A renowned German astrophysicist digs into the awesome mystery of black holes.
Falcke—who captured the first photographic evidence of black holes, an incredible breakthrough—explains what we know about these captivating entities and discusses their historic, scientific, and spiritual significance. Black holes, voracious and enigmatic, have long held humanity’s attention, even before there was proof positive of their existence. “Gravity monster, cosmic feeding machine, hellish abyss: no superlative is big enough to describe a black hole,” writes Falcke, whose accessible prose and genuine wonder make for consistently enjoyable reading. “Black holes are the dinosaurs of astrophysics, as popular as the Tyrannosaurus rex, despite or even precisely because of their fearful reputation.” The unique physical properties of black holes have launched innumerable thought experiments and continue to push the boundaries of physics. Merging crisp science writing with personal memoir, the author surveys astronomy, past and present. “Galaxies tell us of the beginning of space and time, the Big Bang,” he writes. “Black holes represent the end of time.” Falcke, a self-described man of faith as well as an expert in modern physics, argues that black holes—and the ability to capture them on film—offer endless opportunities for introspection: “What comes together in the image, then, is the entire history of physics and astronomy’s development, plus emotion, mythical excess, intelligent silence, the act of gazing up at the stars, the measurement of the Earth and of space, the understanding of space and time, the most advanced technology, global collaboration, human tension, the fear of being lost, and the hope for something fully new.” This vital insight reflects a recurring theme: what it means to be human in the pursuit of mind-bending scientific knowledge.
A compelling insider’s look at an ongoing investigative journey.Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-06-302005-4
Page Count: 368
Publisher: HarperOne
Review Posted Online: March 24, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2021
Categories: BODY, MIND & SPIRIT | SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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A conversational, pleasurable look into McConaughey’s life and thought.
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All right, all right, all right: The affable, laconic actor delivers a combination of memoir and self-help book.
“This is an approach book,” writes McConaughey, adding that it contains “philosophies that can be objectively understood, and if you choose, subjectively adopted, by either changing your reality, or changing how you see it. This is a playbook, based on adventures in my life.” Some of those philosophies come in the form of apothegms: “When you can design your own weather, blow in the breeze”; “Simplify, focus, conserve to liberate.” Others come in the form of sometimes rambling stories that never take the shortest route from point A to point B, as when he recounts a dream-spurred, challenging visit to the Malian musician Ali Farka Touré, who offered a significant lesson in how disagreement can be expressed politely and without rancor. Fans of McConaughey will enjoy his memories—which line up squarely with other accounts in Melissa Maerz’s recent oral history, Alright, Alright, Alright—of his debut in Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused, to which he contributed not just that signature phrase, but also a kind of too-cool-for-school hipness that dissolves a bit upon realizing that he’s an older guy on the prowl for teenage girls. McConaughey’s prep to settle into the role of Wooderson involved inhabiting the mind of a dude who digs cars, rock ’n’ roll, and “chicks,” and he ran with it, reminding readers that the film originally had only three scripted scenes for his character. The lesson: “Do one thing well, then another. Once, then once more.” It’s clear that the author is a thoughtful man, even an intellectual of sorts, though without the earnestness of Ethan Hawke or James Franco. Though some of the sentiments are greeting card–ish, this book is entertaining and full of good lessons.
A conversational, pleasurable look into McConaughey’s life and thought.Pub Date: Oct. 20, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-593-13913-4
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Crown
Review Posted Online: Oct. 27, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2020
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Fans will find comfort in Lawson’s dependably winning mix of shameless irreverence, wicked humor, and vulnerability.
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The Bloggess is back to survey the hazards and hilarity of imperfection.
Lawson is a wanderer. Whether on her award-winning blog or in the pages of her bestselling books, she reliably takes readers to places they weren’t even aware they wanted to go—e.g., shopping for dog condoms or witnessing what appears to be a satanic ritual. Longtime fans of the author’s prose know that the destinations really aren’t the point; it’s the laugh-out-loud, tears-streaming-down-your-face journeys that make her writing so irresistible. This book is another solid collection of humorous musings on everyday life, or at least the life of a self-described “super introvert” who has a fantastic imagination and dozens of chosen spirit animals. While Furiously Happy centered on the idea of making good mental health days exceptionally good, her latest celebrates the notion that being broken is beautiful—or at least nothing to be ashamed of. “I have managed to fuck shit up in shockingly impressive ways and still be considered a fairly acceptable person,” writes Lawson, who has made something of an art form out of awkward confessionals. For example, she chronicles a mix-up at the post office that left her with a “big ol’ sack filled with a dozen small squishy penises [with] smiley faces painted on them.” It’s not all laughs, though, as the author addresses her ongoing battle with both physical and mental illness, including a trial of transcranial magnetic stimulation, a relatively new therapy for people who suffer from treatment-resistant depression. The author’s colloquial narrative style may not suit the linear-narrative crowd, but this isn’t for them. “What we really want,” she writes, “is to know we’re not alone in our terribleness….Human foibles are what make us us, and the art of mortification is what brings us all together.” The material is fresh, but the scaffolding is the same.
Fans will find comfort in Lawson’s dependably winning mix of shameless irreverence, wicked humor, and vulnerability.Pub Date: April 6, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-07703-5
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: Jan. 27, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2021
Categories: BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR | GENERAL BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR | PSYCHOLOGY | HEALTH & FITNESS | BODY, MIND & SPIRIT
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