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My Favorite Universe
In My Favorite Universe, the astrophysicist who directs the nation's most famous planetarium takes you on a spirited and intellectually engaging journey through the cosmos and all its history, from before the Big Bang to the most likely ways in which Earth, and perhaps the entire universe, might end. Clear Science Teaching to Set the Stage for an Awe-Inspiring Course Created for a lay audience and readily accessible, in this course science always takes precedence over drama. The lectures are certainly entertaining, often funny, even awe-inspiring at times, as befits the subject matter. Even though you will be entertained, you will be learning good science. Clear introductions to essential principles of physics support these lectures, including density, quantum theory, gravity, and the General Theory of Relativity. Professor Neil deGrasse Tyson also includes forays into disciplines such as chemistry and biology as needed to explain events in astronomy. For example, Dr. Tyson begins one lecture at a point 13 billion years ago, when all space, matter, and energy in the known universe were contained in a volume less than one-trillionth the size of a pinpoint-about the size of a single atom. By the time he finishes, the cosmos has been stretched, the planets and our Earth formed, and 70 percent of existing Earth species have been wiped out by a gigantic asteroidclearing the way for the evolution of humanity. Along the way he has touched on Einstein's famous equation, E=mc2; on the four forces that were once unified in the early cosmos in a way physicists are still trying to explain; and on the chemical enrichment of the universe by exploding supernovae, which give the universe its necessary supply of heavier elements including oxygen, nitrogen, iron and, most important, carbon. Carbon, we learn, is a "sticky" atom, capable of making more kinds of molecules than all other elements combined. It's the ideal element with which to experiment in the building of life forms and is, of course, the element responsible for the remarkable diversity of life, including us. As Dr. Tyson notes, we are made of stardust, just as the planets are. And he has created a course that explains exactly how that came to be, beginning with a grounding in the basic "machinery" of matter, forces, and energy that has been discovered on Earth and which also reveals itself throughout the universe. The Stark and Violent Beauty of the Universe With this basic foundation in place, explanations of cosmic events fall logically into place, and the realities of the universe-including its eventual demise-are revealed in stark and often violent beauty. You learn: how Saturn's rings were formed, and why they will eventually be lost why low-density conditions are necessary to produce the drama of the northern and southern auroras why even the most jagged and wild of the Earth's mountain ranges are, from a cosmic standpoint, really part of a perfectly smooth sphere how black holes are formed and the extraordinary way in which they can wreak havoc in the universe how asteroids moving through space represent threats of extraordinary consequence to Earth, no matter how long those threats may take to be realized why the seemingly infinite panorama of celestial bodies revealed by the Hubble Space Telescope's famous "Deep Field" so intrigued astronomers how astronomers actually look for new planets, why the odds seem overwhelmingly in favor of some kind of life out there, whether we ever make contact or not. Most important, none of these ideas are presented as isolated "space factoids" that serve no purpose but to entertain. They are there to illustrate and reinforce the key principles of physics and astrophysics that are continually being presented in this course. But the inclusion of real science doesn't prevent Dr. Tyson from having some fun, either. When it's time to show how a black hole might remove one from the universe, he leads you right up to the "event horizon" and slips you in-feet first. Since the event horizon represents the point within which nothing, not even light, can escape, you might think this is a bad idea. And you would be right. But as you plummet toward the "singularity" at the heart of the black hole, you will learn firsthand about the interesting effects of gravity truly unleashed, including what physicists refer to, with a straight face, as "spaghettification." (Actually, Professor Tyson recommends that you be sucked in to a large black hole rather than a small one. You'll still be spaghettified, but it won't happen as quickly.) But make no mistake: Dr. Tyson does not consider the cosmos a laughing matter, this kind of whimsical touch notwithstanding. In spite of his training, he remains, admittedly, still in awe of his subject. And he has created a course that might well produce the same feeling in you.
7 pages, Audible Audio
First published January 1, 2003
27 people are currently reading
2,048 people want to read
About the author
Neil deGrasse Tyson
76books285kfollowersNeil deGrasse Tyson was born and raised in New York City where he was educated in the public schools clear through his graduation from the Bronx High School of Science. Tyson went on to earn his BA in Physics from Harvard and his PhD in Astrophysics from Columbia.
