Review: "Astrophysics for People in a Hurry" by Neil deGrasse Tyson

If you pick up a book that says in the title it’s for people in a hurry and are expecting a deep exploration of the subject, then you’re probably missing the point. That is certainly the case with Neil deGrasse Tyson’s book “Astrophysics for People in a Hurry.” It’s a well written book that really is designed for someone who wants to know the basics of astrophysics but also doesn’t have the interest or time to spend on a tome of a book.

I suspect many of the people who pick up this book are already interested in Astrophysics. So, they have watched Cosmos or read other books and so know most of what is in “Astrophysics for People in a Hurry” by Neil deGrasse Tyson. That can make it a less enjoyable experience.

Where the book rises above its short length is when Neil begins to discuss the less scientific aspects of astrophysics and gets into what it means and the philosophy. The reminder of how small the world is and the pale blue dot is something that I need to be reminded of from time to time.

Still, this is by definition a book for people in a hurry. Though it’s not said that seems to mean people with barely a passing knowledge of astrophysics. If you don’t know the difference between a solar system and a galaxy and you do not know how atoms are formed, then this book will probably be a revelation for you. If you already understand how we discover exo-solar planets by the wobbling of the stars that they are in a cosmic dance with or know what a LaGrange point is, then this really isn’t written for you.

There is a value in people learning the basics of a subject. I think the world would be a much better place if people showed more intellectual curiosity. So I would discourage no one from picking up a book like “Astrophysics for People in a Hurry,” by Neil deGrasse Tyson. As it says in the introduction, if you listen carefully to this book, you’re ready to have a basic discussion of the universe. You’re also ready to spend a weekend laying on a couch thinking about how we’re all stardust. It’s also a great book for someone younger who may want to go far deeper into the subject but needs the foundation laid. For others, swing by the library, flip to the last couple of chapters, be reminded why you like both science and Neil deGrasse Tyson then put it back on the self for someone. You need something a bit more meaty, like “A Brief History of Time” by Stephen Hawkins.