Accessory to War

By: Neil deGrasse Tyson, Avis Lang

Narrated by: Courtney B. Vance, Neil deGrasse Tyson - introduction

Length: 18 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's Summary

An exploration of the age-old complicity between skywatchers and warfighters, from the best-selling author of Astrophysics for People in a Hurry.

In this fascinating foray into the centuries-old relationship between science and military power, acclaimed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and writer-researcher Avis Lang examine how the methods and tools of astrophysics have been enlisted in the service of war. "The overlap is strong, and the knowledge flows in both directions", say the authors, because astrophysicists and military planners care about many of the same things: multi-spectral detection, ranging, tracking, imaging, high ground, nuclear fusion, and access to space. Tyson and Lang call it a "curiously complicit" alliance. 

"The universe is both the ultimate frontier and the highest of high grounds", they write. "Shared by both space scientists and space warriors, it's a laboratory for one and a battlefield for the other. The explorer wants to understand it; the soldier wants to dominate it. But without the right technology - which is more or less the same technology for both parties - nobody can get to it, operate in it, scrutinize it, dominate it, or use it to their advantage and someone else's disadvantage."

Spanning early celestial navigation to satellite-enabled warfare, Accessory to War is a richly researched and provocative examination of the intersection of science, technology, industry, and power that will introduce Tyson's millions of fans to yet another dimension of how the universe has shaped our lives and our world.

©2018 Neil deGrasse Tyson and Avis Lang (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic Reviews

"DeGrasse Tyson reads the introduction, and he does a terrific job. He has a silky, deep voice, and he paces himself well. He could credibly read the entire work himself, but instead he hands off the audiobook to Courtney B. Vance, whose voice is just as deep but more formal, even regal. Vance does a magnificent job continuing the story with a tone that supports Tyson and Lang's words. The result is an audiobook that speaks to all of us, even those who know little about astrophysics." (AudioFile)

"[A] feast of history.... The authors have done a remarkable amount of research.... Listening to the audiobook, mostly (and commandingly) read by Courtney B. Vance, one is freed from any responsibility to flip back and forth between primary text and notes, creating a wonderful immersion in that extraordinary research.... The language moves between the literary and analytical, evenhanded yet passionate. This is not to say the authors don't have a point of view, about which they are transparent from the outset, but the book lets the facts, and the many first-person quotes, speak for themselves." (The New York Times Book Review)

Inspiring, educational, patriotic.

Some reviewers claim this book's story is drawn out, perhaps too detailed. To a reader who just wants to experience a conventional Dr. Tyson book about rapid mind blowing space stuff, this book could leave you uninterested at times. However, as a reader who previously and desperately craved to learn about that connection between astronomy and the military, I could not have been more excited to read AND listen to this book. The stories about pivotal moments in history and the hidden heroes who were looking up deep into the sky really furthers my inspiration for serving my country in a way that, until this book, I was quite unsure was possible. I knew the military would be a good way to further one's career in space, but now I'm enlightened in that the military doesn't just empower a career in space, but deeply relies on those individuals for innovations to establish supremacy in the new frontiers of science. Thank you Dr. Tyson!

11 of 13 people found this review helpful

Comprehensive, but basic look at the relationship!

I thought they put together a lot of information from many different sources together in order to fit the agenda of Science before Defense. I think they missed a huge opportunity to recognize the many government and military members that progress science by means of defense (I.e. the humans in the loop, not just the system). Many of them are just as passionate about our science agenda as NDT... We are in this together Mr. Tyson and Mr. Lang.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

An amazing book. Makes you think.

Blazed through the book. It contains amazing facts, Well reasoned arguments and makes you think about the direction that we should all start to work towards in everyday life, given the past and the direction that are currently on.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Tyson's best book yet

Lang's voice is similar enough to Neil's you'll forget the he's the one reading even. Fantastic look at the development of astrophysics and its use by the militaries throughout history. I learned a lot. Often Tyson's books are rehashes of Cosmos with a slightly different spin each time imo. This book is original and thoughtful.

5 of 7 people found this review helpful

Excellent Reference for a New Perspective

Most space exploration initiatives and atmospheric technology has been funded by military departments and budgets. Most of the motivation behind putting monitoring devices and people into space has been driven by the desire to show military prowess. These two realities are the main points made by Tyson's Accessory to War, but the book goes into tremendous detail as it explains the different discoveries and times during the development of the field of astrophysics.

Technology that we do not necessarily associate with astrophysics, such as the compass or the spyglass, have been extremely valuable to defense as well. Lenses that can be pointed up at the stars to learn more about them can also be put up into orbit to spy down on neighboring countries. Successful missions in space are tied to national pride in a fascinating way that other scientific endeavors are not.

This is such an interesting topic, and Tyson communicates it so well. Be aware if you listen to the Audible audiobook, however, for Tyson himself only narrates the Prologue. I wish he had narrated the whole thing, but oh well, Vance does a pretty good job too.

I would recommend this to ANYONE interested in astrophysics, the military, the space race, international cooperation, space exploration, rockets, missiles, military spending, the department of defense, astronauts, and power competitions between nations. An excellent reference for this topic; one that can be revisited again and again.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

Faster read than I thought it would be.

I went into this book expecting it to take me about a month between reading and listening to the audible version while driving.

It took less than a week at about a 60/40 split.

It was a fast read and the at 1.25x speed the audio version was perfect.

The material is light like NDT’s last book, you dont need to be a physics buff to enjoy it. This book is just longer form.

4 of 6 people found this review helpful

Not good

Struggle to finish indeed. A boring book, nothing new, just a long complaint about everything. Nothing seem to be good enough for NdGT

This book is important

To understand the influences of science and technology is to understand war. Every single exploration, discovery, and advancement in science, physics, chemistry, etc is due to trying to best another. Accessory of War, is the history and understanding of this topic. If you are a STEM major, please consider to be a book to have in your home library.

Retitle the book and change the summary

The book is not entirely related to the subject in the title. There are multiple chapters on irrelevant politics, which felt a lot like rants. However, there are some really good chapters that go into interesting detail on the first and second Desert Storm.

I love this guy. But not this book.

This book is more of a scholarly effort than fast moving insightful 'war and science for dummies' like I anticipated.
I couldn't keep up with all the acronyms and insanely thorough details by listening to it. LOOKING at the words,I may have been able to keep up but LISTENING...impossible for me. Don' misunderstand me, this appears to be a rigorously researched work, great for developing deep understanding...but engaging, light car listening?. Not for me. I need more gadgets and action and less policy to listen to. Sorry.

long chapters increase speed

struggled to finish. had to increase reading speed to avoid boredom. very long chapters which made it difficult to follow

I liked it for a one time run through

hmmm it's ok gives a good historic story line but I'm constantly bugged by the continuous lists which keep getting reeled off which seed to drag on