In 2001, Tyson was appointed by President Bush to serve on a twelve-member commission that studied the Future of the U.S. Aerospace Industry. The final report was published in 2002 and contained recommendations (for Congress and for the major agencies of the government) that would promote a thriving future of transportation, space exploration, and national security.
In 2004, Tyson was once again appointed by President Bush to serve on a nine-member commission on the Implementation of the United States Space Exploration Policy, dubbed the “Moon, Mars, and Beyond� commission. This group navigated a path by which the new space vision can become a successful part of the American agenda. And in 2006, the head of NASA appointed Tyson to serve on its prestigious Advisory Council, which guides NASA through its perennial need to fit ambitious visions into restricted budgets.
In addition to dozens of professional publications, Dr. Tyson has written, and continues to write for the public. From 1995 to 2005, Tyson was a monthly essayist for Natural History magazine under the title Universe. And among Tyson’s fifteen books is his memoir The Sky is Not the Limit: Adventures of an Urban Astrophysicist; and Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution, co-written with Donald Goldsmith. Origins is the companion book to the PBS NOVA four-part mini-series Origins, in which Tyson served as on-camera host. The program premiered in September 2004.
Two of Tyson’s other books are the playful and informative Death By Black Hole and Other Cosmic Quandaries, which was a New York Times bestseller, and The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America’s Favorite Planet, chronicling his experience at the center of the controversy over Pluto’s planetary status. The PBS NOVA documentary The Pluto Files, based on the book, premiered in March 2010.
In February 2012, Tyson released his tenth book, containing every thought he has ever had on the past, present, and future of space exploration: Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier.
For five seasons, beginning in the fall of 2006, Tyson appeared as the on-camera host of PBS NOVA’s spinoff program NOVA ScienceNOW, which is an accessible look at the frontier of all the science that shapes the understanding of our place in the universe.
During the summer of 2009 Tyson identified a cadre of professional standup comedians to assist his effort in bringing science to commercial radio with the NSF-funded pilot program StarTalk. Now also a popular Podcast, for three years it enjoyed a limited-run Television Series on the National Geographic Channel. StarTalk combines celebrity guests with informative yet playful banter. The target audience is all those people who never thought they would, or could, like science. In its first year on television and in three successive seasons, it was nominated for a Best Informational Programming Emmy.
Tyson is the recipient of twenty-one honorary doctorates and the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest award given by NASA to a non-government citizen. His contributions to the public appreciation of the cosmos have been recognized by the International Astronomical Union in their official naming of asteroid �13123 Tyson.� And by zoologists, with the naming of Indirani Tysoni, a native species of leaping frog in India. On the lighter side, Tyson was voted “Sexiest Astrophysicist Alive� by People Magazine in 2000.
More recently, Tyson published Astrophysics for People In A Hurry in 2017, which was a domestic and international bestseller. This adorably readable book is an introduction to all that you’ve read and heard about that’s making news in the universe—consummated, in one plac
In 2001, Tyson was appointed by President Bush to serve on a twelve-member commission that studied the Future of the U.S. Aerospace Industry. The final report was published in 2002 and contained recommendations (for Congress and for the major agencies of the government) that would promote a thriving future of transportation, space exploration, and national security.
In 2004, Tyson was once again appointed by President Bush to serve on a nine-member commission on the Implementation of the United States Space Exploration Policy, dubbed the “Moon, Mars, and Beyond� commission. This group navigated a path by which the new space vision can become a successful part of the American agenda. And in 2006, the head of NASA appointed Tyson to serve on its prestigious Advisory Council, which guides NASA through its perennial need to fit ambitious visions into restricted budgets.
In addition to dozens of professional publications, Dr. Tyson has written, and continues to write for the public. From 1995 to 2005, Tyson was a monthly essayist for Natural History magazine under the title Universe. And among Tyson’s fifteen books is his memoir The Sky is Not the Limit: Adventures of an Urban Astrophysicist; and Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution, co-written with Donald Goldsmith. Origins is the companion book to the PBS NOVA four-part mini-series Origins, in which Tyson served as on-camera host. The program premiered in September 2004.
Two of Tyson’s other books are the playful and informative Death By Black Hole and Other Cosmic Quandaries, which was a New York Times bestseller, and The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America’s Favorite Planet, chronicling his experience at the center of the controversy over Pluto’s planetary status. The PBS NOVA documentary The Pluto Files, based on the book, premiered in March 2010.
