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Some
reviews and reader comments.
Review
by Sky and Telescope Magazine
--
"...It's a fun science guide doused with wit and skepticism
that will ignite your mind...Odenwald not only sets a comfortable
conversational tone; he adds a sense of humanity that some
science books tend to omit...In particular, I enjoyed his
Cosmic Timeline... The answers are delivered with an elegant
air of wisdom, rather than appearing condescending - hence
every question seems OK to ask...On the web or in his books,
Odenwald has proved that he is capable of answering those
questions and leading the public to a better understanding
of astronomical discoveries." [Lisa Renee Johnston -
February 2004]
Review
by New Scientist
-- "Did you know that if a marshmallow hit the Earth
at 99.99% the speed of light it would leave a crater several
miles across? Nor did I, but this is only one of 365 unusual
and popular topics addressed by NASA astronomer Sten Odenwald.
You'll find Back to the Astronomy Cafe is a fascinating lucky-dip
of astronomical answers" [Marcus Chown - December 2003]
Review
by www.astronomy.net
--"Here
is an affordable book containing answers to many questions
concerning astronomy. This will become your most earmarked
book. Why do bones become brittle in space? Where does Space
end? What is a gamma-Ray burst? On which planets would it
be possible to live? Is the Sun shrinking in size by 200 miles
per year? Pretty much near the Genesis of the modern Internet,
Sten Odenwald has set out to help folks with questions about
Astronomy by actually answering them. This book is the next
in a series of common questions he has taken the time to answer
in years past. The book is divided in sections including "The
Sun - our Day Star," "The Universe - All that was,
is or will be," "The Earth and Moon - Our Cosmic
Home" and my favorite "The Unthinkable - Questions
no one ever thought to Ask." Also included is a nice
glossary of astronomy terms. However, my favorite section
is the Tables, with "The Cosmic Time line" my most
earmarked section. It takes you from just after the Big Bang
to 10 to the 10 to the 26 years in the future spanning 12
pages. If you are looking for a unique thing to give your
astronomer friend, this may prove to be a sitting room classic.
This paperback book will be the most twisted looking thing
you have because you will have a hard time putting it down.
Get yourself a copy and give one to your astronomy friend.
" [John Huggins - December 2003]
From
Publishers Weekly
--"Meticulously researched by the education and public
outreach manager for the NASA IMAGE satellite program, this
question-and-answer book of astronomy, complete with pictures,
timetables and a "glossary of annoying terms," provides
explanations for many phenomena regarding the sun, moon, Earth
and beyond. Odenwald occasionally waxes poetic, writing, for
instance, that our world is "a cosmos where every shining
star sports a discoverable retinue of worlds to explore."
The well-informed amateur will reap much informative detail
from this follow-up to the author's original The Astronomy
Cafe, based on his popular Web site, but those who are getting
their feet wet for the first time may feel that the explanations
assume too much prior knowledge. "
A
science teacher's new best friend --
"Teaching astronomy is not easy when you know nothing.
This book asks all the questions I have and my students have.
It has fairly technical language for my 7th graders, but I
can get the main ideas and relay them. How old is the solar
system? (I forget) Will the sun go super nova? (no) There
is an awesome time line which goes way back, and then tracks
events predicted by science fiction authors. (fun!) There
is an excellent website too, but I had to buy the book because
the web site wouldn't give all the answers - it said to buy
the book! I did and I am not sorry. (January 9 ,2007, Julie
Darby "avid reader" , St. Louis, MO)
All
kinds of astronomy questions answered.--"Due
to the fact that this book is written in a question and answer
format, its easy to read a little at a time as your schedule
allows. It covers a broad range of topics related to astronomy
with very understandable answers. The author isn't afraid
to admit that scientist often don't know the answers. This
type of honesty is refreshing in that you feel you are being
leveled with as opposed to being given an answer that is intentionally
over the layman's head to avoid admitting ignorance. On the
other hand, sometimes the author presents theories as if they
are established facts. I think that a lot of scientist do
this (perhaps unintentionally) because they are putting forth
the explanation that is dogma in the scientific community
and forget to remind the reader that other possibilities may
exist. Overall, this is a great book and is certainly worth
your time. (Amazon.com Reviewer, February 26, 2004)
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