Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
The Milky Way
The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy | Moiya McTier
4 posts | 4 read | 5 to read
Astrophysicist and folklorist Dr. Moiya McTier channels The Milky Way in this approachable and utterly fascinating autobiography of the titular galaxy, detailing what humans have discovered about everything from its formation to its eventual death, and what more there is to learn about this galaxy we call home. After a few billion years of bearing witness to life on Earth, of watching one hundred billion humans go about their day-to-day lives, of feeling unbelievably lonely, and of hearing its own story told by others, The Milky Way would like a chance to speak for itself. All one hundred billion stars and fifty undecillion tons of gas of it. It all began some thirteen billion years ago, when clouds of gas scattered through the universe's primordial plasma just could not keep their metaphorical hands off each other. They succumbed to their gravitational attraction, and the galaxy we know as the Milky Way was born. Since then, the galaxy has watched as dark energy pushed away its first friends, as humans mythologized its name and purpose, and as galactic archaeologists have worked to determine its true age (rude). The Milky Way has absorbed supermassive (an actual technical term) black holes, made enemies of a few galactic neighbors, and mourned the deaths of countless stars. Our home galaxy has even fallen in love. After all this time, the Milky Way finally feels that it's amassed enough experience for the juicy tell-all we've all been waiting for. Its fascinating autobiography recounts the history and future of the universe in accessible but scientific detail, presenting a summary of human astronomical knowledge thus far that is unquestionably out of this world.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
review
Suelizbeth
post image
Mehso-so

This is an unusual attempt to let our own Milky Way tell its own story in its own words. Some of the humor falls flat, but there is lots of interesting information. There also spots where it gets very sciency (not a bad thing) which bogs down the narrative. There are good notes, too. Overall, entertaining. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

review
catiewithac
post image
Pickpick

I struggled a bit to finish this book. McTier‘s trope of writing from the perspective of the galaxy became tiresome. I preferred when she veered toward folklore and myths. Overall, it was okay and would likely appeal to younger readers.

56 likes1 stack add
review
Bookalong
post image
Pickpick

4☆ This one intrigued me right away, such an interesting concept for a book. Blending history, science, and folklore McTier has written a fun, witty, sarcastic romp of a autobiography about The Milky Way. I am no astronomy expert but I enjoyed this humorous take on our galaxy. From the first few pages you get the sense this is meant to be a fun, sassy, charming, enlightening tell all. #bookreview #bookstagram

review
Floresj
post image
Mehso-so

Creative idea and it‘s clear McTier knows and understands astrophysics and mythology. For me, the tone of this book: cheeky, condescending, YA, sciencey, try hard, etc just never settled. I would go from loving a page to disliking the next and back again. Interesting, but inconsistent.

13 likes1 stack add