Starry Messenger

"Looking at our problems from out in space makes those problems seem small."

"This was a quick read but quite humbling. Geez I came to this conclusion not but a few months ago. Self-importance. It seems like the keystone to most things. Humans believe themselves to be important. The universe rotates around us. God made us, we have purpose. Now rocket your precious little speck of a self out into space and look around. We are not. Life did not begin here, we are not all there is. Now do you feel minuscule in comparison?<br/><br/>Tyson, to me, seems like a no-nonsense kind of person but funny and I have to say I like that. He also narrated this book which made it more interesting when piggybacking off his enthusiasm. Tyson states facts with little to no opinion and I feel like as a society we have veered off course from this aspect. Honestly, I don't even watch the news. Why? Well sometimes it's truth and sometimes it's amped up to be intriguing or for me frustrating. How can I know the difference?<br/><br/>Social media while fun at times has gone off the rails. Largely troll-based. Good grief I have seen people reposting missing posters for people already found, burglary pictures from a movie saying it's in our hometown, to Obi-Wan as Jesus. No one looks up facts anymore. We just want to get in an uproar about something and I don't need that kind of stress in my life. It's time to start thinking for myself and stop taking people's opinions for truths.<br/><br/>Why am I rambling on about all this? Well it's because of this book and how it helped changed my perception. The things I have been told over the years don't add up. And this new path I'm on makes sense and has truths. It's a wonderful feeling to be humbled. I don't need a purpose. And it's widely exciting to think that there are other sentient beings out in the universe."

"I love the ideas presented in this book. That life is beautiful and it’s a miracle that we’re even here at all. That is exactly why I chose to study astrobiology, because I have such a value for life. I love the idea that NdGT poses here, that in order to understand ourselves, it’s sometimes easier to think of what others (aliens) would think of us. I really liked the historical perspective of how our value for life and the planet changed drastically once humans went to space. He makes excellent points that are illustrated with evidence, but agree with his own values. Very good book, and an interesting outlook on life. Lots of funny moments."

"July 2022: ARC or Advanced Reader Copy, won in Goodreads giveaway -- thank you.<br/><br/>A quick, easy read-- <i>Starry Messenger</i> is a natural extension of the cosmic perspective ideas that Tyson touched on in <i>Astrophysics for People in a Hurry</i>. It's easy to get behind the spirit of the book-- taking a step back and looking at the big picture can give us the reset we need to view human civilization from a more unbiased perspective. Tyson excels when he focuses on exploring what our discoveries of the universe have revealed to us about life on earth, but at times it feels like the word "scientific" could be substituted for "cosmic" in the subtitle of the book. As always, Tyson's humor is a welcome constant and helps to make up for any lack of continuity in the "cosmic" theme. Once you get past the fact that <i>Starry Messenger</i> is loosely focused on the concept of what cosmic truths can teach us, you can really settle in and enjoy Tyson's quirky musings on the absurd and insightful aspects of humanity, and its hopeful striving for enlightenment and happiness."