The Friendly Guide to the Universe: A Down-to-Earth Tour of Space, Time, and the Wonders of theCosmos (The Friendly Shakespeare)

By Nancy Hathaway

Book Overview

Is anybody out there? How long is a lightyear? And what's a quark, anyway? The Friendly Guide to the Universe answers all these questions and many more in this accessible, fact-crammed compendium, perfect for anyone who wants to have a deeper appreciation of deep space. The Friendly Guide to the Universe is based on the theory that there's nothing dull about the cosmos. Written for readers who already love astronomy as well as for those who have long been afraid to approach the wonders of the celestial spheres, it includes a chronology of the universe from the Big Bang to the decay of all matter; easy-to-understand explanations of key astronomical concepts, from Kepler's laws of planetary motion to the work of Stephen Hawking; a description of our unsuccessful attempts to contact other civilizations - and the many rumors about their attempts to get in touch with us; a history of observation - from Stonehenge to the Keck Telescope, and beyond; a look at the way the starry skies have been portrayed by artists, including Albrecht Durer, Diego Rivera, and Vincent van Gogh; and Myriad quotations from lovers of astronomy as varied as Geoffrey Chaucer, Lord Byron, H. G. Wells, Gertrude Stein, and, above all, James Joyce ... and more. The Friendly Guide to the Universe is designed to be fun to read, with illustrations, sidebars, and at-a-glance maps and charts throughout. Written in a friendly formula all its own, it illuminates not only the mystery and beauty of the solar system, the galaxy, and the universe as a whole, but also the people behind the continuing search for knowledge about the heavens. It's a book that makes for an entertaining, idiosyncratic astronomical companion - one thatwill be irresistible for any earthling who's ever looked skyward in wonder!

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140153810
• ISBN13: 9780140153811
• Release Date: November 1995
• Publisher: Penguin Books
• Length: 480 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.1" x 7.1"

Customer Reviews

A REAL hitchhiker's guide!

What a great book for anyone that has even the slightest interest in space, physics, or just how in the heck everything got here! She takes difficult subjects and breaks them down into interesting "fun facts" that anyone can appreciate and understand. It's simply impossible to not share something out of this book if someone else is in the room while you're reading it!

Good for astronomers (and others, too)

A Friendly Guide is fabulous! I have read it several times in the several years that I've owned it (and I rarely read anything I don't have to!). Nancy Hathaway devides and subdevides astronomy into small enough bits and mixes enough wit to make it easier to understand for those who don't know much astronomy. The small subsections also make it possible to read for us who do know something about astronomy but are pressed for time.

Takes a dry subject and makes it fun. Great for SF fans.

I originally took this book out of the library when it came out in hardcover as I'm a long-time been a space buff and fan of science fiction but had never really studied any of the science behind it. I had always found astronomy pretty dull, but this book completely changed my views on the subject. Hathaway has a wonderfully light writing style with just enough of a comic touch to keep this book continually amusing. I've since bought my own copy and keep it our on my shelf of books to flip through on a regular basis. It's a must read for any SF fan who wants to know what your favorite characters are talking about and the sectons on the history of astronomy are great as well (especially when she talks about all of the truly bizzare things that people have believed over the ages). This is a great book that makes you fall in love with the wonder of space.

Interesting!

Nancy does an admirable job pulling together exrtremely interesting ideas on her topics! The book is organized so as to be quick to find your topic and easy to continue reading related topics if you choose. Lots of b & w pics and orgaized tables. Works well for finding background info for teaching astronomy topics to all ages. Thanks Nancy!

Great for Starters

I loved this book! I read it when it was first published, and I was just getting interested in astronomy. Full of facts and interesting tidbits for the novice, with references for further reading. I liked the drawings, and the literary quotes on things celestial that started each chapter.