Coming of Age in the Milky Way
by Timothy Ferris
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Book Summary Information
Author: Timothy FerrisEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2003-08-01
ISBN: 0060535954
Number of pages: 512
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Book Reviews of Coming of Age in the Milky Way
Book Review: Well...
Summary: 3 Stars
There are a lot of glowing reviews here and it feels strange to be the one dissenting voice, but let me explain. First, let's agree this book is for the layperson, not the Physics or Astronomy major, but for the person who simply likes science very much. I work in the auto repair business, but I've always loved science yet have no education in that field. I bought this on the strength of Ferris' DVD's which I've seen 2 of (Life Beyond Earth and Seeing in the Dark), and let me say they were very good (esp. the former).
The majority of this book is good. Tim elaborates on some very interesting details I have not heard before, and in a humorous/interesting way, such as Kepler's letter begging Galileo to borrow his telescope, or the details of Aristarchus's sun-centered universe's only evidence in one of the letters of Archimedes. Carl Sagan in "Cosmos" talks of Aristarchus quite a bit, but he never mentions this information, which prove very interesting.
However, most of this book is a basic re-telling of how mankind learned of his/her place in the universe (as the title says!), BUT this has been done much better by Sagan in the forementioned "Cosmos." Sagan makes the subject come to life much more, shows much more enthusiasm in explaining things. Ferris has a bit of a dry way about him (which was evident in the DVD's), but he's good. He's just not Sagan. Let me also say that Bill Bryson in a "Short History of nearly Everything" gets much more technical than Ferris (in the quantum physics section), BUT again, Bryson does it with more interest than Ferris. I couldn't understand most of that section (Bryson uses the "X-Files" as an example!), but in Bryson's book I WANTED to keep reading and try to understand, with Ferris, after about 5 pages of the "Symmetry" section, I gave up.
I picked up the hardback "Cosmos" when I was 9 years old. Yeah, nine. I read it and although there were vocabulary problems, I "got it." This is not to brag how clever I was, but rather that Sagan does a much better job of "bringing you in" to the subject. The Bryson book is definitely too much for a 9 year old, but when I read that in my 30's I was still "taken in."
If you read my other reviews you will see I love classical music. In music, there's the saying that it's "more than just the notes on the score." In this book, you get the written notes, not the alive, performing symphony. Tim Ferris' book is good... but well, there are better ones to draw you into the world of science.
Summary of Coming of Age in the Milky Way
From the second-century celestial models of Ptolemy to modern-day research institutes and quantum theory, this classic book offers a breathtaking tour of astronomy and the brilliant, eccentric personalities who have shaped it. From the first time mankind had an inkling of the vast space that surrounds us, those who study the universe have had to struggle against political and religious preconceptions. They have included some of the most charismatic, courageous, and idiosyncratic thinkers of all time. In Coming of Age in the Milky Way, Timothy Ferris uses his unique blend of rigorous research and captivating narrative skill to draw us into the lives and minds of these extraordinary figures, creating a landmark work of scientific history.
Astronomy Books
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