In February 2012, Tyson released his tenth book, containing every thought he has ever had on the past, present, and future of space exploration: Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier.
For five seasons, beginning in the fall of 2006, Tyson appeared as the on-camera host of PBS NOVA’s spinoff program NOVA ScienceNOW, which is an accessible look at the frontier of all the science that shapes the understanding of our place in the universe.
During the summer of 2009 Tyson identified a cadre of professional standup comedians to assist his effort in bringing science to commercial radio with the NSF-funded pilot program StarTalk. Now also a popular Podcast, for three years it enjoyed a limited-run Television Series on the National Geographic Channel. StarTalk combines celebrity guests with informative yet playful banter. The target audience is all those people who never thought they would, or could, like science. In its first year on television and in three successive seasons, it was nominated for a Best Informational Programming Emmy.
Tyson is the recipient of twenty-one honorary doctorates and the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest award given by NASA to a non-government citizen. His contributions to the public appreciation of the cosmos have been recognized by the International Astronomical Union in their official naming of asteroid �13123 Tyson.� And by zoologists, with the naming of Indirani Tysoni, a native species of leaping frog in India. On the lighter side, Tyson was voted “Sexiest Astrophysicist Alive� by People Magazine in 2000.
More recently, Tyson published Astrophysics for People In A Hurry in 2017, which was a domestic and international bestseller. This adorably readable book is an introduction to all that you’ve read and heard about that’s making news in the universe—consummated, in one plac
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
September 24, 2017
I will keep this review short and sweet. My Favorite Universe is a collection of twelve of the professor's favourite cosmic subjects. This series of lectures cover topics like the properties of matter and energy and how it shaped the world and universe we live in, of cosmic catastrophes like black holes, asteroids and the death of the sun, and then to that of the big bang and how existence came to be, and finally to searching for life in the universe.
Physics, and especially astrophysics, is a really dense subject and so theoretical at times that it defies ordinary comprehension. World famous astrophysicist, Professor Neil deGrasse Tyson, however is so passionate in what he does and has such an animated way of delivering his lectures that the topic is more easily digested by non-scientists or the masses whom have a keen interest in astrophysics.
I have to iterate just how mind-boggling the universe really is. The sheer size, numbers and distances that we are dealing with in the cosmos lie beyond the imagination of the human mind. Creation is simply wonderful, but infinitely not simple.
Physics, and especially astrophysics, is a really dense subject and so theoretical at times that it defies ordinary comprehension. World famous astrophysicist, Professor Neil deGrasse Tyson, however is so passionate in what he does and has such an animated way of delivering his lectures that the topic is more easily digested by non-scientists or the masses whom have a keen interest in astrophysics.
I have to iterate just how mind-boggling the universe really is. The sheer size, numbers and distances that we are dealing with in the cosmos lie beyond the imagination of the human mind. Creation is simply wonderful, but infinitely not simple.
July 21, 2022
5 Stars for My Favorite Universe (audiobook) by Neil DeGrasse Tyson read by the author.
This is a series of college courses published by The Great Courses. I’d bought several of these courses on CD many years ago and it was a happy surprise when I realized that some of the lectures are available through the digital library. It’s always a pleasure for me to get to listen to Neil DeGrasse Tyson. He has such a wonderful way of explaining very complex ideas and making them understandable.
This is a series of college courses published by The Great Courses. I’d bought several of these courses on CD many years ago and it was a happy surprise when I realized that some of the lectures are available through the digital library. It’s always a pleasure for me to get to listen to Neil DeGrasse Tyson. He has such a wonderful way of explaining very complex ideas and making them understandable.
March 8, 2025
A primer on cosmology and the origins of the universe!
Dr Neil deGrasse Tyson, an astrophysicist and the Director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York, offers a twelve lecture primer on cosmology that is obviously aimed at a public largely uninformed about the beauties of the universe and its mysterious origins.
This lecture series' heart is certainly in the right place but, try as he might, I don't think that Tyson has found the perfect balance that he was doubtless seeking.
