Children of the Stars: Our Origin, Evolution and Destiny [Hardcover]

Daniel R. Altschuler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 3, 2002

Are we alone in the Universe? What is our place in it? How did we get here? We have long searched for the answers to questions such as these, and scientists are beginning to find some of the answers. In this beautifully illustrated book, Daniel Altschuler provides the reader with the elements to understand the questions and their answers as far as we know them. He explores subjects from physics and astronomy, to geology and paleontology. Along the way he touches on topics such as the search for life on other worlds and the hazards of asteroid impacts. Written in an engaging and readable style, readers will be intrigued by the surprising connections among the stars, our planet, and life itself. Daniel Altschuler is Director of the Arecibo Observatory in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, the site of the world's largest single-dish radio telescope.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Altschuler writes with such clarity in Children of the Stars that even younger readers can gain an understanding of the complexities of the universe from reading it. Accompanying Alschuler's text is a mosaic of photographs so brilliant that they are a close runner-up to actually staring up at the sky on a clear summer night." Cornell Chronicle

"...a slim, elegant and richly illustrated book for the general reader that somehow manages to convey the most important concepts of virtually all the scientific disciplines-astronomy, physics, chemistry, biology, evolutionary theory, geology." New York Times Book Review

"...a marvelously presented scientific tour through the mysteries of the cosmos, looking at what science has to say about how we came to be here, and whether we are alone in the universe. Written in plain terms easily accessible to the nonspecialist general reader, and illustrated with beautiful color drawings and photograph, Children of the Stars is a remarkable and enthusiastically recommended vision of galactic enigmas and beyond. Highly recommended for personal, school, and community library astronomy reference collections." Library Bookwatch

"He tells how our species came to be, from the ashes of exploded stars to the rise of complex molecules to the role of massive impacts of space-borne debris in evolution.... The book is well written in a lively style ... appropriate for those with strong backgrounds in the sciences. Such readers wwill glean much from the book." Choice

"Altschuler brings a passion and attitude to his writing that makes Children of the Stars lively and personal. He delights in fascinating factoids...and provides humorous comments..Altschuler's book is a fun read...would be a great gift to excite anyone." Nature

Book Description

A book for the general reader dealing with the intimate and surprisin g connection between stars, our planet, and life. Investigating aspects of physics, astronomy, geology and palaeontology, Children of the Stars is also, in a broad sense, a book about the environment, emphasizing the deep connection between us and all fellow travellers, from bacteria to chimpanzees. Fully illustrated and easy to read, with wit and erudition, it will make the reader see our world in a whole new light.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 276 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (May 3, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521812127
• ISBN-13: 978-0521812122
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,096,865 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, September 10, 2002

By 

Raymond Gonzalez (Greenbelt, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Children of the Stars: Our Origin, Evolution and Destiny (Hardcover)

From the rising of a beautiful sunny summer day, and enjoying life, to looking up at the stars, and seeing them in a different light. This book was very enjoyable. Most books on Astronomy, Evolution, Atmosphere, Geophysics etc. are basically just that, one subject matter and lightly cover over all others. In this book we are first taken on a journey of those that have contributed in most fields of science from the ground up as well as to the extremes of the universe. It brings to
mind the responsibility that all mankind has and how all mankind should have at least a basic knowledge of the sciences. It also becomes apparent that people have become unconcerned or
disinterested in what goes on, on our beautiful planet, and this magnificent universe that we are privileged to be a part of. This book should be read by professionals as well as those who know very little about the sciences. It could very well change peoples mind for the better, and get them interested in real science instead of dwelling on the fictional part of it. Hopefully, after reading this book people will come to realize that they also have a part to play in the world of science. It reminds us that it is time for each one of us to be responsible citizens of the world.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A folkbook, for the naturalist at heart., June 21, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Children of the Stars: Our Origin, Evolution and Destiny (Hardcover)

A friend gave me a copy of Altschuler's book "Children of the Stars". Once I started reading it, it dawns on me that this guy can write. It is a bit of a tour de forces on the scientific foundations of the natural world, but written with clarity, a sense of humor and a great deal of passion. His prose is eminently readable, and I swear I sensed some of Gould, Dawkins, and Alan Lightman ability to describe while preserving focus. This is a book for the scientist and the scientist at heart. The author goes from the first few seconds of the universe to the wanders of molecular biology, showing the threads that ties it all into a unified entity, nature.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How we came to be here, and whether we are alone, July 11, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Children of the Stars: Our Origin, Evolution and Destiny (Hardcover)

Children Of The Stars: Our Origin, Evolution And Destiny by Daniel R. Altschuler (Director of the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center's Arecibo Observatory) is a marvelously presented scientific tour through the mysteries of the cosmos, looking at what science has to say about how we came to be here, and whether we are alone in the universe. Written in plain terms easily accessible to the non-specialist general reader, and illustrated with beautiful color drawings and photographs, Children Of The Stars is a remarkable and enthusiastically recommended vision of galactic enigmas and beyond. Highly recommended for personal, school, and community library astronomy reference collections.