Editorial Review

THE FIRST MAJOR WORK IN NEARLY A DECADE BY ONE OF THE WORLD’S GREAT THINKERS—A MARVELOUSLY CONCISE BOOK WITH NEW ANSWERS TO THE ULTIMATE QUESTIONS OF LIFE
 
When and how did the universe begin? Why are we here? Why is there something rather than nothing? What is the nature of reality? Why are the laws of nature so finely tuned as to allow for the existence of beings like ourselves? And, finally, is the apparent “grand design” of our universe evidence of a benevolent creator who set things in motion—or does science offer another explanation?

The most fundamental questions about the origins of the universe and of life itself, once the province of philosophy, now occupy the territory where scientists, philosophers, and theologians meet—if only to disagree. In their new book, Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow present the most recent scientific thinking about the mysteries of the universe, in nontechnical language marked by both brilliance and simplicity.

In The Grand Design they explain that according to quantum theory, the cosmos does not have just a single existence or history, but rather that every possible history of the universe exists simultaneously. When applied to the universe as a whole, this idea calls into question the very notion of cause and effect. But the “top-down” approach to cosmology that Hawking and

Mlodinow describe would say that the fact that the past takes no definite form means that we create history by observing it, rather than that history creates us. The authors further explain that we ourselves are the product of quantum fluctuations in the very early universe, and show how quantum theory predicts the “multiverse”—the idea that ours is just one of many universes that appeared spontaneously out of nothing, each with different laws of nature.

Along the way Hawking and Mlodinow question the conventional concept of reality, posing a “model-dependent” theory of reality as the best we can hope to find. And they conclude with a riveting assessment of M-theory, an explanation of the laws governing us and our universe that is currently the only viable candidate for a complete “theory of everything.” If confirmed, they write, it will be the unified theory that Einstein was looking for, and the ultimate triumph of human reason.

A succinct, startling, and lavishly illustrated guide to discoveries that are altering our understanding and threatening some of our most cherished belief systems, The Grand Design is a book that will inform—and provoke—like no other. ... Read more

Reviews

A very interesting book., August 23, 2010

Modern physics simplified, August 26, 2010

Excellent overview of contemporary cosmology and physics, August 24, 2010

Very Disapponting to a Fan of Hawking and Mlodinow, September 12, 2010
This is one of the prettiest books that has come across my desk in a long time: well-bound, slick paper, gorgeous pictures. All in all, it is an excellent example of the book-maker's art. Unfortunately, the actual text is so slight that I was disappointed from cover to index.

My first disappointment was right on the cover. I understand that Stephen Hawking is a world famous scientist (and one whom I admire) but was he the primary writer of the text? I hope so, because why else does Leonard Mlodinow have his name in one-third the font size? Mlodinow's book on geometry (Euclid's Window) is a truly great book while Hawking's books, though interesting, are not nearly as well written. I understand that this likely has much to do with marketing but I'm always put off by "ghostwriting."

Then there's the fact that we're being fooled into thinking this is a full-sized hardcover when, in fact, at normal font size and spacing, this book would be a third of its size. Essentially, it is nothing more than a longish essay. As a teacher, I couldn't help but be reminded of students who play around with font size, spacing, and picture inserts to try to appear to reach the required length of an assignment. Disappointing.

Most importantly, however, is the fact that the argument these two highly intelligent men are trying to make is simply unconvincing. Joining the ranks of scientists out to convince everyone that there is no need for god, they are arguing that "M-theory is the only candidate for a complete theory of the universe" which means (among other things) that there are multiple universes that can spontaneously generate from nothing. Beyond that fact that I'm always cautious when any scientist proclaims absolutes and predicts the end of science, as this has happened as often as pastors predicting the end of the world with the same result, there's not enough depth to their development here to make their sweeping conclusions plausible.

In fact, I couldn't help feeling that this was something of an exercise in ego. That Hawking, in particular, is relying on the power of his fame to be convincing rather than the power of his argument. This book simply isn't detailed enough to be a fully-formed argument. I have a degree in physics, know its history, am familiar with Feynman's work, and understand the basics of string theory, but I couldn't see how someone without this kind of background would be able to follow much of this. I don't feel I came away with a clear view of what they were trying to say.

Still, they deserve credit for promoting their atheism without being strident or condescending to believers, and there are some interesting things here. I like some of the history, particularly in the early parts of the book. I like the hints at the difference between model-independent and model-dependent theories, though I thought they could have made more of this. I like the description of the "Game of Life" and what it might mean for the development of a "universe" based on a set of simple rules, though this seems to contradict the main assertion of the book, that an entire sequence of complicated theories is necessary to describe the universe.

In the end, however, it suffers from the same problem as many books of this type. In its most important conclusions, it is all speculation masquerading as certainty. I don't mind speculation, and Hawking and Mlodinow may turn out to be perfectly correct in many or all of their conclusions. But I think the door is a long way from being closed on the debate here, and this book didn't bring me any closer to being convinced.

Expected much more from such elite minds, October 18, 2010
The media hype is just that--hype. The Grand Design is a very disappointing performance by these elite minds. I expected much more substance from these authors. The essence of their thesis is covered in the final three chapters, a thesis weakly argued with unclear logic and minimal substantiation. I think a more authentic forum would have been an essay in Reader's Digest or Time Magazine.

The authors seek to answer three philosophical/religious questions, seeming to assert that physicists are the new priests with physics as the new religion, because "philosophy is dead". Their modality is application of the suppositions (unproven ideas) of theoretical physics to arrive at a conclusion that M-theory can prove the universe spontaneously erupted from nothing and if proved "will be a model of the universe that creates itself." If the critics of "psi" accept these authors' example of argument I will lose faith in the critics' objectivity when it comes to their evaluation of theories on paranormal phenomenon.

There is little that is new here. Proposing M-Theory as the basis for describing the origin of the universe is certainly not a new idea. Arguing for M-Theory describing a universe's spontaneous generation from nothing is a new proposal in the world of cosmology--but not for the realm of non-Greek based philosophy. Thousands of years ago the Taoist described the universe as self generated from nothing. It's nice to see cosmology is catching up to thousands-of-years-old philosophy, contrary to the authors' opposing assertion in their opening remarks.

I will grant the book will stir thought and argument, which may be the authors' primary goal, since after 30 years of effort string theory /M-theory is wallowing in a quagmire due to its failure to simplify into the grand design. The authors' assert that the disjointed complexity of the M-theory is as good as it gets, just compromise and don't waste any more time on trying to make it better--it is already The Grand Design. Hmmmmm, what was the basis of that argument again?

I hope the authors will take on the rigor of producing a mathematical model, derived from current work that has some validation from Cosmic Ray Background measurements to demonstrate their conclusions. That will at least, allow others to check their work and bring authenticity to the proposal. Maybe they've done that work and neglected to mention it--one can only hope?

I for one, as a professional physicist and engineer, am not convinced by their arguments and do not see that they answered the three philosophical questions proposed in the first chapter. By the end of reading the second chapter I added a fourth question...should cosmologist attempt to become philosophers?

Welcoming your responses,
Bob Lindberg

Not Hawking's best, September 25, 2010
While there is beginning to be a build up of negative reviews for this book, I want to preface my review by saying that Dr. Hawking is still one of the top players in his field and that his views hold considerable weight given his track record. That being said, I found this book to mirror what most of the reviews have already noted. Nothing new is presented here that wasn't already said in Hawking's earlier book A Brief History of Time. Hawking begins the book by saying that philosophy is dead and that scientists must answer the tough questions about life....then launches into philosophy for a good part of the book. While Hawking has done much work with quantum mechanics, there are reasons to be skeptical of his conclusions given what other prominent people in his field have to say and the current state of knowns and unknowns about quantum mechanics. The best I can say is that the book is interesting at times but highly speculative and the conclusions drawn are questionable. I would suggest reading Roger Penrose's review of the book to get an idea of what his colleagues (Penrose is certainly of the same stature as Hawking, just not as much of a name outside of the scientific field) had to say. Hawking so far as I know, has not really responded to some of the challenges from those within his community.

Conclusion: Don't buy the book unless you're a really big Hawking fan or are doing research on the subject and want Hawking's thoughts on quantum mechanics and scientific determinism. The book is rather short and can be read in just a few days. Perhaps there was a letdown because people expected more from a Stephen Hawking book ( I may be guilty of this )but it feels like Hawking is going over familiar territory and did not do enough to substantiate his position on the subject. Regardless of your feelings about Hawking's atheistic conclusions I would say that theists, agnostics, and atheists alike will not find the challenging, cutting edge book that many had hope for or expected.

Something out of nothing, September 10, 2010
Disappointing. I read the book in just a few hours - it is definitely lightweight reading. Most of the book is, as others have noted, a review of introductory modern physics, but not with much depth. I too was stunned at the ending which sort of pulled a rabbit out of a hat with "Bodies such as stars or black holes cannot appear out of nothing. But a whole universe can." It may well be that M-theory leads to that, but I didn't feel prepared at all for that leap. The missing preparation is the book's problem for me.

A Worthy Successor to A Brief History of Time, September 2, 2010

A popularized science book that offers little science, September 8, 2010

Hawking at his Snarky Best, September 2, 2010

Editorial Review

The best-selling author of Stiff and Bonk explores the irresistibly strange universe of space travel and life without gravity.Space is a world devoid of the things we need to live and thrive: air, gravity, hot showers, fresh produce, privacy, beer. Space exploration is in some ways an exploration of what it means to be human. How much can a person give up? How much weirdness can they take? What happens to you when you can’t walk for a year? have sex? smell flowers? What happens if you vomit in your helmet during a space walk? Is it possible for the human body to survive a bailout at 17,000 miles per hour? To answer these questions, space agencies set up all manner of quizzical and startlingly bizarre space simulations. As Mary Roach discovers, it’s possible to preview space without ever leaving Earth. From the space shuttle training toilet to a crash test of NASA’s new space capsule (cadaver filling in for astronaut), Roach takes us on a surreally entertaining trip into the science of life in space and space on Earth. ... Read more

Reviews

"To the rocket scientist, you are a problem.", July 31, 2010
It seems like a previous life: the mid-1980s and NASA's program to send the first American "civilian" into space. I was interested, then sidelined when applications were restricted to teachers, then stunned by Challenger's launch disaster. But now I'm delighted to get a sort of ride-along with the clever and uber-curious Mary Roach in PACKING FOR MARS.

She begins: "To the rocket scientist, you are a problem. You are the most irritating piece of machinery he or she will ever have to deal with." And then she dives in to explore that human machinery in space and how everything -- procedures, equipment and supplies -- is designed to best serve it.

Through examples from animal simulations and crash-test cadavers, the race-for-space/ shuttle/ space-station projects, and planning Mars-length missions, she examines astronaut selection; the effects of isolation, inactivity and cramped spaces; the spectrum from weightlessness to multiple g-forces; eating, eliminating, and hygiene; and ... well, enough with the listmaking; it hints at dull and anyone who's read Roach knows she doesn't do dull. Instead, she mines excellent and surprising facts about physics and biology -- and what most captures me is her practicality, for example this from a passage about religious observations aboard the international space station: "Zero gravity and a ninety-minute orbital day created so many questions for Muslim astronauts that a [guideline] was drafted. Rather than require [them] to pray five times during each ninety-minute orbit of Earth, they were allowed to go by the twenty-four-hour cycle of the launch location." How to stay oriented toward Mecca at such speed and prostrate oneself in weightlessness are also addressed.

I loved Roach's Stiff, but Spook -- not as much, so skipped Bonk (until now, maybe). She's a front-and-center kind of narrator, a participant even, and Spook seemed too much about her. Here, she's back in terrific Stiff form -- (wo)manning the audio and video for us like a TV news crew, giving just an occasional glimpse of her metaphoric microphone to remind us she's there. Though she isn't a slave to structure and linearity, there's a satisfying organization of her material into chapters here. And all of her interesting-but-off-topic segues? -- they're here too, in a hundred witty footnotes. She also references dozens of space-travel articles, histories, biographies and memoirs and lists them in a bibliography. Highly recommended.

Mary Roach hits another Home Run for Weird Science, August 4, 2010
As I suspected, Mary Roach's new book is rocketing (pun intended) up the best-seller list. She has once again focused her splendid sense of humor on the weird aspects of science to reveal the most human dimensions of preparing for space exploration.

I had always been frustrated with NASA's stopping at the moon. "Let's go on to Mars," I would say. "What are you waiting for?"
Mary Roach points out that human biology, sociology, and psychology are the weak links in the chain. The engineering is in place. People are the problem. And these problems are the ones no one much talks about in polite company. What do you do with all the pee? How do you keep from hating the guy or gal next to you when they reek of B.O.? How do you remain sane for nearly two years cramped into a space the size of a small SUV, with all sun and no stars to keep you company?

Mary Roach tells us that there are people uniquely, biologically qualified for such a journey. Evidently the ideal astronaut could well be an African-American who is deaf. This would help with loss of bone density and with not tossing your cookies in space.
These are some of the strange quirks of nature she turns up, which has become her trademark. She asks the questions that few have the audacity to ask, and she asks them of people who generally would not talk, on the record, about such things. I have a feeling that the book might be beautifully accompanied by videos of the astonished faces of her interviewees, trying to cope with questions they have never had to field before.

This is a delightful read. Mary Roach will entertain you and keep you laughing out loud and she maintains your sense of wonder about space. In the end, you will want us to go to Mars more than ever because it represents a conquering of our biological limits even as we conquer our little corner of the cosmos.

Can man really make this trip? With a big suitcase...., August 4, 2010
Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach is a must read for any of us that are curious about space exploration and what it would be like to live in the "void". This is my first Mary Roach book and I can already tell that I'm going to have to take a long look at her backlist, especially Stiff.

I know that most space exploration advocates have been completely frustrated by our lack of progress in colonizing space after the Apollo moon missions, especially the hold up on the trip to Mars. The issue isn't technology, as Roach points out, but the frailty of the human animal. Packing for Mars is a wake up call and a realistic look at what it would take to make that trip: food, social issues, psychological issues, and just the basic "how do you handle the lack of.....?." What does happen to a human who is deprived of familiar earth environments for a long period of time? What do you do with human waste on long trips? Do we really have to drink pee (recycled of course)? What's the impact of not being able to stand or run for more than a year? What is "fecal popcorning"? And on and on.

Packing for Mars isn't a comedy, but there are moments of absolute humor in this read.

Well researched, well written, and terribly interesting Packing for Mars is a terrific read, especially for us space program fanatics and amateur astronomers.

I highly recommend.

The Wonderfully Entertaining Underside of Exoplanetary Whatever, September 15, 2010

Enjoyable but not outstanding, September 1, 2010
In many ways I really like Mary Roach's Packing for Mars. It's an extraordinarily inventive approach at space travel and our space program. When the book is good, it's really good. The book is at its best when it looks at how the absolute mundane parts of being alive translate when taken into a zero gravity environment. But the book sometimes veers off course (especially in many of the footnotes) and at times becomes a little to cleaver for its own good.

Packing for Mars is a perfect beach read - it's light, engaging and often funny, but it wasn't strong enough to make me want to run out and recommend it to friends. It's the kind of book that would be ideal to pick up when it comes out in paperback to read on a long plane ride or on a beach trip.

...And take this with you on the trip!, August 25, 2010

Lets Go To Mars, August 14, 2010
Packing For Mars is the first book by Mary Roach that I've read, but it won't be the last. I judged it by the cover and I'm glad I did. It's rare to find a book that's interesting and educational, and at the same time really funny. This book is that and more.

The truth is usually stranger than fiction, and the story of our reach for the stars is no exception. Humans are not designed to live and work in outer space and the challenges that this presents are numerous. Packing For Mars goes behind the scenes of space exploration to meet the people who make it possible.

You can tell Mrs. Roach did her homework. She talks with everyone from the astronauts to the guy who designs the space toilets. She goes to the training facilities and test labs to see what types of crazy and amazing things people are doing for science. She also uncovers lots of the little noted but fascinating details.

It's a great story but what makes Packing For Mars even better is that it's so funny. Mrs. Roach has a terrific sense of humor and this book will make you laugh, out loud, many times.

Droning and monotone., September 13, 2010

100% educational, 100% entertaining and 100% hilarious!, September 15, 2010
The ability to land a spacecraft on Mars is old hat. As a matter of fact, the technology, although it was and remains prohibitively expensive, existed over thirty years ago. The real impediment, indeed, the only impediment to manned space travel to Mars is man himself.

In PACKING FOR MARS, an inexhaustibly curious, incorrigibly irreverent and perennially humorous Mary Roach explores the myriad issues and problems that the biological package known as "man" presents to space travel. It is no exaggeration to suggest that preparation for long term survival in low gravity and extended confinement in extremely close quarters touches on virtually every aspect of man's life - biology, culture, morality, sexuality, psychology, politics, leisure, health, hygiene and even religious practice.

Although the scientific content of PACKING FOR MARS is 100% real and informative, Mary Roach's approach to the topic is light-hearted and, from cover to cover, tongue in cheek and 100% hilarious and utterly entertaining. With the practical problems of zero-gravity defecation and the logistical problem of what to do with the results of any successful elimination being very near the top of the list of engineering conundrums, it's probably not a big surprise to let a potential reader know that scatological humour runs rampant throughout the book. Tears of laughter positively streamed from my eyes as I learned, for example, that the gas volume and the speed of expulsion of even the most flatulent person conceivable would not be sufficient to propel him or her across the room in a zero-gravity situation (Note to self - watch for a potential future MYTHBUSTERS episode!)

PACKING FOR MARS ends with the acknowledgement that pure research on Mars is probably best conducted by robots, computers and pure hardware technology without benefit of man's presence. But, she also pleads the case that, since governments are so prone to fritter away vast sums of money on unproductive and entirely wasteful projects anyway, perhaps it may actually be prudent to plan some frivolous spending on a manned Mars landing. After all, you never know what may come of it!

PACKING FOR MARS is highly recommended with the comment that, aside from being thoroughly entertaining and wonderfully educational, it undoubtedly makes my Top 10 list of the funniest books I've ever read. How can you go wrong with a combination like that?

Paul Weiss

Entertainingly lacking, October 4, 2010
In the last few pages of "Packing for Mars," Mary Roach displays a touch of passion in making the case for a manned trip to Mars. Sadly, in the preceding 300+ pages, passion was kept firmly in check in favor of a random set of anecdotes. The anecdotes, by themselves, can be quite good, but I'm left wanting the story that hasn't actually been offered.

Billed as an uproarious trip into the world of space travel, I was hoping to get "In the Shadow of the Moon" with a funny edge. Maybe the reverential Alan Bean meets Mr Bean. PfM is often funny, although not side-splittingly so (my kids were, however, in stitches at a turd floating around the Apollo 10 capsule). As a comedy, though, the author's writing style wears you out with repetition in the form of all-too-frequent overreach; trying to squeeze out one crass metaphor too many just because she could. Good comedy writers know when to pause, Ms Roach does not (Deke's 1-star review is spot-on in describing how the humor reads).

2 stars for some good snippets - many of which the average reader will not have known about previously - in what can only be described as a random collection of anecdotes aimlessly delivered. By the time Ms Roach sets her sights on making the case for a manned Mars shot, we no longer care.

Frequently entertaining, but not a memorable read I'd recommend to others. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Thoroughly revised, updated and expanded.

The first three editions of Night Watch sold more than 600,000 copies, making it the top-selling stargazing guide in the world for the last 20 years. The key feature of this classic title is the section of star charts that are cherished by backyard astronomers everywhere. Each new edition has outsold the previous one because of thorough revisions and additional new material.

Night Watch has been acclaimed as the best general interest introduction to astronomy. The fourth edition has revisions in every chapter, including:- The famous charts, ideal for stargazers using a small telescope or binoculars- A complete update of the equipment section, including computerized telescopes- An enlarged photography section, including how-to instructions for using the new generation of digital cameras for astronomical photography, both with and without a telescope- The tables of future solar and lunar eclipses, planetary conjunctions and planet locations, updated through 2018.

This edition includes for the first time star charts for use in the southern hemisphere. There are also dozens of new photographs throughout the book that show the latest thrilling discoveries made by current space observatories and probes. ... Read more

Reviews

Absolutely essential before you purchase a telescope, January 24, 2002
This book is outstanding for two people: parents that are considering buying a telescope for their children, and adults that have an interest in becoming an amateur astronomer. This book will allow both groups of people to learn more about not only the stars, planets, and our universe, but to make intelligent decisions on purchases of such things as telescopes, binoculars, software programs, or more reading material.

All too often a parent will buy the "blue light special" telescope for their children, yet the child is quickly frustrated with inferior optics, a wobbly stand, and no knowledge of what to look at and why. This book will allow those parents to grasp the basics of astronomy and therefore teach their children to appreciate the universe. Mr. Dickinson has presented material so that everyone can enjoy the night sky; whether viewed with a telescope, binoculars, or the naked eye.

For those older children or adults, this book will allow them to jump headfirst into astronomy as a lifelong enjoyment. If you want to have only a basic understanding of the celestial bodies, this book is more than enough. But in the last few pages, Mr. Dickinson tells you where to go to find greater resources to further knowledge. Because of his recommendations and my own research, I've acquired the following items that I would also like to recommend:

Sky Atlas 2000.0 by Wil Tirion (a great resource for finding objects not usually in the astronomy magazines' monthly inserts)

The Backyard Astronomer's Guide by Terence Dickinson (this is a "sequel" to Nightwatch and between these two books, they are used about 80% of the time compared to my other resources)

Turn Left at Orion by Guy Consolmagno (I enjoy using this book to plan an observation session for "old favorites" or as a "highlights tour" for showing to those new to astronomy)

Other resourses that are more in depth that you may want to consider if you become very serious about astronomy:

Burnham's Celestial Handbook, Volumes 1, 2, & 3

Deep-Sky Companions : The Messier Objects

A subscription to Sky & Telescope or Astronomy

I can't say enough about Nightwatch. This may be your first, or your "first and last" book on astronomy. But either way, you will enjoy astronomy because of Terence Dickinson's writing.

an absolute essenttial for all enthusiasts, November 19, 2001
Having recently purchased a telescope, I've been reading lots of astronomy books. Even though this one is very basic, overall I've found it the most useful. No math, no equations, but tons of helpful advice that will have you up and finding stars right away. I like the fact that he emphasizes how much you can see with binocs too. The star charts are very helpful and are printed so that they can be read by a red light while you're out observing. Lots of great information on how to buy a telescope too. The bound version is perfect for carrying with you to find objects in the sky. Well written, easy to follow and informative -- if you only buy one book, this should be it (although I'd have to add my all time favorite, The Stars by H.A. Ray, the only book that draws the constellations so that they actually look like pictures).

Comprehensive tutorial for budding backyard astronomers, July 1, 2000
This is perhaps the most important book you'll need to get started if you feel you're one of those people who have suddenly been captured by astronomy. The book sets out to answer all those questions that will inevitably flood your mind and does so in a way that is very easy to understand, complemented by a touch of inspiring poetry. It never gets too technical, yet the amazing wealth of information in there is never compromised.

Topic coverage is very broad and the depth of information I find is very satisfying. Chapters include the structure of the universe, stargazing, a detailed guide to selecting and purchasing equipment, the stars, the planets, the moon and sun, solar and lunar eclipses, comets, meteors, auroras and even how to photograph the night sky.

The book is further enriched by an abundance of backgrounders, star charts, tables, breathtaking images and excellent diagrams explaining things like measuring degrees with your hand and how to use the constellations to find other stars. Important stars and constellations are treated like individual personalities as a lot of the associated data such as distances are put into perspective.

Nightwatch is a clearly focused book. Rich in information, and down to earth with its content, it will satisfy the budding backyard astronomer's need to appreciate what's out there and how to enjoy it.

Outstanding Guide for Amateur Astronomers!, October 30, 2000
Terence Dickinson's "Nightwatch" is a practical all-around guide to amateur astronomy. Spiralbound for outdoor and easier use, and packed with colorful pictures, charts and skymaps, the book gives the reader all the help needed to become a first class amateur astronomer. Wonderfully written with chapters on the Sun, the moon, the planets and the motions of the sky, the constellations and the stars, comets, meteors, eclipses and auroras, stargazing equipment and photographing the nightsky this revised and updated edition is expanded for use through the year 2010, and contains also a chapter on resources covering astronomy magazines, books, software, clubs, conventions and useful websites as well as information on observatories and leading manufacturers of astronomical telescopes and binoculars. An acomplished astronomer himself and the author of 14 books, with "Nightwatch" Dickinson has crafted one of the best astronomy field guides available today. A superb book!

Impressive and imformative, November 23, 2000
I was discouraged at an early age by the books on practical, observational astronomy for the amateur. Most of them contained star charts that were a mass of confusion, and the printed information was hardly any more helpful. When a friend and I decided to take a beginning observational astronomy course, I was doubtful, but Dickinson's volume is much more lucidly written and his charts are designed for the beginner. I was able to find the planets Venus, Mars and Jupitor on a casual night time walk with my Great Dane and was absolutely thrilled. Just as told, the planets were clearly visible despite the city lights. Although I have been able to identify the big dipper since childhood, finding other named heavenly bodies was something I hadn't believed myself capable until trying it with this book. Both my friend and I have enjoyed the experience. She says she wishes she'd known about it when her "kids" were still kids! Speaking of which, the book also has VERY important information for the prospective purchaser of a telescope, a must read especially for those looking to buy a gift for the amateur astronomer in their family. This would make a fun family book for those who enjoy doing special things with the kids.

A very good beginner's book..., July 23, 2002
I own several books on observational astronomy, but this is one of them I frequently turn to for help. This has been recommended as the first book to get introduced to astronomy and I would strongly agree with that.

Perhaps, the most useful aspect of the book is its available in spiral bind. It makes so easy to navigate the pages and keep it spread around during observation.

