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Product Description
Product Description
From the ancient origins of astronomy to the Copernican revolution, and from Galileo to Hawking's research into black holes, The Story of Astronomy charts the discoveries of some of the greatest minds in human history, and their attempts to unveil the secrets of the stars. Peter Aughton's trademark narrative style is to the fore, demystifying some of the biggest breakthroughs in the history of science, and packed full of fascinating nuggets such as why we have 60 minutes in an hour, how the Romans bodged the invention of the leap year and when people really discovered the Earth wasn't flat (a thousand years before Columbus). And explaining in the most straightforward and compelling of ways what Newton, Einstein, Hubble and Hawking really achieved. Richly informative and readable, The Story of Astronomy is a fascinating journey through 3000 years of stargazing. Included are chapters on: The Origins of Astronomy; From Babylon to Ancient Greece; The Almagest; Persian Stargazing; Nicholas Copernicus; Tycho and Kepler; Galileo; Newton and The Clockwork Universe; William Herschel; Finding Longitude; Einstein; Hubble's Universe; The Microcosm and the Macrocosm; Beyond the Visible Spectrum; Black Holes and Quasars; Stephen Hawking; The Moment of Creation; The Future.
From the Back Cover
From the ancient origins of astronomy to the Copernican revolution, and from Galileo to Dark Matter and Dark Energy, The Story of Astronomy charts the discoveries made by some of the greatest minds in human history in their attempts to unveil the secrets of the stars. Written in an accessible and entertaining style, The Story of Astronomy demystifies some of the biggest breakthroughs in the history of science, as well as explaining why we have 60 minutes in an hour, how the Romans bodged the invention the leap year and when people really discovered the Earth wasn't flat (a thousand years before Columbus). In the most straightforward and compelling of ways Peter Aughton demonstrates the beauty and wonder of what Newton, Einstein, Hubble and Hawking really achieved. Richly informative, The Story of Astronomy is a fascinating journey through 3,000 years of stargazing.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
After having read Bill Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything" I was truly inspired to learn more about the marvel that is our universe. This book seemed appealing and basic enough seeing as how I am a beginner in astronomy.
However, this book completely lacks enthralling descriptions or that 'wow'-feeling that science books actually can give you. Instead, this book is a short summary of the biggest discoveries in astronomy the last 10.000 years. I do not feel that it is always pedagogical as its explanations are not very descriptive. however, it should be added that this book is not intended to give detailed explanations from matters such as dark matter or the theory of relativity.
The book gives a very shallow look on astronomy and just googling the topics of the chapters in the book will give you just as much as reading it. Furthermore, it is a very short book (its 300+ pages are quite small and big letters) and a fast read. Despite of this, many filler quotes have been added to add maybe twenty pages to a short book. The one quote whose place in the book I find inexplicable is where the author devotes an entire page to an insert of a diarist from the 17th century describing the cold winter in London with absolutely no relevance to the topics discussed(!).
The lives of the astronomers are described very briefly and quite uninterestingly. Galileo, Newton and Einstein were fascinating characters but focus on this book is almost exclusively what they have achieved in astronomical stduy.
In short, a very brief book on astronomy that almost managed to make me feel bored of the topic. Although informative, I would instead suggest the chapters on astronomy in Bryson's "Short History of Nearly Everything" where both the science and historical scientists of astronomy are fascinating.
However, this book completely lacks enthralling descriptions or that 'wow'-feeling that science books actually can give you. Instead, this book is a short summary of the biggest discoveries in astronomy the last 10.000 years. I do not feel that it is always pedagogical as its explanations are not very descriptive. however, it should be added that this book is not intended to give detailed explanations from matters such as dark matter or the theory of relativity.
The book gives a very shallow look on astronomy and just googling the topics of the chapters in the book will give you just as much as reading it. Furthermore, it is a very short book (its 300+ pages are quite small and big letters) and a fast read. Despite of this, many filler quotes have been added to add maybe twenty pages to a short book. The one quote whose place in the book I find inexplicable is where the author devotes an entire page to an insert of a diarist from the 17th century describing the cold winter in London with absolutely no relevance to the topics discussed(!).
The lives of the astronomers are described very briefly and quite uninterestingly. Galileo, Newton and Einstein were fascinating characters but focus on this book is almost exclusively what they have achieved in astronomical stduy.
In short, a very brief book on astronomy that almost managed to make me feel bored of the topic. Although informative, I would instead suggest the chapters on astronomy in Bryson's "Short History of Nearly Everything" where both the science and historical scientists of astronomy are fascinating.
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The book details astromonical discoveries from its roots during the earliest civilisations right through to its latest developments in the 21st century. It is excellently and richly illustrated, with many informative historical pictures, timelines, diagrams, computer representations, tables and, of course, photographs, including those of distinguished scientists, their discoveries and various astronomical features.
The text is informative, easily understandable and never dull. The story itself is compelling. There are many entertaining details concerning, for example, how the calendar was fine-tuned, how Bruno was burned by the Church for his supposedly heretical ideas (that the earth revolved around the sun, for one), the "problems" of Einstein's e=mc˛, and more.
A well researched and highly readable account.
The text is informative, easily understandable and never dull. The story itself is compelling. There are many entertaining details concerning, for example, how the calendar was fine-tuned, how Bruno was burned by the Church for his supposedly heretical ideas (that the earth revolved around the sun, for one), the "problems" of Einstein's e=mc˛, and more.
A well researched and highly readable account.
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