Scan barcode
A review by the_darn_kite_rises
The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey Into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred by Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I read this book as a “non-scientist”, but also as a kid who thought they’d be an astronomer or an astronaut when they got older (not how things worked out in the end). I love science and love learning about science. Always have, even if I’m not part of the scientific community.
All that to say, the first few chapters were a slower read because the book is packed with definitions and concepts from the fields of cosmology, particle physics, astronomy, quantum mechanics, etc. I very much enjoyed the challenge; having to reread some paragraphs a few times didn’t negatively impact my experience at all (I know this might not be true for everyone).
So, the first part of the book focuses on instilling a sense of wonder about the universe and how it works. The rest of the chapters are a deep dive into the white supremacy driving western sciences and the scientific community.
It gives an unflinching, holistic picture of how throughout history and into the present, white empiricism and the scientific methods enforced by violent colonialism are not very empirical after all. How society has systematically disregarded and suppressed non-western thinking and ideas. How white supremacists are the ones who decide which voices are lauded and who is silenced. This book made me think so much and so deeply. It was horrifying. But hopeful, too. If you are involved in western sciences, or even if you just have a passing interest in it, I regard this as a must-read. It helped me experience something rare.
All that to say, the first few chapters were a slower read because the book is packed with definitions and concepts from the fields of cosmology, particle physics, astronomy, quantum mechanics, etc. I very much enjoyed the challenge; having to reread some paragraphs a few times didn’t negatively impact my experience at all (I know this might not be true for everyone).
So, the first part of the book focuses on instilling a sense of wonder about the universe and how it works. The rest of the chapters are a deep dive into the white supremacy driving western sciences and the scientific community.
It gives an unflinching, holistic picture of how throughout history and into the present, white empiricism and the scientific methods enforced by violent colonialism are not very empirical after all. How society has systematically disregarded and suppressed non-western thinking and ideas. How white supremacists are the ones who decide which voices are lauded and who is silenced. This book made me think so much and so deeply. It was horrifying. But hopeful, too. If you are involved in western sciences, or even if you just have a passing interest in it, I regard this as a must-read. It helped me experience something rare.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Racism, and Sexual assault