My Favorite Universe

By: Neil deGrasse Tyson, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Neil deGrasse Tyson

Length: 6 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's Summary

What forces molded the universe? Are those forces still at work, removing, changing, or adding heavenly bodies even as we gaze upward? Will humanity, and Earth itself, one day be gone? Are we alone?

In an era when science journalism is perhaps more thorough and ambitious than ever before, fascinating explorations of questions like these seem available to us almost every day - provided we have a working understanding of the scientific theories on which they're based. Discover the answers to these and other startling questions about the cosmos with My Favorite Universe, a spirited and intellectually engaging journey through the cosmos and its history, from before the big bang to the likely ways in which Earth, and perhaps the entire universe, might end.

In this lecture series, Professor Neil deGrasse Tyson, the astrophysicist who directs the nation's most famous planetarium, makes that understanding available to anyone. Explore how black holes are formed, how asteroids move through space, why the odds seem overwhelmingly in favor of extraterrestrial life, and much more. With the foundation provided by this magnificent course, the realities of the universe will be revealed in stark - and often violent - beauty.

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

©2003 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2003 The Great Courses

Wish there was more

Neil is a great story teller, and really paints an intriguing picture of the subjects covered. The depth of topics covered is probably more at the high school level not at the University level. However, the range is great enough that unless you're really in to astrophysics you'll probably find a lot that you didn't know.

I really appreciate how Neil discussed the topics, and so I really wish that the lectures went more in depth on each subject. As they are, it's more a sampling of a lot of topics related to astrophysics and space in general.

It's Your Universe, Too!

It's mainly for those of us who haven't done extensive reading on the subject but want to learn the basics of Cosmology (not Cosmetology), the origin and evolution of our universe. 'My Favorite Universe' is a short, easy listen with which I was never bored for even a moment. Neil explains his subject material in a simple and easily understandable manner with plenty of humor dispersed into it. As a previous reviewer stated, he has an unusual voice cadence that takes a bit to get used to, but I like it, as his excitement and enthusiasm clearly shines through.

If you ever wondered what the Big Bang theory was (not the tv show), what exactly are black holes, are we going to be destroyed by a meteor or asteroid, is there likely to be other life in our universe, are there other universes, and just how do we know all this stuff--this is surely the book for you.

So, step away from that fiction for just a moment (only 6 hours), and get yerself educated! You can even use this information as a conversation starter. Neil makes learning fun.

(Is it un-PC to call an Astrophysicist by his first name?)

Good for beginners

Neil degrasse Tyson is great, as always. But this lecture serious is for beginners, for space enthusiasts you should probably look elsewhere

NDT’s Best Product On Audible

It’s 12 half-hour lectures covering different topics in a very layman’s version of astrophysics

What makes it great is that he is an amazing orator...but not an amazing writer. So when he is reading his own books, the delivery is pretty flat and uninspired. Here though, he didn’t have a script. Which if you’re a fan, you know is when Tyson is really at his best

Loved the explanations

I loved how simply and clearly concepts were explained in the lectures. This series was very interesting and informative to me.
I hated how Professor Neil deGrasse Tyson let his voice trail off to practically a whisper at numerous key points. He varied from an excited loud voice to a calm quiet voice that was barely audible to my old ears. I listen as I drive. Road noise frequently drowned out the professors voice while at other times he was much too loud.
This is a 4 star story with a 2 star narration. Eliminate the too-soft voice and this is easily a 4 star narration.

Basic information, pretty well presented.

A very interesting lecture but rather basic in the information presented. I had been exposed to most of it in high school and college physics and astronomy classes. If you haven't had that yet, then it is an excellent introduction to all the concepts. If you are looking for more in-depth explanations, then you may want to look elsewhere.
Nonetheless it still a good course. I will probably listen to this again just for the entertainment.

some already covered ground but more personal

always a fun listen when the man himself does the talking.
Some of the material you may have read or watched already but there are some nice touches here that still make it a good listen.

Engaging

Tyson's cadence is sometimes difficult to follow, but the story he has to tell is mesmerizing. A layman like myself can learn about our environment and it's place in our universe.

good but basic

NDT makes a wonderful narrator but the series is quite short. would listen to this more than once.

thought provoking

easy to understand, however if you get distracted for a few minutes and tune back in you may get a little lost. As information is consistantly built within each lecture. This course is nice on a long boring drive through farmlands.

entertaining

Well put together very interesting would love to see movie following advice from course

short but quality

very interesting and engaging book covering a range of topics, doesnt delve into much detail on each but a thought provoking series on many topics

amazing ,

I want to meet this guy so much , I listened to every second of this twice there was so much to take in

Be inspired to always look up

Doctor Neil deGrasse Tyson is one of our generation's great educators. He speaks with such enthusiasm and explains complex ideas in such a way that anyone can understand them, and one can't help but be awe-stricken: at the content of his lectures as well as his delivery of the subject matter. Always look up.

Amazing knowledge shared with style and passion!

One of the great teachers of our time. If only everyone could hear this. It would make the world a better place.

illuminating

Neil deGrasse Tyson is the man about town.

he is the embodiment of truth and realness