon, eclipses (so maybe not so daily), and a brief overview of the moon's capacity and involvement with the Space Race. The last section, Moon Past, deals with future possibilities of returning to the lunar surface, commercialism in space, and human colonies or bases on the moon along with the accompanying political and ethical dilemmas associated with exploiting the moon for resources.
The author did a terrific job of exploring many different facets of the moon and humankind's relationship to it. While there was quite a bit of astronomy and science on the moon, it was conveyed in a manner that was easily digestible. These science heavy segments were also beautifully balanced with sections of the book that dealt with history, politics, and culture that directly involved the moon. The commercialization of space, the Space Race, ancient lunar artifacts, and previous astronomers are all topics that find their way into this book and strengthens the book because of it.
Overall this was a tremendous work on our closest celestial body that perfectly blends several avenues of thought into a coherent whole. While being quite informative, Maggie Aderin-Pocock's Book of the Moon is a delightful and enjoyable read.
Maggie Aderin-Pocock's new book Book of the Moon, a companion work to the BBC show The Sky at Night, is a rather unique work that combines astronomy and history in a way I've never read before. The author is a self avowed "lunatic" and is admits fully to almost always having been obsessed with the moon, which I think is an excellent qualification on writing a book on the topic of the moon. This love of our closest celestial body shows through in most of the pages and makes for an excellent read.
The book is divided into four sections: Moon 101, Moon Past, Moon Present, and Moon Future. The first section deals with describing what we know about the moon in a clear and concise way. The second section was my favorite as it blended the science of the moon with many historical and cultural references from the past. These included artistic representations of the moon in art and literature as well as historical sites associated with the moon - think of lunar versions of Stonehenge. Also included in this section were artifacts from the distant past that may be have used in association with the moon such as lunar cycle calendars inscribed on bones. The next section, Moon Present, deals with how the moon affects us on a daily basis through the tidal forces, phases of the moon, eclipses (so maybe not so daily), and a brief overview of the moon's capacity and involvement with the Space Race. The last section, Moon Past, deals with future possibilities of returning to the lunar surface, commercialism in space, and human colonies or bases on the moon along with the accompanying political and ethical dilemmas associated with exploiting the moon for resources.
The author did a terrific job of exploring many different facets of the moon and humankind's relationship to it. While there was quite a bit of astronomy and science on the moon, it was conveyed in a manner that was easily digestible. These science heavy segments were also beautifully balanced with sections of the book that dealt with history, politics, and culture that directly involved the moon. The commercialization of space, the Space Race, ancient lunar artifacts, and previous astronomers are all topics that find their way into this book and strengthens the book because of it.
Overall this was a tremendous work on our closest celestial body that perfectly blends several avenues of thought into a coherent whole. While being quite informative, Maggie Aderin-Pocock's Book of the Moon is a delightful and enjoyable read.
July 1, 2019
I received a paperback ARC [Advanced Reader’s Copy], uncorrected proof of this book from the publisher through a giveaway they had on GoodReads and the following is my honest opinion.
For some reason, reading this book, reminded me of the song Getting to Know You from the The King and I. What the book’s author, Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock, has done here is to give her readers an expose of the moon which goes beyond the scientific explanation of the moon itself from its description, both on its surface and what lies below it to its environment and how it got formed.
With having told her readers about the moon itself, the author proceeds to educate readers about the fascination we’ve got regarding it culturally, past, present and future. From mere moongazing with Galileo inventing the telescope, to our use of the moon as a way of telling time along with our ancestral superstitions and praying to it. Not to be overlooked, Dr. Aderin-Pocock continues to demonstrate how the moon has influenced individuals to write poems, folktales and science fiction stories, giving examples; most notably H.G. Wells’ classic The First Men in the Moon.
The written word is not the only thing the moon has influenced, it also done the same to works of art, which the author hasn’t failed to include giving her readers five examples.
Moving on to the present the author continues with our increasing fascination of the moon, going into greater details of our observation of it and our space missions to it. But what good is all of this, if we don’t look towards our future relationship with the moon, with additional missions to it, and perhaps ultimately creating a moon base with people there; all of which is explored by the author in this book.
For wanting her readers to be educated regarding the moon in the manner she has, I’m happy to give Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock, the 5 STARS she so richly deserves.
For some reason, reading this book, reminded me of the song Getting to Know You from the The King and I. What the book’s author, Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock, has done here is to give her readers an expose of the moon which goes beyond the scientific explanation of the moon itself from its description, both on its surface and what lies below it to its environment and how it got formed.
