Hayden Planetarium (2018). "Astrophysics for People in a Hurry". INDEPENDENT PUBLISHERS SINCE 1923. W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. The cosmic perspective reminds us that in space, where there is no air, a flag will not wave, an indication that perhaps flag-waving and space exploration do not mix.

The style is vintage Tyson – engaging, chatty and littered with historical and linguistic anecdotes..." — Times Higher Education Astrophysics seeks to understand the origin, evolution, structure, and behavior of the universe based on physical laws. Then, the Skittles become overwhelming, as more and more try to force themselves in, and millions and millions puddle around your feet, piling up past your knees. The primates branched out of these mammals, and then – in the last 10,000 years – “a single branch of these primates would develop a genetic mutation that allowed speech, and that branch – Homo Sapiens – would invent agriculture and civilization and philosophy and art and science.” The cosmic perspective opens our minds to extraordinary ideas but does not leave them so open that our brains spill out, making us susceptible to believing anything we're told.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. No, I had to take it in bits and pieces, and feel that I enjoyed it more that way. Some of the things said challenged my world/universe view a bit, and I found it helpful to just have time to ponder and be wowed by the universe. He concludes, “The day our knowledge of the cosmos ceases to expand, we risk regressing to the childish view that the universe figuratively and literally revolves around us. In that bleak world, arms-bearing, resource-hungry people and nations would be prone to act on their ‘low contracted prejudices.’ And that would be the last gasp of a visionary new culture that could once again embrace, rather than fear, the cosmic perspective.” (Pg. 208) Astronomy is the empirical branch of science that plays a vital role in our life. The author tells us the reason why astronomy is very important. People who believe they are ignorant of nothing have neither looked for, nor stumbled upon, the boundary between what is known and unknown in the universe.”

What is the nature of space and time? How do we fit within the universe? How does the universe fit within us? There’s no better guide through these mind-expanding questions than acclaimed astrophysicist and bestselling author Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Social Media

Neil DeGrasse Tyson, an American astrophysicist, is the Director of the Hayden Planetarium, and the host of 'Star Talk' and 'Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey.' Tyson is also a very funny guy, and his sense of p. 31 - He uses this idea and then gets philosophical in a cool way. Like science can figure out the beginning of the universe, but before that, it's tough. Then he goes on and is like: "scientists have to admit what we don't know all the time. People who believe they know everything have neither looked for, nor stumbled upon, the boundary between what is known and what is unknown in the universe." Deep. YES!! I learned so much the first go around, but even then I had to have him repeat things a few times for me to fully grasp some of the concepts. So I would most definitely listen to it again, because I believe their would be something new to takeaway each time, whether it be knowledge or perspective. I just wish he would leave his political and social agenda out of his scientific presentation. I loved the facts he is an expert with, but I could do without the politics and social theory about which, in my opinion, he has no special knowledge to share. Let's just focus on the matter and energy, please! Tyson is brilliant, but some things in this world are truly subjective. And that’s where things get even more interesting: during this time, humanity – basically “stardust brought to life” – has discovered numerous physical laws and has devised hundreds of theories to explain their origin and meaning.