The second useful aspect, especially for the beginners, is the charts of constellations. I own the SkyAtlas 2000.0, but the info in it is sometimes overwhelming. But Nightwatch displays the brighest objects of deepsky in easy charts and also gives quick info (light years, magnitude, is it good for binocs etc) right below the object. When my friends visit my back-yard, this book is helpful in locating the star and also give them quick funda about it.

In fact just binocs and this book are enough to spend a dark sky night. This book along with Backyard Astronomers (by same author) will probably be a complete beginners library. (Backyard Astronomers gives more details about telescopes).

Almost flawless..., August 28, 2000
Dickinson does an excellent job of covering all the bases for the amatuer astronomer. The most worthwhile aspect of the entire book are the 20 annotated and detailed maps of the sky as seen from the northern hemisphere. They are absolutely indespensable when viewing the sky and allow one to find otherwise easily missed stellar sights. I have two complaints about this book, one minor and the other major. The minor complaint is that his moon map would benefit from more detail, as I quickly exhausted the list of named and detailed features it held and imagine many have as well.

My major complaint and only real reservation I have about this book is that the author is very biased in favor of large and expensive telescopes and makes the argument that only such instruments can provide quality views of the stars. The truth is that such instruments are beyond the financial reach of 95% of amatuers. I own a 4 and 1/2 inch newtonian reflector and separately purchased a handful of quality plossl eyepieces and have made detailed observations of most of the planets as well as many nebulae and other objects. I spent a total of about $300-400. Had I listened to the advice of the author and not bought a scope in this range I would have missed out on years of quality viewing. It would have been more helpful if he had mentioned which of the low-cost scopes were worth buying (as some are) instead of dismissing all models below $500.

Astronomy 101 a truly great book, April 29, 2000
It just gets better and better all the time. Night Watch Third Addition, is jammed packed with information, that an aspiring astronomer can't live without especially if your just getting started, be he/she 11 or 75 years of age. I can't rant and rave enough about this book and how it has helped so many people discover the Night Sky.

When a new comer comes to our club or viewing session and asks for a book that will help them to learn more, it is "Night Watch" that is always recommended to him or her.

The book talks plainly and easily to the new beginner, helps them to imagine and realise the size and depths of the universe, offer's tidbits of information on telescopes, what to look for what not to look for.

Star charts expertly detailed and easily read, offering all kinds of celestrial targets to shoot for. The charts are done in such a way as not to confuse the user with thousands of stars (such as found in the more involved star atlas, these come later), the charts offer targets not only for the telescope but for the binoculars as well. For those of you who do not own a telescope YET!

By far this is probably one of the best purchases you'll ever make.

This book without a doubt won't be sitting on the bookshelf collecting dust, rather it will be in your lap while you search the night skys!...

Enjoy the book!

Beautiful, practical ..., November 19, 2000
This book was recommended to me by an avid backyard astronomer when I mentioned I was interested in learning more about astronomy. I was absolutely delighted with this book. The photos are beautiful, the diagrams are excellent. It makes star/planet identification easy, gives guidance on buying a telescope, has a nice introductory chapter on the universe, putting everything in perspective. The writing is clear, straightforward, understandable. I am extremely pleased with my purchase, as I feel that this single book contains everything I really want to know at this time. I would recommend it to anyone who wants an interesting, comprehensible introduction to the night sky.

Excellent book for budding astronomers, December 21, 2002
I cannot praise this book enough.Within minutes of "pre-reading" it, I repacked the telescope I had just purchased,and am sending it back.Why? Because Mr. Dickinson explained, in perfectly understandable terms,why that particular telescope was the wrong choice for me.The section on "trash telescopes" was very informative.I also now have a real respect for binoculars..and may purchase a good quality pair,based on Mr.D.'s comments about proper binoculars for viewing the nightsky.They will be a good stepping-stone on my way to purchasing the best telescope for me. I have always dreamed of being a backyard astronomer,but never had enough time to pursue the hobby.Now that I am retired,the first thing I crossed off my "to-do" list was the telescope purchase.It was an impulse buy,I am ashamed to say,and if it hadn't been for the excellent advice from Mr.D,I would have wasted a few hundred bucks on something that would ultimately cause me frustration.
So...if you are thinking of getting into amateur astronomy,look no further than this wonderful,well-thought out,easy to understand,and beautifully presented book.I will now purchase the right equipment I need to really get into my long-desired hobby. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Erich von Daniken's Chariots of the Gods is a work of monumental importance--the first book to introduce the shocking theory that ancient Earth had been visited by aliens.This world-famous bestseller has withstood the test of time, inspiring countless books and films, including the author's own popular sequel, The Eyes of the Sphinx. But here is where it all began--von Daniken's startling theories of our earliest encounters with alien worlds, based upon his lifelong studies of ancient ruins, lost cities, potential spaceports, and a myriad of hard scientific facts that point to extraterrestrial intervention in human history. Most incredible of all, however, is von Daniken's theory that we ourselves are the descendants of these galactic pioneers--and the archeological discoveries that prove it...* An alien astronaut preserved in a pyramid
* Thousand-year-old spaceflight navigation charts
* Computer astronomy from Incan and Egyptian ruins
* A map of the land beneath the ice cap of Antarctica
* A giant spaceport discovered in the Andes
Includes remarkable photos that document mankind's first contact with aliens at the dawn of civilization.
... Read more

Reviews

Entertaining, yet he jumps to conclusions too easily, July 24, 2002
I read Chariots of the Gods as well as several other Von Daniken works, and he never ceases to entertain me (with the exception of Miracles of the Gods - a horrid, poorly executed book). I find his "theories" thought-provoking, yet very weak at their base. Mr. Von Daniken has an irritating habit of jumping from subject to subject, stating his opinions quickly and with little supporting evidence, and then suddenly switching to another "mystery" to start the cycle over again. Even though he makes many compelling points, he never stays on the same subject long enough to fully support his beliefs.

If a golden amulet looks like a modern airplane, then it's an airplane. Period. If a stone carving looks like an astronaut, then it's an astronaut. Period. If a straight line drawn in the sand extends for the length of a modern runway, then it's a runway. Period. And this same style has gone on and on for years and through several books, with more on the way.

I take everything he says with a grain of salt. He is sooo quick to jump to (seemingly) reasonable conclusions that I can't help but be intrigued... but obviously I can't even call that he does "theorizing" since he never spends enough time on one piece of evidence to complete his arguments.

I look at his work as a starting point, rather than a finished product. If someone takes one of his ideas and runs with it, gathering collaborating evidence and building a more air-tight case for the "solution" presented in his works, then in my opinion Von Daniken has done his job. Unfortunately, I can't be sure Von Daniken shares this opinion. I think he raises important questions, yet his answers are too quick off the mark and ultimately unsatisfying to the discriminating reader.

I much prefer the approach taken by Graham Hancock, for example, who normally stays much more conservative. Hancock presents compelling arguments supported by many different pieces of evidence, and will not insult the reader by leaping to his conclusions based upon a single painting or pottery shard. Anyone interested in "alternative" (for lack of a better word) history would do well to pick up Hancock's "Fingerprints of the Gods" for a better-realized examination of ancient mysteries.

I still find Von Daniken immensely entertaining, though. Call it a guilty pleasure. I would never be able to defend his ideas during an in-depth discussion of them, and I honestly don't believe Von Daniken would be able to either. I give this book 5 stars for being a lot of FUN and a closet masterpiece.

An Interesting Read, April 20, 2009
I really enjoyed reading this book. So far it's one of my favorites. The author does not expect the reader to believe all his theories, he just wants people to open their minds a little and question things more. I don't really believe all his theories, but they are very fascinating. If you are a close-minded person then this book isn't for you.

There Can be LOTS of Other Explanations!, August 17, 2000
This is a worthwhile book to read. The author did some pretty good collecting, and his theories are tantalizing, to say the least. It is a shame that he had to repeatedly ruin some good information with the single phrase "There can be no other explanation."

He repeated this phrase throughout the book. Each time I saw it, I cringed. This phrase tries to cut off debate, stifles analysis, and generally hurts the credibility of the entire work.

When people are so convinced of their own position that they try to suppress any information to the contrary (even rhetorically), they are degenerating to the level of the "Thought Police" - or worse.

Sorry Herr von Daniken, you blew it.

A Real Gem and Fun to Watch!, April 11, 2007
A film that makes you go 'Hmmmm'.

I first saw Chariots of the Gods in a theater as a kid when it was re-released back in the mid Seventies. I remember having trouble going to sleep that night! Since then I have attained a degree in science, and still think that it has much merit.

Sadly, this is a film that few people seem to be able to see anymore, at least I haven't noticed it making the rounds on mainstream television or cable in the last twenty five years or so.

The transfer was excellent and made from a well-preserved print. I noticed few flaws in this thirty-five or so year old film. There is an extra of pictures, but there are only like eight pictures? Why bother? That part was like a carnival sideshow ripoff. Also, the bio on von Daniken is a short text of one page and was not informative at all. There are scene selections and true to their word a movie trailer.

The film is an interesting whirlwind of exotic location shots that if nothing else shows the viewer some very interesting sites. The musical score is hard to describe-in a sense it is eerie, but it also has an overall upbeat, 'hopeful' or optimistic tone. I get the impression that this film was not made originally in English? I do like the narrator's (male) voice and keeps your attention. There are also a few places where the narration is handled in an interesting manner. Also, the actual filming and editing was excellent and well thought out. It's as if there is a new surprise awaiting you around every corner.

The documentary also includes some support from a couple of other individuals, one of whom was a Soviet scientist and I found this to be rather interesting given the times. But I feel that von Daniken's arguments supported by the visual evidence were more than compelling on their own.

I can't help but to compare this film to a Nova episode that dealt specifically with von Daniken's book and thus many of the things in this film. A few things, at least in the book, were shown to be out and out fabrications. I seem to remember Nova trying to provide an alternative explanation for such things as (don't quote me...been many years) the 'Baghdad Batteries'. Since then I have seen these batteries presented as being exactly as what they appear to be by science-ancient batteries.

In fact, it seemed that the makers of the Nova film were in an Okham's Razor competition with von Daniken in trying to provide rational, simple explanations for rather exceptional ancient works of art, stories and artifacts. I think it was mostly a tie. 'We' still don't know how or why the Pyramids, nor Stonehenge, the Nazca Lines nor many many other things were built in ancient times. Shame on von Daniken for not giving our ancient ancestors very much credit for coming up with these technologies themselves, but the same can be said for mainstream science which seems to be more and more in the position that ancient peoples were more advanced than we thought and much earlier in time than previously thought.

However, traces of nicotine in Egyptian mummies and a bronze (brass?) computer from an ancient shipwreck does not jive with what mainstream social and natural scientists traditionally present as 'fact' (dangerous word there at any rate). My point is that mainstream science has had to (as science is supposed to) back down and rewrite its theories as new data and explanations come to light. So mainstream science does not have an absolute corner on the truth market and what was poo-pooed in the past as nonsense and fantasy has many times gained acceptance (the existence of ball lightning comes to mind).

It would have made a very interesting DVD package if they had included the Nova episode for a few bucks more as this episode is largely forgotten and is collecting dust somewhere.

von Daniken did not say that every single headdress or ceremonial garb were based on ancient astronaut space suits, but what he does present are artworks of things that still look like space suits and advanced controls no matter how much these things are relegated to the mystical fantasies of ancient artists by mainstream scientists. Interestingly, it is only in the context of modern technology and science as he points out that many of von Daniken's suppositions even begin to make sense! For instance, why does an ancient Mayan observatory look like a modern observatory? What is the purpose of that if they indeed had no telescopes?

All in all, I think von Daniken's explanations are at least as good as any offered by conservative science. A powerful, imaginative presentation that actually enriches one's view of our ancient ancestors and does not denigrate their capabilities at all. These hypotheses actually add a new dimension of wonder and excitement to our collective past.

I definitely plan to watch this over and over again. It is a superior documentary in that it is not inundated with talking head PhD s or self-styled experts and allows the viewer's mind/imagination to decide the validity of what he is seeing with only suggestions on the part of the writer.

It is refreshing to see a film that still makes you go 'hmmmm' even after all these years.

Fun, but horribly wrong, April 20, 2001
Von D�niken claims that the myths, arts, social organizations, etc., of ancient cultures were introduced by astronauts from another world. He questions not just the capacity for memory, but the capacity for culture and civilization itself, in ancient peoples. Prehistoric humans did not develop their own arts and technologies, but rather were taught art and science by visitors from outer space.

Where is the proof for von D�niken's claims? Some of it was fraudulent. For example, he produced photographs of pottery that he claimed had been found in an archaeological dig. The pottery depicts flying saucers and was said to have been dated from Biblical times. However, investigators from Nova (the fine public-television science program) found the potter who had made the allegedly ancient pots. They confronted von D�niken with evidence of his fraud. His reply was that his deception was justified because some people would only believe if they saw proof ("The Case of the Ancient Astronauts," first aired 3/8/78, done in conjunction with BBC's Horizon and Peter Spry-Leverton)!

However, most of von D�niken's evidence is in the form of specious and fallacious arguments. His data consists mainly of archaeological sites and ancient myths. He begins with the ancient astronaut assumption and then forces all data to fit the idea. For example, in Nazca, Peru, he explains giant animal drawings in the desert as an ancient alien airport. The fact that the lines of the drawing would be useless as a runway for any real aircraft because of their narrowness is conveniently ignored by von D�niken. The likelihood that these drawings related to the natives' science or mythology is not considered. He also frequently reverts to false dilemma reasoning of the following type: "Either this data is to be explained by assuming these primitive idiots did this themselves or we must accept the more plausible notion that they got help from extremely advanced peoples who must have come from other planets where such technologies as anti-gravity devices had been invented." His devotion to this theory has not dwindled, despite contrary evidence, as is evidenced by still another book on the subject, Arrival of the Gods : Revealing the Alien Landing Sites at Nazca (1998).

There have been many critics of von D�niken's notions, but Ronald Story stands out as the most thorough. Most critics of von D�niken's theory point out that prehistoric peoples were not the helpless, incompetent, forgetful savages he makes them out to be. (They must have at least been intelligent enough to understand the language and teachings of their celestial instructors--no small feat!) It is true that we still do not know how the ancients accomplished some of their more astounding physical and technological feats. We still wonder how the ancient Egyptians raised giant obelisks in the desert and how stone age men and women moved huge cut stones and placed them in position in dolmens and passage graves. We are amazed by the giant carved heads on Easter Island and wonder why they were done, who did them, and why they abandoned the place. We may someday have the answers to our questions, but they are most likely to come from scientific investigation not pseudoscientific speculation. For example, observing contemporary stone age peoples in Papua New Guinea, where huge stones are still found on top of tombs, has taught us how the ancients may have accomplished the same thing with little more than ropes of organic material, wooden levers and shovels, a little ingenuity and a good deal of human strength.

We have no reason to believe our ancient ancestors' memories were so much worse than our own that they could not remember these alien visitations well enough to preserve an accurate account of them. There is little evidence to support the notion that ancient myths and religious stories are the distorted and imperfect recollection of ancient astronauts recorded by ancient priests. The evidence to the contrary--that prehistoric or 'primitive' peoples were (and are) quite intelligent and resourceful--is overwhelming.

Of course, it is possible that visitors from outer space did land on earth a few thousand years ago and communicate with our ancestors. But it seems more likely that prehistoric peoples themselves were responsible for their own art, technology and culture. Why concoct such an explanation as von D�niken's? To do so may increase the mystery and romance of one's theory, but it also makes it less reasonable, especially when one's theory seems inconsistent with what we already know about the world. The ancient astronaut hypothesis is unnecessary. Occam's razor should be applied and the hypothesis rejected.

Re-read the book and watch the video, March 1, 2009
OK first off everyone that was 12 and read the book re-read the book or rent the video.
Erich von Daniken, simply shows proof that things are two perfect back 4,000 - 10,000 years ago. The Mexico ruins present a calendar that is nearly perfect to a calendar of today, 365 1/4 per year yet they had no telescopes. He goes on to simply show that drawings around the world from 1,000's of years ago resemble people with spacesuits and ships that fly. Shows that 20,000 ton rocks where moved over 100 miles from quarries, feats which today, aren't quiet possible. Most ancient text write about an instance of crafts that fly.

He simply just goes around to world sites and shows you things that today, are still consider VERY hard to do. The pyramid which resembles 3.14 when you divide it. The drawing from over 1,000 years ago that shows what NASA would provide from an above earth shot over Egypt and Antarctica.

And the fact that in our own milky way galaxy, there are 50,000,000 stars that have the potential of supporting life similar to earth. Then when you read on the hubble telescope web site that there are HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS of galaxies, and a high estimate of around 500 BILLION galaxies, which could each contain millions of stars the chance that at least 1 other planet got an earlier start then earth is no so far fetched and more likely very probable...

So when reading his book or watching the video, he just shows you similarities around the world that are near impossiable to do today with out modern equipment and tons of money, yet alone 1,000 years ago.

In closing I thought the best part of the move was that during the world wars, the united states went to some 3rd world island in the pacfic, and built a runway for the jets, when they were finished they just left and teh villages, have since built a plane out of bamboo, and made a simlar runway and watch the sky waiting for the gods to return... just read the book with an open mind

Interesting, But Flawed, October 14, 2003
A UFO obsessed friend of mine recommended this title to me, and now having read it all the way through (twice!) I'm not really sure what all the fuss is actually about. Sure it is interesting, and yes it is a lot of fun to read this theory, however it appears that Von Daniken has thrown the idea of "proper research" out the window, and instead relied upon so the so many speculations, and falsities which seem to make up this fringe group of UFO obsessives.

Do I believe in extraterrestrial life? Absolutely. Do I believe they have made contact with the human race throughout history? Possibly. Do I believe that anything in this book is true? No.

What Von Daniken is trying to do with 'Chariots of the Gods?' is to make the claim that humanity, within all it's diversity, and intelligence is little more than a product of alien intelligence (what's that say for us?); that all of the great civilizations which have existed through time (the Maya, the Egyptian, the Sumerian, etc.) were all involved in some kind of "alien worship"; and that all of the beautiful relics of the past (the statues at Easter Island, the lid of Paleque, the Pyramids, etc.) were little more than "landing instruments" for these extraterrestrial "gods".

Not to be taken seriously, but would make an excellent storyline to an number of sci-fi films out there today.

A Review on the DVD release..., April 6, 2001
Hi Ho from Melbourne (Aust)...Just a short note, I decided to buy this program on DVD mainly because of the Sound Track since I couldn't find it on CD. Well what can I say, the picture quality is acceptable but "boy oh boy" what happened to the sound!, the naration is ok, but I like to pay attention to the sound track in most films but the music in this DVD release was terrible to say the least, the Wow and Flutter is so horrible that my 15 year old video recording off TV is awhole lot better!! If any more copys are to be made, please replace your master copy. And one other thing, if you want to be enlightend by Science and facts then do yourselves a favour and get Carl Sagan's "COSMOS" you wont be sorry....Clint (VK3CSJ)

Biscuit Barrel, November 26, 2004
This is a great classic documentary. Regardless of what you may think about the origins of the pyramids and monoliths, there are undeniably here, and the origins of these mysterious wonders of the world, and how they were built and transported great distances, since the weight of the stones were astronomical, are as of yet largely unexplained and mysterious. The scenery of the film is fantastic and thought provoking. I would have given it a five star rating if the music/sound track were a bit better. The movie gets far more interesting after the first ten minutes and there are amazing shots of areas such as Easter Island. I would recommend this movie to anyone who would enjoy seeing many wonders of the world in many areas. I am glad that I purchased this DVD and did enjoy watching it. Have a pleasant day, everyone.

Great Fun, June 30, 2003
This is one of the funniest "Science" books ever published. The rankor in against "scientists" is only matched by the author's incredible ignorance about Archeology. But what I found amazing was reading all the reviews by so many people who cry out about the virtues about having an "open" mind but who don't seem to know the first thing about any of what Von Daniken writes about. Well what about reading the copius work done about say Twianku in Bolivia, or Tula in Mexico or Cuzco in Peru?

When I was twelve I read "Chariots of the Gods" and was a believer for about a year. Then I read a few basic texts about the Maya, Incas, etc., and discovered that Von Daniken was in error so much that well it's a joke.

For example the traditional Andean accounts attribute the colossal stone construction at Cuzco and elsewhere in Peru to the Inca Emperors. And such monumental construction was continueing when the spanish came.

As for the Maya Von Daniken's explaination for the Mayan collapse has been exploded and so has his explaination for the Sarchophagus lid from the Temple of the Inscriptions at Palenque, which we know know from being able to read the Mayan Hieroglyphs depicts thee Mayan King Pacal falling into the maw of death down the cosmic tree. Von Daniken's comment about a inscription about a hot wind describing the death of the man in the Sarcophagus is total invention.

Then his book is peppered with absurd comments like stating that a jade necklace found in a Mayan tomb is fantastic because we all know jade only comes from China!. Well thats not true as even the smallist amount of research would indicate.

As for Von Daniken's research by going to various sites; well if you go and are unwilling to listen to what the researchers who have devoted their time to unraveling these sites you will of course view them as "mysterious".

Von Daniken is a very funny joke and even funnier are those who don't see the joke. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The solar system most of us grew up with included nine planets, with Mercury closest to the sun and Pluto at the outer edge. Then, in 2005, astronomer Mike Brown made the discovery of a lifetime: a tenth planet, Eris, slightly bigger than Pluto. But instead of its resulting in one more planet being added to our solar system, Brown’s find ignited a firestorm of controversy that riled the usually sedate world of astronomy and launched him into the public eye. The debate culminated in the demotion of Pluto from real planet to the newly coined category of “dwarf” planet. Suddenly Brown was receiving hate mail from schoolchildren and being bombarded by TV reporters—all because of the discovery he had spent years searching for and a lifetime dreaming about.

Filled with both humor and drama, How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming is Mike Brown’s engaging first-person account of the most tumultuous year in modern astronomy—which he inadvertently caused. As it guides readers through important scientific concepts and inspires us to think more deeply about our place in the cosmos, it is also an entertaining and enlightening personal story: While Brown sought to expand our understanding of the vast nature of space, his own life was changed in the most immediate, human ways by love, birth, and death. A heartfelt and personal perspective on the demotion of everyone’s favorite farflung planet, How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming is the book for anyone, young or old, who has ever dreamed of exploring the universe—and who among us hasn’t? ... Read more

Reviews

A Great Story About the Science, September 28, 2010

Very well-written, both educational and enjoyable, October 1, 2010

You don't have to be an astronomer..., September 26, 2010

Compelling and fast-moving, October 11, 2010

From "It Is to Write", December 19, 2010
It shocked me to realize just over halfway through "How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming" that such a book would orbit the top of my short list of all-time favorites. But it did--and it landed closer to the periapsis than the apoapsis. Why?

I'm not a scientist; indeed, my interest in astronomy, while healthy, halts one step short of an emotional attachment to Pluto. Hence, I suppose it was easier, unencumbered by a wounded celestial psyche, to embrace Mike Brown's story of the stepchild planet and his unapologetic role in its demise.

I am, however, a writer, and Mike Brown's startlingly delightful prose is priceless--educational, poignant, illuminating, and subtly hilarious, if that doesn't put too much of a strain on one's oxymoronic sensibilities. How do you read a book full of gritty technical detail covering years and years of painstaking astronomic observation and find yourself laughing out loud page after page. Just look at the title if you want a glimpse of his writing voice. I mean really, how do you *not* read a book with a title like that?

The emotional attachment I did develop was to the author and his family. Mike weaves his personal trajectory from single PhD student to fianc� then to husband and father seamlessly into his ascension as a renown astronomer and a scientist. As a non-technical type, I was smugly pleased how wife, Diane, and daughter, Lilah, influenced Mike's cerebral center of mass a bit closer to the right-brain end of the spectrum, albeit kicking and screaming the entire way.

Finally, Mike ambushed me with his beloved science. While already somewhat familiar with orbital dynamics, by the end of the book I was surprised to discover how much I had learned about astrophysics without even realizing it was happening. Actually, that's the only way I could learn anything about astrophysics. He made it fun.

Kudos to Mike, a chivalrous bow to Diane and a big squeeze for Lilah. All three of you made my day.

Nitty Gritty of Planetary Astronomy plus Public Relations., November 23, 2010

Still mourning the loss of Pluto from the list of planets? This engaging account explains what happened and why, November 8, 2010

How 21st Century astronomy is done, and made compelling, September 29, 2010

This book is to astronomy, December 18, 2010
as "Soul of a New Machine" was to the birth of the "small computer" revolution. I thought it would be a fun bedtime read for a week or two . . . instead it kept me awake until I was done. Previous reviews have explained the story well enough . . . I'll just add a vote that it's a great, fun read . . .

Pluto's executioner speaks!, December 12, 2010
The bit about killing Pluto is a joke, of course. Pluto is still out there, just as oblivious of what people call it as ever. But it was Mike Brown whose discoveries forced the astronomy community to address the anomaly of Pluto being classified as a planet. And he, despite his years-long quest to discover a tenth planet, despite the glory associated with being the only living discoverer of a planet, was true to his scientific convictions, and argued against his discovery, and therefore against Pluto, being considered a planet.

I will admit that I came into the Pluto controversy with a strong view of my own. I am one of those people who concluded many years ago, long before I ever heard of Mike Brown, that Pluto was not a planet. When it was discovered Pluto was thought to be quite a large object, and its designation as a planet made sense. But additional measurements showed it to be much smaller than originally thought,* smaller, in fact, than Neptune's moon Triton, itself believed to be a captured Kuiper Belt object. Further, it is locked in a orbital resonance with Neptune, where Pluto makes three orbits of the sun in the time Neptune makes two. So Pluto doesn't even orbit freely around the sun.**

I've heard Mike Brown talk about his experiences, and came to this book expecting a good read. He delivered. The astronomy is interwoven with Brown's life during the period of discovery. Some may object to this, but scientific discoveries are made by people who are concurrently living their lives. Too often what we hear about are the odd ducks who live only for their science. But most scientists aren't like that; most have lives beyond science, and their work is intertwined with their broader existence.

