Merlin’s Tour of the Universe, Revised and Updated for the Twenty-First Century

A Traveler’s Guide to Blue Moons and Black Holes, Mars, Stars, and Everything Far

De: Neil deGrasse Tyson

Narrado por: Jim Meskimen, André Santana, Bronson Pinchot, Pun Bandhu, Em Grosland, Lauren Fortgang, Luzma Ortiz, Kevin R. Free, Jaime Lincoln Smith

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Astrophysics for People in a Hurry takes listeners on an entertaining and edifying tour of the universe.

In Neil deGrasse Tyson’s delightful journey through the cosmos, his fictional character Merlin responds to popular questions asked by adults and children alike. Merlin, a timeless visitor from Planet Omniscia in the Andromeda Galaxy, has observed firsthand many of the major scientific events of Earth’s history. Merlin’s friends include the most important scientific figures and explorers of all time—da Vinci, Magellan, Newton, Einstein, and Hubble. While Merlin occasionally recounts playful conversations with these luminaries, all questions are answered with authentic science, infused with wit, wisdom, and an occasional rhyme. With the help of intermittent humorous cartoons, Merlin clarifies the details of familiar phenomena like gravity, light, space, and time, and travels to distant stars and galaxies to describe what makes them tick, rotate, explode, and collapse.

Merlin’s Tour of the Universe is perfect for anyone who harbors burning questions on how the cosmos works.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2024 by Neil deGrasse Tyson. Illustrations © 2024 by Stephen J. Tyson. Originally published in 1989 by Columbia University Press. Excerpt from “Burnt Norton” from Four Quartets by T. S. Eliot, © 1943 by T. S. Eliot; © renewed 1971 by Esme Valerie Eliot, used by permission from HarperCollins Publishers (US) and Faber and Faber, Ltd. (world excluding US) (P)2024 Blackstone Publishing

Not bad

Apparently Tyson had written a column for an observatory's newsletter where he would respond to astronomy questions in the persona of "Merlin," an alien that had met many historical scientific figures on Earth. The answers are often terse, sometimes in verse. Usually the "Merlin" persona adds nothing, but occasionally there's a little flavor thrown in.
The book is grouped into different types of content, such as a chapter about moons. It can be a bit redundant as the same topic can come up multiple times.
This isn't an epic work of art, planned by the ground up; it's someone who had generated years of content and figured he may as well throw it all in a folder and publish it, so it's no masterpiece.
However, it is still a compendium of interesting science facts, with short answers meant to be approachable for a general audience. So not bad, and at 4 hours, the audiobook is a quick listen.

Learning to love Space

The more of his books I read the more I become fascinated with the subject.

Cosmic Enlightenment

To put it shortly, I absolutely love reading things I have prior knowledge of or nothing about. there's this sense of balance listening a story about the universe. Brilliantly explained and even if you can't understand, there's room for growth.

Wonderful introduction to the universe for beginners

This whimsical guide to the universe told by Merlin is a fun way to learn about the Universe around us even thought the universe is under no obligation to make sense.

this was amazing !

Neil Degrasse Tyson is hypnotic to listen too Absolutely a must listen too. I've learned so much!

Neil's captivating cadence. 😊

love this Scientist!! Neil has captivated me since Cosmos. thank you for your layman explanation of the wonders of the universe.

Cosmic Fascination

Fun & fascinating read. Worth reading again. The universe is infinitely complex and its mysteries are explained in detail.

Everything

Loved everything , learned about our universe a little more . The black holes were fascinating to hear about.

A fast paced book

A book of questions for ordinary people and answered by Merlin aka Neil deGrasse Tyson. There’s enough of an answer to give you an answer but make you want to know more.

complex ideas made approachable

sometimes a little too silly, but a basic explanation for complex concepts that are somewhat beyond understanding.