Review: Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson

In a surprising turn of events, all three of my first few reads of 2024 were non-fiction. Considering only 6 of the 50 books I read in 2023 were nonfiction, this year is shaping to be one filled with new books! My third book of 2024 was, just like the previous two, incredible, so here's why you should read Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil de Grasse Tyson.

5 star read

Careful! THis nExt section may contain spoilers...

Neil deGrasse Tyson’s book is an eye opening introduction to astrophysics. Incredibly well written, it is neither too hard to explain nor too simplistic, and left me wanting to learn so much more about the giant world that surrounds us. My favorite section was the portion about each element's significance to astrophysicists, and, without spoiling too much, let me just say that the book (on top of being educational) is incredibly entertaining, with jokes at every turn of the page. Throughout the read, you realize that learning about the cosmos serves as a reminder that this planet may as well be insignificant in many ways, even though to us it is often the center of our universe, a notion that is both amazing and devastating to think about. After reading it, I can't wait to open another book about astrophysics and to learn more about this passionating subject. It should also not be a surprise that I, of course, rated this book 5/5 stars. So, if you can, I hope you'll read Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, whether you have time to sit and read or are always in a rush.

The Summary:

What is the nature of space and time? How do we fit within the universe? How does the universe fit within us? There’s no better guide through these mind-expanding questions than acclaimed astrophysicist and best-selling author Neil deGrasse Tyson.

But today, few of us have time to contemplate the cosmos. So Tyson brings the universe down to Earth succinctly and clearly, with sparkling wit, in tasty chapters consumable anytime and anywhere in your busy day.

The author:

Neil deGrasse Tyson was born and raised in New York City where he was educated in the public schools clear through his graduation from the Bronx High School of Science. Tyson went on to earn his BA in Physics from Harvard and his PhD in Astrophysics from Columbia.