The Disordered Cosmos

A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred

By: Chanda Prescod-Weinstein

Narrated by: Joniece Abbott-Pratt

Length: 10 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

From a star theoretical physicist, a journey into the world of particle physics and the cosmos—and a call for a more liberatory practice of science.

A Finalist for the 2022 PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award
A Finalist for the 2021 Los Angeles Times Book Prize in Science & Technology
A Smithsonian Magazine Best Science Book of 2021
A Symmetry Magazine Top 10 Physics Book of 2021
An Entropy Magazine Best Nonfiction Book of 2020-2021
A Publishers Weekly Best Nonfiction Book of the Year
A Kirkus Reviews Best Nonfiction Book of 2021
A Booklist Top 10 Sci-Tech Book of the Year

In The Disordered Cosmos, Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein shares her love for physics, from the Standard Model of Particle Physics and what lies beyond it, to the physics of melanin in skin, to the latest theories of dark matter—along with a perspective informed by history, politics, and the wisdom of Star Trek.

One of the leading physicists of her generation, Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein is also one of fewer than one hundred Black American women to earn a PhD from a department of physics. Her vision of the cosmos is vibrant, buoyantly nontraditional, and grounded in Black and queer feminist lineages.

Dr. Prescod-Weinstein urges us to recognize how science, like most fields, is rife with racism, misogyny, and other forms of oppression. She lays out a bold new approach to science and society, beginning with the belief that we all have a fundamental right to know and love the night sky. The Disordered Cosmos dreams into existence a world that allows everyone to experience and understand the wonders of the universe.

©2021 Chanda Prescod-Weinstein (P)2021 Bold Type Books

Wrestling with "infinity" on a constraining planet

Wow... Can't say I enjoyed reading this book, though I'm more educated and aware of things that remained invisible to me for far too long.

Witnessing a part of the universe through your eyes combining social and cultural narratives, histories and experiences with the pull of scientific inquiry indeed changes everything. I find as a reader your story forcing me to wrestle with the unconstrained powers of "infinity" on a planet hell bent on constraint.

Thank-you Dr. Prescod-Weinstein.

Science is social

One of the best books about both astrophysics and theoretical physics meeting the urgent need of decolonization.

Brilliant! A must read!

This is an expansive text in every sense. It will stick with me for a long time. The author refuses to disentangle modern notions of "objective" science from subjective humanity. Good. That false philosophical divide is crushing is. Her unflinching assessments and style plot a course for new worlds. Bravo!

Anyone looking to engage pure/tradtional/white scientific ideas will be deservedly frustrated and disappointed (and should take that feeling as a sign that you need a different and more dynamic lens). Nothing changes if no one changes.

Beautiful and Deep

While some of the science was over my head, the meaning of the story itself was perfectly told.

An amazing book

It was an excellent read that delves into the intersectionality between being a woman, a minority and being a victim in a patriarchal society. I wish there were more books like this.

Perfect book for everywhere this is a must.

This is a must read. Please check this book it its so good and so insightful.

Love this book!!!

Continued my love and fascination with science I hear there is community for me as a black woman who could never find her way to be called a scientist but uses science everyday!

Engaging, important, well performed.

The metaphors developed are very powerful examinations of society, science, and science in society. Dr. Prescod-Weinstein delivers accessible explanation of very complex physics, and exposes the raw, brutality in our society. Dr. Prescod-Weinstein also delivers an inspiring story of passion and pleasure in the work of science. This complicated relationship carries through in several parallel threads of the book, and illustrates both what is wrong in science/society, and how we can make it better. The powerful connection she establishes between science (specifically physics) and capitalist, settler colonialism should cause us to more fully examine the humanity of our sciences, and our society. Dr. Prescod-Weinstein draws a direct line between science (as it is and has been) and exertion of power over others. Using a tool that should bring joy and pleasure to assert control and inflict pain. Science = Capitalist exploitation. Capitalist exploitation = Colonialism. Colonialism = rape. Science = rape. However, the love and passion and wonder Dr. Prescod-Weinstein exudes for science drives home another analogy. Like the differential equations she teaches the listener about, the Science = Colonialism is just one possible solution. Dr. Prescod-Weinstein and other Black, Indigenous, and Feminist scholars see a better way. We can have science, and humanity, and inclusion, and fairness. But we must listen, understand, and be part of the solution.

The writing is dynamic, and agile. Layered, subtle, but often blunt. There were several passages that were so loaded with meaning in every word choice, alternating phrasings of repeated vocabulary to hammer home the focus of the utterance. Here the performance was immensely powerful and helpful. The cadence, emphasis, tone, and speed amplified both the subtle and the blunt. I will be listening again, and likely purchasing the physical book to examine the skillful presentation in more depth than I can muster with audio only.

Absolutely stunning and necessary

Total tour de force through the universe, human history, and the intersection of race and science.

Not what I expected.

I love to listen to science and history. I thought this book was about Dark matter.. It does involve science.. but it should be a biography/black history book.. I feel like it should be as titled as such..

Good book if you want to hear about these things.