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Bad astronomy
288 pages
A witty, myth-busting tour of the cosmos that replaces popular misconceptions with the far more fascinating truth.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like sitting next to your favorite, most enthusiastic science teacher at a dinner party while they gleefully dismantle every space myth you have ever believed. The pace is brisk and conversational, moving effortlessly from the physics of balancing eggs on the vernal equinox to the truth behind the moon landing hoax. It cultivates an atmosphere of bright, geeky curiosity, replacing the murky waters of pseudoscience with the crisp, illuminating light of actual astrophysics. The prose is witty and accessible, never bogging the reader down in dense math, but instead relying on clever analogies and a palpable love for the cosmos. It is a delight for curious minds who want to understand the universe as it truly is, rather than how pop culture pretends it to be.
- Mood
- curious
- illuminating
- lighthearted
- geeky
- Tone
- wry
- enthusiastic
- conversational
- accessible
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- debunking myths · scientific literacy · wonder of the cosmos · critical thinking
- The writing
- Conversational, witty, and highly accessible, breaking down complex physics into digestible, everyday analogies.
- The arc
- Moves from the amusing frustration of widespread misconceptions to a profound, clear-eyed awe for the actual universe.
- Who it's for
- Curious minds, science enthusiasts, and anyone who loves a good 'well, actually' moment backed by solid evidence.
About the book
Advance praise for Philip Plait s Bad Astronomy "Bad Astronomy is just plain good! Philip Plait clears up every misconception on astronomy and space you never knew you suffered from." --Stephen Maran, Author of Astronomy for Dummies and editor of The Astronomy and Astrophysics Encyclopedia "Thank the cosmos for the bundle of star stuff named Philip Plait, who is the world s leading consumer advocate for quality science in space and on Earth. This important contribution to science will rest firmly on my reference library shelf, ready for easy access the next time an astrologer calls." --Dr. Michael Shermer, Publisher of Skeptic magazine, monthly columnist for Scientific American, and author of The Borderlands of Science "Philip Plait has given us a readable, erudite, informative, useful, and entertaining book. Bad Astronomy is Good Science. Very good science..." --James "The Amazing" Randi, President, James Randi...
Description from Open Library.
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