
Death by Black Hole
And Other Cosmic Quandaries
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Narrated by:
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Dion Graham
About this listen
“[Tyson] tackles a great range of subjects…with great humor, humility, and—most important—humanity.” —Entertainment Weekly
Neil deGrasse Tyson has a talent for guiding readers through the mysteries of outer space with stunning clarity and almost childlike enthusiasm. Here, Tyson compiles his favorite essays that he wrote for Natural History magazine across a myriad of cosmic topics, from astral life at the frontiers of astrobiology to the movie industry’s feeble efforts to get its night skies right.
Tyson introduces us to the physics of black holes by explaining the gory details of what would happen to our bodies if we fell into one, examining the needless friction between science and religion in the context of historical conflicts, and noting Earth’s progression to “an insignificantly small speck in the cosmos.”
Renowned for his ability to blend content, accessibility, and humor, Tyson is a natural teacher who simplifies some of the most complex concepts in astrophysics while sharing his infectious excitement for our universe.
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Critic reviews
"Tyson takes readers on an exciting journey from Earth's hot springs...to the universe's farthest reaches....witty and entertaining." (Publishers Weekly)
"Smoothly entertaining, full of fascinating tidbits, and frequently humorous, these essays show Tyson as one of today's best popularizers of science." (Kirkus Reviews)
"[Tyson] demonstrates a good feel for explaining science in an intelligible way to interested lay readers; his rather rakish sense of humor should aid in making the book enjoyable." (Library Journal)
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Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
- By: Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Narrated by: Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Length: 3 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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What is the nature of space and time? How do we fit within the universe? How does the universe fit within us? There's no better guide through these mind-expanding questions than acclaimed astrophysicist and best-selling author Neil deGrasse Tyson. But today, few of us have time to contemplate the cosmos. So Tyson brings the universe down to Earth succinctly and clearly, with sparkling wit, in digestible chapters consumable anytime and anywhere in your busy day.
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Disappointing - not much physics
- By Rob Hahn on 07-15-17
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A Brief Welcome to the Universe
- A Pocket-Sized Tour
- By: Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michael A. Strauss, J. Richard Gott
- Narrated by: Neil Hellegers
- Length: 4 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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A Brief Welcome to the Universe offers a breathtaking tour of the cosmos, from planets, stars, and galaxies to black holes and time loops. Best-selling authors and acclaimed astrophysicists Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michael A. Strauss, and J. Richard Gott take listeners on an unforgettable journey of exploration to reveal how our universe actually works. Propelling you from our home solar system to the outermost frontiers of space, this book builds your cosmic insight and perspective through a marvelously entertaining narrative.
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A brief welcome for everyone
- By Ashley F on 08-24-24
By: Neil deGrasse Tyson, and others
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Merlin’s Tour of the Universe, Revised and Updated for the Twenty-First Century
- A Traveler’s Guide to Blue Moons and Black Holes, Mars, Stars, and Everything Far
- By: Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Narrated by: Jim Meskimen, André Santana, Bronson Pinchot, and others
- Length: 4 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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In Neil deGrasse Tyson’s delightful journey through the cosmos, his fictional character Merlin responds to popular questions asked by adults and children alike. Merlin, a timeless visitor from Planet Omniscia in the Andromeda Galaxy, has observed firsthand many of the major scientific events of Earth’s history.
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Learning to love Space
- By Tara Nichol on 02-15-25
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Astrophysics for Young People in a Hurry
- By: Gregory Mone, Gabrielle de Cuir, Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Narrated by: LeVar Burton
- Length: 3 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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Neil deGrasse Tyson's number-one New York Times best-selling guide to the cosmos, adapted for young listeners. From the basics of physics to big questions about the nature of space and time, celebrated astrophysicist and science communicator Neil deGrasse Tyson breaks down the mysteries of the cosmos into bite-sized pieces.
