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For the Love of Mars: A Human History of the Red Planet
A tour of Mars in the human imagination, from ancient astrologers to modern explorers.
Mars and its secrets have fascinated and mystified humans since ancient times. Due to its vivid color and visibility, its geologic kinship with Earth, and its potential as our best hope for settlement, Mars embodies everything that inspires us about space and exploration. For the Love of Mars surveys the red planet’s place in the human imagination, beginning with ancient astrologers and skywatchers and ending in our present moment of exploration and virtual engagement.
National Air and Space Museum curator Matthew Shindell describes how historical figures across eras and around the world have made sense of this mysterious planet. We meet Mayan astrologer priests who incorporated Mars into seasonal calendars and religious ceremonies; Babylonian astrologers who discerned bad omens; figures of the Scientific Revolution who struggled to comprehend it as a world; Victorian astronomers who sought signs of intelligent life; and twentieth- and twenty-first-century scientists who have established a technological presence on its surface. Along the way, we encounter writers and artists from each of these periods who take readers and viewers along on imagined journeys to Mars.
By focusing on the diverse human stories behind the telescopes and behind the robots we know and love, Shindell shows how Mars exploration has evolved in ways that have also expanded knowledge about other facets of the universe. Captained by an engaging and erudite expert, For the Love of Mars is a captivating voyage through time and space for anyone curious about Curiosity and the red planet.
Mars and its secrets have fascinated and mystified humans since ancient times. Due to its vivid color and visibility, its geologic kinship with Earth, and its potential as our best hope for settlement, Mars embodies everything that inspires us about space and exploration. For the Love of Mars surveys the red planet’s place in the human imagination, beginning with ancient astrologers and skywatchers and ending in our present moment of exploration and virtual engagement.
National Air and Space Museum curator Matthew Shindell describes how historical figures across eras and around the world have made sense of this mysterious planet. We meet Mayan astrologer priests who incorporated Mars into seasonal calendars and religious ceremonies; Babylonian astrologers who discerned bad omens; figures of the Scientific Revolution who struggled to comprehend it as a world; Victorian astronomers who sought signs of intelligent life; and twentieth- and twenty-first-century scientists who have established a technological presence on its surface. Along the way, we encounter writers and artists from each of these periods who take readers and viewers along on imagined journeys to Mars.
By focusing on the diverse human stories behind the telescopes and behind the robots we know and love, Shindell shows how Mars exploration has evolved in ways that have also expanded knowledge about other facets of the universe. Captained by an engaging and erudite expert, For the Love of Mars is a captivating voyage through time and space for anyone curious about Curiosity and the red planet.
248 pages, Hardcover
First published March 18, 2023
11 people are currently reading
304 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Shindell
8 books14 followersMatthew Shindell lives and writes in La Jolla, California. He is a PhD student in History of Science and Science Studies at UC San Diego. He holds a BS (1999) and an MS (2004) from Arizona State University’s Center for Biology and Society, where his work focused on the social and historical study of science. He holds an MFA in poetry from the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop (2001).
Shindell's first full-length book of poems In Another Castle will be published in October 2008 by Three Candles Press.
Shindell's poems have been included in Digerati: 20 Contemporary Poets in the Virtual World , edited by Steve Mueske (3 Candles Press, 2006), and The Bedside Guide to No Tell Motel , edited by Reb Livingston (No Tell Books, 2006). One of his essays was included in Half/Life: Jew-ish Tales from Interfaith Homes , edited by Laurel Snyder (Soft Skull Press, 2006).
Shindell's limited edition chapbook, Were something to happen it would be both funny and interesting, was published by the Galom Press in 2001.
Shindell's poems have appeared in American Letters and Commentary, The American Poetry Review, Black Warrior Review, FENCE, Hayden’s Ferry Review, Jubilat, The Melic Review, No Tell Motel, Northwestern Review, Octopus Magazine, Phoenix Downtown Magazine, Pleiades, Tarpaulin Sky, and Unpleasant Event Schedule.
Shindell's first full-length book of poems In Another Castle will be published in October 2008 by Three Candles Press.
Shindell's poems have been included in Digerati: 20 Contemporary Poets in the Virtual World , edited by Steve Mueske (3 Candles Press, 2006), and The Bedside Guide to No Tell Motel , edited by Reb Livingston (No Tell Books, 2006). One of his essays was included in Half/Life: Jew-ish Tales from Interfaith Homes , edited by Laurel Snyder (Soft Skull Press, 2006).
Shindell's limited edition chapbook, Were something to happen it would be both funny and interesting, was published by the Galom Press in 2001.
Shindell's poems have appeared in American Letters and Commentary, The American Poetry Review, Black Warrior Review, FENCE, Hayden’s Ferry Review, Jubilat, The Melic Review, No Tell Motel, Northwestern Review, Octopus Magazine, Phoenix Downtown Magazine, Pleiades, Tarpaulin Sky, and Unpleasant Event Schedule.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
April 21, 2023
3.5
This one didn't quite hit the mark for me. While I love space in all different forms, I felt like the author wasn't quite sure where he was going with this. In the beginning he states he wanted to write a book about robotic exploration and it shows, as the first half of the book is not nearly as informative and well-written as the second half. The first half deals with ancient civilizations and how they viewed Mars; the problem is, the author doesn't actually go much into this. The information about each civilization is more about how they viewed the stars and planets in general, without much focus on Mars itself. It would have been better to shift the focus onto Mars, or cut down the amount of information given, as some of it is quite long-winded without actually being interesting.
