-
The Pluto Files
- The Rise and Fall of America's Favorite Planet
- Narrated by: Mirron Willis
- Length: 4 hrs and 22 mins
- Categories: Science & Engineering, Science
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy for $13.96
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Death by Black Hole
- And Other Cosmic Quandaries
- By: Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Narrated by: Dion Graham
- Length: 12 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Neil deGrasse Tyson has a talent for guiding readers through the mysteries of outer space with stunning clarity and almost childlike enthusiasm. This collection of his essays from Natural History magazine explores a myriad of cosmic topics. Tyson introduces us to the physics of black holes by explaining what would happen to our bodies if we fell into one; he also examines the needless friction between science and religion, and notes Earth's status as "an insignificantly small speck in the cosmos".
-
-
Great for an introduction to space and astronomy
- By Charles on 10-01-08
-
Letters from an Astrophysicist
- By: Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Narrated by: Neil deGrasse Tyson, Vikas Adam, Piper Goodeve, and others
- Length: 5 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has attracted one of the world’s largest online followings with his fascinating, widely accessible insights into science and our universe. Now, Tyson invites us to go behind the scenes of his public fame by unveiling his candid correspondence with people across the globe who have sought him out in search of answers. In this hand-picked collection of 100 letters, Tyson draws upon cosmic perspectives to address a vast array of questions about science, faith, philosophy, life, and of course, Pluto.
-
-
Dear Neil...
- By Tina Gundy on 10-14-19
-
Welcome to the Universe
- An Astrophysical Tour
- By: Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michael A. Strauss, J. Richard Gott
- Narrated by: Michael Butler Murray
- Length: 17 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Welcome to the Universe is a personal guided tour of the cosmos by three of today's leading astrophysicists. Inspired by the enormously popular introductory astronomy course that Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michael A. Strauss, and J. Richard Gott taught together at Princeton, this book covers it all - from planets, stars, and galaxies to black holes, wormholes, and time travel.
-
-
Excellent
- By Bryan Webb on 05-06-17
By: Neil deGrasse Tyson, and others
-
Accessory to War
- The Unspoken Alliance Between Astrophysics and the Military
- By: Neil deGrasse Tyson, Avis Lang
- Narrated by: Courtney B. Vance, Neil deGrasse Tyson - introduction
- Length: 18 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
This is NOT read by Tyson! Very misleading
- By Morten N. on 01-28-20
By: Neil deGrasse Tyson, and others
-
Space Chronicles
- Facing the Ultimate Frontier
- By: Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Narrated by: Mirron Willis
- Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With his signature wit and thought-provoking insights, Neil deGrasse Tyson - one of our foremost thinkers on all things space - illuminates the past, present, and future of space exploration and brilliantly reminds us why NASA matters now as much as ever. As Tyson reveals, exploring the space frontier can profoundly enrich many aspects of our daily lives, from education systems and the economy to national security and morale.
-
-
The least helpful review of Space Chronicles.
- By Joshua Kring on 06-17-15
-
Cosmic Queries
- StarTalk’s Guide to Who We Are, How We Got Here, and Where We’re Going
- By: Neil deGrasse Tyson, James Trefil, Lindsey N. Walker - editor
- Narrated by: Neil deGrasse Tyson, Lauren Fortgang
- Length: 6 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this illuminating audiobook, Tyson and coauthor James Trefil, a renowned physicist and science popularizer, take on the big questions that humanity has been posing for millennia - How did life begin? What is our place in the universe? Are we alone? - and provide answers based on the most current data, observations, and theories.
-
-
Rigorous, Informative, Riveting — a great listen!
- By Simon M on 03-03-21
By: Neil deGrasse Tyson, and others
-
Death by Black Hole
- And Other Cosmic Quandaries
- By: Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Narrated by: Dion Graham
- Length: 12 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Neil deGrasse Tyson has a talent for guiding readers through the mysteries of outer space with stunning clarity and almost childlike enthusiasm. This collection of his essays from Natural History magazine explores a myriad of cosmic topics. Tyson introduces us to the physics of black holes by explaining what would happen to our bodies if we fell into one; he also examines the needless friction between science and religion, and notes Earth's status as "an insignificantly small speck in the cosmos".
-
-
Great for an introduction to space and astronomy
- By Charles on 10-01-08
-
Letters from an Astrophysicist
- By: Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Narrated by: Neil deGrasse Tyson, Vikas Adam, Piper Goodeve, and others
- Length: 5 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has attracted one of the world’s largest online followings with his fascinating, widely accessible insights into science and our universe. Now, Tyson invites us to go behind the scenes of his public fame by unveiling his candid correspondence with people across the globe who have sought him out in search of answers. In this hand-picked collection of 100 letters, Tyson draws upon cosmic perspectives to address a vast array of questions about science, faith, philosophy, life, and of course, Pluto.