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Fantastic and educational
- By Katie and Nik on 04-16-19
By: Gregory Mone, and others
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Welcome to the Universe
- An Astrophysical Tour
- By: Michael A. Strauss, J. Richard Gott, Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Narrated by: Michael Butler Murray
- Length: 17 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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Welcome to the Universe is a personal guided tour of the cosmos by three of today's leading astrophysicists. Inspired by the enormously popular introductory astronomy course that Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michael A. Strauss, and J. Richard Gott taught together at Princeton, this book covers it all - from planets, stars, and galaxies to black holes, wormholes, and time travel.
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All About What We Know About the Universe - ALL
- By J.B. on 02-17-17
By: Michael A. Strauss, and others
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Black Holes
- The Key to Understanding the Universe
- By: Brian Cox, Jeff Forshaw
- Narrated by: Jeff Forshaw
- Length: 7 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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By the star physicist and author of multiple #1 Sunday Times bestsellers, a major and definitive narrative work on black holes and how they can help us understand the universe.
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not really a good audio book for active listeners
- By D Co on 05-27-24
By: Brian Cox, and others
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The Pluto Files
- The Rise and Fall of America's Favorite Planet
- By: Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Narrated by: Mirron Willis
- Length: 4 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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In August 2006, the International Astronomical Union voted Pluto out of planethood. Far from the sun, tiny, and eccentric in orbit, it's a wonder Pluto has any fans. Yet during the mounting debate over Pluto's status, Americans rallied behind the extraterrestrial underdog.
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A Great Value
- By Lauffeuer on 02-01-09
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The Planets
- By: Professor Brian Cox, Andrew Cohen
- Narrated by: Samuel West
- Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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Mercury, a lifeless victim of the Sun’s expanding power. Venus, once thought to be lush and fertile, now known to be trapped within a toxic and boiling atmosphere. Mars, the red planet, doomed by the loss of its atmosphere. Jupiter, twice the size of all the other planets combined, but insubstantial. Saturn, a stunning celestial beauty, the jewel of our Solar System. Uranus, the sideways planet and the first ice giant. Neptune, dark, cold and whipped by supersonic winds. Pluto, the dwarf planet, a frozen rock.
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baroque and flowery verbiage
- By Chris on 01-14-20
By: Professor Brian Cox, and others
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Cosmos: Possible Worlds
- By: Ann Druyan
- Narrated by: Ann Druyan, Jennice Ontiveros
- Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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This new and long-awaited sequel to Carl Sagan's international best seller continues the electrifying journey through space and time, linking worlds within and worlds billions of miles away and envisioning a future of science tempered with wisdom. Based on National Geographic's internationally-renowned television series, this groundbreaking and visually stunning book explores how science and civilization grew up together.
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Just no replacement for the great Carl Sagan.
- By Nowhere man on 03-08-20
By: Ann Druyan
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Our Mathematical Universe
- My Quest for the Ultimate Nature of Reality
- By: Max Tegmark
- Narrated by: Rob Shapiro
- Length: 15 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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Max Tegmark leads us on an astonishing journey through past, present and future, and through the physics, astronomy, and mathematics that are the foundation of his work, most particularly his hypothesis that our physical reality is a mathematical structure and his theory of the ultimate multiverse. In a dazzling combination of both popular and groundbreaking science, he not only helps us grasp his often mind-boggling theories, but he also shares with us some of the often surprising triumphs and disappointments that have shaped his life as a scientist.
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Wow!
- By Michael on 02-02-14
By: Max Tegmark
What listeners say about Death by Black Hole
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Overall
- Barry J. Marshall
- 01-31-08
Great Articles - Mostly pithy and enjoyable.
These astronomy and science articles by Tyson are mostly very good. Some are a little bit simplistic but most are quite deep. I listened to it a few times and learned a lot. If I ever get back to New York I am going to drop by the planetarium and shake the author's hand.
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6 people found this helpful
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- Chris
- 05-06-13
Dr. Tyson has Done it Again
Would you consider the audio edition of Death by Black Hole to be better than the print version?
I'd consider the audio edition equivalent or better than the print version. Neil deGrasse Tyson has such a talent for explaining advanced concepts in a way that is accessible to the everyman. He explores the works of the greatest minds in human history and condenses them into a non-technical, accessible medium for all to enjoy. Rest assured, there is nothing lost in enjoying this book in the audio format. Aside from the proverbial "E=mc^2" there are no formulas to intimidate and no mathematics required.