The physics of this lecture series is pitched somewhere between non-existent and low. Clearly then, MY FAVORITE UNIVERSE is not aimed at a reader who, for example, is capable of making their way through Brian Greene's THE FABRIC OF THE COSMOS or Stephen Hawking's BLACK HOLES AND BABY UNIVERSES.
On the other hand, Tyson's lecture series tries to cover so much ground in so little time that, of necessity, he is forced to breeze over concepts so quickly and with so little explanation that it will almost certainly go over the head of a beginner, illiterate in physics, and looking for an easy way into the topic.
That said, Tyson does come into his own when he uses a breathless, almost poetic, speaking style to simply convey his own wonder at the breadth, majesty and mystery of the universe - particularly, if it's an explanation of a concept or a detail that doesn't require physics to grasp.
For example, did you know that our universe, now estimated to be 13 billion years old is comprised of an estimated 100 billion galaxies similar to our own Milky Way, each of which is composed of an estimated 100 billion stars? Our own sun, so critical to our life here on earth is a very average member of that group in almost every respect - composition, size, age, temperature and development! And here you thought we were somehow special!
Did you know that one teeny, tiny thimble full of the material of a neutron star, the densest material known to man (never mind how it actually got that way) would weigh about the same as a herd of 50 million elephants?
Did you know that the combined mass of all of the asteroids in the asteroid belt (quite incorrectly portrayed in sci-fi flicks as a crowded navigational hazard fraught with danger to space-faring gents like Captain Picard) is actually only 2% to 3% of the moon and that 75% of that entire mass is locked up in the 4 largest asteroids in the entire belt?
In short, Tyson does a brilliant job on the "what"s but falls considerably short on elucidating the "why"s. Nevertheless, this lecture series is still an interesting, informative way to spend six hours of your life.
Recommended.
Paul Weiss
Dr Neil deGrasse Tyson, an astrophysicist and the Director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York, offers a twelve lecture primer on cosmology that is obviously aimed at a public largely uninformed about the beauties of the universe and its mysterious origins.
This lecture series' heart is certainly in the right place but, try as he might, I don't think that Tyson has found the perfect balance that he was doubtless seeking.
The physics of this lecture series is pitched somewhere between non-existent and low. Clearly then, MY FAVORITE UNIVERSE is not aimed at a reader who, for example, is capable of making their way through Brian Greene's THE FABRIC OF THE COSMOS or Stephen Hawking's BLACK HOLES AND BABY UNIVERSES.
On the other hand, Tyson's lecture series tries to cover so much ground in so little time that, of necessity, he is forced to breeze over concepts so quickly and with so little explanation that it will almost certainly go over the head of a beginner, illiterate in physics, and looking for an easy way into the topic.
That said, Tyson does come into his own when he uses a breathless, almost poetic, speaking style to simply convey his own wonder at the breadth, majesty and mystery of the universe - particularly, if it's an explanation of a concept or a detail that doesn't require physics to grasp.
For example, did you know that our universe, now estimated to be 13 billion years old is comprised of an estimated 100 billion galaxies similar to our own Milky Way, each of which is composed of an estimated 100 billion stars? Our own sun, so critical to our life here on earth is a very average member of that group in almost every respect - composition, size, age, temperature and development! And here you thought we were somehow special!
Did you know that one teeny, tiny thimble full of the material of a neutron star, the densest material known to man (never mind how it actually got that way) would weigh about the same as a herd of 50 million elephants?
Did you know that the combined mass of all of the asteroids in the asteroid belt (quite incorrectly portrayed in sci-fi flicks as a crowded navigational hazard fraught with danger to space-faring gents like Captain Picard) is actually only 2% to 3% of the moon and that 75% of that entire mass is locked up in the 4 largest asteroids in the entire belt?
In short, Tyson does a brilliant job on the "what"s but falls considerably short on elucidating the "why"s. Nevertheless, this lecture series is still an interesting, informative way to spend six hours of your life.
Recommended.
Paul Weiss
June 15, 2017
This is a fun 12 part lecture series by astrophysicist Neil Degrasse Tyson. These lectures are pulled from various essays he wrote for scientific magazines and are miscellaneous topics of interest to him. He has a talent for explaining concepts in laymans terms and makes the learning process fun. Many of the lectures are probably entry level, so if you are already familiar with how the universe was formed and other concepts in astronomy, this will be a review. However, Tyson is highly entertaining and I love his explanations on the various concepts. Recommended for those interested in learning about astronomy and how the universe works.
