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lauren_endnotes's review against another edition
4.0
In Light of the Stars, Frank surveys the last decades' leap into space and exo-planet discovery, as well as the burgeoning field of astrobiology. It is a fascinating read, both for its history and its futurism. This book would also be a great textbook for an astrophysics class: accessible and comprehensive in scope.
I recently read [b:The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History|17910054|The Sixth Extinction An Unnatural History|Elizabeth Kolbert|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1372677697s/17910054.jpg|25095506], and that served as a great companion piece to this: looking at earth's changes, shifts over the millenia, and then this book, putting Earth into context amongst all the other systems and galaxies.
I recently read [b:The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History|17910054|The Sixth Extinction An Unnatural History|Elizabeth Kolbert|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1372677697s/17910054.jpg|25095506], and that served as a great companion piece to this: looking at earth's changes, shifts over the millenia, and then this book, putting Earth into context amongst all the other systems and galaxies.
davidmencik's review against another edition
2.0
I expected more from this book, even though some sections were good I didn't find the book enjoyable and didn't finish the book. After couple of months if you would ask me to tell you what the book is about I would have no idea, and it is not like I only skimmed the book but read the first 100 pages properly.
3 months later I came back to read it and found it even worse than first time and decided not to finish it at all. Maybe 2 stars is a bit harsh but I give 1 or 2 stars to books I didn't find interesting.
3 months later I came back to read it and found it even worse than first time and decided not to finish it at all. Maybe 2 stars is a bit harsh but I give 1 or 2 stars to books I didn't find interesting.
anhundred's review against another edition
4.0
This was a very interesting and entertaining read! I learned a lot and enjoyed the comparisons between exoplanets and our own planet. It did make me even more anxious about climate change but that’s probably the point of the book.
johno's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
Very interesting and readable book about alien civilisations and what we can learnt about them might affect our own world.
I thought that the openings of the chapters might get a little tedious ("Jimmy McBigBrain, lead-head-brain at NASA's Big Brain Project (BBP), fidgeted nervously in his chair. As a freshly-minted brain he had been...") but luckily the tone changed just as that started to become noticeable.
Very interesting and readable book about alien civilisations and what we can learnt about them might affect our own world.
I thought that the openings of the chapters might get a little tedious ("Jimmy McBigBrain, lead-head-brain at NASA's Big Brain Project (BBP), fidgeted nervously in his chair. As a freshly-minted brain he had been...") but luckily the tone changed just as that started to become noticeable.
nezbots's review
3.0
Some interesting stuff, some not-so-surprising or new things. But a good way to look at how we can use other planets to think about how to save our own. It ends on a... sort of? hopeful note. But basically like... we need to figure some stuff out NOW. And stop denying the changes we've known about for a long time.
Oh yeah... my one question that's never talked about when they talk about formulas for possible other civilizations... they never discuss the possibility of any of them going off world or finding another planet to use once theirs is all messed up or close to dying. If they get so advanced, shouldn't that be another possibility to help the pessimism line or whatever it was called?
Oh yeah... my one question that's never talked about when they talk about formulas for possible other civilizations... they never discuss the possibility of any of them going off world or finding another planet to use once theirs is all messed up or close to dying. If they get so advanced, shouldn't that be another possibility to help the pessimism line or whatever it was called?
christinamarie's review
4.0
good breakdown of the potential for extraterrestrial life coupled with an exploration of how humans are affecting the planet. very clear and concise – even for non-scientists.
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