Review by Booklist Review
The world's most ebullient, funny, irreverent, and illuminating astrophysicist regales listeners and viewers with amazing, mind-whirling puzzles and facts on his StarTalk podcast and National Geographic Channel television show. Now fans and those whose exposure to Tyson has been limited so far to his appearances on other host's talk shows will be able to bask in the glow of this enthusiastic stargazer's wide-ranging curiosity, deep knowledge, and passion for proving that science can be fun and edifying via this big book bursting with color photographs and sidebars. The chapter headings take the form of questions: Can We Use Wormholes to Travel? Is There a Solution for Pollution? Can Science Help Me Find True Love? When Are the Zombies Coming? And each ensuing discussion is peppered with quotes from StarTalk guests, including Richard Dawkins, Elon Musk, George Takei, Malcolm Gladwell, Mary Roach, the daring hosts of MythBusters (surely an inspiration for Tyson's approach to crazy egg-headed science), and a slew of comedians, including Jim Gaffigan and Kristen Schaal. Tyson's exuberant, mind-meld approach to science and life is entertaining and relevant.--Seaman, Donna Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Compiled by National Geographic staff with input from the StarTalk radio show and podcast host and astrophysicist Tyson (Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries), this vibrant offering aims to "bottle the show's spirit and character." The text's graphics-rich layout and straightforward explanations of terrestrial and astronomical puzzles and wonders, interspersed with recipes for Tyson's space-influenced drink mixes and snarky text box asides from comics (who regularly appear on the show), achieve the stated goal. One highlight of the scientifically accurate and readable narrative is the minibiographies of scientists scattered throughout. The trope of Tyson as "astro-x-ist" (e.g., "astro-steam-icist") gets a bit tiring by the end of the book, as do some of the comedians' sophomoric jokes, though, in truth the humorous approach does make the title accessible to a broader range of readers. Verdict The witticisms, pictures, and graphics in this entertaining addition should entice readers interested in science from junior high on up. The glossy and colorful format will appeal to holiday gift givers and will promote scientific literacy in the recipients.-Sara R. Tompson, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Lib., Pasadena, CA © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