February 3, 2015
Dr Tyson is very good at popularizing science, the scientific method and the vast field of astrophysics...we need more folks like him. He is a great speaker, albeit a bit overly dramatic in these lectures, speaking clearly and enthusiastically about a subject that he clearly knows and loves.
In the video-downloaded version I watched (twice, actually) I was under-impressed with the level of instruction (middle school, home schooling level, especially if supplemented with better graphics), perhaps because it's a little old...the course notes were published in 2003, and no reference is older than 2002. Quite a bit of progress has been made in the field of astrophysics since then (and was this series released in 2008?).
I can't really recommend this series to the older, more experienced student/person...maybe the updated (2012) Tyson lectures in 'The Inexplicable Universe: Unsolved Mysteries ' is a better choice...when it's on sale and you have a super coupon.
In the video-downloaded version I watched (twice, actually) I was under-impressed with the level of instruction (middle school, home schooling level, especially if supplemented with better graphics), perhaps because it's a little old...the course notes were published in 2003, and no reference is older than 2002. Quite a bit of progress has been made in the field of astrophysics since then (and was this series released in 2008?).
I can't really recommend this series to the older, more experienced student/person...maybe the updated (2012) Tyson lectures in 'The Inexplicable Universe: Unsolved Mysteries ' is a better choice...when it's on sale and you have a super coupon.
May 24, 2023
A fascinating read
May 1, 2021
One of the Great Courses educational lecture series. This one is 12 lectured by renowned astrophysicist and tv icon Neil deGrasse Tyson. As the titles of the lectures do not seem to be included in any of the blurb I am listing them here for people who are interested.
1. On Being Round
2. On Being Rarefied
3. On Being Dense
4. Death by Black Hole
5. Ends of the World
6. Coming Attractions
7. Onward to the Edge
8. In Defense of the Big Bang
9. The Greatest Story Ever Told
10. Forged in the Stars
11. The Search for Planets
12. The Search for Life in the Universe
As expected all of these lectures are entertaining as well as educational. My only complaint is that a few facts have changed since this was recorded. The number of detected exoplanets is much, much higher that the number quoted here, but that's a minor complaint.
I listened to the Audible version which includes a 100 page .pdf download transcript of the lectures.
1. On Being Round
2. On Being Rarefied
3. On Being Dense
4. Death by Black Hole
5. Ends of the World
6. Coming Attractions
7. Onward to the Edge
8. In Defense of the Big Bang
9. The Greatest Story Ever Told
10. Forged in the Stars
11. The Search for Planets
12. The Search for Life in the Universe
As expected all of these lectures are entertaining as well as educational. My only complaint is that a few facts have changed since this was recorded. The number of detected exoplanets is much, much higher that the number quoted here, but that's a minor complaint.
I listened to the Audible version which includes a 100 page .pdf download transcript of the lectures.
April 23, 2021
I'm migrating all my reviews to my blog. If you want to read the full review with my raw notes, check it here:
A good book to introduce physics to common people.
Neil deGrasse Tyson is great at explaining complicated topics in a simple way. The explanation of dense objects using hot chocolate and cream was really nice for me (no spoilers, read it! :D).
Did you watch Cosmos? Do you like to (or at least used to) follow Discovery Channel space documentaries? In case your answer is yes to any of these questions, you probably already know most part of this book. It's worth reading in case you want a second chance with a different kind of explanation.
A good book to introduce physics to common people.
Neil deGrasse Tyson is great at explaining complicated topics in a simple way. The explanation of dense objects using hot chocolate and cream was really nice for me (no spoilers, read it! :D).
Did you watch Cosmos? Do you like to (or at least used to) follow Discovery Channel space documentaries? In case your answer is yes to any of these questions, you probably already know most part of this book. It's worth reading in case you want a second chance with a different kind of explanation.
April 1, 2018
delivers twelve brilliant lectures on what makes our universe so fascinating! I have 0 background in science (besides high school stuff... which doesn't really count) and I was immersed with this! I would highly recommend it!
December 19, 2016
Great lectures. Always something interesting, something seen from his inimitable point of view. Highly recommend!