With having told her readers about the moon itself, the author proceeds to educate readers about the fascination we’ve got regarding it culturally, past, present and future. From mere moongazing with Galileo inventing the telescope, to our use of the moon as a way of telling time along with our ancestral superstitions and praying to it. Not to be overlooked, Dr. Aderin-Pocock continues to demonstrate how the moon has influenced individuals to write poems, folktales and science fiction stories, giving examples; most notably H.G. Wells’ classic The First Men in the Moon.
The written word is not the only thing the moon has influenced, it also done the same to works of art, which the author hasn’t failed to include giving her readers five examples.
Moving on to the present the author continues with our increasing fascination of the moon, going into greater details of our observation of it and our space missions to it. But what good is all of this, if we don’t look towards our future relationship with the moon, with additional missions to it, and perhaps ultimately creating a moon base with people there; all of which is explored by the author in this book.
For wanting her readers to be educated regarding the moon in the manner she has, I’m happy to give Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock, the 5 STARS she so richly deserves.
June 24, 2021
Amazingly informative book and very Interesting. Great infographics and pictures though lacking in some places. Information and new concepts explained clearly and in detail.
With this book I have learnt about the past of the moon: how it has been an inspiration to people for thousands of years all around the world with fragments of poems included and folktales, also artefacts found which show the significance of the moon before our time
I have also learnt about how to observe the moon and areas of the moon such as the mare serenitatis and grimaldi crater
New concepts have become apparent to me, such as how and when solar and lunar eclipses happen, mascons on the moon and the difference in chemical composition of the maria and highlands. The importance of the moon on Earth and how it affects the day and tides and how it led to the beginning of life on the Earth.
I have also learnt about the future of space exploration and future life on the moon, inspiring the debate of whether the moon should or should not be explored further.
Overall a very fascinating book written by an author who has her way with words making the information just right to understand for any person. A beautiful blend of science and culture.
With this book I have learnt about the past of the moon: how it has been an inspiration to people for thousands of years all around the world with fragments of poems included and folktales, also artefacts found which show the significance of the moon before our time
I have also learnt about how to observe the moon and areas of the moon such as the mare serenitatis and grimaldi crater
New concepts have become apparent to me, such as how and when solar and lunar eclipses happen, mascons on the moon and the difference in chemical composition of the maria and highlands. The importance of the moon on Earth and how it affects the day and tides and how it led to the beginning of life on the Earth.
I have also learnt about the future of space exploration and future life on the moon, inspiring the debate of whether the moon should or should not be explored further.
Overall a very fascinating book written by an author who has her way with words making the information just right to understand for any person. A beautiful blend of science and culture.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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March 11, 2019Maggie Aderin-Pocock is truly a "luna-tic" (harharhar). But for real, this was a really interesting, well-written book.
Set up into three sections, this book focuses on Earth's past, present and future relationship with the moon. I appreciate that Aderin-Pocock didn't JUST give us a straight science read. I really appreciated the arts/poetry sections of the book. I felt those sections could have been a touch more engaging. They were appreciated breaks from all the "sciencey" talk and I wanted to know more.
At times the book could be dry but I think that's more due to subject matter than writing. I mean how interesting can you make maria's (tbh maria's ended up being really interesting but you get my point).
The parts I found most interesting were the moons relationship to Earth's biology (either through evolution or through tides, etc.) which were mostly found in the present chapters.
This is a great book for any ameateur wanting to learn about the moon and her relationship to the Earth. Be warned, the magic and mystery of the moon might be ruined for you but it's quickly replaced with a wonderment and appreciation of how unique and special our moon really is.
Set up into three sections, this book focuses on Earth's past, present and future relationship with the moon. I appreciate that Aderin-Pocock didn't JUST give us a straight science read. I really appreciated the arts/poetry sections of the book. I felt those sections could have been a touch more engaging. They were appreciated breaks from all the "sciencey" talk and I wanted to know more.
At times the book could be dry but I think that's more due to subject matter than writing. I mean how interesting can you make maria's (tbh maria's ended up being really interesting but you get my point).
The parts I found most interesting were the moons relationship to Earth's biology (either through evolution or through tides, etc.) which were mostly found in the present chapters.
This is a great book for any ameateur wanting to learn about the moon and her relationship to the Earth. Be warned, the magic and mystery of the moon might be ruined for you but it's quickly replaced with a wonderment and appreciation of how unique and special our moon really is.