The second half of the book focuses more on 20th and 21st century exploration of the planet, which is where it picks up. It's obvious that this is what the author wanted to focus on, as there's more information pertinent to Mars and is more interesting in its delivery. Had the author focused on this entirely as he originally intended, or had the first half been better written and flowed into the second half better, this book would have held my attention more throughout. As it was, I struggled through the first half which made it harder to get through the second half, even with it being more enjoyable. Towards the end the author discusses humans exploring and colonizing Mars and all the implications that comes with it, but doesn't really give this topic enough credit. It should have been expanded on much more, especially given how much focus there is on it between NASA, SpaceX, and other private space exploration companies.
This isn't a bad book on Mars or space exploration, but it certainly isn't my favorite and didn't give me enough new information to make it worthwhile.
This one didn't quite hit the mark for me. While I love space in all different forms, I felt like the author wasn't quite sure where he was going with this. In the beginning he states he wanted to write a book about robotic exploration and it shows, as the first half of the book is not nearly as informative and well-written as the second half. The first half deals with ancient civilizations and how they viewed Mars; the problem is, the author doesn't actually go much into this. The information about each civilization is more about how they viewed the stars and planets in general, without much focus on Mars itself. It would have been better to shift the focus onto Mars, or cut down the amount of information given, as some of it is quite long-winded without actually being interesting.
The second half of the book focuses more on 20th and 21st century exploration of the planet, which is where it picks up. It's obvious that this is what the author wanted to focus on, as there's more information pertinent to Mars and is more interesting in its delivery. Had the author focused on this entirely as he originally intended, or had the first half been better written and flowed into the second half better, this book would have held my attention more throughout. As it was, I struggled through the first half which made it harder to get through the second half, even with it being more enjoyable. Towards the end the author discusses humans exploring and colonizing Mars and all the implications that comes with it, but doesn't really give this topic enough credit. It should have been expanded on much more, especially given how much focus there is on it between NASA, SpaceX, and other private space exploration companies.
This isn't a bad book on Mars or space exploration, but it certainly isn't my favorite and didn't give me enough new information to make it worthwhile.
January 30, 2023
This is a 4.5 star read for me. I always round half stars down.
This book is an interesting and, in my opinion, refreshing examination of humanity’s fascination with Mars. I was glad that this book placed Mars in a broader cultural context instead of only focusing on science. This balance was sometimes lopsided — the opening chapter was a little heavy on discussions of creation myths and while I don’t think any of that information doesn’t belong in a study of Mars, I would have liked to see more mention of the role Mars, specifically, played in the ancient cultures featured in this book. The book as a whole was weighted a little heavily toward the Cold War-Present day era of Mars, which is understandable given the wealth of information recent Mars missions have generated. I still would have liked to see this balanced out with a more thorough examination of historical accounts of Mars.
As a science fiction fan, I appreciated the discussions of Mars in literature and how Martian exploration was used as a framework for stories of imperialism. These discussions showed more than any other part of the book the role Mars played in the imaginations of peoples past and present. This book sought to be anti-imperialist in its discussion of Mars, challenging the Euro-centric notion that medieval European astronomers had the most sophisticated knowledge and continued to challenge modern colonialist ideas that are so often invoked in the discussion of sending humans to Mars. I do think this book would benefit from a companion book or expanded edition that places even heavier emphasis on non-western cultures and gives a platform for marginalized people who have been left out of the conversation on space exploration to further elaborate on the question, “Who do we want to be when we become Martians?”
Overall, this is a thought-provoking, entertaining read that has enough science to satiate nerds like me, but not so much technical detail that non-scientists would be scared off. I’d recommend it to readers of space exploration stories both fictional and fantastical.
Thank you to NetGalley and University of Chicago Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book is an interesting and, in my opinion, refreshing examination of humanity’s fascination with Mars. I was glad that this book placed Mars in a broader cultural context instead of only focusing on science. This balance was sometimes lopsided — the opening chapter was a little heavy on discussions of creation myths and while I don’t think any of that information doesn’t belong in a study of Mars, I would have liked to see more mention of the role Mars, specifically, played in the ancient cultures featured in this book. The book as a whole was weighted a little heavily toward the Cold War-Present day era of Mars, which is understandable given the wealth of information recent Mars missions have generated. I still would have liked to see this balanced out with a more thorough examination of historical accounts of Mars.
As a science fiction fan, I appreciated the discussions of Mars in literature and how Martian exploration was used as a framework for stories of imperialism. These discussions showed more than any other part of the book the role Mars played in the imaginations of peoples past and present. This book sought to be anti-imperialist in its discussion of Mars, challenging the Euro-centric notion that medieval European astronomers had the most sophisticated knowledge and continued to challenge modern colonialist ideas that are so often invoked in the discussion of sending humans to Mars. I do think this book would benefit from a companion book or expanded edition that places even heavier emphasis on non-western cultures and gives a platform for marginalized people who have been left out of the conversation on space exploration to further elaborate on the question, “Who do we want to be when we become Martians?”
Overall, this is a thought-provoking, entertaining read that has enough science to satiate nerds like me, but not so much technical detail that non-scientists would be scared off. I’d recommend it to readers of space exploration stories both fictional and fantastical.
Thank you to NetGalley and University of Chicago Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 9, 2023
While I have always been enthused about space exploration and scientific research, I found "For the Love of Mars" a bit flat and, at times, rather dull and boring as a history of humanity's curiosity about the Red Planet. Shindell is a curator at the National Air and Space Museum, but comes across more as a college professor than a docent able to excite the crowd with tales of astonishing mythologies and extraordinary history. The dullest part of the book is the first few chapters, where Mayan priests and Babylonian astrologers are considered with lots of vague sidetracks and little actual focus on Mars. If that content didn't lend itself to the overall theme, it should have been rewritten to tighten it up or it might have suggested that particular culture just wasn't worth more than 2-3 pages of summary information.
