Astronomy: At Play in the Cosmos

Frank, Adam

ISBN 10: 0393124002 ISBN 13: 9780393124002

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company, 2016

Synopsis

A textbook that is not written like a textbook.

Astronomy: At Play in the Cosmos brings popular science writing to a textbook. In every chapter, author Adam Frank―a co-writer of the NPR blog “13.7 Cosmos and Culture”―integrates two interviews with leading scientists, a fascinating second voice that drives the narrative while making astronomy feel immediate, relevant, and real for students, and still capturing science’s human nature.

About this title

About the Author:

Adam Frank is a professor of astrophysics at the University of Rochester. He is a co-founder of NPR’s 13.7: Cosmos and Culture blog and an on-air commentator for All Things Considered. He also served as the science consultant for Marvel Studio’s Dr. Strange. He lives in Rochester, New York.

Review:

“I enjoyed the writing style of basing it around interviews with current astronomers. It reads like an article of a pop-sci magazine, but much more in-depth.”
- Andrew Fittingoff, Peralta Community College

“The writing style is one of the best I have read. I have done review of physics, astronomy, and earth sciences books, and by far this author has been one of the most pleasant I have encountered.”
- Celso Batalha, Evergreen Valley College

“[...] with the incorporation of scientists’ voices, it was more like storytelling than what I am used to from other books. That kept it interesting. Hearing from scientists directly also humanizes the science, which I think is a good thing.”
- Julia Kregenow, Pennsylvania State University

“I like how he brings into the mix real people in Astronomy and how they work and think...I think that might help keep students reading the material.”
- Michael Frey, Cypress College

About this edition

• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0393124002
• ISBN 13: 9780393124002
• Binding: Loose Leaf
• Number of pages: 544