Astrophysics for People in a Hurry Review

Editors Note: This is the first in a possible series of book reviews highlighting critical STEM
communicators: Staff Writer Lovisa's review of Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil
DeGrasse Tyson. Hope you enjoy!

Have you ever wondered how the universe works, but never had the time (or motivation) to
read one of those gigantic books you can barely lift? Astrophysics For People in a Hurry, a
book by Neil DeGrasse Tyson (pub. 2017) probably won't give you quite that same depth of
knowledge or understanding, but it serves as a great introduction to the field (and it might even
fit in your pocket)!

The author covers some of the most fundamental topics of astrophysics, from the birth of the
universe to dark matter and dark energy, from the spectrum of light to the chemistry of stars
and galaxies. Tyson, a well known science communicator and, among other things, the host
of the TV-radio show “StarTalk,” delivers these topics in small enough chunks that you can
easily read a chapter between classes or during commutes. Using comparisons from our
everyday lives; for example, to illustrate the density of a pulsar, he tells us to imagine
“stuffing a hundred-million elephants into a chapstick casing,” Tyson makes a nefariously
difficult topic fun and relatively simple.

For the reader without a basic education in physics, some parts of the book are a bit heavy,
with complicated scientific terms and concepts used in passing. In just the first chapter, Tyson
covers both quarks, bosons and the Planck era. He explains some of the terms thoroughly,
but leaves others untouched. Still, there is enough explanation from Tyson’s side that most
can, maybe with a bit of effort, get a lot out of this book despite few to no prior encounters
with the subject.

Astrophysics For People in a Hurry is a book for anyone interested in learning more about the
universe we all live in. It does a good job of conveying even the most advanced topics with
ease. Despite the title of the book, you might not want to be in too much of a hurry while
reading; it's enjoyable, and you should take your time with it!

Lovisa
Staff Writer, Our Science