The book improves significantly once it makes it into the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly with its discussion of how scientific fiction (eventually retitled science fiction) authors brought the planet to life, even as scientists were refining their increasingly accurate theories about the fate of the planet and its history. Those chapters are undoubtedly the most interesting in the book, including the earliest NASA mission into space and to Mars.
Finally, though, the book ends without Shindell seeming to grasp the significance of the privatization of space exploration and commercial ventures that have already had such impact on space exploration and humanity's dreams and plans related to the Red Planet. It's rather inexplicable; even NASA acknowledges that it's now one of many players in the new Mars space race, but Shindell seems far more dismissive of this trend.
Ultimately, this might be a book worth skimming, giving yourself permission to delve into the most interesting chapters, but floating above the surface in others that are boring or just lack a depth that readers would hope to find from a subject matter expert.
The book improves significantly once it makes it into the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly with its discussion of how scientific fiction (eventually retitled science fiction) authors brought the planet to life, even as scientists were refining their increasingly accurate theories about the fate of the planet and its history. Those chapters are undoubtedly the most interesting in the book, including the earliest NASA mission into space and to Mars.
Finally, though, the book ends without Shindell seeming to grasp the significance of the privatization of space exploration and commercial ventures that have already had such impact on space exploration and humanity's dreams and plans related to the Red Planet. It's rather inexplicable; even NASA acknowledges that it's now one of many players in the new Mars space race, but Shindell seems far more dismissive of this trend.
Ultimately, this might be a book worth skimming, giving yourself permission to delve into the most interesting chapters, but floating above the surface in others that are boring or just lack a depth that readers would hope to find from a subject matter expert.
April 10, 2023
Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy!
Science, politics and fiction all reflect and effect each other in the history of human's fascination with Mars. The stories drive people to study mars and the politics heavily influence both what kind of stories are told and what kind of science is allowed to happen.
From the oldest creation myths to the shows on TV today, Shindell examines both what we know about Mars and the stories we tell about the Red Planet in this fascinating book both about Mars and our own history.
August 31, 2023
“I think the most important question we can ask now is not ‘How will we get to Mars?’ but ‘Who do we want to be when we become Martians?’”
The writing meandered and was giving dry academic, but there was some interesting food for thought here. I enjoyed the author’s approach to following human beliefs and ideas about the cosmos through the ages (rather than just a history of scientific space exploration). Shindell focused on how certain discoveries and world events have changed the human-space relationship over time. I also appreciated his final questions for the audience, to consider how and why we want to be part of space in the future.
It would’ve been cool to also come full circle back to the ancient cultures - they knew less about the physical place, Mars, than we do today, but were perhaps more focused on pondering our relationship to it beyond what we can see and measure…
The writing meandered and was giving dry academic, but there was some interesting food for thought here. I enjoyed the author’s approach to following human beliefs and ideas about the cosmos through the ages (rather than just a history of scientific space exploration). Shindell focused on how certain discoveries and world events have changed the human-space relationship over time. I also appreciated his final questions for the audience, to consider how and why we want to be part of space in the future.
It would’ve been cool to also come full circle back to the ancient cultures - they knew less about the physical place, Mars, than we do today, but were perhaps more focused on pondering our relationship to it beyond what we can see and measure…
April 27, 2023
The book fell slightly flat to me in the beginning but got more exciting once they discussed about modern Mars and the future of Mars exploration. I'm looking forward to learning more about their future books to see how they improve their craft.
April 6, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, The University of Chicago Press, which provided me with an advance digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
Matthew Shindell's "For the Love of Mars" is essentially a love letter to the red planet that celebrates its place in human thought and attempts to champion further attempts at exploration. However, although the book is passionate for its subject it lacks substance and structure and presents a muddled and not entirely coherent narrative.
Like a stone skipping across a lake this book covers a great deal of distance but it only occasionally touches down on anything substantial. This is particularly true for the first half of the book which attempts to survey human thought concerning Mars from early Mesopotamian history to the the early modern period. Although, the author does cover Mayan cosmological and early Chinese views of Mars and acknowledges the importance of medieval Arabic scholarship in developing western views the result is primarily Eurocentric and far from comprehensive.
Coverage from the 18th century through the mid 20th is also incomplete and fragmented. The narrative shifts between detailing astronomical attempts to survey and describe Mars and fictional and speculative depictions of the planet. This pendulum approach is confusing and disappointing since it oscillates between what was known at the time about Mars and what was perceived about it without ever bridging the gap. It also, fails to get beyond a conventional and limited summary of known scientific research during the period while failing to investigate many contemporary literary works.
The book does suddenly feel more solid and coherent once it hits the mid 20th century. This is not really surprising, in that the author concedes in the introduction that he had originally planned to write a book about robotic exploration in the 20th and 21st century. This material is presented in a clearer and more concise way and the author seems to be far more familiar with his sources. These latter chapters present the real strength of the book but. since the emphasis is on what we now know about Mars and not what we think about it or why, they essentially miss the stated intent of the book.
Also disappointing is the author's treatment of the future of the exploration and development of Mars. He does hit all the key points and covers topics such as the legacy of European colonialism and environmental degradation. However, this final part of the book seems like a rushed academic box checking exercise and does very little to actually explore or examine these important topics.
In summary, although relatively well written and often entertaining "For the Love of Mars" does not offer a treatment of its subject that is comprehensive enough or coherent enough for most readers. In fact, there is really nothing in this book that a reader with average research skills could not pull off Wikipedia or the NASA site. This is unfortunate, in that the author is clearly knowledgeable and passionate on the subject. Hopefully, he will get a chance to write the book he originally intended to write; that book should it ever be written, would surely be a more worthwhile and rewarding endeavor.