In this book we follow Brown from his early years in astronomy to his decision to look for another planet beyond Pluto. During his early, less than successful, attempts he meets, as a result of his work, the woman who will become his wife. We follow his courtship, marriage, and honeymoon as the search continues. The fruition of his search, the discovery of several large Kuiper Belt objects, overlaps the gestation and birth of his daughter.

During the time he is completing papers on his discoveries, and awaiting his daughter's birth, controversy erupts. A previously unknown astronomer in Spain appeared to have found one of his discoveries, and beat him to a public announcement. Initially gracious, Brown learns that the Spaniard apparently used the internet to learn where he had pointed a telescope to track the object, and used that knowledge to find the object and claim the discovery. This motivates a discussion of how science works, and the competing pressures to, on the one hand, announce discoveries so as to claim credit and, on the other hand, to get the facts together and write a comprehensive paper that adequately describes the discovery.

Having weathered that controversy, the Pluto issue explodes. Brown provides a comprehensive discussion of why it doesn't make sense to call Pluto a planet. He writes about the last time astronomers had this problem. (No, Pluto wasn't the first.) When Ceres was discovered between Mars and Jupiter in 1801 it was considered the eighth planet. (Neptune hadn't yet been discovered.) Then more "planets" were discovered between Mars and Jupiter. It was eventually realized that all these bodies couldn't be considered planets, and they ended up all being called asteroids. (The decision of the International Astronomical Union on Pluto made Ceres, like Pluto, a "dwarf planet".)

Similarly, Brown argues convincingly that Pluto is simply one of the larger bodies in the Kuiper belt. Its interaction with Neptune caused it to be discovered earlier than other large Kuiper Belt objects, but it is otherwise unexceptional. The book includes an excellent discussion on how scientists choose categories for objects, and why definitions matter.

All in all, this is a compelling book that captures the story of discovery and two controversies, as well as the reality--sometimes mundane, sometimes not--of how scientists actually live and work. And how can you not love a book where the astronomer gets the girl?


* In 1980 A. J. Dessler and C. T. Russell wrote a humorous one page paper that was published in EOS (vol. 61, no. 44, page 690) titled "From the Ridiculous to the Sublime: The Pending Disappearance of Pluto". In it they pretended to take the historical mass estimates of Pluto as being correct, did a mathematical fit, and predicted that Pluto would disappear in 1984. They then speculated on what would happen after it disappeared. This is available online, just search for it.

** I've heard the argument that Neptune could just as well be said to be in an orbital resonance with Pluto. While in a narrow technical sense that is true, saying it makes about as much sense as saying Neptune is in orbit around its moon Triton. Neptune is eight thousand times more massive than Pluto, and "captured" Pluto while itself remaining in a nearly circular orbit. Further, there are other Kuiper Belt objects in orbital resonance with Neptune, Pluto is simply the largest. When it comes to gravity size--or at least mass--matters. ... Read more

Editorial Review

One of the world’s most beloved and bestselling writers takes his ultimate journey -- into the most intriguing and intractable questions that science seeks to answer.

In A Walk in the Woods, Bill Bryson trekked the Appalachian Trail -- well, most of it. In In A Sunburned Country, he confronted some of the most lethal wildlife Australia has to offer. Now, in his biggest book, he confronts his greatest challenge: to understand -- and, if possible, answer -- the oldest, biggest questions we have posed about the universe and ourselves. Taking as territory everything from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization, Bryson seeks to understand how we got from there being nothing at all to there being us. To that end, he has attached himself to a host of the world’s most advanced (and often obsessed) archaeologists, anthropologists, and mathematicians, travelling to their offices, laboratories, and field camps. He has read (or tried to read) their books, pestered them with questions, apprenticed himself to their powerful minds. A Short History of Nearly Everything is the record of this quest, and it is a sometimes profound, sometimes funny, and always supremely clear and entertaining adventure in the realms of human knowledge, as only Bill Bryson can render it. Science has never been more involving or entertaining.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Reviews

Perhaps the Best Armchair Scientist Book I've Ever Read, May 28, 2003
I picked this one up expecting "good". Instead, I got one of the most delightful reading experiences in science that I have ever had. What a wonderful surprise.

Bryson tries to do what most school textbooks never manage to do, explain the context of science in a way that is relevant to the average person. At the beginning of the book, he recalls an event from his childhood when he looked at a school text and saw a cross-section of our planet. He was transfixed by it, but noticed that the book just dryly presented the facts ("This is the core." "This part is molten rock." "This is the crust.", etc.), but never really explained HOW science came to know this particular set of facts. That, he quite correctly points out, is the most interesting part. And that is story he sets out to tell in this book.

Bryson obviously spent a great deal of time and effort developing and checking his facts and presentation. He obviously enjoyed every minute of it too, and it shows. Never have I read a book where the author conveyed such joyful awe of what we have learned as a species (with the possible exception of some of Richard Feynman's books).

My benchmark for this kind of book is usually; How well does it explain modern physics? There are few books out there that manage to explain relativity, quantum mechanics and string theory in a way that doesn't make your eyes glaze over. The Dancing Wu Li Masters by Gary Zukav is the best of the lot in my opinion. While this book did not change my opinion, Bryson's explanations of these mind-bending theories are not only lucid and sensible, they are also full of his telltale tongue-in-cheek side comments and therefore are just plain fun to read. However, Bryson goes way beyond Zukav, focusing not only on physics, but on the full panoply of scientific disciplines. He also focuses more on the discoverers themselves, and the process of discovery.

One of the things I like about this book is that Bryson again and again makes sure credit is given where credit it due. For many discoveries, he tells us the "official" story, but also tells us the often untold story of the small-time scientist who got the idea first but, for whatever reason, never got credit. This happens a great deal in science, and Bryson appears to be on a quest to set the record straight when he can. The result is not only charming storytelling, it's got a certain justice that just feels good.

I didn't have huge expectations for this book, but I am delighted to report that it is one of the best of its kind. Hurrah to Bryson for writing it, and hurrah to me for stumbling on it.

A Man Said to the Universe, November 13, 2005
Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything" is beautifully written, very entertaining and highly informative--and now, it is lavishly illustrated as well.

Bryson is not a scientist, but rather a curious and observant writer who, several years ago, realized that he couldn't tell a quark from a quasar, or a proton from a protein. Bryson set out to cure his ignorance of things scientific, and the result was "A Short History of Nearly Everything," which was originally published in 2003.

For readers who are new to science and its history, "A Short History of Nearly Everything" contains one remarkable revelation after another. It is amazing how enormous, tiny, complex and just plain weird the universe is. Learning about "everything" is a humbling experience, and I kept thinking of Stephen Crane's blank verse: "A man said to the Universe: 'Sir, I exist!' 'However,' replied the Universe, 'the fact has not created in me a sense of obligation.'"

Just as engaging as Bryson's story of what we know is the parallel story of how we know it--from the first clever experiments to figure out how much the earth weighs to today's ongoing efforts to describe the origins of the universe itself, it becomes obvious that science is not an answer but a process, a way of learning about a world that always seems to have one more trick up its sleeve.

Whatever else may be said about the universe, Bryson explains that learning about its mysteries is a very human endeavor. The book is peppered with tales of the odd turns, like Percival Lowell, the astronomer who saw canals on Mars when in fact there are none (and whose initials figured in the naming of "Pl"uto, the ninth planet); the Askesian Society, a learned 19th century body devoted to the study of laughing gas; and the knock-down, drag-out personal battles between scientists whose genius was rivaled only by their lack of civility.

This is a superb book and a quick read despite its length. The illustrated edition makes the journey all the more enjoyable.

All that stuff we were supposed to have learned, but ..., May 11, 2003
I am a big fan of Bill Bryson's travelogues. I was therefore surprised when I cam across this, somewhat more weighty, tome. But I am pleased that I picked it up.

The author says he didn't do very well in science when he was in school because the teachers and texts seemed to be hiding all the good stuff. Now, as an adult, he's gone after the good stuff. And he's the guy to write it so the rest of us can understand. Not only does he write clearly, but he's very good at explaining as much as a normal person can understand (of relativity, for example), while pointing to the stuff that's weird, and setting aside the stuff that you have to be a specialist to understand.

He also is very good at giving credit to people who thought of things but were ignored until someone else came along and took credit. This has happened all too frequently, and it's good for the record to be set straight.

If you too were afraid of science, this is a wonderful book. If you already know a lot of this but just like to read enjoyable writing--it's also a wonderful book.

A layman's guide to the history of the world, June 11, 2003
I've spent the past few days devouring Bill Bryson's latest work: A Short History of Nearly Everything. It's an incredible read and reinforces how amazing the history of the earth really is. Bill's wit and comedic timing that has made all his previous travel books instant classics is absent, but it has been replaced with an enthusiastic and somber tone that is just as interesting to read. I've enjoyed all his previous books, but I like this one just as much, even though it's a bit of a departure.

Bryson took three years to research the book by conducting interviews and reading lots of history and it comes through in the text. You almost feel like you were in the room with Bill, following prominent scientists around, asking newbie questions. Bryson comes off as genuinely enthralled by the subjects at hand and you learn new things along with him. The narrative reminds me a great deal of James Burke's books and Connections TV series. Bryson not only tells the tales of how things came to be, but he's constantly weaving a link between all the various stories and pulling similar themes out.

It's a fantastic book and reminds me why I was so enamored by science in school. It also drives the point home many times that we are very, very lucky to be standing here, doing what we do everyday. The chances that the universe came together to enable it are insanely slim for all sorts of reasons as you will quickly find out.

Not quite everything, but enough..., November 16, 2005
I was first acquainted with Bill Bryson through his works on the English language and various travelogue types of books. In these books he proved to be an entertaining writer, witty and interesting, with just the right amount of I'm-not-taking-myself-too-seriously attitude to make for genuinely pleasurable reading. Other books of his, 'Notes from a Small Island' and 'The Mother Tongue', are ones I return to again and again. His latest book, one of the longer ones (I was surprised, as most Bryson books rarely exceed 300 pages, and this one weighs in well past 500), is one likely to join those ranks.

Of course, a history of everything, even a SHORT history of NEARLY everything, has got to be fairly long. Bryson begins, logically enough, at the beginning, or at least the beginning as best science can determine. Bryson weaves the story of science together with a gentle description of the science involved - he looks not only at the earliest constructs of the universe (such as the background radiation) but also at those who discover the constructs (such as Penzias and Wilson).

A great example of the way Bryson weaves the history of science into the description of science, in a sense showing the way the world changes as our perceptions of how it exists change, is his description of the formulation, rejection, and final acceptance of the Pangaea theory. He looks at figures such as Wegener (the German meteorologist - 'weatherman', as Bryson describes him) who pushed forward the theory in the face of daunting scientific rejection that the continents did indeed move, and that similarities in flora and fauna, as well as rock formations and other geological and geographical aspects, can be traced back to a unified continent. Bryson with gentle humour discusses the attitudes of scientists, as they shifted not quite as slowly as the continents, towards accepting this theory, making gentle jabs along the way (Einstein even wrote a foreword to a book that was rather scathing toward the idea of plate tectonics - brilliance is no guarantee against being absolutely wrong).

Bryson traces the development of the universe and the world from the earliest universe to the formation of the planet, to the growing diversity of life forms to development of human beings and human society. Inspired by Natural History (the short history refers more to natural history than anything else), this traces the path to us and possible futures. Bryson juxtaposes the creation of the Principia by Isaac Newton with the extinction of the dodo bird - stating that the word contained divinity and felony in the nature of humanity, the same species that can rise to the heights of understanding in the universe can also, for no apparent reason, cause the extinction of hapless and harmless fellow creatures on earth. Are humans, in Bryson's words, 'inherently bad news for other living things'? He recounts many of the truly staggering follies of species-hunting, particularly in the nineteenth century, calling upon people to take far more care of the planet with which we have been entrusted, either through design or fate.

Bryson's take on things is innovative and his narrative is interesting, but there is a point to it, just as there is with most of his writing. He writes not merely to entertain, or to inform, but to persuade. Bryson is intrigued by science, having a joy that comes across the page of someone who essentially did not know or understand a lot of the background of science and how it worked in the world until recently, and now wants to share that joy with everyone! He definitely has points to argue - for starters, the need for open-mindedness, even among (perhaps particularly among) those who are supposed to have the open and searching intellects, the scientists themselves. He also wishes others to know more about science, professionals and laypersons, and more about our own origins as a people, both in terms of where we've come from, and how we've come to know about it.

This is a new version of his already-published text, this time with graphics, paintings, pictures, maps and other things that make the history come alive in new and interesting ways. This is a good revision, adding quite a bit to Bryson's already interesting text. Unique among Bryson's writing in many ways, this is in some ways a travelogue through geology, paleontology, cosmology and evolution. A fun and fascinating read!

An entertaining read, cautiously recommended, July 13, 2005
Bill Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything" has a lot of good points. It is above all a very entertaining and engaging read. Bryson writes in an informal, chatty style that at times reminded me of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. His subject is, essentially, life, the universe and (nearly) everything. Bryson aims to explore the history of science in general, summarizing not only what we know, but also how we know it - he sets himself the wonderful goal of trying to explain "how scientists work things out". It's a big task, and had Bryson accomplished it, this would have been an incredible book. As it is, "A Short History of Nearly Everything" is still a worthwhile read, despite its flaws, which I will soon discuss.

The organization of the book is partly chronological, partly thematic. It is divided into six parts and thirty relatively short chapters. The earlier parts focus on the physical sciences, including astronomy, cosmology, geology, physics and physical chemistry. The latter half of the book deals primarily with the life sciences - biology, ecology, botany, zoology, oceanography, organic chemistry and so on. It's a considerable challenge to organize such a large amount of material dealing with so many distantly-related subjects, and Bryson pulls it off quite well. I can make no criticism of his large-scale organization.

However, the devil is in the details, and many of the details Bryson chooses to include in his "Short History" have little if anything to do with what he's supposedly writing about. He has a persistent tendency to head off on irrelevant tangents and lose himself in anecdotes about some of the curious characters that have walked the halls of science. Bryson wastes far too much ink relating bizarre factoids picked up in the course of his research, from William Buckland's dining habits to Gideon Mantell's twisted spine. He especially loves recounting the details of feuds and squabbles between scientists - the more intense, underhanded, unreasonable and destructive, the better. In all of this, the material we picked up the book to explore can get somewhat lost. Chapter 10, for instance, is "an important and salutary tale of avarice, deceit, bad science, several needless deaths, and the final determination of the age of the Earth" - in that order of importance.

Reading "A Short History of Nearly Everything", I did greatly appreciate Bryson's ability to make clear how much scientists don't know and are still working to figure out. However, I was disappointed that despite his promise to explore "how scientists work things out", Bryson often just quotes results and conclusions without further explanation. Sometimes he doesn't even do that - modern physics is largely dismissed as wacky and incomprehensible.

Even worse, Bryson makes several glaring errors in his discussion of physics (and perhaps also in other areas that I'm not so familiar with), far worse than any I've seen in other popular science books I've read. For example, he suggests particles with "spin" are actually spinning about an axis (which they are not) and presents entanglement as a violation of relativity (which it is not). Bryson also incorrectly claims that the production of black holes within future particle accelerators would destroy the world. In fact, these microscopic black holes would evaporate in a fraction of a nanosecond - something that would have been very nice to learn in "A Short History of Nearly Everything".

I enjoy reading popular science, and much of what I've read I've found better than Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything". I would especially recommend Brian Greene, Stephen Hawking, Alan Guth and Martin Rees for physics, astronomy and cosmology, and Richard Dawkins and Stephen J. Gould for biology. However, I know of no other work that attempts to cover nearly as many fields as Bryson's "Short History". Even though Bryson's book wasn't able to live up to its initial promise, it was a decent read - one I recommend, though with some reservations.

Not Dumbed down. Gets you very excited about science., October 31, 2003
This book is the type of book that would inspire you to become a biologist or a geologist or an astronomer. From this book you are able to see bits and pieces of famous scientists lives and get a feeling by the end that its not all fun and games but at the same time it soooo very worth it to dedicate your life to the pursuit of furthering the knowledge of your fellow human beings and in some small way pushing our species in a positive direction. From reading this book you find out how all the knowledge from hundreds of years ago has become the basis of where we are today. This is conveyed extremely well to the audience. The other thing which is conveyed so very well is the power and destructive force of mother nature here on earth and in space. Parts of this book read better than seeing an end of the world movie because the author is so good at getting a vivid picture drawn in the reader's minds eye.

This book is so good and so comprehensive I can see myself reading this over again.

Thank you Bill Bryson for your hard, extensive research! Quite remarkable.

Wonderful Overview of Science and Scientists, August 13, 2003
I think this book should replace the texts used in most high school science courses. If it did, I think we would see more kids pursuing science careers, because Bryson does a wonderful job of conveying the joy and excitement of doing science as well as a sense of awe that our world evolved as it did.

Sure, given a book of this nature, there is plenty people could quibble with. Bryson's writing style is amusing and entertaining, though it doesn't come close to matching "A walk in the woods," (but then again, not much could...). Readers expecting the humor quotient of that book or Bryson's other travel books will be disappointed, however. And although one can tell Bryson struggled valiantly to make the chapter on quantum physics understandable, he didn't succeed (at least for me). For example, he relates a study showing that one atomic particle can affect another atomic particle 70 miles away, simultaneously. I still don't understand how that can happen and wish somebody could explain it to me.

But those are minor complaints compared to what this book is able to accomplish, which is to provide a broad, yet admirably detailed, education in the physical and biological sciences. I am overjoyed to see this book on the bestseller lists, because if enough people read it, we can no longer be accused of being the scientific ignoramuses that we largely have been. I think it could also work to serve more effectively as an environmental wake-up call than the wide array of existing polemical books that are read only by the already convinced.

Lastly, perhaps the aspect of the book I admired and enjoyed the most is the way Bryson provides the human side of science through his frequent character sketches of the quirks and foibles of the many scientists whose work is reviewed. I may soon forget, once again, all three of Newton's laws of motion, but I will never--for the rest of my life--forget that he once inserted a rod behind his eyeball and stirred it around "just to see what would happen." This book is worth reading just for the anecdotes, and along the way you will learn an incredible amount of science.

Armchair Traveler Develops Genius of Rocket-Scientist!, November 15, 2003
When I picked up "A Short History of Nearly Everything" I had abosolutely no idea what to expect. As a travel junkie who can rarely afford to travel myself, I grab Bill Bryson's books whenever I can with great enthusiasm. His keen wit in presenting characters and scenes is unparalleled, and in this new romp (in which he narrates a journey through not just a county but through the scientific world as well as space and time) he is in top form.

Bryson's everyman prose makes the mysteries of scientific thought interesting, understandable, and funny. The book begins with the building blocks of the universe and works its way slowly down through the smaller mysteries such as life on earth and why human beings even exist. However, the science of the work does not become overwhelming to the lay-reader and Bryson maintains an admirable sense of wonder and joy throughout.

And, of course, the text is delightfully littered with anecdotes about the men and women who have dedicated themselves to discovering and defining these mysteries. Both living and dead, these men and women take on life that leaps off the pages, making them feel like old friends. And from the comfort of your favorite reading spot, you feel like you could be sharing a pint with them and Bill in a cozy pub somewhere.

I recommend this book to anyone who has a inclination for pondering the large questions of life but who is equally interested in keeping his or her sense of humor and sanity in tact.

Science Explained For The Rest Of Us, July 14, 2003
Bill Bryson has done something exceedingly useful: written a book that explains the major tenants of science in a form that non-scientists can understand and enjoy.

This is a smart and intelligent book that retains Bryson's charming and witty voice in the telling of the broad range of natural history. It is interesting that this author can retain his appeal across mediums -- he is known as a witty travel writer and has also produced fun and intelligent books on the history of the English language. Now, he goes far afield and explains natural philosophy, as the sciences were once called, in a way that textbooks have avoided ever since there have been science textbooks.

Bryson tackles space, the origins of the universe, geology, the formation of the Earth, physics, the beginning and development of life, cells, DNA and humans in this natural world round-up. Each chapter follows a similar format. A fascinating tidbit is introduced to draw the reader in, the history of understanding in each field is discussed and the evolution of thinking to the current state of understanding explained. This format is enlivened by the personalities past and present (including science's crackpots, iconoclasts and geniuses).

Besides the Bryson wit, what makes this a phenomenally good read is the author's ability to relate scientific principles with examples that laymen can understand and that clarify often confusing scientific knowledge and theories.

For example, I was floored to learn that our solar system is so vast, that it literally could not be drawn to scale on any size in a meaningful way. Neptune is five times farther from Jupiter than Jupiter is from Earth. On a scale drawing with Earth the size of a pea, Jupiter would be a thousand feet away and Pluto a mile and a half (and the size of a bacterium). Now that illustrates space in our immediate environs better than I've every seen it described before.

What is the largest concentration of magma waiting to blow? (and possibly blow us out of existence) It's under Yellowstone National Park. Ten percent of the weight of a six year old pillow is dead skin flakes, mites and mite dung. Most physicists think Einstein wasted the second half of his life pursuing a unified theory instead of thinking about other useful things. Every human cell contains DNA strands that are six feet long if laid end to end. The core of the Earth is as hot as the surface of the sun - and solid because of the immense pressure compacting that mass. Only three percent of the Earth's water is fresh, and almost all of this is in ice sheets - only a scanty .03% of the total is available to us a fresh, flowing water.

Interesting tidbits like the above abound. So do dire stories about past volcanic activity, changes in magnetism, changes in atmospheric conditions and asteroid impacts that have periodically befell Earth and helped move species development forward (usually by wiping out most species existing at the time). Could they/ would they happen in the future? Sure. However, the scale of time over which the next cataclysmic event may occur could be so far removed that we will have evolved into something else (or have found a way to blow up or steer threatening asteroids out of our way).

This book fascinates and amuses. If science textbooks had a bit of this ability to relate and engage during my time in school, I'd bet today there would be a lot more scientists working to figure out the remaining mysteries of our world. ... Read more

Editorial Review

A Brief History of Time, published in 1988, was a landmark volume in science writing and in world-wide acclaim and popularity, with more than 9 million copies in print globally. The original edition was on the cutting edge of what was then known about the origins and nature of the universe. But the ensuing years have seen extraordinary advances in the technology of observing both the micro- and the macrocosmic world--observations that have confirmed many of Hawking's theoretical predictions in the first edition of his book.

Now a decade later, this edition updates the chapters throughout to document those advances, and also includes an entirely new chapter on Wormholes and Time Travel and a new introduction. It make vividly clear why A Brief History of Time has transformed our view of the universe. ... Read more

Reviews

Many Different Angles, February 3, 2000
Most people know that Hawking is a brilliant physicist, but after reading this book, one develops a respect for his other talents as well. Most noticeable is Stephen Hawking's ability to make very complicated ideas seem quite clear through good explanations, clear comparisons to real life events, and a soft humor. The organization of chapers mostly follows a chronological order, which gives a sense of history from Aristotle to present day, yet also establishes concepts in an order that builds on itself. One also realizes that A Brief History of Time was written by a writer, not a scientist who happened to put ideas to paper. This makes a big difference in the enjoyment of a book, since good information in a dry, dull form can be difficult to read (remember trying to keep your eyes open while reading a dull textbook in a subject of interest?). On the other hand, interesting information presented in an interesting manner make A Brief History of Time as much of a 'page-turner' as physics can be.

In summary, a fountain of information from galaxies and black holes to quantum mechanics presented in such a way that is not only as easy to understand as it can be, but is an enjoyable experience to read.

No master of the written word, December 6, 1999
Hawking is no master of the written word. Early on, he warns us not to consult his earlier books for more detail - because they are "quite unreadable". He also admits that, during the production of this book, his editor bombarded him with comments and questions. The impact of this editorial input is plain. The book wallows from unnecessarily long complex sentences written in the passive sense to snappy anecdotes from Hawking's life.

I found the early chapters very useful as overviews of the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. The middle chapters - on black holes and the origin of the Universe - were clearly written with enthusiasm.

However, that enthusiasm seemed to fade towards the end of the book. The chapter on the arrows of time seems to have been lifted from an old speech. Here's what I'm about to tell you: this is what I'm saying: this is what I've just told you.

Also, the explanation of the cosmological arrow of time left a lot of questions hanging. Question: What will happen when the Universe starts to contract - will people start to experience time running backwards? Answer: Intelligent life could not exist because, by then, all the stars will have burned out. Well, OK - but does that answer whether time is in reverse or not?

Chapter 10 introduces string theory. Clearly this is an incredibly complicated subject and not capable of being explained in a book entitled "Brief History". However, the way the subject is introduced and then dropped is tantalising. Apparently, string theories are only consistent if space-time has either ten or twenty-six dimensions. All these extra dimensions are curled up into space of a very small size. I, for one, would have liked more explanation of what that means.

In summary, a useful but frustrating book that varies in tone as the pages turn. I feel a better populist book would have resulted if Hawking had used a ghost writer to interpret his ideas, rather than simply submitting his own words to the scrutiny of an editor.

It's not THAT good, nor is it THAT easy to read., January 30, 2003
I don't care what anyone says, that book was not easy to get through. I have a degree in Math, and he does not give this stuff in layman's terms. Most of it, will eventually make sense if you can wrap your head around the hard to grasp principles, but he keeps adding more, and more to the theories and he will definitely lose you at some point.

