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Coming of Age in the Milky Way
by Timothy Ferris
Product Group: Book
Publisher: William Morrow & Co (1988-07)
ISBN: 0688058892
EAN: 9780688058890
Dewey Decimal #: 509
Hardcover: 495 pages
Edition: 1st
SKU: 20057
Condition: Used: Like New
Comments: Paperback. Book pages clean and crisp with no markings.
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
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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Customer Reviews
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Well...
Rating  (3)
Date: 2008-10-15
There are a lot of glowing reviews here and it feels strange to be the one dissenting voice, but let me explain. First, let's agree this book is for the layperson, not the Physics or Astronomy major, but for the person who simply likes science very much. I work in the auto repair business, but I've always loved science yet have no education in that field. I bought this on the strength of Ferris' DVD's which I've seen 2 of (Life Beyond Earth and Seeing in the Dark), and let me say they were very good (esp. the former).
The majority of this book is good. Tim elaborates on some very interesting details I have not heard before, and in a humorous/interesting way, such as Kepler's letter begging Galileo to borrow his telescope, or the details of Aristarchus's sun-centered universe's only evidence in one of the letters of Archimedes. Carl Sagan in "Cosmos" talks of Aristarchus quite a bit, but he never mentions this information, which prove very interesting.
However, most of this book is a basic re-telling of how mankind learned of his/her place in the universe (as the title says!), BUT this has been done much better by Sagan in the forementioned "Cosmos." Sagan makes the subject come to life much more, shows much more enthusiasm in explaining things. Ferris has a bit of a dry way about him (which was evident in the DVD's), but he's good. He's just not Sagan. Let me also say that Bill Bryson in a "Short History of nearly Everything" gets much more technical than Ferris (in the quantum physics section), BUT again, Bryson does it with more interest than Ferris. I couldn't understand most of that section (Bryson uses the "X-Files" as an example!), but in Bryson's book I WANTED to keep reading and try to understand, with Ferris, after about 5 pages of the "Symmetry" section, I gave up.
I picked up the hardback "Cosmos" when I was 9 years old. Yeah, nine. I read it and although there were vocabulary problems, I "got it." This is not to brag how clever I was, but rather that Sagan does a much better job of "bringing you in" to the subject. The Bryson book is definitely too much for a 9 year old, but when I read that in my 30's I was still "taken in."
If you read my other reviews you will see I love classical music. In music, there's the saying that it's "more than just the notes on the score." In this book, you get the written notes, not the alive, performing symphony. Tim Ferris' book is good... but well, there are better ones to draw you into the world of science.
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Coming of age in the milky way
Rating  (5)
Date: 2007-10-25
0 out of 3 customers found this reveiw helpful
This is a good book. I don't agree with all it says but that is ok it still has a lot of thought provoking information
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Coming of Age in the Milky Way Rocks
Rating (5)
Date: 2007-09-28
1 out of 1 customers found this reveiw helpful
This book is a great resource for any astronomy lover who wants to know more about the background and history of astronomy. It has lots of information on historical people in astronomy as well as great stories about their discoveries. Great book, must have for history of astronomy.
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Jerry's
Rating (5)
Date: 2007-05-14
1 out of 1 customers found this reveiw helpful
Excellent chronology of physics from Aristotle to the present. I will use it as a reference. Excellent index and other aids to finding what you want in physics and other sciences.
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"Cosmic"
Rating (5)
Date: 2006-11-21
5 out of 5 customers found this reveiw helpful
What a story! And yes, I said story because the author has taken subjects most of us take for granted (the size of the heavens, the age of the Earth, the intricacies of the atom) and turned these into a wonderful almost joyous tale of intellectual achievement. I am still stunned at the depth of scholarship, the vast research and the almost magical manner in which Ferris manages to make what appears to be an arcane dry topic into an intriguing saga.
Ok, I admit it. I love science books written for the educated layman - from "The Singularity is Near " to "Wonderful Life" to the philosophical tomes of Pagels and Hardison. But this is more than science - it is also a history of who we are and our physical, mental and dare I say it, spiritual evolution. In this sense it reminds one of "The Discoverers" by Boorstin with its chronological structure, emphasis upon individual genius and captivating storyline. Beginning with the ancients, we see how our ideas fashion our intellectual quests. The overwhelming success of Western culture depended on our ability to break with age-old traditions, to absorb ideas from the outside and most importantly, to challenge the traditional religious beliefs. Very few cultures have been able to accomplish this and their lack of scientific prowess is evidence.
The individual tales could occupy a volume themselves - mind-boggling examples of thought that are so rare we have trouble believing them. Not only are Darwin (Evolution challenged the prevailing age of the Earth) and Newton (the greatest human who ever lived?) are found but all the unknown heroes of the ages are given their due. The author has an uncanny way of simplifying tremendously dense concepts into language for the layman. This was never truer than his discussion on the weird world of quantum physics with its seemingly magical and nonsensical qualities. I would say that this should be required reading for all high school graduates except that a vast number would be bewildered by the concepts presented, unaware that science has a history of more than video games and cars. My grade - A+++
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