Matthew Shindell's "For the Love of Mars" is essentially a love letter to the red planet that celebrates its place in human thought and attempts to champion further attempts at exploration. However, although the book is passionate for its subject it lacks substance and structure and presents a muddled and not entirely coherent narrative.
Like a stone skipping across a lake this book covers a great deal of distance but it only occasionally touches down on anything substantial. This is particularly true for the first half of the book which attempts to survey human thought concerning Mars from early Mesopotamian history to the the early modern period. Although, the author does cover Mayan cosmological and early Chinese views of Mars and acknowledges the importance of medieval Arabic scholarship in developing western views the result is primarily Eurocentric and far from comprehensive.
Coverage from the 18th century through the mid 20th is also incomplete and fragmented. The narrative shifts between detailing astronomical attempts to survey and describe Mars and fictional and speculative depictions of the planet. This pendulum approach is confusing and disappointing since it oscillates between what was known at the time about Mars and what was perceived about it without ever bridging the gap. It also, fails to get beyond a conventional and limited summary of known scientific research during the period while failing to investigate many contemporary literary works.
The book does suddenly feel more solid and coherent once it hits the mid 20th century. This is not really surprising, in that the author concedes in the introduction that he had originally planned to write a book about robotic exploration in the 20th and 21st century. This material is presented in a clearer and more concise way and the author seems to be far more familiar with his sources. These latter chapters present the real strength of the book but. since the emphasis is on what we now know about Mars and not what we think about it or why, they essentially miss the stated intent of the book.
Also disappointing is the author's treatment of the future of the exploration and development of Mars. He does hit all the key points and covers topics such as the legacy of European colonialism and environmental degradation. However, this final part of the book seems like a rushed academic box checking exercise and does very little to actually explore or examine these important topics.
In summary, although relatively well written and often entertaining "For the Love of Mars" does not offer a treatment of its subject that is comprehensive enough or coherent enough for most readers. In fact, there is really nothing in this book that a reader with average research skills could not pull off Wikipedia or the NASA site. This is unfortunate, in that the author is clearly knowledgeable and passionate on the subject. Hopefully, he will get a chance to write the book he originally intended to write; that book should it ever be written, would surely be a more worthwhile and rewarding endeavor.
February 3, 2023
This was a very interesting book. I love the way the author talked about humans and Mars. I would say pick it up if you're a science nerd. You will love it. I hope to own this one day.
Thank you, Netgally, for the Arc. And the University of Chicago Press.
Thank you, Netgally, for the Arc. And the University of Chicago Press.
December 31, 2022
Mars, the red planet, occupies a space of its own in the collective imagination. Its peculiarities, most notably the red colour it takes on at certain times, have given it a prominent place among celestial bodies. Countless works of fiction have been dedicated to it, among which I would like to mention 'Stranger in a Strange Land', in which the protagonist, a human raised by Martians, takes on an almost Christ-like stature. Shindell's book is not fiction, but an essay that takes the reader through all the stages of the birth and growth of the myth of Mars, right up to the most recent explorations and the confirmation that curiosity about the planet probably has something to do with the affinity we humans feel for that 'lost twin' of Earth.
April 24, 2023
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher University of Chicago Press for an advanced copy of this book on humanity's relationship with the planet Mars, how it has inspired us to fly to the heavens and what the future might hold.
As a long time science fiction fan I can easily list many novels, series, and short stories, many of them classics, that take place on Mars, or feature Mars as the main character. Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, H. G. Wells, Edgar Rice Burroughs, are just some of the names. Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy still continues to fascinate, and inspire burgeoning scientists about life on Mars, even The Martian by Andy Weir, is an assigned summer reading book, with the movie on constant play on the F/X channel. Sure there are other planets written about. Arthur C. Clarke pretty much owns Jupiter. Larry Niven has a great short story set on Pluto. Earth has a few books, also, but Mars is the place, and has been filling the imagination of humans since people began to look up at the night sky and go, hmm. Maybe back in the day the sky was clearer, the universe seemed brighter without all the lights we have become accustomed to. The Red Planet looking down at Earth like an angry eye, goading humans to come there. To visit, to explore, maybe even to live. One can't even be a billionaire anymore without planning a space trip to Mars, just don't ask about supplies, or surviving the radiation, billionaires have no time for science. However humans will go to Mars, maybe not as soon as we think. Possibly this book will accompany those voyagers, stuffed like an old AAA road map in a spaceships glove compartment, to be looked at when needed. Dr. Matthew Shindell, curator of Planetary Science and Exploration at the National Air and Space Museum, in his book For the Love of Mars: A Human History of the Red Planet an ode to Mars, a history of humans love affair with the planet, and an explanation of why we should go there, and in many ways need to go.
Corona virus gave people a lot of time to contemplate things and Doctor Shindell was no exception. Working from home gave Shindell time to think about Mars and what Mars has meant for humanity for so long. Why does Mars matter, what is the siren song that makes people want to write about it, create art for it, and walk it's surface. Shindell began to look at Mars not just with the eyes of a scientist, but across a multitude of disciplines, science, math, art, astrology, even politically. Travelling to Mars is not just expensive, but can be something that emerging states can use to show that they have arrived on the world stage. Attempts to reach Mars have been tried from China, the European Space Program, the United States, even the United Arab Emirates. Shindell also looks at the past, detailing Mars in astrology, calendar makers, art of course, early science, and Victorian thinkers. Finally we travel to the future, to explain why humans explore so far away from home, and the ethical ideas behind this.
