The Astronomy Book

Big Ideas Simply Explained

By: DK

Narrated by: Thomas Judd

Length: 14 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

An essential guide to milestone developments in astronomy, telling the story of our ideas about space, time, and the physics of the cosmos - from ancient times to the present day.

From planets and stars to black holes and the big bang, take a journey through the wonders of the universe. Featuring topics from the Copernican Revolution to the mind-boggling theories of recent science, The Astronomy Book helps clarify hard-to-grasp concepts and explains almost 100 big astronomical ideas. Covering the biographies of key astronomers through the ages such as Ptolemy, Galileo, Newton, Hubble, and Hawking, The Astronomy Book details their theories and discoveries in a user-friendly format to make the information accessible and easy to follow.

Series overview: The Big Ideas Simply Explained series uses straightforward and engaging writing to make complex subjects easier to understand. With more than seven million copies worldwide sold to date, these award-winning books provide just the information needed for students, families, or anyone interested in concise, thought-provoking refreshers on a single subject.

©2017 Dorling Kindersley Ltd (P)2020 DK Audio

Critic reviews

"[The Big Ideas Simply Explained books] are beautifully illustrated with shadow-like cartoons that break down even the most difficult concepts so they are easier to grasp. These step-by-step diagrams are an incredibly clever learning device to include, especially for visual learners." (Examiner.com)

"The visual layout promotes browsing with illustrations, pull quotes, and simple mind maps to explain concepts quickly." (Library Journal)

"Accessible guide to the great thinkers." (School Library Journal)

Great book

I likes that it was in chronological order. The first 2/3 are a bit of a bore but the final 1/3 is with the wait and makes the book worth the money or credit.

Not well suited to an audiobook.

While listening to the book I could imagine how the picture book was laid out.

1. Over here is a timeline of important dates and names for a topic ( orbits follow conic sections ).
2. Over here is important events for the topic. (Tycho Brahe makes measurements )
3. Over here is discussions about the people involved.

That works fine as a picture book ... but as an audiobook you'll hear the same name, event, and date mentioned over and over and over and over and over again. Since there isn't a matching book to go along with this, they should have streamlined this more to eliminate the repetition. Also, since there isn't a "click to go to other section" option, the start of each chapter starting with a two minute list of related sections is just terrible.

It's easy to see the intentions for a different book filled with interactivity and the ability to click on a picture or date and to hear the story.

But it ends up sounding like a single page with 100 sound clips and a dump of those soundclips in an arbitrary order ... and then onto the next page where 20 of the sound clips get repeated.. over and over again.

However... bad choices and massive repetition aside, the content is fairly good.

Awesome and Comprehensive History of the Cosmos

"The Astronomy Book - Big Ideas Explained" by DK, is a captivating and enlightening book that delves deep into the history of astronomy, unravelling the mysteries of the universe and showcasing the evolution of humanity's understanding of the cosmos. This comprehensive exploration takes readers on an enthralling voyage through time, tracing the milestones, discoveries, and paradigm shifts that have shaped the field of astronomy.

The book adopts a chronological approach, dividing the history of astronomy into distinct eras and highlighting the key figures and pivotal moments that propelled our understanding of the universe.
It begins with the ancient civilizations, where astronomy first emerged as a means to observe celestial phenomena and develop calendars. From the Babylonians and Egyptians to the Greeks, the author meticulously details their contributions to early astronomical knowledge, including the discovery of planetary movements and the birth of cosmology.

As the narrative progresses, the Renaissance and Scientific Revolution eras come to life, featuring luminaries like Copernicus, Galileo, and Kepler. The book masterfully explains their groundbreaking theories, such as heliocentrism and the laws of planetary motion, which sparked radical shifts in our perception of the universe. The interplay between scientific progress and societal factors is also explored, offering insight into the challenges these pioneers faced in challenging the prevailing beliefs of their time.

Advancing to the Enlightenment period, the author illuminates the works of Newton, who unified celestial mechanics and gravity, ushering in a new era of mathematical precision in astronomy. The subsequent chapters delve into the birth of spectroscopy, unveiling the discoveries of Fraunhofer, Kirchhoff, and Bunsen, and how their groundbreaking investigations revolutionized our understanding of the composition of celestial bodies.

The book then delves into the realm of 20th-century astronomy, where groundbreaking advancements occurred at an unprecedented pace. It covers the advent of telescopes, the work of Einstein and his theory of relativity, the discovery of cosmic expansion and the subsequent formulation of the Big Bang theory. The narrative also explores the contributions of prominent astronomers, such as Hubble, Chandrasekhar, and Penzias, whose work unraveled the mysteries of galaxies, black holes, and cosmic microwave background radiation.

In the final chapters, the book brings readers up to the present, covering recent advancements in space exploration, exoplanet discoveries, and the dawn of gravitational wave astronomy. The author artfully highlights the collective efforts of scientists and engineers from around the globe, showcasing the collaborative nature of modern astronomy and its ever-expanding frontiers.

Writing Style and Accessibility:
The author's prose is both elegant and accessible, effectively bridging the gap between expert knowledge and the general reader. Complex concepts are explained in a manner that is approachable, with analogies and examples that aid in comprehension. The narrative strikes a perfect balance between scientific rigor and engaging storytelling, making it an enjoyable read for both astronomy enthusiasts and newcomers to the subject.

Conclusion:
"The Astronomy Book - Big Ideas Explained" by DK, is an exemplary account of the history of astronomy, seamlessly blending scientific rigor, historical context, and captivating storytelling. It presents a compelling narrative of humanity's insatiable curiosity and relentless pursuit of knowledge about the universe. Whether you are a novice intrigued by the mysteries of the cosmos or a seasoned astronomer seeking a comprehensive review, this book is an indispensable resource that will leave you in awe of the wonders that lie beyond our world.