Impact: How Rocks from Space Led to Life, Culture, and Donkey Kong

by Greg Brennecka

A Short History of Nearly Everything  meets  Astrophysics for People in a Hurry  in this humorous, accessible exploration of how meteorites have helped not only build our planet but steered the evolution of life and human culture. The Solar System. Dinosaurs. Donkey Kong. What is the missing link? Surprisingly enough, it's meteorites. They explain our past, constructed our present, and could define our future. Impact  argues that Earth would be a lifeless, inhospitable piece of rock without being fortuitously assaulted with meteorites throughout the history of the planet. These bombardments transformed Earth’s early atmosphere and delivered the complex organic molecules that allowed life to develop on our planet. While meteorites have provided the raw materials for life to thrive, they have radically devastated life as well, most famously killing off the dinosaurs and paving the way for humans to evolve to where we are today. As noted meteoriticist Greg Brennecka explains, meteorites did not just set us on the path to becoming human, they helped direct the development of human culture. Meteorites have influenced humanity since the start of civilization. Over the centuries, meteorite falls and other cosmic cinema have started (and stopped) wars, terrified millions, and inspired religions throughout the world.  With humor and an infectious enthusiasm, Brennecka reveals previously untold but important stories sure to delight and inform readers about the most important rocks on Earth.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, History, Space, Audiobook, Geology, Astronomy

304 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2022

About the author

Greg Brennecka, PhD is a staff scientist and cosmochemist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. After his doctoral work at Arizona State University, Greg received the prestigious Sofja Kovalevskaja fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation to study the early Solar System at the Institute for Planetology in Münster, Germany, where he led the “Solar System Forensics” group for five years. His research has appeared in Science, Nature, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. Greg lives in the Livermore Valley wine country and fully enjoys the local flavors.

Reviews

[Kasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

**ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review**

For a very short period of my uneventful life I was terrified of the possibility of humankind being completely wiped out by a huge meteor. This intense moment of fear coincide with the premiere of the movie Armageddon with Bruce Willis which I watched and loved instantaneously. Fortunately, the shadow of immediate doom and associated anxiety was quickly diminished by the first disastrous attack of the teenage acne. I haven't thought about meteorites and Armageddon since.

Not until this book showed up on my radar. I'll warn you from the start - if you are searching for a book that will exhaust the topic of meteorites and dive into every last detail then turn around because this is not the book you want. But if you are looking for a high level overview that is told with passion and a somewhat corny but charming humor then stop right here and seek no further. It's a perfect book to stir up your curiosity and send you to hunt for more information (or for the meteorites in your neighborhood). You don't have any scientific background? Not a problem, the author explains even complicated ideas with a great ease making this a perfect read for younger audience as well. Lately I often forget about it but science is awesome and the universe is a fascinating place. It's really comforting to be reminded about that.

Last one warning - if you are a font purist then watch out - Comic Sans makes a pretty significant appearance in this book. It's a terrible eye sore and even when used ironically it still grates on my nerves. Hopefully it won't make it to the final version of this book.

[Kim Lockhart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has some really good information, but it's formatted exactly in the way an excitable young researcher might explain it to you: kind of all over the place, and trying a bit too hard for humor. I did learn a lot, so I think it's worth reading.

[Mansoor · Rating 2 out of 5]

کاشکی نویسنده با ارجاعات نامربوط و تصنعی به فرهنگ روزمره وجهه‌ی کتاب را تنزل نمی‌داد

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
.
I'm docking a bit because this guy thinks The Mummy, starring Brendan Fraser, is a terrible movie. Clearly his judgment is lacking.
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This book was a fascinating look at the history, study, and importance of meteorites.
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I love learning more about the universe, and this book offered so much to think about and to learn about.

[Kiril Valchev · Rating 4 out of 5]

„Камъните падат...“, е казал поетът, а „защо“, „къде“ и „какво носят със и след себе си“, разяснява космохимикът Грег Бренека. От страниците на “ Impact ” се сипят най-разнообразни по форма и размери скали: хвърлящи светлина върху формирането на Слънчевата система, оставили (буквално) своя отпечaтък в житието на Земята, отнемащи и даряващи живот. Книгата обръща внимание и на ролята, която метеоритите са изиграли (и продължават да ираят), в много от човешките култури – проклятие за едни и „манна небесна“ за други. Проследена е и еволюцията на изучаването им: от „тъмните векове“ – вина, за които носи, един пълен с измислици труд, на иначе талантливия мистър Аристотел, до съвременните методология и инструментариум, използвани от специалисти и любители.
Прозата и илюстрациите на Бренека забавляват и образоват.