Who was your favorite character and why?
I'm sure this is better suited as a question for a fiction novel. I mean, is Neil an option?
What does Dion Graham bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Dion Graham brings this book to life and seems very at ease discussing concepts of the universe as we know it. He's very easy to understand and follow and is on my list of enjoyable narrators.
What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?
As I have a background in physics there was not a lot for me to learn scientifically from this book; however, I can always find better ways to explain advanced concepts and make them accessible by listening to Dr. Tyson's musings.
Any additional comments?
Yes, if you are a scientific enthusiast, just curious about the world around you, or you chair the physics department at a prestigious university, you'll find something worth knowing here. Neil deGrasse Tyson has a remarkable talent for explaining the universe around us and I've met no rival to him.
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6 people found this helpful
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- MMuir
- 07-08-13
Fascinating
I can tell this is one of those books I will be listening to over and over again. Kept me up long into the night staring at the stars.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Sheryl Mason
- 02-16-08
Pure Magic
This book is pure magic. I hated physics when I was at school, possibly because the teacher didn't have the talent for teaching that Mr (or Dr) Tyson does. The information is presented in an humourous form but imparts the basic knowledge in a way that's easy to learn. The narrator does an excellent job, making the book come alive for you. I was totally impressed and adore the book.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Blaq
- 03-22-12
An ever expanding mind
If you could sum up Death by Black Hole in three words, what would they be?
Wow, very deep.
What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?
The overall narrative was compelling. I learned things that I've never heard of or knew existed.
Which scene was your favorite?
The scene that stood out the most was the discussion on how stars are born. To even think of a temperature as high as a million degrees is beyond my wildest imagination. I might have to read this a couple more times to get a grasp on all the information.
What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?
It's hard to just pick one thing, but if I had to pick just one, it would be this. Unlike it is here on Earth, things in space that are red are cool objects and blue things are hot. So that makes the core of the sun blue. I hope that I interpreted that right. If not, I'll be reading it again to make sure.
Any additional comments?
This is a must read.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Chad
- 07-27-11
Funny, interesting, a great read!
I love Neil deGrasse Tyson to begin with, so this was a natural use of a credit. It is amazingly well-written, with just the right mix of hard-core science and easy to understand analogy. The topics are amazingly interesting and he explains them in a way that makes it fun and funny!
The only quibbles I have, which hold it back from the 5th star are 1) the material is a bit dated in some obvious places. While I don't expect a cutting-edge science read to be a classic, the constant mentions of Pluto as a planet get in the way a bit; and 2) it was compiled from a series of articles written over a span of years so, while Tyson does his best to tie the book together with comments like "as we learned in Section 2" for the most part, it feels like a series of discrete articles rather than a cohesive book.
All in all, well worth the credit, a great value for the money and a great listen.
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3 people found this helpful
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- David
- 01-01-08
Nice But Not Grabbing
Written playfully and with the nerdy energy of a professional physicist, this has a lot of good information, but isn't gripping. Probably best for people with a deep-seated interest in becoming an amateur astronomer.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Chief Break Everything
- 07-17-11
Something for everyone
I have to say, the title of this book was a little misleading - there's a section on black holes toward the end (where I'm at now) and a few mentions earlier, but this is not a book about black holes. That said, I think it's a great introduction to astrophysics for anyone who is curious about science but maybe has (like me) a few gaps in their knowledge of the universe. It's not dry at all - in fact, it's surprisingly funny at times, and very...human. Down-to-earth, you might say (har har). It has really piqued my curiosity about many things and made me want to explore them further.
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- Russell G. Roefer
- 01-19-15
Fun
Great times listening to this book. The information is great and it's quite entertaining as well. Neil know his science.
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- Nuggets
- 04-04-17
review
I enjoyed this book however, if you have watched Neil Degrasse Tyson's iteration of Cosmos and listen to his star talks podcast, many of the ideas in this book are discussed on the aforementioned mediums. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it.
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