Now don't get me wrong, it's obvious that we are dealing with complicated stuff, and he needs to discuss these things, but I just don't want you to think that this is an easy read. It's a necessary read, and I DO recommend you buy it, but don't think it will be easy.

Interesting but uneven and frustrating, April 4, 2003
Are the praises for this book really recognition of Hawking's accomplishments or that he achieved them despite his physical infirmities? I approached this book years ago and was swiftly and completely lost. Years passed and I found a wonderful (if dated) primer, Knowledge and Wonder by Weisskopf. My success in understanding K&W (I get quantum physics now and can easily explain it to others) convinced me to reapproach `Brief History.'

The book remains for informed insiders; perhaps not the inner circle, but definitely `you gotta know it to get it.' Hawking consistently gives very short descriptions of theories that he then refers to throughout the text, but in ways that have little to do with the aspects he defined and in fact require more complete information. For example, I was frustrated trying to use his explanation of the theory of general relativity (p 30) in re: subsequent references. Luckily, in the years between my earlier attempt and this reading, the web has burgeoned and I was able to find a more complete and yet still brief but comprehensible explanation of this theory. And oh my goodness, Hawking now made sense. Obviously the connection is clear in Hawking's mind, but it never made the transition to words on the page.

Despite all, I *did* get it. But unfortunately, rather than finishing with a desire to learn more I am just tired and glad to be done with it. I feel like I subjected myself to a badly presented lecture series.

Hawking's writing is poor. Ideas ramble, tangential information occasionally takes over so the actual subject at had gets lost, recapitulation is erratic. Some of the self-references are conspicuously self-serving. True, for a scientist it's decent, but the book's writing should not be judged by a different standard than any other writing. That's what editors are for, and apparently this book's editor was so overawed by Hawking that he forgot to do his job.

This book should not be iconized. Nor should it be touted as accessible to the layperson. The information is interesting, but you have to want it and work for it. And when you're done, what you get may not have been worth the effort you put in. It was for me, but just barely.

Now It Can Be Told: It's Overrated, January 25, 2003
Stephen Hawking became a celebrity because the image of a wheelchair-bound genius whose mind roamed free was so compelling. As the stir over him dies down, I think it will come out that this reputation-making work of his is not actually so great.

I am a smart and semi-numerate layman who loves popular science books, but I barely made it through this one. Although I have lost my copy, I recall that Hawking uses at least one important term without defining it, and at other times leaves you to connect the dots on your own in a frustrating, rather than stimulating, way.

Hawking's area is cosmology. I'm not sure who else to recommend to cover the same territory, although Kip Thorne has a good reputation (and a bet with Hawking over some cosmological hypothesis--probably decided by now--with the wager a subscription to Penthouse). If you enjoy physics books in general, I recommend Brian Greene's The Elegant Universe, and if you enjoy popular science in general, I recommend my all-time favorite popular science book, Steven Pinker's How The Mind Works.

Hawking is an Overrated Physicist/Writer, March 24, 2005
Hawking's story makes him a media favorite. The press (who know minimal physics if any) have for years given him the title "Greatest Physicist Since Einstein". He is an excellent physicist and a decent teacher but he is nowhere near being in the same league as Einstein, Newton or Maxwell. Paul Dirac and Richard Feynman are arguably the two most distinguished 20th Century physicists after Einstein. Ed Witten may be the most distinguished living physicist.

Richard Feynman (through his lectures transcribed on audiocassette/text formats and books) is perhaps physics's greatest teacher for the layperson and expert alike. Feynman had an unmatched knack for explaining high level physics in an original way. His "Lectures on Physics" is a classic and should be on the bookshelves of all physicists. Feynman's QED is the best non-mathematical description of quantum mechanics ever (QED stands for quantum electrodynamics, for which Feynman shared the Nobel Prize). His book, The Character of Physical Law, covers much of the same material as Brief History but is much clearer and more insightful. You won't have to unlearn anything from Feynman's books even if you decide to pursue a PhD in physics. I cannot say the same for Hawking's books. Read reviews on these and Feynman's other works. Also, Feynman lived an inspirational and incredibly rich life. He had the brains of Einstein, the showmanship of a performer (which made him a great teacher) and just a great love and wonder for life in general. Read reviews on "Surely You're Joking, Mr Feynman" and "Genius: The Life and Science of Richard Feynman" for more details. You won't regret it.

For those who want to read about what many physicists view as the best candidate for a "theory of everything", read The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene. Hyperspace by Michio Kaku is another great book of the same vane. For those interested in a complete description of physical law, read the Road To Reality by Roger Penrose.

Reading physics makes me go something something..., October 20, 2001
This book brings physics to the understanding of the average women and man. It's basically a survey's course on Einstein's relativity and quantum physics with a little black hole and big bang here and there. The real magic of this book is the author himself--reading from a man of his scientific stature, the enigmatic genus in the wheelchair feels more life-like rather than a caricature on a Simpson's episode. I really dug the part how we can speculate that the universe is presently expanding and not contracting. I liked how it made me muse on time and the life that we see today would differ if the universe was headed back to its origin. The book does leave me with a sense of wanting to more, which was good because I went on to read Brian Greene's "The Elegant Universe" afterwards. "The Elegant Universe" proved to be more elucidating in explaining Einstein's relativity and quantum physics, and goes into a bit of a breadth in black holes and big bangs (in the frame work of string theory). It is true that the book is the successor to "A Brief History of Time", but I feel Brian Greene's book lacks the charm that Hawking has put into his (or the charm that we put into it). At any rate, both very good books for the novice at mind.

Pithy, packed with info, December 11, 2000
I am the quintessential sophmore in high school. I even live up to the greek meaning: "wise-fool"; I am the kid who lacks the intelligence to be a "nerd" but wishes he had the capacity to be one. I eagerly pick up books that are far over my head, but this book was different. A Brief history of Time presents an intricate topic generally for the simplistic, non astro-rocket scientist type. Hawking didn't gorge his book with alien equations and twenty letter words. Hawking didn't intend this book to be read by Ph.D's in physics, intending instead to write it for laymen, sophmores, like me. The book isn't intended to enable the reader to write disquisitions on wormholes after reading it; however, it is a primer. It acquaints the reader with the subject It is written succiently and the only reason I am giving it four stars is because I am still skeptical that for some readers it may be superficial. But heck for us sophmores it is enough information to at least appear smart... So what do you think about the Space-Time Continuim?

Excellent Popular Work on Complex Subject .. But Uninspiring, January 17, 1999
I must be the only person who finds Stephen Hawking uninspiring. I give the man credit for his ability to reach out across the science boundary and touch the mind of the average person. And he no doubt is qualified to discuss the subject of the book. Perhaps I expected too much given all the praise that people have showered upon Hawking's popular books. Whatever the reason, I found the book to be adequate at best. There was nothing truly inspiring or enlightening that energized my scientific curiosity. However, I'm willing to give Hawking credit for his ability to speak the language of the common man in order to convey complex scientific concepts. There are few scientists that can do this and even fewer who write popular works. For this reason, I give Hawking 4 stars, whereas I would have only given him 3 from my own personal impressions.

A great theoretical physicist shows that he is also a great writer, January 11, 2007
Universally hailed as the greatest theoretical physicist since Einstein, Dr. Hawking serves as both an intellectual and physical inspiration. His disability - Lou Gehrig's disease- serves to make his every endeavor a slow and tedious affair, and yet his professional output remains very high, both in quality and quantity. This book is no exception.
Written at the level of the layperson, it is clear, concise, and through. As the title suggests, he begins with the origin of the universe and progresses through the theoretical foundation for, and the evidence in favor of, the existence of black holes. Of particular interest is his thermodynamic analysis of black holes, showing that they too, obey the second law of thermodynamics. Combining the ideas of general relatively and quantum mechanics, he was able to show that a black hole is really not totally black; it does leak radiation at a rate inversely proportional to its mass. This debunking of the supposed "final fate of matter" once again shows that the universe "is stranger than we can possibly imagine."
The only sad note occurs in the acknowledgements when Dr. Hawking explains the lack of equations by stating that every equation that appears in a book will cut its sales in half. This is an unfortunate comment on the degree of intellectual sophistication of the reading public.

Published in School Science and Mathematics, reprinted with permission.
... Read more

Editorial Review

High up in the Bolivian Andes-4,000 meters above sea level-lies Pumapunku, an ancient ruined city that simply could never have been constructed by its Stone Age inhabitants."Something here really stinks to high heaven," writes Erich von Daniken.

"In Twilight of the Gods," says von Daniken, "I document precisely what it was that left the first visitors breathless as they stood before the mighty stone blocks some 400 years ago. I will show you what archeologists discovered hundreds of years ago and demonstrate how much has been destroyed over the centuries. Intentionally.

"I will also prove that Pumapunku was not built by any Stone Age people.

"And in December 2012, the gods will return from their long journey and appear again here on Earth. At least that is what the Mayan calendar would have us believe.

"The so-called gods--the extraterrestrials--will come again. We're headed for a 'god shock' of major proportions.

"But doesn't anyone with half a brain know that interstellar travel is simply impossible because of the sheer distances involved? And that extraterrestrials would never look like us?

"Well, dear readers, I destroy these preconceptions. Systematically. One bit at a time."

In his own inimitable way, Erich von Daniken picks these preconceptions and prejudices apart with a clarity no other author could manage. ... Read more

Reviews

Concise and engrossing, August 3, 2010
Having read a lot of Erich von Daniken's work, I knew what to expect going in and I was not disappointed. I was honestly surprised at how quickly I finished this book and how much I learned from it. The subject matter was very engaging and inspired me to conduct additional research on the specific examples presented. This book is very hard to put down, it is very well paced and will leave you with some interesting mysteries.

Amazing reading of ancient cultures!!! A must read for all., August 29, 2010
In the past,I have read about ancient civilizations who made contact with alien forms but so far this book goes above and beyond. The author actually includes his own pictures of the sites he visited so the book has a lot of credibility for those who still are not convinced of these facts. There are too many coincidences of facts that make it impossible not to grasp the idea of aliens visiting the earth thousands of years ago. I'm looking forward to new material from Erich von Daniken. Great work.

Enthusiastic but disjointed, November 8, 2010
Erich von Daniken is most famous for his 1968 book Chariots of the Gods in which he put forth the theory that civilization was brought to earth by alien space travellers that taught some humans their ways and this is the source of the world's major religions and brought mankind from the caveman era to civilization in places such as Egypt. He believes that this truth is documented in the art and writings of the ancient civilizations. The 1970s documentary In Search of Ancient Astronauts was also inspired by this book. Just to be fair to those that read this review, I do not espouse von Daniken's beliefs, but I do find him to be interesting and I enjoy reading about the connections that he sees.

"In Twilight of the Gods: The Mayan Calender and the Return of the Extraterrestrials" von Daniken expounds upon his theory with a bit with more examples of items that should pique the interest of those that endorse von Danikens assertions. Although the title implies this is a exhaustive look at the Mayan Calender and the popular belief that it says the world will end on December 23, 2012, von Daniken does not even address the Mayans until he is two-thirds of the way through the book. Most of his book concerns a pre-Incan site in Bolivia called Puma Punku and the amazing buildings and stonework there.

I do have some argument with von Daniken's history of the Maya. He leads his readers to believe that the Maya were a very healthy civilization before the Spanish began to push into their territory after conquering the Aztecs in 1521. In reality, the classic Maya, the ones that von Daniken is referring to in his book, had collapsed more than 500 years earlier. The Maya that the Spanish conquered were a shell of the classic Maya with a lot of outside influence (if not outright occupation) by such groups as the Toltecs.

Von Daniken implies that the Maya were the earliest civilizations in the area and there is no way that they could have observed some of the older astrological phenomena that they record. He fails to note that the "source" culture for the region is believed to be the Olmec, who existed nearly 2000 years before the Classic Maya.

Interestingly, von Daniken is very derisive of evolution (not of changes in species but in the idea of all life coming from some sort of primordial goo). He uses terminology that reminds me very much of Ken Ham and his Answers in Genesis books. However, von Daniken espouses a theory (I think he does anyway, he throws around a lot of theories at the end of the book) called Panspermia that teaches that an umknown life form shot out its DNA all over the universe, much like one would scatter seeds out of an airplane. Most of it was unsuccessful, but in some places life took hold.

Von Daniken is interesting, as always. However, he is in serious need of an editor to keep him on the topic at hand. I have already mentioned the complete lack of mention of the Maya in the first half of the book, despite the title. Von Daniken discusses everything from Bolivia's archaeological community to Hitler to climate change in his most disciplined section of the book, the first half.

In the last half of the book he seems to toss out random thoughts about the Mayan predictions about the end of time and then moves on to comment on long distance space travel, alien visitors to Tibet, how ideas spread, SETI, warp drives, the astronomers of the Catholic Church and electrons, among other things, in a conclusion that is most unsatisfying.

Is the book entertaining?

Yes, but it could have been much better organized.

Is there food for thought here?

Sure, but to extend the metaphor, if von Daniken were a chef, this would be a very sloppy, half-considered meal indeed.

Erich von Daniken does it again!, September 23, 2010
Must read! My entire way of thinking was changed when I read Chariots of the Gods back in the 70's. It opened my eyes to a lot of things I'd never thought about. This book is very relavent to whats going on TODAY. I truly believe that most of the world is in for a "God shock" - soon!

good news for those who want to know the truth, October 9, 2010
The book is a very good read for those who seek the truth. If you feel short-changed by your religious upbringing about the history of human beings, then this book will give you the seed of wisdom.I can't describe properly why this book gave me wisdom, but it did. I have begun looking for more in what the gods aka ancient astronauts have taught the first successful experiment on human cloning. I am going to read all of Daniken's books. Read "chariots of the gods" or "Footprints in the sands of time" for a primer to the subject and these books will give you what you need to know about human beings. I would like to give the book a 5 rating but in this earthly dimension there is no perfect score, so I give this book a 4 rating.
GS-Malaysia.

Very good book, October 3, 2010
Very good book with new approaches about UFO's phenomena.
Congratulations to Mr. E. Von D�niken.

Simply the best!!!!!, November 21, 2010
Twilight of the Gods: The Mayan Calendar and the Return of the Extraterrestrials

I got this book on Kindle and now I am addicted to kindle. Will never wait a week for a mail man to deliver an Amazon book to my door again and if it is not on Kindle, then I simply will not by it.

This book is great. It is basically the book that is now a mini-TV series on the History Channel called "Ancient Aliens." It is very easy to read, flows with great material and is one of the most authoritative guides on Ancient Aliens and Alien Influence on the planet Earth that I have ever read. Of course, the author is fascinated with Latin American, so he really gets in debt with the alien life that dwelled in the ancient Americas, goes into the Bible and its alien influences plus he by the time you finish the first few chapters, you will know the entire study of Ancient Aliens by intellectuals, including Adolph Hitler, ins such ease that one will not even know that they have become a scholar and expert on the subject of Ancient Aliens and Civilizations.

I really love the book because, like other European Authors, who isn't constantly weighing the reader down with Greek and Roman mythology but is very generous with giving an honest and accurate history, even if it includes saying that white people were not intertwined with every great civilization on the planet, as other authors would like us to believe. He gives the evidence and the facts in a clear and readable manner but it is indeed some heavy material to absorb. I have never read a better book on this subject matter.

Fascinating, November 16, 2010
I found this book to be really fascinating. I have not read his other books but I am vaguely familiar with his work and that of Z. Sitchen. I enjoyed looking at the pictures too - there's a fair many both black and white and color photos. There were times I'd just catch myself looking at one of the pictures for 10-15 minutes!
I found I could read between 25-50 pages of this book at once and that was my limit, but not because it wasn't interesting, it was because I'd have to just 'think' about it.
It was a bit disjointed going between the cultures but that was my only complaint.
I enjoyed it so much I literally read it with a flashlight. It really sparks the imagination!

Mind opening, October 11, 2010
This was my first Erich Von Daniken's book I've read, and at least for me, it has been a very mind opening experience. The author provides very sound evidence for it's claims and theories, although it's up to the reader to decide whether to accept these theories or not.
I have recommended this book to many friends and relatives and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to someone else. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The author, former U.S. Naval Intelligence Briefing TeamMember, reveals information kept secret by our government since the1940s.UFOs, the J.F.K.. assassination, the Secret Government, the waron drugs and more by the world's leading expert on UFOs. ... Read more

Reviews

Knowledge is Power, April 24, 2002
Behold a Pale Horse is definitely not a book to curl up on the couch with on a Sunday afternoon. The topics William Cooper discusses will very likely keep you reading late into the night. There are two types of people in the world: those who want to know who exactly is controlling whom, and those who are more comfortable taking things at face value. I will say up front that I didn't believe everything I read in this book, such as some of the references about UFOs. What really disturbed me was the theory of the true intent of the government. Cooper's account of what the government is capable of in times of heightened alert is extremely relevant now. It is important to keep in mind that this book was published before the attack on the World Trade Center because the US is finding itself in exactly the position Cooper predicted. Whether or not you think you might agree with the information in this book, I recommend any book written by someone who was killed for the purpose of silencing him or her. Be an informed citizen and know what your government is capable of.

A Wild and Crazy Guy, November 1, 2005
First of all, I will date myself. I have been around the UFO/Conspiracy genre for over 30 years. I have close friends who knew "Wild" Bill. He was, in fact, a Viet Nam era intelligence officer. In fact, I have it on good source that he was what was known as a "uniform changer", meaning he could show up as a navy commander and later as an air force major. These folks had special priviledge and this should not be taken lightly.
I remember when his book came out and many felt that it took some guts to say the things that he did. The UFO issue aside, he had some good information on the other subjects in this book. The UFO information was pretty much the "vanilla version" of what was generally known in those days (the early 90's)
It is my understand that he did have license to kill and actually threatened one of my friends. He could be loud and belligerent, which another friend witnessed once when they ran into him at a bar. In some ways, I can see how he could have been killed by police if he got way to aggressive. He was known for that.
In his talks to groups he used to refer to the public as "sheeple" and I have come to agree with him. He was right on the money about what subsequently occurred in the late 90's and after the millenia. More than anything, the one thing that Bill Cooper hit right on was the prime agenda of those in power- population control by any means.
As a testamony to his guts, I highly recommend this book. But, I strongly suggest that you don't stop there. Research, research, research. In doing so you will get down in the dumps, but you will find things that will change the way that you view the world.

A must read!!!, November 30, 2003
Let me start this review with the truth about Bill's death. Milton William Cooper (58) was shot and killed by deputies of the Apache County (Arizona) Sheriff's Office while they were attempting to serve an arrest warrant for aggravated assault and endangerment on Nov. 5, 2001. I won't go into any further details, since the reader can find more information on the web - and some of it is even RIGHT!!!

His death on "unrelated" charges is most interesting to me. Were those charges just a way to shut him up and discredit him at the same time? Did the sheriff's office go to his home that evening with the intent of getting their man dead and not alive? While I don't have any proof about this, it does stir my imagination.

There are two things to keep in mind while reading this that will help you absorb the information inside his book.

1) This book was published in 1991. You'll understand the significance of that date as he accurately predicts events that have come to pass!

2) Disregard all of the instances where he talks about "alien" U.F.O.'s, moon bases, and other extraterrestrial issues. He later said that all such documents he saw while in Naval Intelligence on those issues were false information to mislead the reader.

Let's start the review!

INTRODUCTION

FOREWORD

1) SILENT WEAPONS FOR QUIET WARS

A reprint of a document found in a IBM copier bought at a surplus sale. In short this document is a blue print for controlling a population. Some have claimed that it's a fake. If it's a fake then someone went to great lengths to draft such a insightful document - but why?

2) SECRET SOCIETIES AND THE NEW WORLD ORDER

A good introduction to secret societies like the Freemasons, Jason Group, Trilateral Commission, CFR, and the Illuminati. On page 72 he accurately predicted that the Galileo spacecraft was going to crash into Jupiter in an attempt to ignite its atmosphere! (Anyone out there remember 2010 and what happened to Jupiter in that movie?)

3) OATH OF INITIATION OF AN UNIDENTIFIED SECRET ORDER

You'll have to decide for yourself if you want to believe this oath.

4) SECRET TREATY OF VERONA

A sample of how Monarchs use treaties to regain their crowns.

5) GOOD-BY USA, HELLO NEW WORLD ORDER

Plans for the suspension of the Constitution and the role of Mt. Weather in bringing it about.

6) H.R. 7049 & FEMA

After reading this chapter you won't doubt the real purpose of FEMA.

7) ANTI-DRUG ABUSE ACT OF 1988

An excellent example of how congress (which is the opposite of progress!) passes legislation which on the surface seems to be reasonable, but under the surface it's really an attempt to suspend due proses, trail by jury, and bring about a police state!

8) ARE THE SHEEP READY TO SHEER?

It covers an Oklahoma law that requires residents of that state to declare to the tax collector every piece of property that they own! A good way for the government to know what you own - especially guns!

9) ANATOMY OF AN ALLIANCE

A discussion about population control and various attempts to decrease the world's population. On page 168 he reveals the origins of AIDS (H.B. 15090) and how it was spread by vaccine. How international wars are created for population control.

10) LESSONS FROM LITHUANIA

A short (two page) but excellent article by Neal Knox on gun control.

11) COUP DE GRACE

A transcript of a conversation between Bill and Randall Terpstra, who was a radioman and crypto operator in the U.S. Navy. They discuss how Nixon was forced to resign by the U.S. military, U.F.O.'s, "Operation Majority," and so on.

12) THE SECRET GOVERNMENT

He discusses a lot about aliens and U.F.O.'s in this chapter. On page 215 he reveals the truth about the assassination of J.F.K. How Prozac is used along with hypnosis and mind control techniques to motivate people to commit mass shootings in order to disarm the public.

13) TREASON IN HIGH PLACES

An article on how treaties can be used to erode the sovereignty of the U.S.A.

14) A PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL MODEL FOR THE NEWSTATES OF AMERICA

A reprint of a proposed socialist constitution by the Center for Democratic Studies. It's hard to believe that $25,000,000 was spent on this trash.

15) PROTOCOLS OF THE WISE MEN OF ZION

Is this document really the protocols of the Illuminati? Read it and decide for yourself.

16) THE STORY OF JONATHAN MAY

A 26 page story about what happens when someone challenged the Fed money system.

17) DOCUMENTATION: U.S. ARMY INTELLIGENCE CONNECTION WITH SATANIC CHURCH

The title is self-explanatory.

APPENDIXES
A) WILLIAM COOPER'S MILITARY RECORD
B) UFOs AND AREA 51
C) ALIEN IMPLANTS
D) AIDS
E) NEW WORLD ORDER
F) U.S. GOVERNMENT DRUG INVOLVEMENT
G) KURZWEIL vs. HOPKINS

Brave man down..., July 8, 2005
Whatever criticisms can be levelled against this book, I believe it to be Bill's honest attempt to reveal the Truth as he knew it, at that time.

For those who are new to Conspiracy Theory, this is a mine of information, and for those who are more knowledgable, it still stands as a classic of the genre, and a very courageous book.

Bill's 'convenient' death in a questionable shootout came as no surprise to most Conspiracy buffs, as the guy threw down the gauntlet in a big way. He was fearless.

One fascinating addition to his Kennedy assassination info came in his video, Kennedy: The Sacrificed King, in which he examines the Zapruder film of Kennedy being hit, and by virtual frame advancing, the clip appears to show JFK's driver, William Greer, shooting JFK over his shoulder, delivering the second and probably ultimately fatal shot.

As for some of his Alien info, I know military intelligence hierarchies, and Bill was only operating at a relatively low level in his Naval Intel role (whatever his supposed Clearance), so he never had access to the big picture, and he himself was vulnerable to Disinformation, as he suspected himself. What he conveys is a mixture of Truth and DI.

On a technical note, the book is not a polished, edited finished product, and many of his strategies such as continuous capitalization for emphasis make it hard to read at times, but the content itself makes it well worth the effort to press on.

Like so many of his brothers and sisters, the guy served his Country with honor in Vietnam. There is much to respect about the man.

A Good Book to Read, September 14, 1999
After reading this book, I almost feel certain that this man ( William Bill Cooper )really did stumbled on some very important documents from the military. The proof is right in front of my eyes as I read his service record pages from the Navy on how he was absent from CINPACFLT base after learning the real truth about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. But my overall interest is chapter 12, about the secret government ( FEMA )and the real purpose of MJ-12. To tell you the truth, when that television series " Dark Skies " made its debut in 1996, some of the material and information from that show was basically explained in Cooper's book. As they say the truth is out there. I hope you understand where I'm coming from. I'm still looking for more books on UFO's and the possibility of exterrestrail encounters. I must keep in mind that I cannot allow these publishers or editors take me on a joy ride of disinformation. However, "Behold a Pale Horse" is very interesting and enlightning for those who believe that a conspiracy really exist in our country. Thank you for reading my review.

A Must Read!, December 18, 1999
This is one of the only books I have ever bought two copies of at full price, just so I wouldn't lose my copy when loaning the book. And, I could only seem to get a copy by ordering it. Cooper had a radio show that was most always a shocker, so I had to check out his book. There is much discussion about UFO conspiracy, but not the usual rap, and not the true focus of the book. He ties the UFO phenomena with other info that is sure to change the way one looks at conspiracies, suggesting that, in the very least, the public is only being told the twisted truth. Most of it was not written by him, only compiled by him, much of it being photo duplicated from originals. He doesn't care if you think he's crazy or arrogant, as many do. He only asks the reader to review the material and come to his own conclusions. The most interesting thing is that in coming to accept the conspiracy theories, you will have to suspect Cooper as being part of one himself. This is a book you'll likely keep in your library. Recommended for those with a disdain for conspiracy theories.