A very different look at both science, the history of space and the more importantly the draw that space has on people. Shindell is a very good author, balancing science with an almost poetic soul of writing. Space is not just a a mind exercise, but something Shindell's soul needs. And it shows in both the writing and the works that are cited. Shindell can explain the atmosphere on Mars, as well as talk about Mexican gothic horror writers, and Babylonian astrologers. The Cold War history I thought was very interesting, and I would like to see Shindell do a larger history of space exploration with this theme. A very different kind of book about space and our place in it.
Recommended for science readers of course, but also for science fiction writers. There are a lot of story ideas in here that would be nice to flesh out into longer, fictional works. Also the book would serve as a good reference to why certain characters are always looking out there, and not just here. Plus it will inspire creative types of all kinds to dream and look up once in awhile.
As a long time science fiction fan I can easily list many novels, series, and short stories, many of them classics, that take place on Mars, or feature Mars as the main character. Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, H. G. Wells, Edgar Rice Burroughs, are just some of the names. Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy still continues to fascinate, and inspire burgeoning scientists about life on Mars, even The Martian by Andy Weir, is an assigned summer reading book, with the movie on constant play on the F/X channel. Sure there are other planets written about. Arthur C. Clarke pretty much owns Jupiter. Larry Niven has a great short story set on Pluto. Earth has a few books, also, but Mars is the place, and has been filling the imagination of humans since people began to look up at the night sky and go, hmm. Maybe back in the day the sky was clearer, the universe seemed brighter without all the lights we have become accustomed to. The Red Planet looking down at Earth like an angry eye, goading humans to come there. To visit, to explore, maybe even to live. One can't even be a billionaire anymore without planning a space trip to Mars, just don't ask about supplies, or surviving the radiation, billionaires have no time for science. However humans will go to Mars, maybe not as soon as we think. Possibly this book will accompany those voyagers, stuffed like an old AAA road map in a spaceships glove compartment, to be looked at when needed. Dr. Matthew Shindell, curator of Planetary Science and Exploration at the National Air and Space Museum, in his book For the Love of Mars: A Human History of the Red Planet an ode to Mars, a history of humans love affair with the planet, and an explanation of why we should go there, and in many ways need to go.
Corona virus gave people a lot of time to contemplate things and Doctor Shindell was no exception. Working from home gave Shindell time to think about Mars and what Mars has meant for humanity for so long. Why does Mars matter, what is the siren song that makes people want to write about it, create art for it, and walk it's surface. Shindell began to look at Mars not just with the eyes of a scientist, but across a multitude of disciplines, science, math, art, astrology, even politically. Travelling to Mars is not just expensive, but can be something that emerging states can use to show that they have arrived on the world stage. Attempts to reach Mars have been tried from China, the European Space Program, the United States, even the United Arab Emirates. Shindell also looks at the past, detailing Mars in astrology, calendar makers, art of course, early science, and Victorian thinkers. Finally we travel to the future, to explain why humans explore so far away from home, and the ethical ideas behind this.
A very different look at both science, the history of space and the more importantly the draw that space has on people. Shindell is a very good author, balancing science with an almost poetic soul of writing. Space is not just a a mind exercise, but something Shindell's soul needs. And it shows in both the writing and the works that are cited. Shindell can explain the atmosphere on Mars, as well as talk about Mexican gothic horror writers, and Babylonian astrologers. The Cold War history I thought was very interesting, and I would like to see Shindell do a larger history of space exploration with this theme. A very different kind of book about space and our place in it.
Recommended for science readers of course, but also for science fiction writers. There are a lot of story ideas in here that would be nice to flesh out into longer, fictional works. Also the book would serve as a good reference to why certain characters are always looking out there, and not just here. Plus it will inspire creative types of all kinds to dream and look up once in awhile.
July 3, 2023
I just finished For the Love of Mars by Matthew Shindell, which was just published this year. I picked this up at the library as I was encouraging my kids to check out their own books to read. The premise and introduction seemed unique and interesting. With new projects to send rovers and even people to Mars, Matt Shindell wants to take the reader on a journey from humanity's earliest speculation of the red planet to our vision in 2023.
This book starts well enough. The early chapters talk about how different cultures viewed Mars through religion, astrology, and myth, all with only their bare eyes and rudimentary astronomy. However, the promise of the book quickly turned into disappointment after disappointment for me.
The conclusion talks about how modern astronomy is more diverse than ever, and even discusses colonialism, which feels like a sudden twist that isn't really earned from the book. But, aside from the early introduction, the book is mostly about European and American advances in science and math. This book begins with the interesting idea of exploring why people have explored science and space and then really just turns into a book that touches on how we've done it.
The why is a really neat idea for a science book, but Shindell barely touches on those reasons in any way that is satisfactory. In the beginning, he mentions how people have viewed Mars as a foil for Earth's problems, as a harbinger during the Black Death in Europe to the frontier mentality of 19th century America to the space race of the Cold War and even now as a haven from or an omen of our current climate change problems. But none of this is really discussed adequately.
There are discussions about potential life on Mars without ever going into detail about how the science of evolution and the proliferation of life on Earth had changed over time. There is very little discussed about how other cultures would react to the idea of life on other planets. There are only a few points about how greater education and tools like better telescopes changed how people looked at Mars or why. The end is almost a critique of private enterprise exploiting Mars, but the book doesn't say enough about why that would happen or why it would really be bad. In fact, there is almost an immediate contradiction when it gets to that point.
I was also disappointed that there wasn't enough time spent on who cared about Mars. There were hints at it at times, but nothing more. Early parts of the book talk about how Mars played a part in religion and astrology, but there was only a brief tease of how growing literacy and access to books with the printing press made understanding of Mars and interest in science possible to a wider audience. The books talks a little bit about the astronomers who were connected to the Catholic Church, but not enough about why that would matter or how that impacted the evolution of the science.