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

First things first, how DARE Greg Brennecka, PhD, say that The Mummy (1999) is anything short of a cinematic masterpiece. Now that I've gotten that off my chest, this book was fantastic.

I was in a weird mood when I started it and the goofy tone and language rubbed me the wrong way until I surrendered and embraced it. It does get more technical as you read on, but prepare yourself for puns. A top notch one was why MRI machines are called MRIs.

My favourite part overall was about the likelihood that certain passages described in sacred texts around the world were meteorite events (St. Paul may have converted because of it, which would explain a lot) and how different cultures interpreted meteor sightings as good or bad omens, and what they did with the iron ore they extracted from meteorites. Definitely worth the read!

[Lewis Szymanski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of Impact: How Rocks from Space Led to Life, Culture, and Donkey Kong by Greg Brennecka from a Goodreads giveaway. Publication date February 2, 2022, by William Morrow & Company. I didn't finish this before publication because I'm a lazy slacker.

This is a pop-science book written by a working scientist who is enthusiastic about what he does. It's about meteorites, the study of meteoritics, and how meteorites have affected Earth. It's humorous, readable, and easy to understand. If you are interested in this field, this is probably a good place to start. There are sources and additional reading suggestions in the appendix.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

You really never know from a non-fiction cover, is this going to be too dense, too fluffy, or just right? (Font size and line spacing is a real clue though.) Impact was the perfect tone for a nonfiction science book for a non-scientist. Very science-y (isotopes!!!) but with jokes and pop culture references scattered throughout so that it became a book to read for fun as opposed to a textbook.

It covers the origin of solar system, and also human experience with meteorites, not just the researchers but also looking at ancient and religious texts for signs of things that were possibly meteors. It’s all fascinating. Also included are the required Deep Impact and Armageddon references and the question of What If.

One fact I was surprised by is that while it’s very difficult to accurately determine if someone was actually hit/killed by a meteorite, a broad estimate is that over the whole course of human history about 50,000 people have been killed by meteorites.* The author notes that this is a small number, but it never truly occurred to me that it was an option. I was living in a ‘never or extinction level’ headspace. When I told my son I thought it would be zero, he said “statistically, 50,000 out of billions of people is zero.” Thank you teenage boy, but that’s still an estimates 50,000 people killed from rocks falling from space. What a universe.

And speaking of teenagers! During the parts of the book with sentences like, “triangulation permits back-calculation of where the sample’s orbit originated” and then math explanations, I was thinking about high school education. I don’t use a lot of the math that I learned in high school math or physics classes, but even 20+ years later I recognize that at one point I learned to do some basic version of these calculations, so it all makes more sense when I hear about it now. Nice to remember that.


*I didn’t mark that page, just going from memory on this fact. Hope it’s accurate to what the author wrote!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

this isn’t the stuffy massive science textbook type of science nonfiction. it’s what I consider accessible nonfiction that isn’t overwhelming while doing a good job at educating. while it was informative in the realm of space, space rocks, and space rock folks, the sprinkling of humor was enjoyable and appreciated (I can only go so long in daily life without throwing a pun or joke). I got this on audio and ebook. both were excellent but I felt more engaged with the audio version. overall great, informative, funny, and worth the read.

[Jerome Daly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent and humorous primer on all things asteroid, meteor and meteorite. Greg Brennecka presents the history and current state of scientific knowledge in a light, easy-to-understand style. The author leaves no meteoric stone unturned and covers a diverse range of subjects, including the origin of the Earth’s moon, the formation of amino acids in deep space, and the touchy possibility of panspermia. On the downside, the author’s extensive use of footnotes, a common practice plaguing many science books written over the last 20 or so years, is irritating and unnecessary. Also, if the author’s apparent ignorance of the Monarchy of Australia was intended to be a joke, in reference to meteorites found in Australia being the property of the Crown, it fell flat. Otherwise, this book makes for a great summer read on a fascinating subject. Recommeded!

[Stacy Pete · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sassy writer. Fun to read.

[Anna Abney Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Victoria Hawco · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s still kinda wild that a giant rock from space killed all the dinosaurs, I understand why the public consciousness needed a minute with that one it’s kinda hard to believe at first.

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was expecting more detailed science.

[Scott Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid overview of the impact (literal and figurative) that meteorites have had on life on Earth, from providing all the basic ingredients that enabled the creation and sustainment of life to the ability of meteors to end life on Earth (reference 65 million years ago and the dinosaurs). It will go into a good deal of chemistry and biology as well as astronomy and geology. Lot of sciencing here. Interesting to note that theories from the likes of Aristotle and Newton stunted our understanding of meteors, even as more “primitive” societies had a better grasp of the subject.