Mind Blowing Answers to Americas Decay, March 14, 2000
The New World Order, UFO's, JFK's assasination, why our military have become Global police and who the manipulators are is all in there. I read it in one sitting - dawn to dusk - and was deeply troubled. Our own government selling the U.S. to foreign powers, technology to China, panama canal to China, favored nation status for China in WTO, negative trade balance of $5 Billion/month to China all makes sense. I must wonder how much of the latest skyrocketing gasoline price increase was orchestrated by our own Government. This is a book that will open your eyes to what is really going on.

An amazing work that will, hopefully, start critical analysis, August 18, 2005
I was challenged by a friend in the very early 90's to read Mr. Cooper's "Behold A Pale Horse." What I read changed the way I approach life.

The reader's agreement with all the conclusions, facts, figures, stories, or anecdotes found in the book is immaterial. What matters is, and Mr. Cooper states this time and time again, that the reader is encouraged to do their own research! The author's claims are not bolstered or destroyed by belief, or the lack of it. Rather, Mr. Cooper wants you to remain skeptical and verify, validate or refute the facts yourself.

I can say that through my research, as far as the socio-economic-political landscape is concerned, Mr. Cooper was/is right on target. As for the UFO/Alien conspiracy, he recanted his statements in his book and sincerely apologized for providing what he found out to be dis-information.

It is well worth the read; however, do not rest on the copies of Executive Orders, laws and court cases found in the book; do your own research, come to your own conclusions and you will honor the person that wrote this book more than mere words are able to do.

R.I.P. BILL COOPER, October 17, 2005
[...] Everyone should read this book. His website is [...]You can learn more there. the stuff in this book is terrifying!

i wonder why amazon censored and edited my longer reviews. hmmm

It's 2007 and this book is relevant now more than ever:, February 25, 2007
If you are disgusted with reading (Left/Right) Gatekeeper propaganda then William Cooper is for you. Cooper accomplishes what most news analyst such as Chris Mathews, and Anne Coulter won't do, and that's naming names. In his book he elaborates on whose orchestrating the "New World Order."
We as Americans need to educate ourselves about this detrimental topic and Cooper gives us a great foundation to start our research.
And be prepared because you'll quickly discover that "History is the lie that they teach you in school." (Vernon Reid Living Colour)

And if you are distraught over the government's prevarications then get ready to swallow the red pill because what most Americans don't ascertain is that law H.R.4079 and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are designed to marshal in the police state. Which if you haven't already guessed, means Martial Law.
Under H.R.4079 the Federal Government has the right to suspend the U.S. Constitution.
Moreover, Cooper brings to light that many of our elected officials are members of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), the Trilateral Commission (TC), the Bilderberg Group (BG), and many other secret societies hell bent on global hegemony.
Cooper straightforwardly articulates that we are losing our country, our autonomy, and our lives.

This book also dissects the Illuminati subject in a coherent fashion. Cooper discusses how these secret societies BG, TC, CFR, and the Jason Society are really different denominations of the Illuminati.
So, if you don't become an expert on the "New World Order and how it works" after reading this then you have no business complaining about the isentropic issues that concern us today.
The Illuminati exist, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Our lives are depending on our perception of reality. What we think is real is really the fantasy the global elite conjured up, which equals Problem, Reaction, Solution!
We are being spoon-fed prevarication that Congress actually writes the laws in this country, but the reality is secret societies set the agenda behind closed doors. Plus, Congress no longer has the power to declare war! Surprised!!! You should be! At 3:30am Saturday, August 4,1990, the Senate passed the Senate Intelligence Authorization Act (S.B.2834). This bill transferred most governmental authority over to the President, which means, "The President was given the power to initiate war, appropriate public funds, define foreign policy goals, and decide what is important to our national security." So, in a nutshell, the President can declare war with any nation at anytime (with or without just cause)! And enact domestic policy as he or she deems fit.
Just take a glimpse at the Iraq situation? George W. Bush started the full scale Iraqi invasion in September 2002, which was one month before Congress voted on the measure and six month before the official invasion on March 20, 2003 (Operation Shock and Awe). So the President declared War without Congressional consent and they (Congress, the Supreme Court and the media) knew it was legal for him to do so, and they feigned otherwise, misleading the American people.

"Behold a Pale Horse" is a 500-page diatribe of information that no one should be without. Whether you agree or disagree with the info in this book isn't the point. The crux is do we have the right to be circumspect, or more accurately, paranoid over our civil liberties being eviscerated before our very eyes? I think we do.

The controversial subject of Area 51 and extraterrestrials is also discussed in this five star book of info. We have to ponder on the fact that our government hides information from us everyday. I personally don't believe in little bug-eyed gray men from planet Neutron 5, but what I do believe is that our government is running clandestine experiments in Area 51 that they don't want discovered. And we as a free society should have the right to inquire as to why they (the government) would deem this irrational behavior acceptable?

Also, Cooper discusses the Freemasons' role in the "New World Order." So for all you Freemason conspiracy buffs this is essential reading.
Oh and one more thing, for all the Freemason researchers out there who want to find out how Hiram Abif died, here's how, "Hiram Abif represents intelligence, liberty and truth, and was struck down by a blow to the neck with a rule, representing the suppression of speech by the church; then he was struck in the heart with the square, representing the suppression of belief by the State; and finally he was struck on the head by a maul, representing the suppression of intellect by the masses." I fail to construe why the Masons think keeping the secret of Hiram's death is so important. There ideology seems rather gauche in the end.

Anyway, I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is an Alex Jones listener, or is familiar with Anthony J. Hilder, Jordan Maxwell, Jim Marrs, or anyone who wants to truly understand how the world's smoke and mirrors methodology really works.

After reading this book I perfectly understand why Milton William Cooper was killed 2 months after 9/11.
Cooper is a hero that should be honored and respected! ... Read more

Editorial Review

"[Greene] develops one fresh new insight after another...In the great tradition of physicists writing for the masses, The Elegant Universe sets a standard that will be hard to beat." --George Johnson, The New York Times Book Review

In a rare blend of scientific insight and writing as elegant as the theories it explains, Brian Greene, one of the world's leading string theorists, peels away the layers of mystery surrounding string theory to reveal a universe that consists of 11 dimensions where the fabric of space tears and repairs itself, and all matter-from the smallest quarks to the most gargantuan supernovas-is generated by the vibrations of microscopically tiny loops of energy.

Green uses everything from an amusement park ride to ants on a garden hose to illustrate the beautiful yet bizarre realities that modern physics is unveiling.

Dazzling in its brilliance, unprecedented in its ability to both illuminate and entertain, The Elegant Universe is a tour de force of science writing-a delightful, lucid voyage through modern physics that brings us closer than ever to understanding how the universe works. ... Read more

Reviews

A magnficent accomplishment, February 5, 2000
In this book on eleven-dimensional space-time, Brian Greene proves himself to be truly exceptional in at least three of those dimensions: by his thorough comprehension of the origins and direction of theoretical physics up through the emergence of superstring theory, by his monumental contributions to that theory in identifying its components and extending its reach, and, thirdly, in explaining this subject in a way that allows the "layman" to gain an appreciation and intuitive understanding of it.

By way of explaining the use of the term "layman," let me point out that this book is not light reading. I don't believe it can be read by those without at least some exposure to college level physics. I am a former high school physics teacher, and I had to really stretch to understand Dr. Greene's explanations. Nevertheless, considering the mathematical and physical complexity of the subject matter, Dr. Greene has done a splendid and remarkable job of explaining the subject at a conceptual, nonmathematical level. Anyone with a physics background through the level of an introductory course in modern physics will find Dr. Greene's treatise accessible. It brings the reader closer to the current state of research in the rapidly moving field of superstring theory than books written even two years ago.

The book requires work, but it was a labor of love. This book is beautifully and artfully written and was a joy to read. I recommend it highly to anyone with the modest physics background described above who enjoys exploring theoretical physics and cosmology at a level approximating that of Scientific American.

I felt my brain growing!, July 30, 2003
Before I read this book, I didn't know the first thing about string theory, general relativity or quantum mechanics. I believe people like me were the author's target audience; that is, people who are profoundly interested in the mysterious physics of the universe, but lack the scientific or mathematical background to understand them in their raw form. This book certainly shouldn't be seen as anything other than an introduction for those of us outside the field of physics.

Each chapter in this book lays down the foundation for the next chapter. Greene manages to group together scattered discoveries from the past century or so according to their relevance to the topic at hand, and it feels very natural. Every complex concept is explained in somewhat technical detail and then followed up immediately by a clever (and occasionally humorous) analogy. The key points are always restated and rephrased to make absolutely sure the reader is on the same page with the author. This method really does wonders for nailing important concepts to your head, which turns out to be absolutely essential as the book progresses and new ideas are stacked atop the old.

This book, overall, is interesting. There are some extraordinarily intriguing chapters that will have your mind racing for at least a couple days, trying to piece together the chapter's implications, and then there are a couple dull chapters that almost feel like a chore to get through. However, the dull chapters, which seem to be flooded with basic mathematical and technical details, are necessary to understand the big picture. Greene only presents us with the details we need to understand, nothing more, and I honestly can't think of a way he could have made these dull chapters exciting.

If you are a curious physics newbie, or only know bits and pieces about the basic concepts of string theory, special and general relativity, quantum mechanics, black holes, the big bang, or hidden dimensions, this book is certainly for you! If you are already knowledgeable in these subjects and seek the deepest technical and mathematical information about them, I'm guessing you will not find what you are looking for in this book.

Excellent Book, December 11, 1999
Assumes no prior knowledge of physics as such. Has an excellent introduction to relativity and quantum theory. Actually, I haven't seen a better introduction to relativity or quantum theory elsewhere. The book then moves on to string theory (which is the main theme of the book). An excellent introduction to string theory, I must say. The book is very easy to follow and can very well serve as a layman's introduction to high-end physics. For the more advanced readers, the author provides endnotes which elaborate the subject matter in a mathematical/physical perspective. People from all walks of life will enjoy this book

Excellent book for understanding mysteries of the universe, May 24, 1999
I recommend this book to anyone who is curious enough to wonder about the origins of matter, energy, and the universe itself. Mr. Greene makes it very easy for the lay readers to grasp the basic understanding of some out of this world concepts, such as extra dimensions and vibrating strings. I am a professional engineer with years of training in math and physics, however, I enjoyed the non-technical way Professor Greene has written this book. After reading this book I had a much better understanding of quantum mechanics, relativity, and the string theory, and enjoyed reading the whole book from beginning to the end.

Some of the reviewers have faulted Professor Greene for communicating his ideas without using complicated mathematics. To me, this is one of strengths of this and other similar books that are written for the lay people. Those readers who are mathematical geniuses can find plenty of other resources to suit their taste. Others think that it is inappropriate to write about incomplete theories that cannot be experimentally verified at the present time. This is absurd. This is what the progress of science is all about. I thank Brian Greene for sharing his ideas so clearly with the rest of us. I am going to talk to my young daughter about this book in the hopes of inspiring her to someday join the minds who want to unlock the mysteries of our universe.

Alternative view of a physicist not in the Superstring Camp, June 10, 2005
I've read popular books on superstrings/M-theory (Greene's being the prime example), and I've watched TV programs popularizing the same. While I must admit the propaganda value of these media in helping to raise the general public's interest in Physics, I'm afraid that these books and media are extremely biased and give a skewed view of the state of theoretical physics today. An unsuspecting reader picking up this book will likely come away with the feeling that this is a summary of the status quo of theoretical physics nowadays, but nothing can be further from the truth.

While superstring/M theory is one of the active frontiers in theoretical physics, it is hardly the only active frontier, nor is it the most promising. Due to the almost complete lack of empirical evidence for superstring/M theory, plus the almost impenetrable math (even to many theoretical physicists!) within which superstring/M theory has wrapped itself, superstring/M theory stands out as a rather strange theory: it's an isolated self-perpetrating theoretical construct almost impervious to external checks and reviews. Such theories aren't uncommon in physics: throughout the history of physics they pop up every now and then, e.g. Eddington's numerology, Einstein's unified field theory and Finkelstein's theory of everything, to name just a few. The main difference between superstring/M theory and these other theories is that superstring/M theory is much more polished mathematically, and has a much larger following. This in turn has made superstring/M theory much more respectable in appearance, by patching any loopholes that appear with newer and higher orders of abstractions (as evidenced by appearance of the most anti-intuitive wild concepts like extra spacetime dimensions, parallel universes etc.), all of which were wrapped in the most exquisite and impenetrable mathematics. This in turn has attracted even more smart students to superstring/M theory, which in turn makes it appear even more respectable, which in turn... ad infinitum.

A theory in physics is only as good as the physical (not mathematical) foundation upon which it's built, and the physical foundation of superstring/M theory is shaky at best, non-existent at worst. As a purely mathematical theory, superstring/M theory may be able to stand on its own as an elegant and insightful theory which may even have applications in other exotic branches of mathematics. But a physical theory can never stand alone, it must have verifiable connections to experiments and to other more established branches of physics. A completely isolated theory in physics, however elegant and compelling it may be mathematically and aesthetically, is irrelevant and is doomed to suffer the fate of so many other fads and irrelevant theories in physics: to be forgotten in time.

I just hope that Brian Greene and other proponents of superstring/M theory can be a little more humble and admit that their theory is nothing but a spectacular but ultimately speculative theory in physics, just one among many many others, and stop preaching like it's the best and only candidate theory in physics.

(For a more balanced view of superstring theory, based on BBC interviews of several leading theoretical physicists (including Feynman, Weinberg and Glashow), read the book "Superstrings : A Theory of Everything?" edited by P.C.W. Davies and J. Brown. e.g. here's what Glashow (Nobel-prize winner in physics) has to say about superstring theory:

"... There have always been kookie fanatics following strange visions. One of the most kookie, and of course most brilliant, was Einstein himself. It has often been said by my string theory friends that superstrings are going to dominate physics for the next half of a century. Ed Witten has said that. I would like to modify that remark. I would say that string theory will dominate the next fifty years of physics in the same way that Kaluza-Klein theory, another kookie theory upon which string theory is based, has dominated particle physics in the past fifty years. Which is to say, not at all."

My sentiments exactly :)

A Feast of a Book!, December 6, 1999
This book is a sheer delight to read! Brian Greene's clarity of thinking and joy of exploring the quest for the ultimate physics theory come clearly through as he describes how superstrings just might be the "common thread" that runs through this universe from the tiniest quantum bits to the largest relativistic bodies. Are you curious to know how all these dimensions can exist in our universe unseen? Greene brilliantly describes memorable analogies (such as an ant seen from a distance to be walking along on a garden hose) that give readers a clear sense of what hidden curled dimensions might feel like... and he writes about physics with such grace and style! If you've hungered to know how to better understand hidden dimensions and superstrings, this book is guaranteed to first pique and then satisfy your appetite.

A Great Intro to the "Holy Grail of Physics", June 30, 2003
I had picked this book up in its hardcover edition a few years ago, but haven't got around to reading it until recently and I'm sorry I didn't do so earlier. It is an excellent introduction to physics and an outstanding overview of "string theory" that is accessible to the layman (in as much as particle physics *can* be accessible without a real knowledge of mathematics.)

The Elegant Universe is worth the purchase price, if only for chapters 2,3 and 4 which lay out, in terms understandable by anyone, the ideas behind Einstein's theory of special relativity, Einstein's theory of general relativity and quantum mechanics. I highly recommend it for this purpose alone.

The rest of the book deals with the central connudrum of modern physics which is, unfortunately, although the theories of relativity (governing large systems) and quantum mechanics (governing minute systems) have been experimentally verified over the past century and are indeed true, they are *not compatible*. Greene does a good job of explaining why the theories are in conflict with one another.

The rest of the book deals with string theory, which Greene and a lot of other string theorists claim can "bridge the gap" between relativity and quantum mechanics. Although Greene does a terrific job of explaining string theory through graspable metaphors, towards the end end of the book, my tiny brain had difficulty understanding some of the concepts.

Yet, by far, Greene provides the most accessible description of this revolution in physics. Greene is quite obviously an ardent evangelist of string theory and his optimism concerning its possibilities lend a certain energy to the read, getting you through the difficult parts. You can tell that this is a man who loves and is excited by what he does for a living, and that excitement is contagious.

Anyone with an interest in why the universe is the way it is will be well rewarded by this text.

Incredibly Clear, Enjoyable Read -- A Great Book, March 4, 2001
Brian Greene's "The Elegant Universe" is the best book on a scientific subject I've ever read. The first five chapters, which deal with Space, Time, Special & General Relativity, and Quantum Mechanics, are incredibly clear and worth the price of the book alone. Without using any math, Greene is able to explain the key points of all these topics, and most importantly, to show why Relativity and Quantum Mechanics are incompatible, and why that's a problem for physicists. He then takes the reader through the various stages of thinking that have gone into String Theory, and it's fascinating stuff! Greene uses copious examples to demonstrate concepts that are difficult to visualize or grasp, and this is incredibly helpful. You definitely get a sense, for instance, of what a "curled up dimension" means, through some very clever reduced-dimension examples (not sure if these are Greene's constructions or well-known in the physics world, but they're very clear and helpful). The going gets a little tougher towards the end of the book, where the most recent thinking on String Theory and the discussion of Black Holes & the early instants of the cosmos are more complex and tougher to grok straight through. But even so, they are fascinating and worth the effort.

Greene's prose is clear, analytical, and well thought out. At least a half dozen times while reading the book, I said to myself, "Hmmm, but what about X?" to find a few paragraphs later Greene would write, "You may be wondering about X. Well, here's how that works..." To me, this is a sign of a clear thinker and helped make the book even more enjoyable to read. If you're at all interested in cutting edge physics theory, this is a great book to turn to.

Question reality., May 21, 2000
This is an excellent trip through the wonders of modern cosmology and physics. I kept having to get up and walk around the room once in a while and pinch myself to get a new reality fix. Well maybe reality -- but Mr. Greene might think I was fooling myself and only moving about in the 3 dimensional space known to my conciousness, and not the other seven tightly wrapped dimensions in Calabi-Yau forms at a billionth of a billonth of a meter. Who needs science fiction when the real thing is so "unreal?"

As a reader I have more than a casual interest in modern physics and have read dozens of books in this vein, however I do not have a math background sufficient enough to deal with the professional literature in the field. I have found this work one of the best in explaining string theory. Mr. Greene's approach of using analogy and metaphor is right on target. His sometimes humorous approach was a good antidote for what could become overbearingly theoretical.

The first half went down pretty easily in spite of the difficult nature of the subject. Brian Greene deserves much applause for pulling off this bit of magic. The second half gets tangled up in the author's own areas of research and I felt that he suddenly began talking to a different audience, in this case his peers, and instead of an explanatory tone, the book seemed a little bit argumentative. Of course this is a topic where anything said in a definitive manner is likely to provoke a professional argument. Nonetheless, the first half of the book is well worth the read and more than adequately covers the field for the reader where this topic would be of interest. The second half will be of interest to folks with more background.

Wonderfully written, November 24, 1999
Ive been reading several books on RT/QM like "Relativity Simply explained [Martin Gardner]", "Alice in Quantum Land" etc. but this is so far the best i have read. the scenarios that Brian sets are fantastic. Esp I like the Grace/George and time-dilation examples. Even if the main theme of the book is about strings, i doubt you will find a better explanation of relativity elsewhere. And slowly when the author moves to string theory.... its just wonderful. As gripping as a Holmes story. ... Read more

Editorial Review

In the spirit of National Geographic’s top-selling Orbit, this large-format, full-color volume stands alone in revealing more than 200 of the most spectacular images from the Hubble Space Telescope during its lifetime, to the very eve of the 2008 final shuttle mission to the telescope. Written by two of the world’s foremost authorities on space history, Hubble: Imaging Space and Time illuminates the solar system’s workings, the expansion of the universe, the birth and death of stars, the formation of planetary nebulae, the dynamics of galaxies, and the mysterious force known as "dark energy."

The potential impact of this book cannot be overstressed: The 2008 servicing mission to install new high-powered scientific instruments is especially high profile because the cancellation of the previous mission, in 2004, caused widespread controversy. The authors reveal the inside story of Hubble’s beginnings, its controversial early days, the drama of its first servicing missions, and the creation of the dynamic images that reach into the deepest regions of visible space, close to the time when the universe began.

A wealth of astonishing images leads us to the very edge of known space, setting the stage for the new James Webb Space Telescope, scheduled to launch in 2013. Find the stunning panoramic of Carina Nebula, detailing star birth as never before; a jet from a black hole in one galaxy striking a neighboring galaxy; a jewel-like collection of galaxies from the early years of the universe; and a giant galaxy cannibalizing a smaller galaxy.

Timed for the 2008 shuttle launch and coinciding with the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s first telescope, Hubble: Imaging Space and Time accompanies a high-profile exhibit at the National Air and Space Museum and will be featured on the popular NASM website. ... Read more

Reviews

HUBBLE:IMAGING SPACE & TIME, October 29, 2008
This is a picture book, beautifully done. This is not a highly technical text but mostly a collection of extraordinary photos from what is arguably the greatest achievement of the US space program. From this relatively small telescope, unhindered by the earth's atmosphere, we have an amazing array of objects that link art with science. Absolutely stunning.

astonishing, November 13, 2008
This is an incredible book showcasing the unbelievable wonders of outer space. Anyone who has looked up into the night sky will love this one. The swirling colors, brilliance, and unimaginable size will give you an awe and appreciation of the vastness and complexity of our universe. It is like looking thru the eyes of God. Each page brings a more brilliant image. Makes one feel pretty humble.

Great pictorial book of Hubble Space Telescope achievements, December 9, 2008
This book provides a very nice overview of the visual achievements of the Hubble Space Telescope. It is a pictorial book, very pleasant to peruse at one's liesure. The text is not in depth as noted by other reviewers but does provide an overview of the telescopes history, on orbit repairs, methods of obtaining obeserving time and some limited science results. Highly recommended visually but lacking a little in textual depth.

Great gift, February 2, 2009
I bought this lovely book as a gift for my engineer husband -- he was thrilled with it. The images are both stunning and eerie. Who knew that just outside our local astral neighborhood there were such amazing sights? In this day of high tech instant gratification it's hard to keep in mind that mysteries and miracles do exist - and it's too easy to take for granted such stellar achievements in the sciences. Pick up this book and leaf through it and that just falls away - you'll be amazed. And humbled.

Hubble: Imaging ..., January 11, 2009
Absolutely glorious. Breaches all the boundaries: physical, spiritual, intellectual. Immerse yourself in it; and for the love of your children, share it with them when they are ready.

Art and Science Merge, January 11, 2009
The artist and the scientist will love this exquisite book that is suitable for all ages. My thirteen-year old grandson, 46 year-old son, and I spent the day after Christmas gently turning the pages of Hubble:Imaging Space and Time, reading some of the text, and being astonished by the photographs. We could not put the book down until we were satiated by its richness.

Illustrated Cosmos, March 28, 2009
This is a large, hardback, heavy book. It is a reference book with tons of illustrations and pictures of distant astronomic objects. It especially covers the origin of the study of astronomy and its transformation by orbiting astronomy. It concentrates on the Hubble Space Telescope, its design and the images it produces.

Hubble Telescope Results, November 1, 2009
The book is an amazing mixture of technical descriptions of the Hubble Telescope, astrophysical phenomena, historical perspectives of the Hubble project (a story in itself) as well as of the development of the astronomical knowledge in the past and last but not least wonderfull pictures of what is normally hidden in the sky.
The book ist worth every penny I spent for it with Amazon (and I paid very little).
J.Benn

Hubble. This amateur astronomer sees what fantastic images are, October 30, 2009
Hubble Imaging Space and Time is fantastic. This is essentially a coffee table picture book. The images are fantastic. There is good description. As an amateur astronomer for 40 years I get good views with my 20 inch telescope but NOTHING can compare to the beautiful and detailed pictures in this book. A good assortment of images is offered.I go to a few star parties and give backup presentations to school kids if the clubs telescopes get clouded out and the kids cant see anything. This book will be great for showing both kids and grownups the wonders of the universe. This book is great for parents to show their kids and read desriptions. Both will love this book and hopefully want to learn more about the Universe and Astronomy.

I am so thankful for the scientists, government workers and everyone throughout the world that made the use of the Hubble possible. The Hubble is indeed a world treasure. One of mankinds technological masterpieces.

A great book!, August 20, 2009
For anyone interested in the Hubble Space Telescope, this is an enthralling read... But above all it's a breathtaking tour through some of the most exquisite images ever captured of the cosmos. I've thumbed through lots of Hubble and cosmology books, but this beats all. A must-have for astronomers and cosmologists. Huge detailed photos and lots of fascinating technical information. ... Read more

Editorial Review

A superb guidebook described in Bookwatch as 'the home astronomer's "bible"', Turn Left at Orion provides all the information beginning amateur astronomers need to observe the Moon, the planets and a whole host of celestial objects. Large format diagrams show these objects exactly as they appear in a small telescope and for each object there is information on the current state of our astronomical knowledge. Revised and updated, this new edition contains a chapter with ten new spreads describing spectacular deep sky objects visible from the southern hemisphere, and tips on observing the upcoming transits of Venus. It also discusses Dobsonian telescopes, with hints on using personal computers and the Internet as aids for planning an observing session. Also new to this edition are redrawn "Guidepost" figures at the beginning of each season chapter that allow readers to visualize a three-dimensional view of the sky's dome; redesigned seasonal object layouts that provide more space for the naked-eye charts; a new spread on double stars near Bo�tes has been added to Spring, replacing the "Shrinking Double" spread; and a unique "When and Where to Look" table has been added to the last page, among other new features. Unlike many guides to the night sky, this book is specifically written for observers using small telescopes. Clear and easy to use, this fascinating book will appeal to skywatchers of all ages and backgrounds. No previous knowledge of astronomy is needed. ... Read more

Reviews

New telescope? Start here!, March 10, 1999
Too many amateur astronomy books are haughty, if not insulting, about the mass of small telescopes that people buy or receive as gifts. Sidebars like "Trash Scope Blues" are an example.

