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text 2020-02-11 04:07
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry - Neil deGrasse Tyson

I quit at a fourth of the way through it. I was just so bored with it, even listening to it. I've gone to one of his talks on this very subject years ago and it was interesting and engaging. This book was neither of those things. Even as short as it was, I wasn't willing to push through the rest. And some of his asides felt a bit mean-spirited and condescending. After I decided I was done, I skimmed my physical copy and one section near the end that I noticed in particular gave me those vibes. That was another thing I never got from his talk, so this was really disappointing. Then again, the author had been disappointing in real life in the past year or so, so perhaps I'm just noticing things I wouldn't have before.

 

DNF at 1/4 of the book.

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review 2019-07-17 23:31
Astrophysics For People in a Hurry
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry - Neil deGrasse Tyson

A small collection of snack-sized lessons on astrophysics, delivered in an engaging, often humorous way.  The audio version has the bonus of being narrated by the author, whose voice is lovely.

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text 2019-07-08 23:57
GOSHDARNIT Booklikes!
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry - Neil deGrasse Tyson

Usual gripe.  Had to add this edition.  Because of course.

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review 2018-05-29 16:32
Shining a Light on Dark Matter
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry - Neil deGrasse Tyson

Exactly as the title implies, this collection of essays is a breezy overview of the major topics of astrophysics for a general audience. If you have watched Tyson's update of the science television series Cosmos, then a lot of this will be familiar territory. Tyson's fascinations with particle physics, astronomy, and the deep history of life on Earth are covered here. His almost evangelical love of science is on display as well. I highly recommend the chapter on dark matter which provides a very clear explanation of a very murky topic.

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review 2018-03-28 02:38
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry - Neil deGrasse Tyson
For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle

Overall, I enjoyed this book. 

I picked up this audiobook from the library, like a true person in a hurry, to listen to in the car when traveling for work. I really enjoy learning about space and especially love books like this, written for people who aren't astrophysicists. The chapters are pretty short and condensed, which are perfect for people in a hurry. The tone of the book is very engaging and combines poetic language, scientific fact, and humorous jokes to make a very interesting read. 

The audiobook is narrated by Neil deGrasse Tyson. I don't know if I ever picked up on it before, but Neil deGrasse Tyson has an incredibly soothing voice. Unfortunately, this soothing voice was a little too calming at times and I found myself zoning out while listening to the audiobook. It's not that the book was boring at all. It was fantastically interesting. But that man has such a comforting voice, I just couldn't grasp a lot of the information. Obviously this is not a criticism of the book, more of an observation. You have been warned.

I will also say that there are tons of facts thrown at you pretty quickly. It's a lot to take in. For me, the audiobook didn't work, because I learn better being able to see the words I'm reading. I can get away with listening to fiction and memoirs, but apparently astrophysics is a lot for me to take in while driving. Especially the numbers. I really blanked anytime a ridiculous number came up. It's just one of those things I need to see in order to take in and understand. I think I'm going to find a physical copy of this book and reread it. I learned a lot, but I don't think I could recall even half of what was in the book. Having said that, this book is still good enough that I already want to reread it. 

It is a very good book with a very good mission, but I would recommend analyzing your learning style before getting the audiobook. If you're like me and learn better visually, you might want to just stick to the physical book. 
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