I was excited when I picked this up and started reading it. In the end, I wish it had stayed true to its potential to tell an actually interesting story instead of just recounting some facts. It was like taking a long trip across the country and seeing road signs of interesting places, but never veering far enough to see what's beyond the off ramp.
This book starts well enough. The early chapters talk about how different cultures viewed Mars through religion, astrology, and myth, all with only their bare eyes and rudimentary astronomy. However, the promise of the book quickly turned into disappointment after disappointment for me.
The conclusion talks about how modern astronomy is more diverse than ever, and even discusses colonialism, which feels like a sudden twist that isn't really earned from the book. But, aside from the early introduction, the book is mostly about European and American advances in science and math. This book begins with the interesting idea of exploring why people have explored science and space and then really just turns into a book that touches on how we've done it.
The why is a really neat idea for a science book, but Shindell barely touches on those reasons in any way that is satisfactory. In the beginning, he mentions how people have viewed Mars as a foil for Earth's problems, as a harbinger during the Black Death in Europe to the frontier mentality of 19th century America to the space race of the Cold War and even now as a haven from or an omen of our current climate change problems. But none of this is really discussed adequately.
There are discussions about potential life on Mars without ever going into detail about how the science of evolution and the proliferation of life on Earth had changed over time. There is very little discussed about how other cultures would react to the idea of life on other planets. There are only a few points about how greater education and tools like better telescopes changed how people looked at Mars or why. The end is almost a critique of private enterprise exploiting Mars, but the book doesn't say enough about why that would happen or why it would really be bad. In fact, there is almost an immediate contradiction when it gets to that point.
I was also disappointed that there wasn't enough time spent on who cared about Mars. There were hints at it at times, but nothing more. Early parts of the book talk about how Mars played a part in religion and astrology, but there was only a brief tease of how growing literacy and access to books with the printing press made understanding of Mars and interest in science possible to a wider audience. The books talks a little bit about the astronomers who were connected to the Catholic Church, but not enough about why that would matter or how that impacted the evolution of the science.
I was excited when I picked this up and started reading it. In the end, I wish it had stayed true to its potential to tell an actually interesting story instead of just recounting some facts. It was like taking a long trip across the country and seeing road signs of interesting places, but never veering far enough to see what's beyond the off ramp.
June 23, 2023
4.5 stars
This is a fun and immersive book about human fascination with Mars. Shindell’s aim is to draw an arc through history, from ancient times until now, on Mars in our imagination and meaning—from an erratic, eccentric light in the sky, to the relatively known quantity it is now, a rocky, cold planet. He takes readers on a tour from Mayan and Babylonian astrologers, among others, through astronomy in the Middle Ages with Galileo; seventeenth and eighteenth scientist-philosophers like Descartes, Newton, and the Herschels; Pickering, Lowell, and others; writers like Wells, Lasswitz, Wicks, Burroughs, Clarke, Bradbury and Sagan; through to the space race of the 1960s, and the impact of the Cold War on today’s missions.
Space exploration has become much more international in recent times, and Shindell is careful to be as inclusive as possible, where another author might focus all of their attention on the seeming leader in popular imagination, the US. A quote near the beginning of the book explains why:
Of course the “we” of Mars exploration will be construed differently by different readers, and it is my hope that by the conclusion of this book it will be obvious that the “we” should be construed as broadly as possible.
Some questions Shindell helps me answer: Why should I, a Zimbabwean woman, care about Mars exploration? Who is the popular idea of Mars for? Who was it for before? What contributions to the human idea of Mars have come from non-European sources? How has what we imagine Mars to be like changed over time? What books and films have contributed to our imagination about Mars? What is the future of Mars for us: exploration, or habitation? Really, the only question Shindell has not dealt with—perhaps has not been able to—is why the dream of Mars is full of men.
Important to Shindell is Mars in the imaginary, and he makes important points about the language of space missions—frontier, and colonizing new worlds—where he proves eloquent in locating that in recent Earth history. He also talks about the Mars/NASA PR machine, and why Mars continues to loom large for us: an example is how many of us—those who are terminally online—witnessed the death/fading away into the dark on Twitter of Opportunity Rover, which is referred to by Shindell in an excellent chapter about NASA’s exploration missions after Apollo.
This is probably the only non-fiction book on Mars you ever need to read. Certainly, it is one of the best. Although very detailed—which got me a little bogged down when the author dealt with the age of philosophers, Plato, Aristotle, and Ptolemy— it is comprehensive, factual and intellectual, while remaining very accessible. It is an essential and important corrective—more correctly, the beginning of one—for the Eurocentric discourse on Mars. For the Love of Mars is an excellent read, and I highly recommend it.T
Thank you to University of Chicago Press and NetGalley for access.
This is a fun and immersive book about human fascination with Mars. Shindell’s aim is to draw an arc through history, from ancient times until now, on Mars in our imagination and meaning—from an erratic, eccentric light in the sky, to the relatively known quantity it is now, a rocky, cold planet. He takes readers on a tour from Mayan and Babylonian astrologers, among others, through astronomy in the Middle Ages with Galileo; seventeenth and eighteenth scientist-philosophers like Descartes, Newton, and the Herschels; Pickering, Lowell, and others; writers like Wells, Lasswitz, Wicks, Burroughs, Clarke, Bradbury and Sagan; through to the space race of the 1960s, and the impact of the Cold War on today’s missions.
Space exploration has become much more international in recent times, and Shindell is careful to be as inclusive as possible, where another author might focus all of their attention on the seeming leader in popular imagination, the US. A quote near the beginning of the book explains why:
Of course the “we” of Mars exploration will be construed differently by different readers, and it is my hope that by the conclusion of this book it will be obvious that the “we” should be construed as broadly as possible.