This book, written by two professional astronomers, points out that the small telescope of today is the magnificent instrument beyond the dreams of Galileo or Messier*. With that foundation in place they proceed to lead you through the night sky to view the most interesting objects for small telescopes.

They begin with the deepest coverage of the moon that I have encountered yet. There are separate sections for each phase of the moon detailing highlights of what is unique at that time of the month.

Then they tour the night sky, season by season. Their directions to find items of interest don't presume that you know the constellations. Instead, in "Where to Look" they start with the bright, easy to find stars, and from there walk you over to the item. They assist your search by describing what you'll see in the finder scope and the telescope and have illustrations of what you will actually see in the telescope. (Not some picture taken by an observatory or the Hubble telescope.) In "Comments" they describe what you'll see, suggest the eyepiece to use to get the most of the view, and give details about just what that thing is.

All objects are given a 1 to 4 telescope rating to help you choose the fun ones first. The Orion Nebula is an exception that receives a 5 telescope rating: easy to find, viewable in city light haze, with different interesting views at low and high power.

Of the half dozen astronomy books I've looked over this is the hands down best book for the new owner of a telescope to have. More than any other book, it will help you get the most from your telescope. *Never heard of Messier? Most non-astronomers haven't Charles Messier hunted the skys for comets and kept coming across things that, at first glance, might be a comet. After figuring out that they weren't comets, he kept a record of them so he wouldn't waste time on them again. As it turns out this list contains some of the neatest things to see in the night sky.

The reviews nailed it, September 29, 1999
I had a telescope sitting in a corner looking pretty but gathering dust for three years, until I found this book. "Turn Left at Orion" has turned me on to amateur astronomy because of its straightforward, assume-nothing presentations. Using this book at my own pace, I've begun to learn the night sky and get excited about using my scope. Even though I live in the city, I find myself gazing skyward every clear night, browsing a now-familiar sky. There are other aids you'll need as an amateur astronomer, but nothing I've seen is more perfect for a beginner.

A highly effective work, for beginners and teachers., March 12, 2001
In the Belmont Society, Turn Left at Orion is one of those enduring staples that eventually becomes an icon of eminent preservation. It's been handed down through the membership as a benchmark of highly valued works, which we've long ago earmarked for its educational value. Back on the lecture circuit some years ago, this was one of those books we always recommended as "required reading" for the beginner, along with (among others) Sagan's Cosmos, and The Backyard Astronomer's Guide by Dickinson. Each became tremendously popular for different reasons, and each could hold its own as a reference for different levels of interest. Over the years the "List" has grown to include six books, and although none have been added in recent times, a few have come very close (i.e. - O'Meara's Messier Objects deserves Honorable Mention).

As a result, Turn Left at Orion remains after all these years, one of the six essential works, which we regard as required reading by the beginning amateur astronomer. Though not part of my personal collection until recently, it has been at my disposal for many years. I keep meaning to review it, but something always comes up, not the least of which was the recent printing of a 3rd edition.

The work is co-authored by Guy Consolmagno, a Jesuit Brother at the Vatican Observatory; and Dan M. Davis, professor of geophysics at the State University of New York. Between them they conspired to create a work that reflects a singular passion for viewing celestial objects with small telescopes (emphasis on small). In fact, the combined aperture of both authors' instruments is somewhat less than the singular average among beginning-amateur telescopes. One is a 3.5-inch Cassegrain, and the other is a 2.5-inch refractor. Nevertheless, with these small instruments they were able to create a first-rate work of impressive magnitude. Simplistic means to extraordinary ends.

I was introduced to the order of Jesuits as a youngster growing up in New England. Even at that young age I was profoundly inspired by the notion that science could be passionately embraced (and accurately promoted) in concert with unwavering religious faith. Almost any science buff knows full well that astronomy and religion run like oil and water through the veins of history. And because this work represents such a remarkable beacon of parallel encounter, I am somewhat disappointed in myself for not doing this earlier. But now, so much has been said about this book that there seems a trite redundancy in plugging it. Oh well.

Pioneers and discoverers like Galileo and Messier were themselves saddled with equipment that can easily be considered pathetic by today's standards (both optically and mechanically). However, countless thousands of celestial objects were acquired, catalogued, and studied using archaic equipment of the sort. The point being, that you don't have to bribe the evening sky with money or fat-free technology to see what it's hiding. You merely need to coax it slightly to reveal some of its treasures. The knowledge of what places to do your coaxing is where Turn Left at Orion excels so remarkably.

On page 202, authors Consolmagno and Davis re-endorse one of life's most poorly understood allegations - "There is no such thing as a bad telescope". If you find yourself in conflict with that statement then you're missing out on a golden tenet of amateur astronomy, and most likely some of the fun that goes along with it. Because it really doesn't matter what caliber of instrument you use to enhance your view of the night sky. For even some of the most tenuous tidbits in the Messier catalog are revealed in binoculars of moderate size - still considered far superior to anything Messier could have ever laid his hands on. Get the picture?

Turn Left at Orion begins with a basic introduction of the evening sky, and a brief overview of "how to use this book", which from experience I can honestly testify that few authors can resist. From there, we go through some discussion of the moon, and a few major planets. Then it's on to the main course, which begins with the Winter constellations Taurus and Auriga and some of their celestial wonders - including the Pleiades open cluster and the famous Crab Nebula. A hundred and eighty pages later we're looking at a double cluster in Perseus. In between, we're shown where to look for a globular cluster in Lyra and the famous double star Albireo in Cygnus. A hundred or so interesting objects are presented and illustrated. Very little is missed or left out for the beginner, or for users of small telescopes.

We are first shown where each object is located within a broad view of the sky. Minimal sky-conditions, best times of year to observe, recommended eyepieces and telescope types are graphically illustrated at each heading. We see what the object looks like in a finder-scope, plus what it looks like in the telescope's eyepiece (and at different powers). This book shows you exactly how to get each object in the eyepiece! Really good stuff.

Beyond this, the 3rd edition includes some fare from the Southern Hemisphere (Eta Carinae, 47 Tucanae, and the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds to name a few). A complete index is provided, along with a fairly good glossary for the beginner.

This is a wonderful book; a lot of fun; and extremely useful for nearly all age groups. Great for binocular users too. Recommended not just for the beginning amateur, but also as a teaching tool for some advanced observers who occasionally look for ways to entertain or educate others at the eyepiece. Then too, we've been known to pick it up and browse it just for fun. Secretaries and officers: - put a few copies in your club's library.

Batteries not included..., October 15, 2003
In an astronomical world that's becoming increasingly dominated by computerised 'goto' telescopes, here's a book that shows the budding amateur that the old method of 'star-hopping' is still a valid and satisfying alternative: Turn left at Orion.

Many budding observers are daunted by the prospect of 'learning the sky' well enough to find their way to those elusive deep sky objects. And even when the desired target is perfectly centred in the eyepiece, it's often so difficult to recognise that the search resumes unnecessarily. When a positive identification is finally made, one wonders if the exercise was worth all the effort. Why? Because, visually, they don't look anything like their flattering portrait photographs.

The end result is frustration and disappointment.

Well, here's the book that changed my astronomical life: it taught most of the major constellations, and plenty of minor ones to boot; it showed me how to star-hop to the more interesting deep sky objects within them; and it also changed my expectations of what I would see when I got there.

Literally, this is a 'star-hopping made easy' bible.

The book works on the assumption that the reader is prepared to learn up front just a few of the major constellations. The Big Dipper, (or Plough to the Brits, or 'Pluff' to them southerners), is one that most people can recognise straight off. But it helps to be able to spot the big square of autumn's Pegasus, winter's unmistakable Orion the hunter, spring's sickle-necked Leo the Lion, and the big cross of summer's Cygnus the swan. These are all good starting points, and won't cost much effort to learn beyond a cricked neck.

The book feels like it's been written from copious notes acquired during many years of practical observing. There's a section per seasonal, with two pages devoted to each particular object. And the objects really are a good primer for the northern deep sky: nebulas, globular clusters, open clusters aplenty of course, some galaxies, and a good sprinkling of those oft neglected double stars. On the left page you'll find a typical upside-down finder-scope view of the target area, plus a description of which stars to use to guide you there. On the right page is a typical left-to-right telescopic view of the object itself, plus good textual descriptions.

And here's the clever bit: all of the illustrations are beautifully hand-drawn to show truthfully how they appear at the eyepiece; none of those misleading full colour observatory-type photographs here: what you see is what you, er, see. Fear not if an illustration fails to take your fancy; keep turning the page until one catches your eye.

So how does it work under the night sky?

Well, it works beautifully. Turn to the correct page, and locate the general target area using your (ahem) marginal knowledge of the constellations, then visually hop from star to star as advised. Aim your telescope, then switch to the finder-scope to identify the exact location. Slip in an eyepiece of about the recommended magnification, and the object's usually 'just there', or at the very least within easy reach. For those objects requiring high powers, the book recommends using a less powerful eyepiece first to properly centre the target. Really, I and countless others have followed this advice to good effect.

Okay, it'll take you a year of observing to learn your way around. It takes that long for each season's constellations, and their hidden treasures, to come around. Time enough to learn the stars a little better, and time enough to gain confidence. In a way, one will learn the more obscure constellations for free; "What's that? Oh yes, it must be Delphinus, so that funny arrow below is, er, Sagitta...right?" (flick, flick of the page) "I was right!" And anyway, it'll take you at least a year to get bored with the selection that this book offers.

What do I have against this book? Not much... well, it's a shame there isn't a sequel for next year.

Oh, and batteries are not included.

Extremely useful book!, April 12, 2004
Having a lifelong interest in amateur astronomy , this book was a natural for me to seek out. I borrowed a copy from the library before I decided whether or not to make a purchase.

This particular book is one of the very few that I would recommend to a beginning backyard astronomer , the other being Phil Harrington's Star Watch. Both use a technique called "star hopping" to find the celestial objects of interest , and each has a particular "style" of doing so.

"Turn Left at Orion" uses a technique using the viewfinder field of view to move from an easy to find star or some other object to follow a path to the desired object.

What I liked about the book:

(1) A very good representative selection of deep sky objects.
(2) Each object has an eyepiece sketch that accurately depicts how the object looks in a small telescope.
(3) A small scale star chart with the star hops depicted is included along with finding directions.

What I disliked:

(1) The eyepiece sketches were simply listed as "at high power" or "at low power". Some basic information about the eyepiece type , magnification , and focal length should be included to be meaningful.
(2) The scale of the finder charts was too small , and better directions are needed to find some of the smaller and more obscure constellations ; i.e. Triangulum and Aries.
(3) Having to take it back to the library!

Even though I have a few criticisms of the book , it is very ,very good. If I didn't already have Harrington's book I would rush right out and buy a copy.(They tend to overlap too much!) I give this a 4+ star rating , and if a few improvements are made in a later edition it could easily become one of my favorites to recommend and own.

The ESSENTIAL book for beginning astronomers, March 14, 1998
Just starting to look at the night sky with a small telescope or binoculars? Buy this book. I spent many a frustrated night with my new scope, trying in vain to find galaxies and other interesting objects in the heavens. Half a dozen other sky guides were no help -- and the astrophotographs they offered gave me no clue to what I might actually see with my own eyes. "Turn Left at Orion" transformed me from a galaxy hunter to a galaxy finder even while stargazing under light-polluted suburban skies. Clearly and entertainingly written, TLAO never leaves the reader lost and offers interesting background on what you are viewing as well as other essential information such as "How to run a telescope." My copy is now a year old and is the most-used volume in my stargazing library. It's one of those rare books that can be used by a "square one" beginner or a clueless parent trying to show a youngster how to use a telescope yet still will a delight to an amateur astronomer with more experience. Here's a recipe for years of awe-inspiring after-dark entertainment: a small telescope or 7X50 binoculars, a copy of Turn Left at Orion, a red-lens flashlight (so you can refer to the TLAO in the dark without losing your night vision), and clear skies.

Excellent! Highly recommended, October 13, 1999
I like the format of the book. It makes it easy to use while you are at the telescope. I especially like the section that describes "what you are looking at." So many observing guides tell you how to find an object yet omit interestin facts about it. Great book!

One of the best guides around for small telescope owners, March 28, 2001
I have an 8" Dob and admittedly I found Turn Left at Orion somewhat less than challenging to use. It's really designed for 4" scopes or even smaller. Nevertheless, I enjoyed every page. The viewing guides for the moon and planets are outstanding! The scale and depth of the maps is perfectly suited for the difficulty level of this book.

I went through many of the tours presented in this book and enjoyed them thoroughly. In my opinion, it's the best tour of the "showpiece" objects around for small telescope owners. I was delighted to find the "Winter Albireo" mapped and described on one of the tours. The book even has a section on objects best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere, so those of you in Australia aren't ignored.

Highly recommended!! Once you've "graduated" from this work, you can try Garfinkle's "Star-Hopping: Your Visa to the Universe" or MacRobert's "Star-Hopping for Backyard Astronomers". Both are well-done, with my personal preference for bang-for-the-buck going to Garfinkle.

The real thing..., December 30, 1999
This book not only gives great things to look at, but gives a picture you should expect to see through your telescope. There is no Hubble Telescope pictures in the book leading you on like other star finder books. Another nice feature about this book is that it rates the objects and tells what is needed to view each one. A must for all astronomers!

A Sky Tour with Knowlegeable Friends, February 12, 1999
In his introduction, Guy Consolmagno recalls how his friend Dan introduced him to the night skies one evening with a "tour" consisting of simple directions. "Find Orion, now look to the left ..." Guy was leaving for Africa soon -- a land of dark, starry night skies, and he regretted that he couldn't take Dan with him. Well, years later, Dan and Guy have distilled that experience into this classic and wonderful book. Guy couldn't take Dan along, but you can take both of them -- now professional astronomers -- with you as your guides. Reading this book is like having them there, pointing out popular and favorite objects in the sky. They do everything but reach out and point the telescope for you. In fact, they do better than that: they show you, in the clearest, simplest way, how to do it yourself. They show you how to find nebulae, clusters, double stars and other interesting objects, and then they explain what you are looking at. It really does feel like they are there, giving advice as you tour the showpieces of the Northern night sky. The book's only real "fault" -- if you can call it that -- is that it is written from the point of view of observers living in the Northern hemisphere. One can only hope that Southern observers have an equally good introductory book. Read, observe, and enjoy! ... Read more

Editorial Review

The unique Lunar Year The: A Glow-in-the-Dark Calendar 2011 Wall Calendar re-creates the wonder of a moonlit night. Printed with a special glow-in-the-dark ink, each page illuminates all the daily phases of the moon, while also showcasing extraordinary lunar photographs. Included are images from a NASA exploratory mission, a view of a lunar eclipse, shots that document unusual lunar phenomena, and striking landscape compositions. This is the perfect calendar for stargazers of all ages.

* Glows in the dark.

* Appeals to adults and kids of all ages.

* 12 high-quality reproductions of the moon.

* 365 glow-in-the-dark moons that let you track the phases of the moon daily. ... Read more

Reviews

Buy This Every Year, September 4, 2010
This is probably my 5th time buying Universe's Lunar Calender. It is well made, with stunning photography. Bonus is the glow in the dark feature! Shows on phases of the moon, too. Highly recommend.

By the author of Harmonious Environment

I never buy any other calendar!, October 14, 2010
I buy this calendar every year and certainly hope they never stop publishing it. It is a definite statement calendar with 'in your face' spectacular moon photos
that are photographic works of art. The days are white printed on a black background - very easy to read (!), but there can be no writing on the pages.
Each day shows the moon phase & since I walk my dogs at night, checking the brightness that night is very useful; not to mention what you might expect....
Love this calendar - it's so unique compared to all the others out there.......... Get it!

Not for Notes!, December 23, 2010
I bought this for the wonderful photography but if you need a wall calendar that you can write in important dates, stay away from this one. The whole thing is black! Even if I got a special pen the squares are tiny. Great for kids who like glow in the dark stuff. I wasted money therefore I'm very disappointed. ... Read more

Editorial Review

An Air Force major is ordered to approach a brilliant UFO in his Phantom jet over Tehran. He repeatedly attempts to engage and fire on unusual objects heading right toward his aircraft, but his missile control is locked and disabled. Witnessed from the ground, this dogfight becomes the subject of a secret report by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency.
 
In Belgium, an Air Force colonel investigates a series of widespread sightings of unidentified triangular objects, and he sends F-16s to attempt a closer look. Many hundreds of eyewitnesses, including on-duty police officers, file reports, and a spectacular photograph of an unidentifiable craft is retrieved and analyzed.
 
Here at home, a retired chief of the FAA’s Accidents and Investigations Division reveals the agency’s response to a thirty-minute encounter between an aircraft and a gigantic UFO over Alaska, which occurred during his watch and is documented on radar.
 
Now all three of these distinguished men have written breathtaking, firsthand accounts about these extraordinary incidents. They are joined by Air Force generals and a host of high-level sources—including Fife Symington III, former governor of Arizona, and Nick Pope, former head of the British Defence Ministry’s UFO Investigative Unit—who have agreed to write their own detailed, personal stories about UFO encounters and investigations for the first time.
 
They are coming forward now because of Leslie Kean, an investigative reporter who has spent the last ten years studying the still unexplained UFO phenomenon. Kean reviewed hundreds of government documents, aviation reports, radar data, and case studies with corroborating physical evidence. She carefully examined scientifically analyzed photographs and interviewed dozens of high-level officials and aviation witnesses from around the world. With the support of former White House chief of staff John Podesta, Kean draws on her research to separate fact from fiction and to lift the veil on decades of U.S. government misinformation. Throughout, she presents irrefutable evidence that unknown flying objects—metallic, luminous, and seemingly able to maneuver in ways that defy the laws of physics—actually exist.
 
No one yet knows what these objects are, even though they affect aviation safety and possibly national security. The phenomenon has been officially acknowledged by numerous foreign governments. For these reasons and many others, Kean concludes that the UFO problem must be more widely recognized and ultimately solved through an unbiased scientific investigation. The material presented throughout this landmark book is sobering, unflinching, and undeniably awe-inspiring, and moves us toward a goal of properly addressing this worldwide mystery. ... Read more

Reviews

Wouldn't want to go out with out it, August 22, 2006
There are two small atlases I consider to be absolutely indispensable. Sky and Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas is one of them. The charts in this atlas were well chosen. Each covers just the right amount of sky to give both a good perspective of the area you are looking at, and enough detail for star hopping with binoculars or finder scope, (stars are shown down to magnitude 7.6). Stick figures highlight the constellations to provide an easy and intuitive reference for what part of the sky the chart covers. An all sky view key of the charts is provided at the back of the book so that charts are easily located. The charts are well organized and very easy to navigate.

The charts are printed in color and are works of art in their own right. Not only is the atlas useful in the field, but it is a pleasure to browse through anytime.

The construction of the atlas is also very well done. It is spiral bound so that the charts open flat, making them easy to view. The charts are printed on good quality paper that looks as though it will stand up well even on nights when dew is challenging your ability to view.

Although it may seem like a small thing, a nice feature of the Atlas is a scale on the front cover from which one can construct a set of circles based on the field of view of each instrument you observe with. There is even a template showing the circles of a Telrad finder. It would have been even better if a clear plastic template with field of view circles had already been included, but it was easy enough to create my own set of circles.

Overall, this is an outstanding atlas for taking into the field, and I would certainly recommend it. As I said, I consider it to be indispensable; however, unlike others, I do not consider it to be the only quality pocket atlas out there. Another outstanding atlas is The Observer's Sky Atlas by E. Karkoschka. It is a nice compliment to Sky & Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas. I like the Pocket Sky Atlas for its big broad views of the sky and it's stunning charts. I like the Observer's Sky Atlas because it has some additional detail (see my review of that book) not available in the Pocket Sky Atlas. Both are ideal as field atlases, and I keep them both very close at hand when I've observing.

I hope you're not in a position where you can only buy one. Choosing between the two would be difficult. As I said, I keep both with me when I'm observing. But if you do have to choose, I would suggest the following. If you want the nicest looking atlas, go with the Pocket Sky Atlas. If you want a bit more detail and you don't mind giving up the glossy color pages and spiral binding, go with the Observers's Sky Atlas. But honestly, you really can't go wrong with either one.

Very Usable and Practical Atlas, May 7, 2006
Roger Sinnott's Pocket Sky Atlas fills a big void and vital niche- one that emphasises portability, usability and practicality. Everything in this little volume is extremely well thought out- from the quality of the book, the practical spiral bound layout, the scale of the star maps, clear and readable printing, intelligent and helpful labelling of stars and deep sky objects (you will appreciate the use of popular names for some DSO's), to a pure user friendly feel. There is even a helpful Telrad target scale and angular distance for quick estimations. Eminently suitable for the field, this is also a great planning atlas for astrophotographers and visual observers alike. For visual observation, this atlas shines when partenered with a Telrad finder (I really hate the flimisier Riger finder!).

The only place I think this atlas comes up short is if you are doing serious star hopping under the telescope. This is understandable given the scale of the atlas. I recommend Uranometria or similar atlases if you are a serious star-hopper.

Sept 2008 Update: I now have 3 copies of this Atlas! One I leave in my car and read it at restaurants during lunch break. The other is in my observing bag and yet one is one my desk at home. I love this atlas. This is perfect for astrophotography and weeknight quick sessions with my TV-85.

This little book stands out well to repeated field use. Mine is looking great after a year of extensive (and rough) use- no pages fallen off, no fade, no issues.

Pocket Sky Atlas, November 6, 2006
This atlas is thoughtfully laid out for use at the telescope in the field. The paper is a heavy dull-white stock that does not show reflection under a red light. Because the book is spiral bound, the pages lay flat freeing up your hands. No more trying to find a heavy object to keep the pages from turning.

Inside the front cover you will find printed a sample double page chart layout with a legend. Also printed is an angular distance scale and a Telrad bull's eye. I made a clear transparency copy of this page using an 8 �" x 11"sheet of overhead projector film by running it through a copy machine. I cut out the angular scale and then I cut the Telrad bull's eye in a long rectangle about 1" x 3" leaving the bull's eye at one end and using the other end as a handle to move the finder around the map. I put these in a small envelope and tucked it inside the atlas.

The contents page lists the best months to view the objects by R.A. range during evening, midnight and mourning and on which chart to find them. Towards the end of the atlas, there are four close-up charts of some of the most observed regions of the sky. The index is broken down by star name, galaxies, open and globular clusters, bright, dark and planetary nebulae. The Caldwell and Messier catalogs are listed separately. The back cover has the chart key for both north and south hemispheres. There are 80 main charts containing 30,796 stars to magnitude 7.6.

The introduction explains in easy to understand detail how the charts are labeled and arranged. The same chart legend appears on the first page of each chart as well as the R.A. range and best time and month for viewing. All the charts are printed in color on a white background for easy reading under a red light. A location guide to constellations and what the Greek star letters mean is also included.

Each page has the same basic layout as any good star atlas. The lines for the R.A and Declination are clearly marked. You will notice that a small blue triangle with a number inside is located on three sides of each page. These triangles point to the adjoining charts that make up more of that part of the sky. The number in the triangle indicate which chart.

There are two printing errors in the atlas on page 55 and on the close-up Chart C. You can download the printable corrected color pages from the Sky and Telescope website.
You can the cut and paste the corrected pages directly over the page in the book. I used spray adhesive.

Bottom line, this is a very compact and easy to use atlas you'll ever come across. It is very user friendly and a must have to "grab and go" with your favorite telescope or binoculars.
Book reviewed by Jack Fox, Richmond Astronomical Society

Best small atlas I've ever seen, July 4, 2006
This is not the first small-format 7th magnitude atlas to appear on the market. But it is the first that is actually usable. The creators have somehow managed to fit in a compact, affordable package an atlas which includes over 30,000 stars down to magnitude 7.6 with very little crowding or cramping. To achieve the compromise, the charts number 80, arranged in 8 gores (strips of sky from pole to pole), each one covering 3 hours of right ascension, the charts within ordered from north to south. This arrangement works well, as maps of the same season are in the same section. I would have wished the gores to be arranged in order of descending right ascension rather than ascending, but this is a matter of general principle; in this atlas it has hardly any practical effects.

The atlas is superbly useful in the field. It goes considerably beyond the traditional 6th magnitude atlas, revealing three times as many stars, making better use of 6x30 and larger finder scopes, and enabling the user to find bright asteroids and the planet Neptune. The colors used in the charts are not a problem under a red flashlight. Even the stick figures which depict the constellations are drawn so that they are readily distinguishable from the coordinate lines and do not interfere.

It contains a feature overlooked in too many small atlases. At the edges of each chart are the numbers of adjoining charts. Just go out into the field with an atlas that doesn't have them, and you'll understand immediately why they are important.

There are detailed charts of the Pleiades, LMC, Orion's sword, and the Virgo Galaxy Cluster. This last one probably should have been oriented vertically (portrait instead of landscape). At the expense of a couple galaxies on the western fringes, the chart would reach 6 or 7 degrees declination farther south--just about down to the star Porrima--to include quite a lot more galaxies, including M61.

It is small enough to pack alongside a pair of binoculars or in a car's glove compartment. The spiral binding is a useful touch. It allows the atlas to lie open flat without paperweights and also makes it easy to fold back and hold it in one hand. The pages are sturdy and dew resistant. The cover, however, should be tougher.

In places the charts seem a bit busy; this is due not to the scale, which is only slightly smaller than that of the Sky Atlas 2000.0, but to the occasionally lavish labelling. For example, what is the point of adding "Bode's Nebulae" to M81 and M82?

With such small pages, the area covered by each chart is limited. But the designers have managed the resulting problems well. The charts contain enough overlap that when an area of interest falls on the seam between two charts, one of them is likely to include the area in its entirety. The layout of adjacent charts on two-page spreads also helps.

