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The Little Book of Stars (Little Book Series)
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Product Description
Looking up on a clear night at the starry sky is one of our most sublime experiences. We ascribe great powers to the stars, from the myths of the ancient constellations to modern-day horoscopes, and in everything from our luck to our romantic lives, yet most of us know little more about stars than the fact that they are incomprehensibly large balls of incomprehensibly hot gas at incomprehensible distances.
The Little Book of Stars answers, in the clearest language, the questions anyone might have about our heavenly canopy. How are stars born? How do they die? Why do they shine? How long do they shine? Is our star, the Sun, dying? What are dwarves, super giants, and black holes? Cepheids and Miras? How can you tell time from the stars? Or navigate? What are the measures of stars? Can we ever travel to other stars?
In this engagingly written and concise book, the second in the Little Book series, noted astronomer James B. Kaler shows us "the significance that the stars have had in human life, how we have used them to tell our stories, and how we use them to find who and where we are."
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #1547525 in Books
- Published on: 2000-10-15
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Binding: Hardcover
- 192 pages
Editorial Reviews
Review
...a superbly written and presented introduction to neophyte astronomers and the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the nature of stars. -- The Midwest Book Review/Bookwatch, February 2001
...packed with accurate yet easy-to-digest scientific information.... Almost every page is beautifully written, with text that sometimes verges on the poetic. -- Physics World, February 2001
...this pocket-size book [explains] how stars live such long lives, what makes them shine, and how they relate to life on Earth. -- Science News, February 10, 2001
From the reviews:
"…Everything a popular science book should be…it is a delight to read and is packed with accurate yet easy-to-digest scientific information." Physics World
Astronomer Kaler gives a whirlwind tour of the universe replete with diagrams and stellar images. -- Discover Magazine, March 2001
About the Author
James B. Kaler is a Professor in the Department of Astronomy at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He is a professional astronomer with a long specialization in stars, and successful author of numerous books on the subject.
Customer Reviews
A superbly written and presented introduction
The Little Book Of Stars shows how modern astronomers came to understand how stars work, how they congregate, the immense variety of stars (some as small as a city, others vast enough to swallow up our solar system), and the astounding variations in temperature and brightness. Professor of Astronomy at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, James Kaler reveals the extraordinary physical forces that are involved with the birth, growth cycle, and death of stars. A constant reference throughout this informative little volume references our own Sun and solar system. The Little Book Of Stars is a superbly written and presented introduction to neophyte astronomers and the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the nature of stars.
Another Winner From Kaler!
This is Kaler's 3rd book that I have read cover to cover. I have about 25 Astronomy books, but I think I have learned the most about astrophysics, star development, star chemistry, and star death from this little, inexpensive book. The illustrations are sparse and in black and white, but the text is so readable, in-depth, and interesting, that this 37-year-old former Psychology major was enthralled through the entire 180 pages. A good companion to his "The Hundred Greatest Stars" (still my favorite).
Could have been an excellent book, but ...
...the author all too often chose an awkward and cumbersome writing style. This is a real shame because it spoiled what otherwise would have been an great book. Where were the editors? I did not finish this book and I do not recommend it to anyone. I wish the author could rewrite it, removing the awkward style.