Some questions Shindell helps me answer: Why should I, a Zimbabwean woman, care about Mars exploration? Who is the popular idea of Mars for? Who was it for before? What contributions to the human idea of Mars have come from non-European sources? How has what we imagine Mars to be like changed over time? What books and films have contributed to our imagination about Mars? What is the future of Mars for us: exploration, or habitation? Really, the only question Shindell has not dealt with—perhaps has not been able to—is why the dream of Mars is full of men.
Important to Shindell is Mars in the imaginary, and he makes important points about the language of space missions—frontier, and colonizing new worlds—where he proves eloquent in locating that in recent Earth history. He also talks about the Mars/NASA PR machine, and why Mars continues to loom large for us: an example is how many of us—those who are terminally online—witnessed the death/fading away into the dark on Twitter of Opportunity Rover, which is referred to by Shindell in an excellent chapter about NASA’s exploration missions after Apollo.
This is probably the only non-fiction book on Mars you ever need to read. Certainly, it is one of the best. Although very detailed—which got me a little bogged down when the author dealt with the age of philosophers, Plato, Aristotle, and Ptolemy— it is comprehensive, factual and intellectual, while remaining very accessible. It is an essential and important corrective—more correctly, the beginning of one—for the Eurocentric discourse on Mars. For the Love of Mars is an excellent read, and I highly recommend it.T
Thank you to University of Chicago Press and NetGalley for access.
March 29, 2023
For the Love of Mars: A Human History of the Red Planet, by Matthew Shindell, is a fascinating look at how we have perceived our celestial neighbor over the centuries.
This history, while touching on science as we progress through the ages, is not a science book but a history book about an object of science. From myths and misunderstandings to scientific mistakes and corrections, we trace the history of Mars as it has evolved with our own evolution.
Shindell takes a global approach, including perspectives often overlooked in western histories. Admittedly this doesn't, and can't within the limits of a book one can reasonably carry, go into minute detail about every way in which every culture has understood Mars. To criticize it for not doing what it couldn't do is posturing and can be ignored. An entire book could likely be written about every culture's perception of Mars, and even the western perspectives included are not given a deep dive. But then some people like to pose by claiming all of the information in a book can be found on wikipedia and other online sites. Even when such a sweeping statement is true it means little to nothing, since the idea of a history book is to bring things from many different sources together into a coherent whole. This book does that very well. Even if much of the material is available online, which it likely isn't.
If you like reading about the history of objects that have gone from having a largely mythical or spiritual meaning to one based mostly in science (though still deeply embedded in our collective imagination), you will enjoy this book. You'll learn some new things, and remember just how intriguing our planetary neighbors can be.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
This history, while touching on science as we progress through the ages, is not a science book but a history book about an object of science. From myths and misunderstandings to scientific mistakes and corrections, we trace the history of Mars as it has evolved with our own evolution.
Shindell takes a global approach, including perspectives often overlooked in western histories. Admittedly this doesn't, and can't within the limits of a book one can reasonably carry, go into minute detail about every way in which every culture has understood Mars. To criticize it for not doing what it couldn't do is posturing and can be ignored. An entire book could likely be written about every culture's perception of Mars, and even the western perspectives included are not given a deep dive. But then some people like to pose by claiming all of the information in a book can be found on wikipedia and other online sites. Even when such a sweeping statement is true it means little to nothing, since the idea of a history book is to bring things from many different sources together into a coherent whole. This book does that very well. Even if much of the material is available online, which it likely isn't.
If you like reading about the history of objects that have gone from having a largely mythical or spiritual meaning to one based mostly in science (though still deeply embedded in our collective imagination), you will enjoy this book. You'll learn some new things, and remember just how intriguing our planetary neighbors can be.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
April 28, 2023
This is an original take on space books because the author doesn’t just focus on the scientific aspects of Mars exploration, but the cultural ones as well. Starting with the earliest civilizations and paying attention to very different cultures, Shindell explains how our vision of our neighbor has evolved through the ages and up until now. I especially enjoyed the more scientific content, as well as the detailed view of how the JPL staff handles these projects. The author makes a big effort to be inclusive, which sometimes takes him off on political tangents that distracted me a little. Worrying about the possibility of spreading our shortcomings seems premature, considering we haven’t been able to leave our immediate area. I loved the illustrations at the end of the book, and the long bibliography shows how much research went into this volume.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#University of Chicago Press!
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#University of Chicago Press!
November 11, 2023
I am not a historian. I took a couple history classes in college and found them to be occasionally interesting, mostly not. But history is not a monolith, and I figured that my Central Asia in the Modern Age class probably didn't share too much with a book on the history of human aspects of Mars. I strongly support the idea of this book, to try and give a human perspective in Mars rooted in culture and tradition, not just science. Perhaps, I wildly thought, it could be a starting point for the culture of Martians.
Unfortunately, I think that the book was made much worse by the author's late decision to make this a more comprehensive review of these various culture's perspectives on Mars. I did not find he had much interesting to say, and it was very clear to me that it was not his area of expertise. When we reached the part where he did have expertise, it became much more interesting.
I think my boredom in the beginning of the book could have been alleviated by a sharper edit. The writing was not very concise and repeated itself often.
Unfortunately, I think that the book was made much worse by the author's late decision to make this a more comprehensive review of these various culture's perspectives on Mars. I did not find he had much interesting to say, and it was very clear to me that it was not his area of expertise. When we reached the part where he did have expertise, it became much more interesting.
I think my boredom in the beginning of the book could have been alleviated by a sharper edit. The writing was not very concise and repeated itself often.
January 4, 2024
Picked this up partly because I'm quite the fan of Mars exploration topics and because I glanced inside and saw "Mars in the Medieval Imagination" - which very much piqued my interest further!