To be sure, the Pocket has imperfections, but many of them are a compromise between competing considerations, and they are handled as well as in any small atlas on the market.

As a space saver, the compilers have omitted the lists of interesting objects. No problem, just buy a separate observer's guide and write out a list of your targets before going out for the evening.

For advanced observers, the Pocket is a great companion to Uranometria or the Millennium, use the Pocket for quick, hassle-free finds of ordinary objects and the big atlas for ferreting out the real challenges.

Users of binoculars and small telescopes have long faced a selection of 5th to 6th magnitude star atlases which show under 10,000 stars and range in quality from OK to poor. There is now no need to worry about the choice. Just get the Pocket.

Stop Looking!! This is the only atlas you will ever need!!, June 13, 2006
Finally!! A PERFECT atlas for amateurs with small or medium sized scopes (up to 8"), binoculars, or naked eye. Sky and Telescope has really outdone themselves with this one. It looks like they have really taken all of the comments about SkyAtlas 2000.0 into heart when designing. Constellation lines, good scale, telrad finder circles, very good index, etc. Pages are nice and heavy and take pencil and erasing really well.
Don't be intimitated by the fact that there are 80 charts. The layout makes sense, and it won't be long before you memorize your favorite constellations.
GET THIS!!!

just the perfect friend of every observer, July 2, 2006
As a professional astronomer, I have been surfing plenty of sky atlases, ranging from very simple to heavy and complete ones. This book is just great for those observing the heavens with thier own binoculars or telescope, as everything is in your hands, requiring just a little space. The choice to divide the whole sky in RA is a good one, as you have the season maps close each other. You have stars down to magnitude 7.5 and the maps are really accurate and a joy to look at. The milky way is reproduced with two different colours, accounting for the different star densities. You can quickly skip to any other map, thanks to the general index and indications given on each page.

Plenty of double and variable stars, as well as deep sky wonders complete this book, which is going to stay w
very close to my portable telescopes by now.

A great little atlas, March 7, 2007
I am an active amateur astronomer with several star atlases. I bought this atlas almost a year ago, and I have ended up using it more than any of my other atlases. The format is compact and convenient, it points out the major sky features very well (even providing outlines of larger nebulae), and is a great complement to a medium- to small-sized telescope. I even find this atlas makes interesting bed-time reading, helping familiarize myself with the locations of objects that I haven't commonly observed in the past, like carbon stars (cool, deep-red stars that are particularly beautiful in a low-power star field). The atlas is quite sturdy and has held up well. My only quibble is that in the edition that I have, there are a few small areas (roughly a half-inch in diameter) on a few of the maps that are blanked out, as if a small piece of scrap paper were in the way during printing. I believe this error may affect many or most copies of the first edition, but I am not certain about that.

Awesome Atlas, January 10, 2007
Since getting this last fall, I've only pulled my SA2K atlas out once!!!
For hunting down Messier Objects and brighter NGC's this is PERFECT! Great layout, great scale, and you can't beat the price or portability. Small enough to keep in your backpack, purse, bag, briefcase, whatever - never be afraid to go stargazing on your next trip.

Sky & Telescope's Pocket Atlas is now my FIRST reference, August 30, 2006
Having had it for two star parties now, it's become my favorite reference.

Well indexed and easy to read under red light, it is terrific for 90%+ of my needs. It sure beats dragging around a HUGE atlas at the telescope.

I highly recommend it for portable use. A large format star atlas is still a terrific tool, but the portability of this Pocket Atlas means it will be the one most used in my library.

Clear Skies!

If only it was bigger or smaller, August 18, 2008
This is a good field guide at the telescope. I like the layout and the information contained within it. Spiral bound is a plus, allowing you to lay it flat and not loose pages after a few weeks. However, I know it's a pocket book but its not! It's a little to big to be a pocket book and to small for easy identification of stellar targets. The size is just wrong! Bigger and it would be awesome, smaller and it would be very handy, as it is I use an old 1970s Patrick Moore book that is pocket size. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Have you ever looked up in the sky and wondered exactly what it is you're seeing? If so, the Night Sky Star Wheel is what you need! Designed specifically for beginners and stargazers living in light polluted areas, this ingenious star wheel shows only the brightest stars and minimizes distortion, making it a snap to discover the constellations. Great for scout troops, family camping trips, backyard exploring and school projects! Make sure to pick up a flashlight or headlamp with a red light to see your Star Chart at night and still retain your night vision.Works Anywhere Between North Latitudes 30 and 50 Towns in the neighborhood of 30 North Latitude; Huntsville, TX, New Orleans, LA, Jacksonville, FL, Cairo, Egypt, New Delhi, India, Shanghai, China.Towns in the neighborhood of 50 North Latitude; Helena, MT, Seattle, WA, Lewiston, ID, Calgary, Alb. Canada, Brussels, Belgium, Budapest, Hungary.Publisher - Sky PublishingYear - 2007ISBN - 9781931559300 ... Read more

Reviews

Fun reference, June 28, 2009
This product is lots of fun and easy to use. Make sure you get the correct one for your location...there are different versions for different latitudes. It's easy to store on a shelf or bookcase so it's always accessible and never lost. It's pretty sturdy and the information won't every get old! It should last a very long time.

Seeing Stars, October 7, 2010
The Night Sky Star Wheel is a must have for all new and old star gazers. Just set the wheel to the time and date and you can locate all the stars in the sky that are on the wheel....great product. Using a flash light with a red lens you can read the Star wheel at the same time you are looking at the sky....

star wheel, August 3, 2010
Very helpful! Helps us know where to find constellations, in relation to those we have already found.

Easy to use, March 22, 2009
We take this one camping with us, its easy to use and light to pack.

a little disappointed, November 5, 2010
I was a little disappointed with this item. I had one years ago and it was twice the size of this one. Also, the one I had glowed in the dark so you could read the constellations at night. I guess I just expected that this one would be similar. Would probably not have bought it if I had known the size.

The kids love it, November 2, 2008
On a Summer or Winter night the kids are out looking at the desert sky with this wheel. I love it and so do they

Night star wheel, March 3, 2009
Product received in good condition and in a timely manner. Communications with the firm were professionally handled in a timely manner. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Over the years, startling evidence has been uncovered, challenging established notions of the origins of life on Earth—evidence that suggests the existence of an advanced group of extraterrestrials who once inhabited our world.

The first book of the revolutionary Earth Chronicles series offers indisputable documentary evidence of the existence of the mysterious planet Nibiru and tells why its astronauts came to Earth eons ago to fashion mankind in their image.

The product of more than thirty years of meticulous research, The 12th Planet treats as fact, not myth, the tales of Creation, the Deluge, the Tower of Babel, and the Nefilim who married the daughters of man. By weaving together the biblical narrative with Sumerian and Babylonian clay-tablet texts, it challenges the established notions of the origins of Earth and mankind, and offers a compelling alternative history and prehistory of both.

Reviews

Ultra important book even if 50% of it is wrong..., May 23, 2002
Sitchin, if you didn't know it already, is one of the leading figures in alternative archaelogy and science in general.
These days, and especially the last 30-40 years, a "new wave" of scientists and non scientists alike has risen with the intention of re-examining what we as a species consider "knowledge", knowledge about what we are, and where we come from.
Sitchin, being one of the few people in the world who can actually read Sumerian, has spent his life examining our origins, and his conclusions have little to do with apes descending trees and miraculously evolving into humans.
In the "12th planet", his most famous of his alltogether 9 books, he suggests that we are actually the creation of an alien race which landed on earth more than 450 millenia ago, and who created us as slave labor for their purposes on this planet back then. From then on, and through a myriad interdevelopments and influences, we developed to what we are today.
Sure, this sounds controversial, and to most people content with swallowing mainstream teachings for "facts" this might seem as pure science fiction. You would have to read this book before you term it as such though.
It is an exhausting book too, as the author needs to use literally 100s of quotes on original translations he's made in order to make his argument and this isn't just any argument, you understand...
Exhausting as this book might then be at times, the reward is immense, to put it very mildly. Even if Sitchin happens to be wrong on half of his conclusions what he suggests is mind blowing and shatters to bits most of our current beliefs.
More importantly, Sitchin can serve you as a gateway to new paths of thinking. It is impossible -i would think- to read the "12th planet" and emerge the same person afterwards, providing of course that you read it with an open mind. All new knowledge recquires an open mind to begin with. This does not mean that you will necessarily agree with Sitchin if you do read it with an open mind, but the evidence he offers is important and solid enough to make you think in a way you've never thought before.
You ever wondered why we are the only species on this planet that definately does not fit in with its environment? Or why we have so many grey areas and disagreements about where we originate from and how? Or why the word "anthropos" (a greek word) means "the creature that always looks up"? Or even why the root word of the word "earth" comes from the ancient Sumerian (the word e.ri.du) and means "a home far away"?
The "12th planet" will provide you with some spectacular answers.

A hammer for the beginning, May 29, 2000
This is the first book of "The Earth chronicles" series in which Zecharia Sitchin tears the man's origins apart and puts them in a whole new perspective. Author is one of the top scholars in field of the ancient languages and offers his vision of extraterrestrial origins of Homo sapiens on Earth. His main point is that all ancient documents are written on the base of observations and facts and should not be taken symbolically. As we presume today, civilization has originated in Mesopotamia, but no one can really explain the fact that right from its start it was highly developed, that it blossomed virtually out of nothing and created incredible works, which we are not capable of performing even to date. Sitchin quotes many ancient documents, mostly Bible and Epic of Gilgamesh (which he read in Akkadian and Babylonian) and offers more sensful translation of these scripts. He also explains discrepancies of single/plural God in the Genesis and shows how the extraterrestrial wisdom has spread over other countries (Egypt, Greece, India...). Gods came from planet Nibiru (or Marduk in Babylonian), which has been created for special task: to bring order in our, at the time overcrowded solar system. After crushing Tiamat and forming Earth and Moon, planet Nibiru went on his comet-like journey, returning to the Sun in every 3,600 years. Life has formed and developed on it and some 450,000 years ago they noticed that our planet has some resources they desired. So they established settlements on Earth in range of Mesopotamia, because it is very rich with fuels, needed for space travelling. Man was created with genetic manipulation after their image (they mixed hominid's genes with their own in order to obtain higher IQ level) to do the mining work for them. In sitchin's light some very confusing and presumably highly imaginative texts suddenly seem very realistic. He explains why such monumental works like ziggurats, pyramids and other vast temples have been made and for what purposes they were used. The most monumental event in Earth's "modern" history was the Deluge, the Great Flood, found written and known everywhere around the world. Sitchin explains how Gods knew that it's going to happen and why Noah (or Ziusudra or Utnapishtim) was chosen to survive. After the waters flew away (the Deluge was coincided with the end of the Ice Age and the gravital pull of the passing Nibiru, therefore it lasted for a year), Gods gave many different technologies to people and they spread all over the Earth again. The book is very well written - if you don't accept the theory inside, it's still interesting piece of science fiction for you. I think Sitchin knows what he writes and the evidence written inside is sure enough for me. I already look forward what volume 2 will bring. And - if you disagree, maybe you know better?

An interesting but badly flawed premise, March 1, 2004
Okay, I can buy the idea that the Earth might have been visited by alien cultures in the distant past (in fact, considering what a fascinating species we obviously are, I'd be surprised if they hadn't.) I can also buy off on the idea that these ancient visitors might have been worked into the mythology of many cultures. I'm even open to the idea that life was `seeded' on this planet and that homo sapiens may be the result of some ancient genetic engineering. My problem is I can't buy off that all this occurred via a rogue planet that is in orbit around our own sun and that passes by every three-and-a-half millennias to `help us along' the evolutionary path.

I have great respect for Sitchin as a researcher and expert in ancient manuscripts, and I found much in this book to ponder. However, he makes the mistake most ufologists do in taking ancient texts as literal historical documents about real people and events rather than as fictionalized epics of antiquity. While he does at points recognize the metaphorical nature of some of their writings, he takes the ancient Sumerians far too literally, and strikes me as a man espousing a theory in search of evidence. His theory is simply too fantastic to be taken seriously and, while he makes a far more sophisticated attempt at demonstrating his thesis than Von Daniken, he makes many of the same mistakes Chariots of the Gods makes. For example, he has the residents of this twelfth planet (actually, the tenth, for he counts the moon and the sun as planets as well) fly to earth in spacecraft and have the means to genetically alter early primates, but then they travel about by means of paddle boats and utilize 19th century extraction techniques to pull gold from mines in Africa. He also stresses that the Mesopotamian region was chosen by the ancient astronauts-in part-because of its vast petroleum reserves (implying the ancients were using fossil fuels) yet there is no discussion of things like cars or trains or other types of technology these fuels might have been used for (unless we are to assume they were to be used somehow in propelling their spacecraft. Imagine, gasoline/oil powered rocket ships; what will they think of next?) He also pulls a `Von Daniken' by suggesting the ancients needed large expanses of flat ground to land their ships, giving one the impression of space shuttles and hyperjet transports, yet it would seem any technology sophisticated enough to maintain an interplanetary spacefaring capability should have figured out how to make space craft land and take off vertically (just as our own Apollo landers did on the moon.) In other words, their technology is inconsistent.

What's especially difficult to understand is why these beings don't seem to advance technologically themselves. Sitchin states they could only make the transit from their planet to our own when it swung into range every 3,600 years, but wouldn't any civilization have advanced considerably in such a vast amount of time? Consider how far we've come in just the last century; shouldn't these ancient peoples have developed an interstellar (or even intergalactic) capability over such a lengthy time? As such, there is much about these beings that appear inconsistent and inexplicable.

Finally, my biggest complaint with this book is the preposterous idea that a planet exists within our solar system that possesses such an elliptical orbit that it appears only once every 3,600 years and, more so, that this planet is teeming with beings similar enough to ourselves that they are capable of interbreeding with humans. First, if this is the case, why wasn't this planet reported during it's last pass through by ancient astrologers? Sitchin maintains this planet last made an appearance in 3,800 B.C. (just in time to get civilization kick started) yet if it has an orbit of 3,600 years, shouldn't it have shown up again around 200 B.C.? That's not all that long ago, historically speaking, and should have been quite a notable event (even if it's residents chose not to visit that time); one would assume someone-and astrology was a fairly well developed science back then-would have noted such a spectacular visitation from an unknown planet. Yet not a word exists in any ancient texts that even hint at such a remarkable event taking place. Curious.

The bigger problem, however, lies with the idea that such a planet could sustain human-like beings, despite being in complete darkness for 99% of the time. Even if it was massive enough to maintain it's own atmosphere and generated enough internal heat to prevent it from being a giant ball of ice in space, how does photosynthesis and, with it, the production of oxygen, take place? Clearly, for life to have evolved on such a planet conditions should be, at least to some degree, comparable to those on Earth. How anything more sophisticated than single cell organisms and fungus could exist on such a planet is scientifically inexplicable.

There are other problems with the book as well, but this should be enough to at least give the reader some idea of what they're getting into here. I appreciate Sitchin's scholarship and thoroughness (perhaps a little too thorough-the book is ponderous and a tedious read at times) but I can't say much for his science. An interesting book if you're into ancient civilizations and ufos and such (one might consider Sitchin the thinking man's Von Daniken) but nothing to be taken too seriously. In fact, it might have been better if Sitchin didn't take his own theory so deadly seriously; at least then he could have had some fun with it.

Optimistically Skeptical, June 8, 2000
I've read the Sitchin collection. It's a mind boggling experiance. It's also very scholarly. An expert in Sumerian language, culture, et al.., Mr. Sitchins findings, if remotely accurate, explains a lot of empty holes in our History. I have never bought the fact that ancient cultures could be THAT imaginative. I am a believer that imagination is based on some basis of experience, exposure to or passed on story. You've heard the expression, there are no original thoughts, just original ways of presenting old ideas. I can't imagine that these civilizations just made up all those elaborate stories without some sort of core truth. Was there another more advanced culture? I wouldn't doubt it--there is so much we don't know. Mr. Sitchin's assertions are worth the read if only to spark further inquiry intoour mysterious and ancient past. Also read the works of Graham Hancock. His assertions are the same but different. He looks at the world where Sitchin focuses on a region. Never the less, why is it so hard to believe that our past may have been manipulated, Why couldn't there be a prehistory that has yet to reveal itself to us in detail. It's fascinating and deserves a serious study. Those who mock these ideas now once believed the universe rode on the back of a great turtle, or thought the world was flat or mocked Copernicus. A small question can ignite an inferno of curiosity and lead those who are brave enough into a wonderful world of adventure.

A revolutionary theory - needs to be read with "caution", May 9, 2002
OK, let's get step by step to the point: This book (and the other 5 of the Earth Chronicles series, as well as the 3 companion books) presents a very exciting, revolutionary view to the ancient history, to the universe and to the sacred texts and myths. Sitchin's unique, "brave" interpretations, based on Sumerian/Akkadian clay tablets and cylinder seals and Egyptian papyri, suggest a very extraordinary alternative on the roots of our civilization which claims to replace the mainstream, orthodox understanding of history and universe. His main axis is a mysterious planet (belonging to our very own solar system, lurking in the depths of outer space but still "unknown" to us) which was somehow "hidden" in the mystical and "mythological" bulk of ancient sacred texts. Sitchin spots the "vague point" in myths, then clears the dust and mud carefully, finally points at this "surprising" planet which had been waiting to be discovered by us since millenia: This planet was called NI.BI.RU in ancient Sumerian (meaning "Planet Of Crossing"); had an orbital period of about 3600 years around the sun; and it was symbolized by the holy sign of "Winged Disk" in ancient cultures, as well as the cuneiform sign of "Shar" (meaning "3600" and "destruction".) He deciphers almost all the details about this huge planet and its "inhabitants" from a series of clay tablets, beginning with "Enuma Elish", the Babylonian Creation Epic, with a very careful attitude on ancient symbolism. This finding alone is enough to make his theory one of the most significant approachs on ancient history. But Sitchin goes further.

According to Sitchin, the "inhabitants" of planet Nibiru, "The Anunnaki" as they were called in Sumerian, had landed on Earth 450,000 years ago; had colonized our lonely planet for their mining purposes; had searched for gold and other valuable materials which had been needed in their own planet for the sake of their "atmosphere"; and at one time, when they had needed "extra labour" they had created the mankind "in their own look", by manipulating the genetic structure of the "ape man"; then they naturally had become the "powerful gods" of our ancestors. Seems very radical at first look, but also a very logical explanation, especially when considering the fact that even the "monotheistic" religions had made up their holy books (Old Testament, for example) by borrowing themes from much ancient resources and modifying them. (Thus, biblical Nephilim was nobody but the Anunnaki according to Sitchin.) A more intriguing point is about the two puzzles of modern science: "Planet X" theory (astronomers believe there should be another planet beyond Pluto since last century) and the "missing link" in evolutionist theory between the "humanoids" and "homo sapiens".

I do not want to spoil your reading fun, so I won't mention any other details on Sitchin's unique theory but I feel I'd like to state a "caution" about him: Though his theory of planet Nibiru with a 3600 years orbital period and his powerful explanations on "ancient gods" concept are very important to understand the roots of our civilization, there is something very "disturbing" with Sitchin's approach: His obsession to prove and verify the Old Testament as an actual historical resource. He puts the dawn of Sumerian civilization to 3800 BC (and puts the orbital passage of Nibiru at exactly the same date) just to make his theory to conform with the Jewish calendar, which begins on 3760 BC. He goes even further and suggests 3760 BC as the starting point of the Nippur calendar - which actually is thought to begin around 3100 BC. More disturbing than this, Sitchin takes biblical Abraham as a real personality and claims him as the real descendant of the Sumerians - a "wise" man from Nippur (thus, making the Hebrews literally "the chosen people of the god(s)" as the Old Testament states).

This religous and "nationalistic" approach not only ruins his exciting theory with his prejudice and religious obsessions, but also forces him to make dramatic mistakes on the dawn of civilization (and with the orbital periods of Nibiru) just to make everything "literally" conform to the Old Testament. And in the course of his "Earth Chronicles" series, he uses a method which can hardly be considered as scientific: He begins quoting a Sumerian myth (often without exact references) then inserts his commentary on the events; goes on with another quote from the same story (this time from an Akkadian source); again puts his commentary and then quotes a passage from the Old Testament he believes related to the same myth. This makes up a very eclectical version of the original story: A collage, just made everything to conform his view and of course, the Old Testament.

Strangely enough, Sitchin ignores Maya end-date of 2012 AD (which could contribute well to his theory on orbital periods of Nibiru); does not pay attention on Indus "kaliyuga" (starting of which coincide with Mayans "5th Sun"); and does not mention the Revelation of St John (which is very intriguing and without doubt was borrowed from much older sources.) Because none of them has any use for his efforts to verify the Old Testament. Do read Sitchin's books, they are very important works; but be warned and read with "caution".

THE MOST COMPLETE THEORY EVER PRESENTED, April 13, 2001
Zecharia Sitchin presents the most academically comprehensive, most scientifically believable, most bizzare theorum on our human evolution and intergalactic origins imaginable. The 12th Planet ranks as the best I have ever read on the subject.

Mr Sitchin's theory is that our human species was an evolutionary jumpstart advancing our expected progression by a million years. This jumpstart was the result of the crossing of ancestral primates with intergalactic travelers some 300,000 years ago. Rather than biblical mythology, Sitchin tells us that the Garden of Eden, the Flood, the extreme longevities of biblical heroes are all real events. Mr Sitchin provides the greatest level of comfort I have ever felt with Darwin's evolution -- which is to say Darwin had it almost correct until he tried to fit homo sapiens into the same mold of environmental and sexual selection as all other taxa.

Most fascinating is Sitchin's postulate that humanity has existed only for 300,000 years, as opposed to the conventional wisdom of either linear or punctuated progression from something that crawled out of the oceans millions of years ago. This postulate, based on his scholarly interprestations of the most ancient hieroglyphs he penned years before current biochemistry substantiated exactly the same timetable of between 220,000 and 270,000 years ago. His theory that we are a genetic cross between resident primates and interstellar "gods" predated our current and rapidly magnifying ability to clone within species, which is undoubtedly the precursor to our being able to genetically cross disparate species. And Mr Sitchin presents all of this truly out-of-the-box thinking with rheems of scholarly evidence.

ANYONE who has ever been interested in evolution must attempt this book with an open mind. (Darwin's original theorums are no longer taken seriously by any serious evolutionist, having been replaced with "punctuated equilibria" without any explanation as to what causes the punctuations.) Anyone who has a keen interest in the origins of biblical thought and other pre-diluvium stories, should likewise attempt this book with an open mind. If you can't approach Sitchin's ideas with an open mind because your are too wed to your beliefs, save your money -- buy something more traditional.

I would have given it 5 stars instead of 4, but my conservative self wants to hold back a little something, just in case.

A provocative new theory of man's history, January 27, 2002
This is the first book in Sitchin's monumental Earth Chronicles series. It is important to remember that fact because there is necessarily a lot of introductory material to be presented here in order to lay the foundation for what is to come. In other words, most of the really interesting stuff comes later in the series--Ancient Egypt, MesoAmerica, etc. Parts of this first book are somewhat dry and hard to get through. As one gets into the latter half, though, some pretty amazing arguments are made. If you read this book and no other, you may well have a hard time even sanctioning the kinds of ideas Sitchen presents, let alone believing them. When you read the rest of the series, though, the arguments are threshed out much more thoroughly and should at least lend an idea of possiblity to objective readers.

The idea that "ancient astronauts" (a term I dislike) had a hand in Man's creation and evolution is not new. Sitchin goes far beyond the normal arguments, however. He argues that there is an undiscovered planet in our own solar system upon which life developed and evolved millions of years before life on earth, a planet that seeded earth with its earliest life forms millions of years ago when this undiscovered planet entered our solar system and essentially crashed into a large planet between Mars and Jupiter--the planet in question was broken up into two parts, one eventually forming Earth and the other the asteroid belt. The 12th planet (counting the sun and moon as planets) he calls Nibiru; it is a planet with an eccentric orbit carrying it well past the other nine planets thousands of years at a time. Here life developed and advanced at a very early period. Needing resources, particularly gold, the planet sent forth emissaries to earth. In order to free themselves of the hard labor of mining, these aliens, the Nefilim, created Man by combining their genes with those of the ape men then on earth, a procedure made possible by the fact that the two races were in fact genetic cousins. Thus, the Nefilim became early man's gods, and their stories were told in the artifacts of the ancient Sumerians and of the kingdoms that came after them.

Sitchin makes a determined effort to tie Christianity and the Bible to the tale he unfolds. He effectively, and with good evidence, shows that the early stories in the Bible are based largely on older manuscripts from Sumeria. He explains many of the mysterious passages in the Bible by tying the stories to more complete Sumerian tales--the Elohim, the plural Deity mentioned in the Creation story, the great flood, the Tower of Babel, and others. In this endeavor, he is very successful. While one may not be convinced of his story of life on Earth, one cannot doubt the fact that the early books of the Bible are basically a condensed version of former manuscripts. He makes a convincing argument for his theories, but one will not be and should not be convinced based on this one book. Much supporting evidence is to be found in the later books in the series, where a far richer version of man's history is presented by the author. As unbelievable as many of his ideas sound, Sitchin actually does an effective job of answering many of the big questions that scientists and theologians have been unable to answer about life on earth, the most important of which is an explanation of why home sapiens developed so suddenly and miraculously 300,000 years ago. Right or wrong, his ideas answer a lot of questions and deserve serious study. Sitchin's knowledge of ancient civilizations is immense, and his judgments cannot be dismissed without serious attention paid to them.