April 21, 2020
The guide works so well to give you the basics and a little extra about the moon from a self-proclaimed lunatic. She starts with the 101 version and then walks us into past, present, and the future of the moon including the much-discussed possibility of ever living on it.
Aderin-Pocock puts it all into perspective too focusing on the solar system, and Earth, and Mars, not just the moon. She includes so much science but balances that with the informational for anyone looking to learn a little more about various topics as it relates.
Aderin-Pocock puts it all into perspective too focusing on the solar system, and Earth, and Mars, not just the moon. She includes so much science but balances that with the informational for anyone looking to learn a little more about various topics as it relates.
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May 1, 2023“The Book of the Moon” by Maggie Aderin-Pocock is a non-fiction book about the moon. Aderin-Pockock, a British astronomer who has always had a deep love for the moon, which she inherited from her father. At a young age, she knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life, but there were many struggles she had to endure during the process of becoming an astronomer such as being a woman and dyslexic. Throughout the book, she discusses the importance of the moon’s distance and size, composition, formation, and much more regarding the basics and slightly more advanced principles of the moon.
The writing in this book is, put simply, uninteresting and boring. This book also contained very confusing vocabulary throughout the majority of it. Ultimately, the book was not very good and enjoyable to read. It goes into great depth on topics that I would not consider very significant. For example, a large portion of the book was dedicated to five poems, people, places, etc. that were heavily focused on the moon. In this section, there was an unnecessary amount of information that most likely could have been removed from the book whilst still having the same effect the author was trying to convey. Even so, this book was unlike any I can recall reading due to this excess of information. By simply reading it, you could understand the author’s devotion to this book and to the moon. If someone were to purchase the audiobook like I did, you could also hear her devotion in her tone of voice. She read with ease and a great deal of emotion.
Furthermore, some key points from this book were that the moon is very important, and people should know more about it. A lengthy portion of the book was dedicated to the importance of the moon’s effect on planet Earth, and the perfection of its size and distance. It goes into detail to describe that if the moon were any smaller or farther, the tides would be significantly lower. On the other hand, if it were any larger or closer, the tides would be massive, flooding every coastal area, and cause waterfalls to be much larger and more powerful. Ultimately, the moon is at the perfect size and distance from earth to not cause tidal waves every time the tide comes in, while still having tides. The author wrote this book for the purpose of educating people about the importance of these topics, and she, without a doubt, got her message out, conveying the importance of the moon to others.
In conclusion, I personally did not enjoy the book. The target audience of it is most likely not high school students, but rather college students or astronomers, which is most likely the cause of its dull presentation for me. Those who are not so-called “lunatics” like Aderin-Pocock are most likely not going to enjoy this book as well. I would recommend this book only to people who admire the moon as much as the author, such as astronomers.
The writing in this book is, put simply, uninteresting and boring. This book also contained very confusing vocabulary throughout the majority of it. Ultimately, the book was not very good and enjoyable to read. It goes into great depth on topics that I would not consider very significant. For example, a large portion of the book was dedicated to five poems, people, places, etc. that were heavily focused on the moon. In this section, there was an unnecessary amount of information that most likely could have been removed from the book whilst still having the same effect the author was trying to convey. Even so, this book was unlike any I can recall reading due to this excess of information. By simply reading it, you could understand the author’s devotion to this book and to the moon. If someone were to purchase the audiobook like I did, you could also hear her devotion in her tone of voice. She read with ease and a great deal of emotion.
Furthermore, some key points from this book were that the moon is very important, and people should know more about it. A lengthy portion of the book was dedicated to the importance of the moon’s effect on planet Earth, and the perfection of its size and distance. It goes into detail to describe that if the moon were any smaller or farther, the tides would be significantly lower. On the other hand, if it were any larger or closer, the tides would be massive, flooding every coastal area, and cause waterfalls to be much larger and more powerful. Ultimately, the moon is at the perfect size and distance from earth to not cause tidal waves every time the tide comes in, while still having tides. The author wrote this book for the purpose of educating people about the importance of these topics, and she, without a doubt, got her message out, conveying the importance of the moon to others.
In conclusion, I personally did not enjoy the book. The target audience of it is most likely not high school students, but rather college students or astronomers, which is most likely the cause of its dull presentation for me. Those who are not so-called “lunatics” like Aderin-Pocock are most likely not going to enjoy this book as well. I would recommend this book only to people who admire the moon as much as the author, such as astronomers.
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