-
-
Dear Neil...
- By Tina Gundy on 10-14-19
-
Welcome to the Universe
- An Astrophysical Tour
- By: Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michael A. Strauss, J. Richard Gott
- Narrated by: Michael Butler Murray
- Length: 17 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Welcome to the Universe is a personal guided tour of the cosmos by three of today's leading astrophysicists. Inspired by the enormously popular introductory astronomy course that Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michael A. Strauss, and J. Richard Gott taught together at Princeton, this book covers it all - from planets, stars, and galaxies to black holes, wormholes, and time travel.
-
-
Excellent
- By Bryan Webb on 05-06-17
By: Neil deGrasse Tyson, and others
-
Accessory to War
- The Unspoken Alliance Between Astrophysics and the Military
- By: Neil deGrasse Tyson, Avis Lang
- Narrated by: Courtney B. Vance, Neil deGrasse Tyson - introduction
- Length: 18 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
This is NOT read by Tyson! Very misleading
- By Morten N. on 01-28-20
By: Neil deGrasse Tyson, and others
-
Space Chronicles
- Facing the Ultimate Frontier
- By: Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Narrated by: Mirron Willis
- Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With his signature wit and thought-provoking insights, Neil deGrasse Tyson - one of our foremost thinkers on all things space - illuminates the past, present, and future of space exploration and brilliantly reminds us why NASA matters now as much as ever. As Tyson reveals, exploring the space frontier can profoundly enrich many aspects of our daily lives, from education systems and the economy to national security and morale.
-
-
The least helpful review of Space Chronicles.
- By Joshua Kring on 06-17-15
-
Cosmic Queries
- StarTalk’s Guide to Who We Are, How We Got Here, and Where We’re Going
- By: Neil deGrasse Tyson, James Trefil, Lindsey N. Walker - editor
- Narrated by: Neil deGrasse Tyson, Lauren Fortgang
- Length: 6 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this illuminating audiobook, Tyson and coauthor James Trefil, a renowned physicist and science popularizer, take on the big questions that humanity has been posing for millennia - How did life begin? What is our place in the universe? Are we alone? - and provide answers based on the most current data, observations, and theories.
-
-
Rigorous, Informative, Riveting — a great listen!
- By Simon M on 03-03-21
By: Neil deGrasse Tyson, and others
-
My Favorite Universe
- By: Neil deGrasse Tyson, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Length: 6 hrs and 10 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
Wish there was more
- By dan on 08-21-16
By: Neil deGrasse Tyson, and others
-
Origins
- Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution
- By: Neil deGrasse Tyson, Donald Goldsmith
- Narrated by: Kevin Kenerly
- Length: 8 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Origins explains the soul-stirring leaps in our understanding of the cosmos. From the first image of a galaxy birth to Spirit rover's exploration of Mars, to the discovery of water on one of Jupiter's moons, coauthors Neil deGrasse Tyson and Donald Goldsmith conduct a galvanizing tour of the cosmos with clarity and exuberance.
-
-
Brilliance!
- By Max on 06-21-15
By: Neil deGrasse Tyson, and others
-
The Inexplicable Universe: Unsolved Mysteries
- By: Neil deGrasse Tyson, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Length: 3 hrs and 1 min
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Everything we now know about the universe - from the behavior of quarks to the birth of galaxies - has come from people who've been willing to ponder the unanswerable. And with the advent of modern science, great minds have turned to testing and experimentation rather than mere thought as a way of grappling with some of the universe's most vexing dilemmas. So what is our latest picture of some of the most inexplicable features of the universe? What still remains to be uncovered and explored by today's scientists?
-
-
"The Universe is in us!"
- By Kristi R. on 01-05-15
By: Neil deGrasse Tyson, and others
-
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
- By: Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Narrated by: Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Length: 3 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What is the nature of space and time? How do we fit within the universe? How does the universe fit within us? There's no better guide through these mind-expanding questions than acclaimed astrophysicist and best-selling author Neil deGrasse Tyson. But today, few of us have time to contemplate the cosmos. So Tyson brings the universe down to Earth succinctly and clearly, with sparkling wit, in digestible chapters consumable anytime and anywhere in your busy day.
-
-
Enjoyable - not as understandable as I had hoped
- By CJFLA on 11-13-17
-
Cosmos
- A Personal Voyage
- By: Carl Sagan
- Narrated by: LeVar Burton, Seth MacFarlane, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and others
- Length: 14 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Cosmos is one of the bestselling science books of all time. In clear-eyed prose, Sagan reveals a jewel-like blue world inhabited by a life form that is just beginning to discover its own identity and to venture into the vast ocean of space.
