Review: Cosmic Queries by Neil deGrasse Tyson

by Joli
Cosmic Queries Book Review

Neil DeGrasse Tyson and StarTalk fans, get ready: A new book is coming your way! Check it out!

About Cosmic Queries

• Publisher: National Geographic (March 2, 2021)
• Hardcover: 312 Pages

In this thought-provoking follow-up to his acclaimed StarTalk book, uber astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson tackles the world’s most important philosophical questions about the universe with wit, wisdom, and cutting-edge science.

For science geeks, space and physics nerds, and all who want to understand their place in the universe, this enlightening new book from Neil deGrasse Tyson offers a unique take on the mysteries and curiosities of the cosmos, building on rich material from his beloved StarTalk podcast.

In these illuminating pages, illustrated with dazzling photos and revealing graphics, Tyson and co-author James Trefil, a renowned physicist and science popularizer, take on the big questions that humanity has been posing for millennia–How did life begin? What is our place in the universe? Are we alone?–and provide answers based on the most current data, observations, and theories.

Populated with paradigm-shifting discoveries that help explain the building blocks of astrophysics, this relatable and entertaining book will engage and inspire readers of all ages, bring sophisticated concepts within reach, and offer a window into the complexities of the cosmos.

For all who loved National Geographic’s StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson, Cosmos: Possible Worlds, and Space Atlas, this new book will take them on more journeys into the wonders of the universe and beyond.

My Review

Alright so, my husband and I are big Neil DeGrasse Tyson fans. We got to go see him in person in Minneapolis a couple years ago! We also have one of his other books, Welcome to the Universe. That one is quite big and reads more like a really cool textbook, whereas this one is more approachable.

If you’ve ever listened to the StarTalk podcast, then you’re familiar with their “Cosmic Queries” bit, where listeners call in with their own questions. This book is somewhat based on those questions, but expands to be sort of a basic overview of life on Earth and the universe.

I enjoyed how the books is laid out, with a lot of images and bullet lists and helpful asides that help you understand the more complicated concepts. It also has Neil’s tweets, which is really fun. The book is in his characteristic style, which is very “science is cool” and easy to understand. I love how he just lays things out for the general public to understand and be awed by.

Overall, this book makes you feel small, yet powerful at the same time. All of Neil’s stuff does, doesn’t it? It makes you feel tiny in the grand scheme of things, but you’re alive, and that’s magnificent.

5 stars.

Purchase Links: National Geographic | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About Neil DeGrasse Tyson

Legendary astrophysicist NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON is the host of the popular podcast StarTalk Radio and Emmy award-winning National Geographic Channel shows StarTalk and Cosmos. He earned his BA in physics from Harvard and his Ph.D. in astrophysics from Columbia. The author of more than a dozen books, including the best-selling Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, Tyson is the first Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium. He lives in New York City with his wife and two children.

Follow him on InstagramTwitterFacebook, and TikTok.


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1 comment

Wendy Williams May 27, 2021 - 5:33 pm

Anything by Neil DeGrasse Tyson has got to be cool! Great review!

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