Letters from an Astrophysicist

September 15, 2019
Tyson (Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, 2017, etc.) receives a great deal of mail, and this slim volume collects his responses and other scraps of writing. The prolific science commentator and bestselling author, an astrophysicist at the American Museum of Natural History, delivers few surprises and much admirable commentary. Readers may suspect that most of these letters date from the author's earlier years when, a newly minted celebrity, he still thrilled that many of his audience were pouring out their hearts. Consequently, unlike more hardened colleagues, he sought to address their concerns. As years passed, suspecting that many had no interest in tapping his expertise or entering into an intelligent give and take, he undoubtedly made greater use of the waste basket. Tyson eschews pure fan letters, but many of these selections are full of compliments as a prelude to asking advice, pointing out mistakes, proclaiming opposing beliefs, or denouncing him. Readers will also encounter some earnest op-ed pieces and his eyewitness account of 9/11. "I consider myself emotionally strong," he writes. "What I bore witness to, however, was especially upsetting, with indelible images of horror that will not soon leave my mind." To crackpots, he gently repeats facts that almost everyone except crackpots accept. Those who have seen ghosts, dead relatives, and Bigfoot learn that eyewitness accounts are often unreliable. Tyson points out that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, so confirmation that a light in the sky represents an alien spacecraft requires more than a photograph. Again and again he defends "science," and his criteria--observation, repeatable experiments, honest discourse, peer review--are not controversial but will remain easy for zealots to dismiss. Among the instances of "hate mail" and "science deniers," the author also discusses philosophy, parenting, and schooling. A media-savvy scientist cleans out his desk.

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Starred review from October 1, 2019
Astrophysicist and ebullient educator Tyson is back with another scintillating compendium of science topics illuminated in correspondence received over two decades. Think of it as a scientific Dear Abby advice column that talks about black holes, extraterrestrial sightings, and human predicaments. The 101 letters are organized in four sections that address the ethos (the spirit of a culture), pathos (the emotions), kairos (the favorable moment for an action) and, of course, cosmos (the universe). Tyson is nothing but consistent in his responses as he allows science to reveal the truth, however astonishing and difficult to believe it may be. Readers who bring up religion, conspiracies, and unprovable propositions are presented with a variety of analogies and indisputable facts in Tyson's signature matter-of-fact manner. That, combined with the accessibility of the letters, encourage further exploration into a lively variety of subjects, including evolution, aliens, life's purpose, making mistakes, and science's utility. An account of what happened during 9/11 and a eulogy to his dad reveals a side to Tyson that readers don't often get to see. Tyson's latest is a stimulating companion to his Astrophysics For People in a Hurry (2017) and both are recommended for inspiring readers wary of science to give it a chance.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)