-
-
Great except for the narration
- By Deb JOHNSON on 10-03-17
By: Carl Sagan
-
Until the End of Time
- Mind, Matter, and Our Search for Meaning in an Evolving Universe
- By: Brian Greene
- Narrated by: Brian Greene
- Length: 14 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the world-renowned physicist and best-selling author of The Elegant Universe comes a captivating exploration of deep time and humanity's search for purpose. Until the End of Time is Brian Greene's breathtaking new exploration of the cosmos and our quest to find meaning in the face of this vast expanse.
-
-
Uneven
- By NJ on 03-03-20
By: Brian Greene
-
Astrophysics for Young People in a Hurry
- By: Neil deGrasse Tyson, Gregory Mone, Gabrielle de Cuir
- Narrated by: LeVar Burton
- Length: 3 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Neil deGrasse Tyson's number-one New York Times best-selling guide to the cosmos, adapted for young listeners. From the basics of physics to big questions about the nature of space and time, celebrated astrophysicist and science communicator Neil deGrasse Tyson breaks down the mysteries of the cosmos into bite-sized pieces.
-
-
Fantastic and educational
- By Katie and Nik on 04-16-19
By: Neil deGrasse Tyson, and others
-
Cosmos: Possible Worlds
- By: Ann Druyan
- Narrated by: Ann Druyan, Jennice Ontiveros
- Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This new and long-awaited sequel to Carl Sagan's international best seller continues the electrifying journey through space and time, linking worlds within and worlds billions of miles away and envisioning a future of science tempered with wisdom. Based on National Geographic's internationally-renowned television series, this groundbreaking and visually stunning book explores how science and civilization grew up together.
-
-
Just no replacement for the great Carl Sagan.
- By Nowhere man on 03-08-20
By: Ann Druyan
-
Pale Blue Dot
- A Vision of the Human Future in Space
- By: Carl Sagan
- Narrated by: Carl Sagan, Ann Druyan
- Length: 13 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Cosmos, the late astronomer Carl Sagan cast his gaze over the magnificent mystery of the Universe and made it accessible to millions of people around the world. Now in this stunning sequel, Carl Sagan completes his revolutionary journey through space and time.
-
-
Audio Quality Choices
- By JR on 05-30-17
By: Carl Sagan
-
Something Deeply Hidden
- Quantum Worlds and the Emergence of Spacetime
- By: Sean Carroll
- Narrated by: Sean Carroll
- Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sean Carroll, theoretical physicist and one of this world’s most celebrated writers on science, rewrites the history of 20th-century physics. Already hailed as a masterpiece, Something Deeply Hidden shows for the first time that facing up to the essential puzzle of quantum mechanics utterly transforms how we think about space and time. His reconciling of quantum mechanics with Einstein’s theory of relativity changes, well, everything. Most physicists haven’t even recognized the uncomfortable truth: Physics has been in crisis since 1927.
-
-
The Best Layperson Book on Quantum Physics
- By Conrad Barski on 09-11-19
By: Sean Carroll
-
The Planets
- By: Professor Brian Cox, Andrew Cohen
- Narrated by: Samuel West
- Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Mercury, a lifeless victim of the Sun’s expanding power. Venus, once thought to be lush and fertile, now known to be trapped within a toxic and boiling atmosphere. Mars, the red planet, doomed by the loss of its atmosphere. Jupiter, twice the size of all the other planets combined, but insubstantial. Saturn, a stunning celestial beauty, the jewel of our Solar System. Uranus, the sideways planet and the first ice giant. Neptune, dark, cold and whipped by supersonic winds. Pluto, the dwarf planet, a frozen rock.
-
-
A Stellar (or at least Astronomical) Piece of Work
- By Kindle Customer on 09-03-19
By: Professor Brian Cox, and others
-
Star Talk Radio: The Science of Star Trek
- With Special Guest Lawrence Krauss
- By: Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Narrated by: Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Length: 53 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Star Trek TV and movie series imagine a bright future for humans in space, one in which we explore alien worlds with the aid of advanced technology. Because the writers tried to include as much realistic science as possible within the fictional framework, the stories have been an inspiration for students, scientists, inventors, and anyone interested in pondering our destiny on Earth and beyond.
-
-
o.k.
- By Jeffrey E. Platt on 08-26-18
Publisher's Summary
The year of Pluto's discovery, Disney created an irresistible pup by the same name, and, as one NASA scientist put it, Pluto was "discovered by an American for America." Pluto is entrenched in our cultural, patriotic view of the cosmos, and Neil deGrasse Tyson is on a quest to discover why.
Critic Reviews
More from the same
What listeners say about The Pluto Files
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
- Laura
- 02-12-09
A Light and Still Revealing Read
This is a great read (or listen) that provides a overview of the story around the 'demotion of Pluto'. Witty, with just enough science to satisfy, this is a wonderful case study of the challenges involved in changing entrenched views and how even fact-demanding scientists can be swayed by public opinion and emotion. My only modest complaint is that Dr. Tyson did not do the recording. Having seen him on The Universe (and even The Daily Show), I found myself wanting to hear him do the speaking.