October 5, 2017
This is a fun book, but it's a bit more basic than the other non-fiction books I've been listening to lately. (Example: it touches on some of the same things that Dr. Tyson talks about inAstrophysics for People in a Hurry, but in less detail and depth.) This is still worth listening to, just be aware that it's the equivalent of an entry-level lecture series as compared with some of the other Great Courses lecture series.
One pet peeve of mine: based on the pauses in Dr. Tyson's speech patterns, it sounds like this was intended to be seen as a video. I get annoyed when the same audio is used for audio and video without considering that the audio-only users will be missing the visual portion of the book.
One thing I particularly liked about this was the passion that Dr. Tyson has for his subject. (This makes sense, since it's about his favorite parts of the universe.) A lot of non-fiction books can get dry and confusing, but this one is good at speaking to the average listener. This does mean that if you already know about the subject, you might feel some of his descriptions are overly simplistic.Still, it's a fun listen, if more casual than many of the Great Courses lectures I've listened to.
One pet peeve of mine: based on the pauses in Dr. Tyson's speech patterns, it sounds like this was intended to be seen as a video. I get annoyed when the same audio is used for audio and video without considering that the audio-only users will be missing the visual portion of the book.
One thing I particularly liked about this was the passion that Dr. Tyson has for his subject. (This makes sense, since it's about his favorite parts of the universe.) A lot of non-fiction books can get dry and confusing, but this one is good at speaking to the average listener. This does mean that if you already know about the subject, you might feel some of his descriptions are overly simplistic.Still, it's a fun listen, if more casual than many of the Great Courses lectures I've listened to.
August 27, 2017
Neil deGrasse Tyson delivers twelve lectures on what makes our universe so fascinating, and in some ways so different from what we see with our naked eyes and common sense. He covers the probable origins of the universe, why things are, beyond a certain size, mostly round, the age of the universe, the discovery of planets outside our solar system, whether we're likely to find intelligent life, and the probable death of the universe, along with other topics that are more fascinating than we could have guessed.
And of course, Dr. Tyson is much more fascinating, educational, and entertaining on these topics than a mere fascinated listener can be. Go get a copy of this audio book and listen to it instead of reading what I have to say about it.
I bought this audiobook.
September 27, 2015
A series of lectures in Astrophysics was given by the gorgeous Neil deGrasse Tyson, He began with discussing how the same laws of physics discovered here on Earth reveal themselves elsewhere in the universe, then he discussed cosmic catastrophes including death by black holes, the death of the Sun, and killer asteroids, then he discussed Big Bang theory and the frontier of our understanding of the universe, then he finished his book with explaining the most exciting part for me which is the Search for Life in the Cosmos.
January 18, 2019
This is a very interesting tour through astrophysics.
April 29, 2019
Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. A very many great explanations to the world of astrophysics.
September 4, 2017
The Great Courses delivers again, featuring a series of Neil deGrasse Tyson lectures based on articles he published. Tyson's talks are readily accessible for the lay audience, simultaneously intellectually engaging, awe-inspiring, and entertaining.Basic fundamentals include density, quantum theory, gravity, and general relativity. He touches on chemistry, biology, and geology in order to supplement the astronomy lectures that tell a story from the Big Bang to the end of the universe, with a few black holes in the middle.
Tyson excels in communicating the big picture.
1. Earth's deepest sea and tallest mountain ranges are astonishing distances to us, but from a cosmic standpoint, they are miniscule. If a giant were to pick up the Earth as if it were a marble, the tallest mountain ridge would be smaller than the indentation of it's fingerprint. The Earth would feel as smooth as a ball bearing.
2. You have the same chance of dying in a plane crash as the entire world population of dying from an asteroid collision with the Earth. This is what keeps Tyson up at night.
3. The panorama of planets and stars revealed by the Hubble Space Telescope estimates that there are more Earth-like planets in the universe than there are grains of sand on all the beaches of Earth. Regardless, Tyson isn't worried about contact anytime soon.
These lectures are likely too simple for anyone familiar with basic scientific concepts. The chemistry covered includes that carbon is a "sticky" atom, capable of combining in more ways than all other elements, allowing for more combinations of molecules. In addition, the lectures lack the narrative structure of the finely honed works of Tyson today, especially his 2014 television series Cosmos.
Highly recommended for non-scientists looking for an engaging and accessible introduction to astrophysics!
readwellreviews.com
Tyson excels in communicating the big picture.