A decent read, but one that can get a little too detailed in the science. Also, didn’t really see the Donkey Kong reference in the text, even as it is in the title. Not a bad library checkout.

[S C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Accessible, popular science approach. Could've done without the corny jokes. Thankfully those peter out as the book goes on. Overall, it was okay. Don't know how much of the info I'll retain, though. Also, I don't remember Donkey Kong ever being mentioned. Maybe that's just another corny joke?

[Lori L (She Treads Softly) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impact: How Rocks from Space Led to Life, Culture, and Donkey Kong by Greg Brennecka is a highly recommended, humorous, approachable examination of how meteorites have influenced us from the formation of our planet to the development of human culture.

Brennecka, a cosmochemist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, shares stories and facts that will entertain and inform readers about the most important rocks on Earth. Starting with the formation of the universe, he presents how, by transforming the early atmosphere and potentially delivering the complex organic molecules needed for life, the constant assault by meteorites is what has made Earth the planet we all live on today. Of course this change also includes killing off the dinosaurs. Meteorites have influenced and terrified humanity while influencing culture since the start of civilization. Brennecka covers the numerous ways meteorites have become part of our culture.

The text is written in a very accessible, humorous style. Included are numerous cartoon illustrations of various scientific concepts and photographs of historical meteorites and artifacts. The writing style will make it suitable for popular science readers of all levels of expertise. There is an appendix with more technical information for advanced readers. It is safe to say that those with a greater scientific background will want to look elsewhere for a more complex and thorough scientific examination of meteorites, however this is a fine choice for those who are new to the study of meteorites and would enjoy the humorous presentation.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of HarperCollins
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2022/0...

[AB Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The study of meteorites as a scientific field. One would think it's a bit dry, but not in Brennecka's excited (or should I say excitable?) presentation in this, his passion project, a thoroughly accessible introduction to the world of meteoriticists. I could choose to be snarky, criticising the lighthearted and humour-laden approach the author takes, but I won't, as it's oddly endearing. We learn about the history of the study of meteorites, classifications, the challenges of obtaining samples, etc. And it's fun learning, especially as Brennecka deftly balances complex concepts with one-liners and silly anecdotes that helps him avoid the trap of sounding too professorial.

4 stars. An excellent primer for better understanding this field. The wonkish appendices at the end will likely satisfy the more scientifically minded; yet overall, Impact reads easily and enjoyably. It was just the right blend of scientific detail and big-picture thinking that helps keep me engaged. Fun!

[Ajay Ramachandran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating book that details the gigantic impact of iron rich lumps from outer space on human life on earth. This book has a mixture of captivating topics - the formation of the moon, meteor recordings throughout the passage of time to meteor hunting in the Sahara desert, and the occasional dry one - describing the potential origins of organic matter from outer space.. All in all, if you have an ounce of interest in human evolution, you will find this captivating.
Plus, if you're like me, who may take a liking to useless nuggets which I can in turn blurt out in social surroundings to strangers I'll never meet for a second time, this book is worth its weight in gold -
For example - (1) Did you know that the moon was formed due to a yuge asteroidal impact soon after the formation of the earth? Whodathunk ! (2) The surface of planet Mars is red, due to the corrosion of its iron rich exterior ?

[Tony Heyl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book came out in 2022 and is by a scientist studying meteorite composition. First of all, this title is misleading. There is no discussion of Donkey Kong and there totally could have been. So points deducted there. Brennecka talks about how meteors led to the geologic and chemical composition of Earth, where they come from, how we know their ages and location, and how they have impacted (get it?) religion and culture throughout human history. It's a really neat book that links geology and humanity in ways that aren't always so clear. Learning about meteors and iron in this way made me appreciate them more. The author uses quite a bit of humor, which is sometimes funny and sometimes cringey. With a lot of footnotes, sometimes it is hard to know if the note is going to be useful or just silly. The ending highlights the benefits of this science and the need for more funding, which is highly topical now. 3.5/5.

[Chip Fallaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

I waiver on this rating and honestly, would likely classify this book as closer to 3.5/3.75 stars, but not a full 4 stars. The best part of this book, in my opinion, is the humor that the author injects into the study of meteors. I found myself laughing out loud at least three times for the clever remarks he inserted into the story and footnotes. Greg, if you’re reading this, kudos! However, as other reviews has pointed out, this book seems to jump around from one thought to another in a illogical way. And, often seemed repetitive talking about meteor impacts and the way that changed, or didn’t change, the story of all of us. At the end of the day, the content was informative, I learned something and I laughed along the way. Would I read the book again? No. Am I glad I read it once? Certainly.