17 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- Lauffeuer
- 02-01-09
A Great Value
If you are looking for a science textbook (as some reviewers of Dr. Tyson's other book seem to be) this is not for you.
However, if you are looking for something enjoyable you can't wrong for the price Audible is offering this book for. It really is a steal at around, 5 dollars . . . I mean, Unabridged for less than 10? It is (as of this writing) more expensive to buy the real book!
There is little "advanced" science in this book (most of it you will likely know from middle school), so if you are looking for something to make you "Mr. Smart Pants" in front of your friends, again, not the book for you.
What you will find in it is a lot of history of science, comments on how we present science to the public, and observations on how the public views science. Dr. Tyson writes it all with wit and charm, which the narrator brings off with a degree of skill.
If you are looking to be entertained this audiobook is a good choice, and as a bonus you might even take away some new ideas on how information is presented.
35 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Carole T.
- 09-07-14
Much Ado
I like Neil deGrasse Tyson (tho he's no Carl Sagan!), and I love the idea of this short book. The first couple of hours have some interesting information about the big bru-ha-ha over the "demotion" of Pluto from planethood.
But, OMG, after that! I think Tyson may have mentioned by name every single member of every Astronomical Society in the world! Maybe twice! His need to wriggle out of responsibility for disappointing school children and Plutophiles everywhere is at times funny, at times very exasperating - and nearly always repetitous.
I believe that this book just about sums up why our society has become so anti-intellectual. Scholars argue and backbite and fret about the "masses" daring to have opinions.
And there is Pluto, still in the heavens and not the slightest bit concerned!
9 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Joe
- 09-02-12
Fun and Diverting
It's amazing how attached people got to Pluto, the little planet that tried. This book details with humor, grace, science, history and some good old fun narration, the way Pluto came to be a planet and then morphed into something else. For the science nerd (like me) there's a lot about the history of space examination and exploration, for the historian there's a lot about how Pluto became part of the national identity and for those who love whimsy you'll enjoy how this little planet became the center a huge debate.
Tyson's other book "Death By Black Hole" is better, with a better narrator. But this is a fast and fun read that made me smile throughout. You'll like it. I promise.
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Blake
- 02-11-13
A short, fun, fascinating easy listen.
This book is part humor, part science and part history, but completely entertaining. Good clean fun and great bang for the buck. It's too bad it has to be so short, but every chapter is quality. This is a good one to pay money for, especially if you can get it on sale, because it's cheaper than using a credit and the book isn't long enough to merit using a credit on. You could easily blow through it while doing your chores on a Saturday afternoon. Especially because you won't want to stop listening.
10 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Matt
- 04-21-10
Enjoyable and Entertaining
I found Dr. Tyson's tale to be insightful, educational, and very entertaining. I was introduced to Dr. Tyson through his appearances on The Daily Show. He's just as entertaining in this audiobook as he is chatting with Jon Stewart.
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Simone
- 08-27-14
Just as Expected
I only bought it because it was on sale for 2$ and I got my money’s worth. If you like pop-astronomy you’ll be interested; if you don’t, you won’t.
Over all it was dry, but because it was short it wasn’t so bad. Some boring parts, some interesting factoids….
I don’t have a whole lot to say on this one!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- William
- 03-13-09
Mixed
I found the first half of the book informative and amusing. As to the second half, I thought if I heard one more e-mail read I would scream. I give the first half a 5 and the second half a generous 2.
15 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Christopher Lashley
- 12-20-12
Fun Trip Through Pluto's History
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes. This book is very interesting, and it brings up wonderful points about how people and the media can be so passionate about things they know so little about.
What did you like best about this story?
I loved the systematic progression through the history of Pluto. This gives a background to work with when you get to the stories later in the book.
Which character – as performed by Mirron Willis – was your favorite?
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes. It was great for a 6 hour drive home for Thanksgiving.
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jeff Harris
- 08-07-12
Not a Pity Party for Pluto
Where does The Pluto Files rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
I enjoyed The Pluto Files very much. I enjoy most of what I've read and listened to from Neil deGrasse Tyson and this one was enlightening and fun. The blend of science and humor makes him easy for laypersons and scholars alike. The Pluto Files provides an understanding of why we only have 8 planets in the solar system now and the events leading to this.
What did you like best about this story?
I liked the inclusion of some of the letters people wrote to Dr. Tyson. It was a nice touch to see things from his perspective.
Would you listen to another book narrated by Mirron Willis?
I would probably give him another shot although I should say I was not entirely blown away. He had a nice steady pace which made it easy to follow along. He had a few moments of emotion coming through which I actually thought made some of the chapters more entertaining.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
No extreme reactions.
1 person found this helpful