1. Earth's deepest sea and tallest mountain ranges are astonishing distances to us, but from a cosmic standpoint, they are miniscule. If a giant were to pick up the Earth as if it were a marble, the tallest mountain ridge would be smaller than the indentation of it's fingerprint. The Earth would feel as smooth as a ball bearing.
2. You have the same chance of dying in a plane crash as the entire world population of dying from an asteroid collision with the Earth. This is what keeps Tyson up at night.
3. The panorama of planets and stars revealed by the Hubble Space Telescope estimates that there are more Earth-like planets in the universe than there are grains of sand on all the beaches of Earth. Regardless, Tyson isn't worried about contact anytime soon.
These lectures are likely too simple for anyone familiar with basic scientific concepts. The chemistry covered includes that carbon is a "sticky" atom, capable of combining in more ways than all other elements, allowing for more combinations of molecules. In addition, the lectures lack the narrative structure of the finely honed works of Tyson today, especially his 2014 television series Cosmos.
Highly recommended for non-scientists looking for an engaging and accessible introduction to astrophysics!
readwellreviews.com
August 13, 2022
My Favorite Universe by Neil deGrasse Tyson is a good introduction to some major basic concepts of astrophysics in the popular science realm. His work here reminds me of his previous work on the Science Channel that I used to watch growing up, as well as a number of his lectures and talks that have been placed on YouTube.
For someone who has spent some amount of time on this in the past, this will probably come across as little more than a refresher. If you've spent any time studying astronomy and astrophysics beyond high school, even from the comfort of your own home, then this might not be worth your time. Because this is the first time I revisited the topic in any considerable way for the past half decade or so, I actually found this a joy to listen to.
Neil deGrasse Tyson is a very smart man, one that I used to look up to a great deal when I was younger. Here he is in his element, as most of the topics he discussed here are elaborations on articles he has written for various media publications and talks that he has given at the Hayden Planetarium. If you are unfamiliar with topic of astrophysics, then there's probably few ways to get started that are more accessible than this. There are no math equations, just ideas conveyed in a down to earth manner.
Score?
87/100 | B+
For someone who has spent some amount of time on this in the past, this will probably come across as little more than a refresher. If you've spent any time studying astronomy and astrophysics beyond high school, even from the comfort of your own home, then this might not be worth your time. Because this is the first time I revisited the topic in any considerable way for the past half decade or so, I actually found this a joy to listen to.
Neil deGrasse Tyson is a very smart man, one that I used to look up to a great deal when I was younger. Here he is in his element, as most of the topics he discussed here are elaborations on articles he has written for various media publications and talks that he has given at the Hayden Planetarium. If you are unfamiliar with topic of astrophysics, then there's probably few ways to get started that are more accessible than this. There are no math equations, just ideas conveyed in a down to earth manner.
Score?
87/100 | B+
March 29, 2016
"My Favorite Universe" is a 12-part series lectured by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson from whom I always expect something great, and most of the time, he never fails me. Speaking enthusiastically in the audio-lecture which I listened to, he provided me, the listener, with the beauty and awesomeness of the Universe, explaining each lectures with interestingly informative evidences and examples. Despite being recorded in 2002, the lecture, in my opinion, isn't exactly out of date, but it undeniably needs to be improved with newly discovered principles and discoveries. If you're experienced with astronomy already and want recent updates, I would not recommend this to you, but if you seek to improve your understanding of the old concepts of astronomy, science in general, I highly recommend it to you.
June 20, 2017
This was my first time trying out a Great Courses lecture series and it was AMAZING. This is 12 lectures from 2003 taught by Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson & he does a phenomenal job. I keep telling people all these interesting facts I've learned from this series. I have no background in astrophysics and wasn't sure I'd really "get" this stuff, but Dr. Tyson makes it so relatable in funny and "ah-ha!" ways. If you only watch one of these, watch his final lecture on life in the galaxy. He has the most hilarious comments while still succeeding at getting his sciencey points across. Plus some really really funny comments about media portrayals of aliens. He is so passionate about this entire subject that his whole series of lectures will entertain you & educate you on this huge universe that we live in. Plus, ask me how you'd die in a black hole, because now I know!