[Lazarus Orr · Rating 4 out of 5]

The text is written in a very accessible, humorous style. Included are numerous cartoon illustrations of various scientific concepts and photographs of historical meteorites and artifacts. The writing style will make it suitable for popular science readers of all levels of expertise. There is an appendix with more technical information for advanced readers. It is safe to say that those with a greater scientific background will want to look elsewhere for a more complex and thorough scientific examination of meteorites, however this is a fine choice for those who are new to the study of meteorites and would enjoy the humorous presentation.

[Patrick Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book focuses on how meteorites have affected Earth, including both physically and culturally. I enjoyed being able to read about how different cultures interpreted seeing meteors and how they used the meteorites they found. Brennecka includes a large number of pop culture / current event references, which makes for an easier read, though I wonder how it would read in twenty years. There are a large number of footnotes, which are often the most interesting and entertaining parts of the book. I came to the book with a fair amount of astronomy knowledge, being a science teacher. I feel that I did learn a fair deal, but am not sure how much a non-science person would take away from reading Impact.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A broad overview of what meteorites are made of, a history famous strikes, and an easy to understand synopsis of modern geology. So far, there's only one known event in history where a meteor actually struck a person, and it wasn't a fatal one.

In 1954, a 9-pound meteor fell through a ceiling in Alabama, bounced off a radio, and hit a woman sleeping on her couch in the thigh. Although it bruised her, she got in trouble with the owner of the house, who claimed she was responsible for damages because she "was the rock's owner." (I was surprised this book didn't mention the 1908 meteor impact that dealt a 20-30 megaton explosion over Tunguska, Siberia.)

[Eric Sullenberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I generally judge a science book by whether I learn something from it or whether I could use it teaching and/or recommended it to students. This book is a resounding yes to all three. My only complaint is that the science is a little watered down. In an attempt to make the book humorous and approachable a lot of the details were pushed into the appendix, which makes up almost 20% of the book. Additionally, there are a few jokes that didn't land and there is a little bit of religion bashing which was off-putting.

[Matthew Picchietti · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book really got in its own way. The information is good, interesting, and well-presented. But Brennecka tries to inject style, humor, wit, cheap laughs in every other sentence. It may genuinely be his style; it may be a tactic to make the complex seem understandable; it is absolutely distracting. Half of the footnotes and a majority of the illustrations aim for slap-stick.

I was hoping for something a bit more direct. I think I would have liked this more when I was in junior high or high school.

[CatReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting premise for a popular science nonfiction work -- meteors, meteoroids, and meteorites (the difference between the three explained in the book). Brennecka is clearly passionate about their study and all the potential implications on what we can learn from these space rocks, but at times he comes across as trying too hard to convince an audience that clearly was interested enough in the topic to pick up this book. Brennecka's attempts at jokes every few sentences were also offputting to me. 4 stars for content and premise, 2 stars for execution, 3 stars overall.

[Noah Candelario · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say that this is easily now my favorite book on anything Science related. I am glad that I decided to step out of my comfort zone regarding Political Economy and read about meteorites. The reason why this book is my favorite is because it has straightforward explanations and it tells compelling stories about how meteorites continue and have changed our human history as well! If you are in a rut with reading, then I would suggest you would pick up this book and give it a try, as you might learn something new from it.

[bup · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brennecka does a great job communicating his enthusiasm for his life passion and how studying space rocks can tell the story of our planet, and life.

And he's funny, which makes the story entertaining. The only thing is, he tries a bit too hard with the humor. It's funny, but it's a bit affected.

Still, great book, and I learned that clouds tend to be lighter per amount of water molecules than water in lakes and rivers, because oxygen isotopes with fewer neutrons are a little bit lighter than the ones with more neutrons. So they evaporate easier. Science is crazy, right!?

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the guilty pleasures of books with subtitles that wildly oversell their content is watching just how close they come to delivering on their promises. Brennecka doesn’t quite make the mark - innocent space rocks can’t really be held responsible for video games - but his lively and energetic telling of how meteor strikes have dramatically shaped Earth’s biosphere is thoroughly captivating. Even if you pick up this book knowing there’s much more to asteroid impacts than just a few extinct dinosaurs, you’ll still gain plenty of new insights and enjoy yourself along the way.