Great reading, solid research and lots and lots of citations too. I ended up taking some notes and jotting down a few sources as well - for my own research and further reading - but the book itself is lovely, dense without being difficult, and takes you on a wonderful journey through the ways that we humans have seen Mars over centuries. I especially love the ways in which he explains how the idea of Mars was literally world changing, both for the way we see the red planet and the ways in which we understand our own.
He also includes some very nice illustrations and pictures, and his discussion of 20th Century Mars exploration and imagination is particularly granular!
Great reading, solid research and lots and lots of citations too. I ended up taking some notes and jotting down a few sources as well - for my own research and further reading - but the book itself is lovely, dense without being difficult, and takes you on a wonderful journey through the ways that we humans have seen Mars over centuries. I especially love the ways in which he explains how the idea of Mars was literally world changing, both for the way we see the red planet and the ways in which we understand our own.
He also includes some very nice illustrations and pictures, and his discussion of 20th Century Mars exploration and imagination is particularly granular!
May 10, 2025
This is a brief look at the way we've looked at Mars throughout time - from a mysterious red disc to a utopia to a barren wasteland to the next frontier.
The familiar tales are here, from the "canals" to Wells' invaders to movies. There is also a good look at the evolution of missions to Mars and what may be coming next.
It also talks about how missions to Mars, and even to the moon, take more than just technology and money. They also take the political will to see it through, which waned even when we were taking our first steps on the moon. It seemed as though Mars was a given, but it slipped between our fingers.
Luckily (if you like space), the billionaires have taken over from the government, and we may go one day after all.
The familiar tales are here, from the "canals" to Wells' invaders to movies. There is also a good look at the evolution of missions to Mars and what may be coming next.
It also talks about how missions to Mars, and even to the moon, take more than just technology and money. They also take the political will to see it through, which waned even when we were taking our first steps on the moon. It seemed as though Mars was a given, but it slipped between our fingers.
Luckily (if you like space), the billionaires have taken over from the government, and we may go one day after all.
September 27, 2024
I heard the author speak & enjoyed it, so I got the book, and didn’t really enjoy it. There’s a lot of interesting stuff in there, and nice photos, the text is dry and scholarly. Probably not scholarly enough for real scientists, but too scholarly for me. I like to read nonfiction as though the author is telling me a story and explaining things. This book is full of long words I didn’t know and quickly tired of looking up. Lots of history about the study of Mars, which should have fascinated me, but didn’t. The chapter about Mars rovers was really the only one I enjoyed.
July 22, 2025
This is a remarkable read that is full of an incredible amount of detail for such a small volume. Many of these points led me down other threads of reading so this wasn't a breezy book finished quickly.
Toward the end Shindell drops the bomb that Elon Musk has seriously considered altering the atmosphere of Mars with nuclear weapons. OMG!
As we draw nearer to potential human exploration of the red planet we should all be fearful of the same mistakes that have led to inequity and war on our home planet being replicated.
Toward the end Shindell drops the bomb that Elon Musk has seriously considered altering the atmosphere of Mars with nuclear weapons. OMG!
As we draw nearer to potential human exploration of the red planet we should all be fearful of the same mistakes that have led to inequity and war on our home planet being replicated.
May 12, 2023
This book is pretty much what it says on the tin—a human history of Mars. It's not a science book. It's a social science book. History, sociology, politics, ethics, literature—they all play a role in this story. It's more a story of the human imagination than a story of Mars.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
August 11, 2023
Why Mars. Putting it into a human context. That’s why I am reading this book. The conclusion asks the question “Why go?” and ties the discussion into sustainability not only applied to Mars to the future of life as we know it on earth. Can we develop terraforming technology for Mars by reversing the current course of climate change on earth. The “MOXIE” technology for Mars is, of course, the biodiversity on earth which is shrinking rapidly with lost of millions of species (animals, plants, insects, microbes, etc.). How can we hope to rocket that to Mars if we can’t sustain, or lack the moxie to save, it on earth?
January 29, 2024
I'm not sure what this book wanted to be. It started as a history of our interest in Mars, turned into history of Mars exploration, and ended with a cultural commentary on science? I think any one of these stories would be an interesting editorial, but not as a cohesive story.
June 12, 2024
The book is strange. It covers how mankind interacts with Mars in our imagination. He covers Mars in ancient mythology up to the recent rovers and the book, The Martian. The book is well written, but definitely a niche book.
August 22, 2023
Very readable pop-sci about Mars and humanity's long culture-spanning history with it and the desire to know it better.
December 23, 2023
Interesting and pretty quick read about how humans from Sumer onward have conceived of and related to the planet we currently call Mars
January 11, 2024
interesting
Interesting history of mankind’s relationship to mars and how the myths and yearning reflect culture. I had trouble separating opinion from fact.
Interesting history of mankind’s relationship to mars and how the myths and yearning reflect culture. I had trouble separating opinion from fact.
September 2, 2023
A review of speculation and imagination about the planet Mars from the earliest times, plus the history and findings of flybys and landings from 1965 to the present (2023).
January 22, 2025
I really enjoyed the first few chapters of this book, which looked at Mars and astronomy more generally from an anthropological perspective. I found the history of the sociological impact of the planet to be very fascinating and new to me. The second half of the book focused on Mars in the modern era. Obviously, I am more familiar with this era of the planet and was not as enthralled. While at times fairly surface level, For the Love of Mars was a nice comprehensive history of the red planet.
November 26, 2023
Yet another pandemic book.I suspect we will seen many books that “were written during the pandemic.” So far this genre has not impressed. The best bits of this book, and the only parts new to me, were the author’s versions of late medieval trips to Mars. This book is not quite a 3 but it’s better than 2. Let’s give it a 2.5.
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