March 2, 2018
I loved "My Favorite Universe" because I've never taken an astrophysics or astronomy class, and love learning about the universe. I find that learning about the universe inspires great awe in me of how great God is and learning more about his creation and how it all happened. My favorite parts were learning how our universe formed, about thermo-nuclear fusion in stars, about black holes and why they're black, about neutron stars, and the big bang. This was an excellent, excellent course and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who has a fascination with the cosmos or a desire to learn and become fascinated with the cosmos.
June 4, 2018
(Great Course DVD) Very educational as well as entertaining look at some of Dr. Tyson’s favorite topics in astrophysics. Popular well known topics include black holes, the Big Bang Theory, new planets and the search for life elsewhere in the universe. The first topic, which is not often considered by the general public, is an important basic feature of our universe. Why do so many objects tend to roundness? Dr. Tyson does a great job of explaining everything using a vocabulary and style that could be grasped by anyone interested, even if he or she is not a scientist. I will be trying more of his courses and reading his books.
January 29, 2018
4.5 stars!
Really enjoyed this audiobook! It was extremely fascinating and awe-inspiring to begin to understand the intricacies of this beautiful existence we belong to. N'dGT (as I lovingly refer to Neil deGrasse Tyson 😁), did a great job making this subject very palatable and easy to grasp. Took off half a star for what I personally saw as some contradictory opinions that he presented, but otherwise this was great and I'm looking forward to reading "Astrophysics For People In A Hurry" very soon!
Really enjoyed this audiobook! It was extremely fascinating and awe-inspiring to begin to understand the intricacies of this beautiful existence we belong to. N'dGT (as I lovingly refer to Neil deGrasse Tyson 😁), did a great job making this subject very palatable and easy to grasp. Took off half a star for what I personally saw as some contradictory opinions that he presented, but otherwise this was great and I'm looking forward to reading "Astrophysics For People In A Hurry" very soon!
May 18, 2018
Astro-physicist Neil de Grasse Tyson in an entertaining and relatively understandable series of 12 lectures takes the reader / listener on a trip through the universe from the beginning of time to the end of everything.
Black holes, the big bang, red giants, super novas, planet killing asteroids -- they are all here -- along with a wry and sometimes corny sense of humor. If you have an interest in the real science of everything from the size of the universe and what may lay beyond, to the powers of the inside of the atom, this is a MUST READ.
Black holes, the big bang, red giants, super novas, planet killing asteroids -- they are all here -- along with a wry and sometimes corny sense of humor. If you have an interest in the real science of everything from the size of the universe and what may lay beyond, to the powers of the inside of the atom, this is a MUST READ.
May 13, 2016
A very easy, engaging, and entertaining story about the universe and life, including our species, rich in new scientific findings up to year ~2000.
February 17, 2017
It is OK. A set of 12 lectures about our universe. Mostly, well known information but with some newish info available in the last few lectures. Light and easy, nice to spend some time.
August 27, 2017
Good overview of everything in the cosmos from the Big Bang to the end of time...or should that be space-time?
October 14, 2019
I bought this one quite a while ago and only just go around to listening to it. I've heard that NdGT is a jerk and/or hard to work with? I'm not online enough to have seen anything first hand, so that might be wrong.
He's a good lecturer. His lectures are interesting, funny, and accessible even to someone like me who is bad at math and didn't take a lot of science. Some of them I didn't get much out of, but others were really illuminating.
He's a good lecturer. His lectures are interesting, funny, and accessible even to someone like me who is bad at math and didn't take a lot of science. Some of them I didn't get much out of, but others were really illuminating.
December 20, 2022
It feels ironic giving this only five stars when the author goes out of his way to emphasise just how many stars there are in the known universe!
In true Neil deGrasse Tyson style, this book was intriguing, inspiring, and challenging all while being funny and relevant. Not an easy task for a book about astrophysics I think�
In true Neil deGrasse Tyson style, this book was intriguing, inspiring, and challenging all while being funny and relevant. Not an easy task for a book about astrophysics I think�
January 3, 2025
Really enjoyed this! I love the structure of the 12 lectures, they flow really nicely. Once again, super fan of NDT’s voice and his style of communicating super complex subjects. Did I understand everything? Not yet, but he’s got me interested enough to keep learning!
July 17, 2021
Interesting course on the universe.
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