Gravity's Engines: How Bubble-Blowing Black Holes Rule Galaxies, Stars, and Life in the Cosmos

An amazingly written book. The author really know how to explain things well and tie it into an overriding narrative. If you have any interest in black holes and galaxy formation (and who among us doesn't!), this book is a must listen. You will become completely up to date in the subject.

Usually, I don't like it when the author does his own reading, but Mr. Scharf does an excellent job and makes the reading as exciting as the subject matter deserves.

I can't recommend this book strongly enough. He explains flawlessly. For example, he explained Einstein's gravitational equation in words in such a way that for the moment I was listening to it, I really understood what it meant. He is that good at explaining.

This book is a very nice overview of modern astrophysics and in particular the role of black holes in astrophysical processes. The author is an astrophysicist / astrobiologist and knows his subject well and presents it with a kind of warmth and care that is infrequent in popular science writing. The author narrates the book himself and does a wonderful job of it. This book is a nice complement to other books such as "The 4% Universe" and "The Day We Found the Universe".

Most enjoyable is the fact that the author is a professional astrophysicist- with a gift for language- who has clearly thought about the big picture in conveying the goals of modern astronomy. His story is one that has not yet been told - this subject matter is still in the modern astrophyscial literature and is years away from emerging as popular astronomy material. The relativistic properties of black holes has been the subject of scores of popular books and is thankfully not addressed in this book. Rather, Scharf discusses the less sexy but ultimately more important topic of how black holes shape their environment. He describes how crucial they are in the evolution of our universe, his thesis being that life would not exist without black holes! His analogies are unique and thought provoking, and his personal recounts of his own discoveries make for great listening.

Scharf narrates the book himself and does a great job! Listening is much like playing a science program narrated by Brian Cox.

This book was excellent! I found the best working definition of the "Event Horizon" and the functions of the theoretical workings of the Black Hole. Scharf proposes several outstanding and beautiful hypotheses explaining the relationships between planets in various systems and the potential black holes that power them.

Excellent reading, pleasant to listen. It's a pity that author is not reading other audible books, his voice is perfect for story telling.

Most memorable is the description of the just spotted super massive black hole, and properties of these amazing objects.

I didn't listen to other books of Caleb but I did listen to other readers. I wish Caleb could read all the books.

Yes, it's a addicting book but two moment are exceptionally exciting, description of radiation measured from the center of galaxy and how author described black hole signature he spotted. There were many more though and I recommend this outstanding book to anyone.

At the very top

The amazing capacity the author has to produce vivid visual and intellectual shortcuts to our understanding of these phenomenons. Having photons travel in time from the origin f the universe to the satellite that capture the faint image of an early galaxy was the greatest opening a book on that subject could have come up with.

Too many to enumerate. A total treat. And there is nothing wrong to want and have to listen over and over. Few audiobook get this...or have the quality to make the exercise bearable when the need is there.

No laughing and crying. Just grateful to have a mind-expanding experience of that type, a rarity.

Keep up the good work, Audible,and tell the disgruntled reviewer to get a life!

Not having the author narrate his own story.

The first four words "This is Audible."

Everything

Well, the title was interesting

Am returning it.