by Richard Sherman

Astrophysics for People in A Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson
Published 2017
Grade: A
Hardback $9.99 on Amazon
224 pages

Okay, so it’s not a new book but with the holidays right around the corner “Astrophysics for People in a Hurry” would make a great gift for your family and friends who wonder why you are so interested in the night sky. It is well-suited for the beginner to intermediate, easy to read, and does a solid job on all the topics. It has 12 chapters, and with 224 pages you might think it is long, but the hardback measures only 4.75” x 7.5” so it is a quick read. There are no images in the book, but that is certainly one of the reasons the hardback costs less than $10. There are lots of interesting details throughout. For example, Chapter 8, “On Being Round” discusses the universe’s preferred geometric shape of the sphere. Dr. Tyson has developed a reputation for interpreting astronomy and astrophysics for the layman and this book is a perfect example of what he does well. 

The One Thing You Need to Know by Marcus Chown
Published 2023
Grade: A-
Hardback $22.14 on Amazon
256 pages

This is not an astronomy nor astrophysics book, but one that addresses a variety of scientific topics. Fortunately for us, it delves into many things we care about, like quantum theory, special relativity, general relativity, black holes, and the Big Bang to name a few. There are lots of other interesting topics in the 21 chapters, such as plate tectonics and evolution. The chapters are short and concise, and Mr. Crown tries to boil all the concepts down to one basic idea—much like that high school English teacher who required a clear topic sentence in each paragraph. Of course, these concepts are complex and it is quite a challenge to know where to stop the discussion. I particularly enjoyed the final chapter, “The Big Bang” that reminds us of the three reasons it remains a theory and not science. I would put this comfortably in the “intermediate” category. Club members with Ph.D.’s in scientific fields may find this book too basic, but I think the rest of us can appreciate its breadth and clarity.