Coming of Age in the Milky Way
by Timothy Ferris
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Book Summary Information
Author: Timothy FerrisEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2003-07-29
ISBN: 0060535954
Number of pages: 512
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Book Reviews of Coming of Age in the Milky Way
Book Review: Could become one of the classics
Summary: 5 Stars
Timothy Ferris is a well-known and unusually gifted non-fiction writer dealing in astronomy. This book, The Coming of Age in the Milky Way, is the book that earned him his famous name.
The problem with so many non-fiction books dealing in the so-called "hard sciences" is that the fields change so rapidly that the works very quickly become obsolete. One need look no further than Cosmos by Carl Sagan and even A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking to realize how quickly cutting edge theory becomes yesterday's news. This book is different. Coming of Age is a classic that will withstand the obsolescence of many other books because, rather than promulgating unified theories and multi-universe dimensions, it instead takes an historical approach. It is quite literally the human race coming of age in the field of astronomy beginning with the ancient peoples and the first notions of a round earth, through the classic Greek and Arabian astronomers, through the dark ages to Galileo, Copernicus, and Newton; following through with Einstein and finally the quantum-state theories we have today.
Rather than a boring litany of discoveries that one might find in an encyclopedia, Ferris makes his book a rousing discussion of scientists flailing at the unknown and chronicling in detail all the misunderstandings and missteps taken in the drunken, ambling path of cosmic discovery. It's that fallibility in understanding matched with the insatiable curiosity of the human race that makes the work so enlivening and so breathtaking. It becomes impossible not to become entranced with this brotherhood spanning so many ages seeking no more than a deeper understanding of the stars. For many, it will become an historical study in how people think and even why people reach to discover.
For anyone who has never heard of Timothy Ferris, this is a terrific book in which to begin.
More importantly, for the science-fiction fan who becomes impatient with non-fiction material, Coming of Age reads as quickly and as exciting as any well-written novel in the speculative fiction field. Even better, it provides a solid basis of understanding in physics, astronomy, cosmology, and even some philosophy by the end of the book. Because it's historical, it treats much more the mentality of discovery and tracing the paths of the human race than trying to commit to future theories and, as such, should earn a place in the historical annals many decades from today just as Herodotus and Thucydides are still read today as studies in classical history. It is the one non-fiction book that any strong adherent of science-fiction must read in order to bring new life to their own curiosity and imagination while grounding them firmly in reality.
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Summary of Coming of Age in the Milky Way
From the second-century celestial models of Ptolemy to modern-day research institutes and quantum theory, this classic book offers a breathtaking tour of astronomy and the brilliant, eccentric personalities who have shaped it. From the first time mankind had an inkling of the vast space that surrounds us, those who study the universe have had to struggle against political and religious preconceptions. They have included some of the most charismatic, courageous, and idiosyncratic thinkers of all time. In Coming of Age in the Milky Way, Timothy Ferris uses his unique blend of rigorous research and captivating narrative skill to draw us into the lives and minds of these extraordinary figures, creating a landmark work of scientific history.
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