Is God an Alien?, December 16, 2005
Sitchen readers are of two types: either they love him and believe him, or they relegate him to the fringe.
There are a few authors who influenced the direction of my work and my life, and Sitchen is definately one of them. I travelled the Old Silk Road in search of ancient manuscripts, never knowing where the search would lead.
From ancient documents in Tibetan monastaries, to Hindu concepts of the Garden of Eden and Shangri-La, there was much in Asia that corroborated Sitchen's translations and interpretations in the Middle East and Suneria. In India there are even directions for building and fueling personal vimanas (flying machines)written down five thousand years ago.

This gives Sitchen's theories and conclusions a lot of corroboration even he didn't expect. He doesn't have to one hundred percent right on everything, but it's obvious he isn't one hundred percent wrong either. This is already a classic and one you should read.

Finally, a theory that makes sense!, April 30, 1999
Mr. Sitchin does more than point out an intelligent alternative to the impossible teachings that have been thrust upon us since childhood. His information explains and corroborates ideas expressed in ancient and religious texts throughout our world in terms and interpretations that at first seem possible, then plausible, but finally, probable.

Yes, it's a bit hard to swallow the 'spaceman' theories, but give his evidence a chance. It is certainly no more incredible than many of the traditional ideas we've been taught over the years. If you feel a strong literal belief in some of those well-established dogmas, or are offended when people contradict the typical interpretations of today's largely Judeo-Christian society, you may feel that Sitchin's material shows anti-religious leanings or even approaches blasphemy. To the open minded individual, though, this book will expose an entirely possible origin of life on this planet (both all life and later, human life), more intellectually explained than the bible stories we've been asked to believe, but in fact in complete agreement with them!

If nothing else, Sitchin shows us a concise view of the evolution of myths, religions and 'sacred' teachings on this planet, and shows direct evidence that they mostly boil back to the same events. Even if you don't buy the whole Ancient Astronaut bit, the historical perspective is fascinating. And if you DO buy it (I did within the first 20 pages), it opens up a whole new interpretation of old and current events.

I'd also recommend another book, William Bramley's The Gods of Eden (personal rating: 3.5 stars). It begins with the basic Ancient Astronauts premise, but opines about the motives of the supposed extraterrestrial race. In The 12th Planet, though Sitchin tries to stay objective regarding the intent of the Annunaki, he does show evidence of mixed feelings among the community of "Gods" about the welfare of humanity. He even states that Man was, in fact, created by the Annunaki specifically to be a slave race, literally owned by the ETs. Mr. Bramley shows some impressive research of his own in The Gods of Eden, but suggests an even darker, more conspiratorial extraterrestrial race that he believes could be the cause of most or all human warfare, famine and discontent on this planet. Bramley's book also puts a very interesting slant on many current events, and suggests the possible methods these ETs use to direct and control human activity even today.

A bit sinister, but in the spirit of lively discussion, and for another phenomenal historical perspective, read The Gods of Eden (but only AFTER you read The 12th Planet)! Chew on these suppositions long and well before swallowing, but a little enlightenment goes a long way toward satisfaction!

If man were meant to fly, God would have given him wings., May 27, 1998
Mr. Sitchin is one of the few people on the planet who can read ancient Sumerian Cunieform tablets. I have always tended to admire those who rebel at the status quo when asking why, how and not liking the answers, "That's the way it's always been," or, "It is written." The 12th Planet and all the others of Zecharia Sitchin's books are quite controversial, but this does not mean without merit. If true, they would provide us with the means and understanding needed to make sure that we "adams'" are not re-enslaved by our "creators" the Annunaki. The information supplied with these books tells a more sobering story of a man who has come to be used to being disbelieved. His work represents over 40 years of study over such diverse areas as archeology, biology, medicine, space flight, astronomy, myth, legend and history. In all these areas, there rings the peal of logical truth. Mr. Sitchin's hard effort tells an incredible yet apparently logically tight and factually correct story of how humanity can tie together evolutionary thought with religious tenets. Many view this work as fictional or delusional, but to those who can read with an open mind, the implications are truly Earth Shattering. If true, and I believe it to be so, then we, as a race, need to rethink our near future plans to ensure that, as a race, we remain free from slavery and free to claim our place in the heavens. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

That's a nice 20th birthdate, April 21, 2010
This is the first Hubble photobook I ever bought. Probably because it's still operational snapping and capturing amazing pictures. Thus I figured it wouldn't be a wise thing to do; buying a static book while each month new and stunning images are being released. But because it's Hubble's 20th anniversary I figured I'd break the habit and buy this special NASA authorized book.

I live in Holland so it took a couple of weeks for the book to arrive, but finally here it is. First impression: a nice sleek hardcover book with absolutely high quality picture resulution and colour. There's a fine balance between the amount of photo's and text, though in essence it's a photo-book. You won't be disappointed.

Upon first reading I was really impressed by the image quality. Black is really deep-black instead of dark-grey and the resolution is just that high I felt compelled to take a magnifying glas to zoom in on all those beautiful pictures... And so I did, but I have to disappoint you: it's a book. If you want that zoom-in experience; go to the Hubble website.

Anyway, the written contribution is impressive. Edward J. Weiler was Chief scientist for the Hubble telescope from 1979 till 1998, among other functions, he now is the current associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA. Pretty impressive, but that doesn't mean you have to fear thick and tiresome bureaucratic writing. The texts are accessible yet detailed, image captions detail the scientific essence without losing it's clarity, and there are quotes from actual astronauts who were out there deploying, repairing and servicing Hubble. That's just cool.

Many pictures from the actual Hubble missions are there as well. Many of which were made before the digital camera age. So you would expect some graininess, especially with the 1990 and 1993 missions. But it's not there. The scans are crisp and compelling. They absolutely capture the beauty and awe of manned spaceflight.

Verdict. This is a beautifully published book, ideal for coffee-table reading. The images are just straight out amazing! You'll spend hours peering over all the crisp details, it's just incredible. Downside are the images spanning two pages... It's annoying to see the luminous center of an amazing galaxy being buried in the central gutter; but hey surprise! It's a book. And that's the main downside of this book: it's a book. There will be many more beautiful Hubble images and discoveries for years to come and eventually those will end up in book-form as well. An until that day "Hubble: A Journey Through Space and Time" will be an impressive, graphic and up-to-date testimonial to Hubble's amazing service. Just don't forget to read the text, you will learn a lot.

Last words: In his april 2010 NASA speech, President Obama told he had a Hubble picture of Jupiter hanging at the oval office wall. If that is so: I recommend him to put this book on his desk as well.

Amazing & Beauiful, April 6, 2010
Amazing and Beautiful - it's is hard to say anything less.

I could not wait to receiv this and when I received it I couldn't put it down. Not only are the pictures incredible, but it is packed with interesting facts not only about the data it obtains, but about how it came into being, and each of the missions that have served to give it the ability to provide those amazing images.

this will become a treasured tennant of my bookshelf.

The latest Hubble Images, May 30, 2010
Short of actually going into space and seeing with your own eyes through a powerful telescope such as the Hubble, this is the next best thing.
This publication is for your library of Astronomy, bar none.

Satisfied, October 11, 2010
Really good contents, images and material (paper is semiglossy, so easy to read almost at any angle, no much reflection of light). I bought other 2 books about the Hubble telescope and 3 of them are complement. Very happy.

a wonderful book, November 11, 2010
It's a very simple and interesting book with many big and clear pictures.The reason of four stars lies in Amazon's careless package that lead to a little corner and spine breakage of the book. ... Read more

Editorial Review

From One of the Most Brilliant Minds of Our Time
Comes a Book that Clarifies His Most Important Ideas

Stephen Hawking’s worldwide bestseller, A Brief History of Time, remains one of the landmark volumes in scientific writing of our time. But for years readers have asked for a more accessible formulation of its key concepts—the nature of space and time, the role of God in creation, and the history and future of the universe.

Professor Hawking’s response is this new work that will guide nonscientists everywhere in the ongoing search for the tantalizing secrets at the heart of time and space.…

Although “briefer,” this book is much more than a mere explanation of Hawking’s earlier work. A Briefer History of Time both clarifies and expands on the great subjects of the original, and records the latest developments in the field—from string theory to the search for a unified theory of all the forces of physics. Thirty-seven full-color illustrations enhance the text and make A Briefer History of Time an exhilarating and must-have addition in its own right to the great literature of science and ideas.

... Read more

Reviews

Gets somewhat caught in the switches, November 4, 2005
I do not have a science background, and I did not read a Brief History of Time when it was originally published or thereafter. So this review is written to a fairly small category of potential readers -- those like me with an interest in modern physics but without much background.

I thought the book was exceptionally well written, and it was outstanding in places. It was certainly a very fun read, and I think it achieves a very lofty goal -- making liberal arts grads like me understand both the desirability and potential implications of reconciling general relativity and quantum physics. But, overall, I thought it tried to walk too fine a tightrope between discussing complex subjects and at the same time attempting to be as conversational and accessible as possible. That is a lofty goal -- hard to achieve I think. The reality is that some of these concepts are very very difficult to the uninitiated, so the cursory treatment the authors sometimes give them, in their attempt to make the book accessible and to live up to the "briefER" in the title, actually at times makes the book harder to understand, not easier. It is most acute in the book's introduction to uncertainty, quantum physics, and understanding the implications of interference experiments. More detail, not less, was needed here to reach the authors' goal of accessibility. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't seeking a text heavily laden with mathematics or equations. I just think the overriding editorial doctrine with this book was to condense wherever possible, and that is just not always possible or desirable.

All that said, the book achieves it purpose: To take some of the amazing intelligence and insight of one of the world's most important thinkers, squeeze it into understandable packets, and give us ordinary folk some insight into the exciting times in which anyone interested in the Universe and its fundamental questions live. But to steal a little from Einstein, I thought the authors didn't quite follow the second half of his famous exhortation to make everything as simple as possible, but no simpler.

A Science Classic Now made Accessible to Everyone!!, December 9, 2005
+++++

"In this book are lucid revelations on the frontiers of physics, astronomy, cosmology [the study of the universe as a whole], and courage [Dr. Stephen Hawking has ALS, also called Lou Gehrig's disease or motor neuron disease contracted when he was young and now is wheelchair bound]. This is also a book about God...or perhaps about the absence of God. The word God fills these pages. Hawking embarks on a quest to answer Einstein's famous question about whether God had any choice in creating the universe. Hawking is attempting, as he explicitly states, to understand the mind of God. And this makes all the more unexpected the conclusion of the effort, at least so far: a universe with no edge in space, no beginning or end in time, and nothing for a Creator to do."

These are the words in the last paragraph of the introduction to Hawking's very first or original book "A Brief History of Time" (1988). These words were written by the late, great Dr. Carl Sagan. (In his introduction, Sagan calls Hawking a "legend.")

Nothing has changed with this new book with respect to what Sagan says above. But as a reader of Hawking's first book, I did notice welcome changes.

First, this new book is more concise. This does not mean this book is drastically shorter than the original. This new book is about twenty pages less than the original. Also this new book contains one more chapter than the original! What this book does is cut out extraneous technical detail from the original and focuses only on the most important concepts but still maintains the essence of the original. Thus, the book seems much more concise.

Next, and this is very important, this book is more accessible. The important concepts mentioned above, I found, are explained much more clearly thus increasing this book's readability in order to achieve Hawking's (and collaborator Leonard Mlodinow's) goal: "to share some of the excitement of...[scientific] discoveries, and the new picture of reality that is emerging as a result."

Third, this book is illustrated throughout with color illustrations. Actually, the original book was also illustrated but the new illustrations are, I feel, more easier to grasp. (I only have a complaint with the first illustration in this new book because it doesn't illustrate the point it's trying to make.)

Finally, this book is actually updated with respect to the latest theoretical and observational results! For example, this book describes recent progress that's been made in finding a complete unified theory of all the forces of physics and describes the progress made in string theory (technically called superstring theory). Observational material comes from the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) satellite and by the Hubble Space Telescope. Thus, even though I read the original book, I still learned much from this book.

As with the original book, this book contains a helpful glossary and an appendix briefly outlining the lives of Albert Einstein (1879 to 1955), Galileo (1564 to 1642), and Sir Isaac Newton (1642 to 1727). (Notice that Newton was born in the same year Galileo died. Hawking was born in 1942, three hundred years after the death of Galileo.)

Here are the names of the chapter titles:

(1) Thinking about the universe.
(2) Our evolving picture of the universe (Discussion of Galileo starts here.)
(3) The nature of scientific theory.
(4) Newton's universe.
(5) Relativity. (Discussion of Einstein starts here.)
(6) Curved space.
(7) The expanding universe.
(8) The Big Bang, black holes, and the evolution of the universe. (It is thought that the Big Bang is how the universe began. A black hole is a region of space or more correctly space-time, where nothing, not even light can escape, because gravity is so strong.)
(9) Quantum Gravity. (This is a theory that merges quantum mechanics that is a theory that deals with the very small with general relativity that is a theory of the very large and that incorporates gravity.)
(10) Wormholes and time travel. (A wormhole is theoretically a thin tube of space or space-time connecting distant regions of the universe.)
(11) The forces of nature and the unification of gravity. (The forces of nature are electromagnetism, the weak force of radioactivity, the strong force that binds the atomic nucleus together, and gravity. The first three forces can be combined or unified but gravity seems to stand on its own.)
(12) Conclusion. (Last words in this chapter: "then we would know the mind of God.")

Finally, this book is not referenced. However since Hawking is Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University, a post once held by Newton and Sagan witnessed his accepting this position in 1974, I think I can safely take Hawking at his word.

In conclusion, this book is a reorganized version of a science classic that is now more accessible, more concise, better illustrated, and updated with the latest research. It is not to be missed!!

(first published 2005; acknowledgements; forward; 12 chapters; main narrative 160 pages; appendix; glossary; index)

+++++

Interesting and enlightening, December 15, 2005
I clearly remember when Stephen Hawking's first book, A Brief History of Time, came out in 1988. It was a great book that explained modern scientific cosmology in a way that I could really understand. That book became a worldwide bestseller, and with good reason! I still have my copy to this day.

And now, some seventeen years later, Stephen Hawking is back with this new book. A Briefer History of Time brings the reader up to date, and makes the narrative even easier to understand.

Even though I am a non-science-type guy, I found this book understandable. But even more so, I found it to be a very enjoyable read! I loved the way that the authors unfold scientific cosmology through the use of a historical narrative, explaining how man's knowledge of the universe expanded and changed, until we reach the modern theories. I found this book to be both interesting and enlightening, and expect it to do as well as the original.

If there is one book that you simply *must* pick up and read this year, it is A Briefer History of Time. Get it today!

Too Brief, July 31, 2006
"A Briefer History of Time" is a graceful summary of spacetime physics, written entirely for non-scientific readers; it contains no formulas, and can be understood by any bright teenager. Before you run out and buy a copy, though, you should know that - due to the book's very short length and intended readership for a general audience - it is very elementary and covers its field in only the briefest of ways. If the reader has read any other popular treatment of this subject in the last few years, there will not be anything new in the "Briefer History."

Given Hawking's stature in the field, most readers would hope to get some kind of unique perspective or approach from this book. Unfortunately, as it is, the book offers little more than an incomplete run-through of a few basic ideas.

rather like plumbing, June 17, 2006
When I mentioned to my friend Carver Yu that I was reading this book, he scrunched up his face in the way that only a man who knows the field well can do and commented, `Well, of course, that book contains a fair bit of metaphysical speculation.'

Precisely.

That is what makes Hawking's attempt to simplify his original one-syllable-less A Brief History of Time such a beguiling reader for a non-specialist like me. Call it metaphysical speculation or call it a daring attempt to translate the astrophysicists' language into yours and mine without losing the power of asking us to imagine a world nearly completely different than the one we thought we lived in. Call it what you want, it's still a read well worth the effort it requires.

Don't shy away from finishing this book if you don't understand it all. Allow it the chance to paint an impressionistic portrait of what physicists--many of them justly awe-struck by the object of their inquiry--believe that they see `out there' when some of humanity's best minds ask the fundamental questions and follow the theories (theirs is a theory-rich pursuit) where they lead. Many of those theories, as Hawking describes them, will sound like nonsense. Unless sense is different than we thought.

When I was at Cambridge, I used to bicycle past the severely disabled Stephen Hawking in his wheelchair, followed by his personal nurse, as he wheeled between home and office, his mind no doubt drifting far from the concrete course of his wheelchair across the Commons. One wonders whether paragraphs of Briefer History and other of his works were taking shape as our paths crossed.

Metaphysical speculation for those who dare to imagine things they may not fully understand. Things like wormholes, peabrains, and a universe curved so severely that words almost fail in the explaing of it.

If that sounds provocative enough to justify the effort, this book is for you.

Physics is fun, well at least it used to be., January 30, 2006
I listened to the audio version which is well produced and well read.

Book vs. CD the material is the same (the audio version has text illustrations available on the last disk).

Physics used to be a science that mere mortals such as you and I, could aspire too. Certainly you needed mathematical skill, but with hard work and a creative mind you could understand and study the physical world around you. This was the case until early in the 20th century when Relativity and Quantum theories arose. At this point the mathematics involved truly become difficult and esoteric to the point were only a relative handful of people proficient in such mathematics could understand and develop further theories. Additionally, as our knowledge expanded, sub-specialization in physics created a further segregation of the material where even only a smaller few could understood the nuance and intricacies of their specific field.

In this milieu of high math and super specialization what is the curious lay person to do?

Read Stephen Hawking!

In his casual manner and efficient eloquent prose, he presents the current status of physics and cosmology such that you and I can actually understand the principles and theories. I will never understand the derivation of the theories but as Hawking explains I don't need to, through this book we do not become PhD students, simply guests at his dinner table discussing what he is thinking. What great minds like Hawking are thinking is infinitely more interesting than most other topics which come up at the average dinner table.

Somehow just understanding what these giants are working on makes me comfortable in my relative ignorance, while I can never understand how they know, I can understand what they know.

When I read the A Brief History of Time in 1988 I felt the same way and must admit at that time worried that Dr. Hawking would not live much longer due to the severity of his illness. It is very comforting that he and his mind and his desire to include and share with us his intimate yet wonderful knowledge of physics. He is among the select few that have the skill to educate the masses in science. Hawking, Sagan and Feynman benefit mankind not only with their science but with their dedication to teaching humanity.

The brief bios on Einstein, Galileo and Newton were an unexpected bonus.

This book really makes you think, October 19, 2005
This book takes on a nearly impossible task: explaining some of the most challenging questions facing theoretical physics--not to mention philosophers and theologians--today in a manner that everyone can understand. I'll admit that as a "non-science" type, some of this book went over my head. But it wasn't due to a lack of effort by the authors to keep things clear. In fact, the concepts that I found most difficult to follow were the most recent, least developed theories

What I found most interesting about this book is that it leaves you thinking about how small a part of this universe we are and how improbable our existence is. This book inspires many more questions about our universe than it tries to answer. This is a great book to read and discuss with others as a result.

A Great Starting Point on Theoretical Physics, May 18, 2007
Hawking's landmark bestseller, A Brief History of Time, was published in 1988, and an updated edition was released ten years later. It introduced readers around the world to the large-scale (and very small scale) questions that are central to astronomy, physics, and to our understanding of the universe at the most basic levels.

This new book (co-writtin with Leonard Mlodinow; nerds out there will be interested to know that Mlodinow wrote for Star Trek: The Next Generation) serves two purposes. First, it presents much of the material from Hawking's original book into a more accessible format, with less emphasis on mathematics and fewer technical details.

The second purpose is to update the reader on new discoveries made since the updated A Brief History of Time was published in the late 1990's, with string theory getting particular attention.

Making a book on theoretical physics that can be considered a "light read" is a daunting task, but Hawking's voice comes through with a clear, conversational tone and an easy confidence that inspires the reader to wrap their mind around the paradoxes of quantum mechanics and general relativity.

There are a few places where the book seems a bit too watered down. Discussions of FTL travel and time travel seem to be reluctantly thrown in because the authors knew there would be demand for these topics. Neither is addressed with much depth or enthusiasm.

The historical aspects of the book, on the other hand, are exceptionally well written, including brief biographical appendices on the lives of Einstein, Newton, and Galileo. Science has a rich history, and the team of Hawking and Mlodinow do a nice job of telling the stories behind the discoveries and theories.

The book is illustrated with computer-generated full-color graphics, which are a bit of a mixed bag. Some do a great job of illustrating a concept, while others seem to be thrown in just to break up the text.

Interestingly, while Hawking and Mlodinow do not specifically set forth their own religious viewpoints in this book, the spend a good deal of time acknowledging the possibility of the existence of God, and discussing the interplay between theoretical physics and the concept of a creator.

As a science teacher who is not specifically teaching physics (I teach chemistry), I found that A Briefer History of Time really raised my interest and enthusiasm while summarizing some concepts that I was out of practice with. I found myself discussing ideas from this book with my students the day after I started reading it.

In general, this is a great starting point or refresher for anyone with an interest in physics. If you are already familiar with the subject matter, you may still enjoy the historical details and the narrative voice, although there is not a great deal of technical depth.

Finally, I Almost Get It!, March 21, 2007
Amazingly Hawking and Mlodinaw discuss the concepts of energy, time, relativity, space, time travel, black holes, quantum gravity, wormholes and string theory using almost no equations, excepting Einstein's famous E=mc2. They use common sense and mundane examples to explain some of the most complex ideas ever pondered by humankind. Mlodinaw's famous humor rears its head at appropriate times, while the writing style is straightforward and easily comprehended. However, there are several sentences for which one has to go back and reread and think about before proceeding. But overall it's a fun book and leaves the layman with a rudimentary understanding of a very complex subject.

Welcome to our universe, August 14, 2006
A phenomenal description of the basics in physics and science. Hawkings new version is a tell all for Science beginners such as myself. After years of not understanding or not putting effort into understanding science I now have an excellent overview of why and how we exist. Definitely a great read! ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum holds the country's premier collection of historic aircrafts, but visitors must view these impressive structures at a distance.

IN THE COCKPIT captures the feeling of helming these historic craft with big, gorgeous four–color photographs that will give flight enthusiasts a true pilot's eye view of many of history's most important domestic and military airplanes, jets, and helicopters. Each entry includes archival images of the craft and authoritative text that places each one in the context of the development of aviation technology and world history

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Reviews

Excellent work!, May 2, 2007
This book is beautiful! I saw it at Borders today. Even if you are not interested in cockpits you should pick up this book. Cockpits are interesting and these are some of the most famous aircraft of all time.

BEAUTIFUL photography. In addition to the photos I really enjoyed the nostalgic look and feel to the book. A very cool book indeed by two of the world's best aircraft photographers. No wonder they work at the Smithsonian...

David Palermo

can you imagine yourself flying a plane?, March 5, 2009
There are some wonderful flight sims out there. You can sit at your PC and fly all sorts of aircraft. Not too bad, huh? With most of these sims you can see the controls. Sometimes the controls are rendered quite faithfully, at other times you get a generic rendition. In this book, however, you'll find that other than for WW I craft, interiors get very complex indeed.

50 aircraft interiors are covered here--lots of well-done full-color photographs. With the Halberstadt CL IV in 1917 you get a spartan cockpit--about a half-dozen gauges and a handful of switches and levers. It shouldn't be too hard remembering which is which. Taking off, flying, and landing, well, that's different. The 1937 Piper Cub--still quite simple. The 1927 Lockheed Vega--maybe 15 gauges, and 20 levers. The Hurricane of WW II begins to look quite a bit more intimidating: the Corsair takes another jump in complexity. The MIG-15 begins to look despairingly difficult (yet pilots regularly flew it). The Concorde looks as if it might require its own 250-page section in a flight sim manual. Leave the actual flying to others--while you browse this delightful book!

Wonderful, Informative Book, January 21, 2010
I purchased this book for my husband for Christmas and he has thoroughly enjoyed the book. He is a former pilot (retired) so he had a "built-in" interest. There were so many cockpits he had not seen and he enjoyed seeing and reading about each. I highly recommend this book for anyone with a pilot in their family.

Xmas Present, January 8, 2010
Beautiful book. The cover looks like leather, the book's quality reminds you of an antique book. The photographs are excellent and extremely detailed. I purchased it for a nephew who is really into WWII plains, trains and ships. For a historical aircraft lover it's a perfect gift. I only read a page or two, so I can not comment on the writing, but I believe the real beauty is in the photographs. Even someone who has little interst in aircraft found the pictures compelling.

Great for modelers, January 30, 2010
Being hung up on internal details I really liked this book. It is a treasure trove for cockpit color data. Favorites are the He 219 Ki-45, Ju 388 and FJ-1. Ideal for modelers and armchair aeronuts.

Great Book-beautifully photographed!, February 8, 2008
Gave this as a gift to my pilot father and he loved it. Perfect choice for anyone who aprreciates these aircraft. Great pictures and cover design!

Great Christmas Gift, October 19, 2009
This will be a perfect gift for my son, who loves aviation and history. The book, itself, is very attractively done, definitely one to keep. I skimmed through it, and know my son will be interested in all the information it provides.

Just an alert to some marketing hype., May 23, 2007
The book looks interesting and the concept is solid. If you're into flying and especially old planes this glimpse into so many cockpits should prove of more than passing interest. That said, it's a sign of the times that even the Smithsonian Institute would stoop to some dubious marketing. If you enlarge the cover photo you'll see that John Tavolta's name is in large print just below the title. Indeed Mr. Travolta did write the forward, all five sentences of it. Literally, five generic sentences that offer nothing more than cover tease to snag some buyer interest. If you do buy the book at least lend it to those who only have a mild interest and let the Smithsonian know that they should have more integrity than promoting products with cheap celebrity hype. Since comments here must be accompanied by a rating, I'll leave it at 3 as a neutral comment.

MY STEP_BROTHER_IN LAW Loved this book, December 17, 2008
My sister told me her husband couldnt put the book down ... He is an aviator and loves the rich history nthis book intails. ... Read more