Product Description
With wit, humor, and an infectious love of astronomy that could win over even the science-phobic, this fun and fascinating book reminds us that outer space is anything but remote. The scientist behind the popular website badastronomy.com, Philip Plait presents some of the most fearsome end-of-the-world calamities (for instance, incoming asteroids and planet-swallowing black holes), demystifies the scientific principles at work behind them, and gives us the odds that… More >>
Death from the Skies!: The Science Behind the End of the World
Tags: astronomy, black holes, humor, incoming asteroids, odds, outer space, philip plait, scientist, wit, world calamities
#1 by Nom de Guerre on June 28, 2010 - 11:35 pm
If you are looking at this review and considering buying Death from the Skies!, that probably means you have some interest in astronomy–if you do, I promise you will love this book. It is probably the most engaging non-fiction book I have ever read–I couldn’t put it down. Phil Plait uses teaser stories at the beginning of each chapter, describing what it would be like to experience the various cosmic threats he covers. These are incredibly effective at grabbing your attention. Each time I read a new teaser, I couldn’t stop myself from reading the rest of the chapter. In addition, the chapters, though they are packed with science, are very accessible and full of wit. Plait has a great sense of humor, and a gift for clear explanation. You do not need any kind of background in astro, physics, or math to get what he is talking about. I took a lot of astro in college so the concepts in the book were already familiar to me, which may have helped me to plow through the book quickly, but I don’t think that sort of background is crucial. Anyway, I was an art history major, so it’s not like I am some great expert on astronomy. If you are interested, you will be able to get what Plait is talking about.
This book has really reawakened my interest in the cosmos–I’ve started reading more astro and doing stuff like watching Jupiter and its moons as they change positions each night, stuff I hadn’t done in ages. In addition, the book gave me a sense of perspective on Earth’s place in the universe. There are some very thought-provoking ideas here, especially in the chapter about the end of the universe, which gets a little philosophical (in a good way). Plait also has a lot of good, practical stuff to say about risk assessment and what we can or should actually do about the threats he covers. This is a great strength of the book, reminding us to think before we give in to terror (and not just terror from the skies).
If you are reading this review and have any interest in astronomy, I can tell you without any reservations: get this book. You are in for a great ride, one that is plenty rewarding.
And to Phil Plait: write another one soon!!
Rating: 5 / 5
#2 by Bob Reece on June 29, 2010 - 2:08 am
Anyone worried about looking out their bathroom window to discover the birds gone along with an overwhelming stillness should not read this book. If you notice all the trees around you suddenly begin to smoke, don’t bother running away. If just after sunrise you notice rocks begin to melt, don’t bother turning on the air conditioner.
If any of these possible scenarios do not alarm you and you are looking for a laugh-out-loud read about the different ways the world could end, then this book is for you. Astronomer and author, Dr. Philip Plait enlightens us with many more scenarios describing what would happen to our planet just before biblical catastrophes such as the Sun dying, asteroid and comet impacts, gamma-ray bursts, black holes, and more.
Expect to get educated as well with terms any layman can understand but appreciate: “The Sun is about 93 million miles away. If you could build a highway and drive there, it would take over 170 years. Even an airplane would take two decades to fly to the Sun if it could.”
Plait’s “Death from the Skies” is a blast (pun intended).
Rating: 5 / 5
#3 by Benny S on June 29, 2010 - 3:54 am
Readable to a general audience, but never speaks down to it’s readers. Fascinating for me, as a non-scientist. This book is both terrifying and calming, as Plait tells us all of the ways the universe could kill us, but probably won’t… yet.
Rating: 5 / 5
#4 by M. Baker on June 29, 2010 - 4:05 am
I love this book. The best NF read I’ve had since ‘The World Without Us.’ Plaitt’s humor is more subtle (and thus more effective) here than in ‘Bad Astonomy.’…..keep em coming. I’ll be there to pick every new book by the real Dr. Phil.
Rating: 5 / 5
#5 by R. Wilcox on June 29, 2010 - 6:01 am
There is plenty of science here but the doomsday scenarios are presented so that anyone can understand (enjoy?) them. Even though I (as a Sci-Fi nut and amateur astronomer) had encountered much of the information before, I enjoyed how the whole range of, well, ‘death from the skies’ was covered. From meteors to the aging of the universe, it’s all here. Also well explained are the processes that can end the life of a star. And if they occur close enough, how it would affect us. In some events, you are doomed but have a bit of time to appreciate it before the fatal wave arrives. You get an overall picture that expands your awareness of our place in the cosmos.
Rating: 4 / 5