Customer Reviews

The Invisible Universe Ibs#521866

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There are a lot of astronomy picture books on the market, all featuring wonderful photographs. The Invisible Universe is simply THE most beautiful book in that genre that I've ever seen, inside and outside. David Malin is the best-known astronomical photographer in the world, and his work already appears in just about every astronomy book published this decade. This particular volume compiles much of his finest work in a big 14-by-16 format, laced with artwork of the sky and the constellations, strong scientific content, and well-written prose. A few years back, Malin put together a masterpiece called A View Of The Universe; this book is bigger and even more beautiful.

There's something for every reader in this book. Each photograph takes up a full page, so you get its full stunning beauty. Short, readable descriptions written by Malin give very understandable and jargon-free scientific background to the astronomical phenomena in the pictures. The drawings of the sky and the constellations are also accompanied by prose laced with mythology and history. The book is pleasant to read as well as visually unmatched -- a wonderful combination.

Whether you want a beautiful and well-written introduction to the wonders of the heavens, a collection of some of the finest astronomical photos ever taken, or even just a pretty book for your coffee table, I heartily and unreservedly recommend this book. It's all of the above.

I wasn't sure if Malin's "Invisible Universe" or Croswell's "Magnificent Universe" was the one to buy, so I bought both. For people who have wondered which of the two might be better, perhaps my review will help.

Each book has its own strengths. Croswell's are the dark, glossy pages and the multitude of images from different sources. Malin's is image quality and size. Approximately 20 images are the same in both books (Croswell gives credit to Malin for using them). However, even though the pictures are identical, their appearance is not. In two-thirds of those twenty images there simply is no comparison. Croswell's images look "small" and "soft," while Malin's large format sharpness and resolution are in a different class. The remaining one-third ranks about the same with Malin's trading off a slight increase in grain for a little more sharpness, resolution and, of course, size. The remaining images, in both books, in general, follow the same pattern. Croswell's are of decent quality and there are many of them to see (including about 20 from the Hubble). Malin's remaining range in quality from about the same as Croswell's to outstanding.

There are, also, a couple of other things to keep in mind that other reviewers haven't mentioned. Croswell's pages though beautiful (they are glossy) are also subject to fingerprints at the mere touch. Also, Malin's ships wrapped in a bag whereas Croswell's is open and, therefore, subject to the curiosity (and fingerprints) of warehouse handlers, etc. This is the second "Magnificent Universe" I've gotten, the first had to go back since its condition upon arrival was unacceptable. One last thing, many of Croswell's pictures have an annoying border around them and do not take up the full page. Malin's main theme pictures are always full page.

Which one should you buy? If you like quantity and can only afford one book, then the "Magnificent Universe" is the one for you. If you prefer quality and relaxed viewing, then Malin's is the better choice. If you like astronomical images and can afford both books, then get both of them. I'm keeping both. Happy buying.

I gave my husband a telescope for his birthday last summer, and have since become an astronomy widow - better than being a football widow! I wanted to give him a Christmas gift of something spectacular that wasn't technological, since I know nothing about it, and saw a review of this book. So I took a chance and bought it. What a success!

The book is cumbersome because of its size, but the upside of that is that it forces you to sit down at a table and really LOOK at it - this is not a browsing book. Each image is more spectacular than the previous, and the photographs are so beautifully done, so artistic, that they look almost painterly. The realization that this stuff actually exists, is really out there, in all this color and glory, is tremendously exciting. A "normal"-sized book could never do the photographs justice - this book had to be this size. The Horsehead Nebula is so other-worldly, so amazing, that words fail me and only photos like these can describe it.

This book, more than any other I've seen, transports me off the planet and makes me realize how unimaginably vast the universe really is - and fills me with awe that we silly humans with our puny little machines can actually see this much!

I recommend this book without reservation to anyone with an interest in astronomy, art, photography... I sure am glad I gave it to US!

I recently bought a copy of 'The Invisible Universe' for myself and I was blown away by each and every one of these astounding images that David Malin assembled and finally published in an appropriate format (finally a book whose size dares to do the content justice!). I am not (yet!) an expert on this subject matter, but it also proved to be a very interesting read with lots of interesting quotes and references. The oversized images convey the beauty of the subject matter as well as the purpose of science. They're not only very precise documentary photographs of constellations, nebulas and supernovas, but also a very poetic and artistic look (some of the images even reminded me of Ross Bleckner's paintings) at the vast universe that inspired me to let my imagination run wild. I applaud the people who made this book. It's a treasure! I especially appreciate the contrast of the vivid and saturated large photographs and the historic drawings and maps (and the juxtapositions of the two), which makes it more than just a pretty book but also a great reference for people like me, who are just starting to get into astronomy. I recommend this book for everyone who looks up at the stars and wonders if there is anything else out there. Carl Sagan would have loved this one! Ps: read the appendix to find out how these pictures were taken. -> My favorite one is called 'Storm of Orion'

Perhaps the most superb collection of astronomical and cosmological photographs I've ever seen in one collection. If you have even the faintest interest in astronomy or cosmology, do yourself a kind service and buy this book. You will never look at the stars the same way again. This book renders a perspective on the universe and our tiny place in it like no other.

As for the size, it is a little large but several of the photos demand it. The person who commented on the image quality certainly doesn't have a strong grasp of astro photography or he surely wouldn't criticize. This is a masterful work.

A star among the galaxy of other books on this subject! I bought it for myself as my own Christmas gift!

The sheer size of the images are beautiful. I wish I had a SLIDE set of the same images!

A GREAT GIFT FOR YOURSELF OR ANYONE!

This book, in it's bountiful size and otherworldly beauty commands attention. It was in stock at a bookstore I used to work at, and I had to look at it every week. The photos inside are so lush and gorgeous that they will make you wish you had a larger print to hang up in your apartment. This photography book captures some of the most beautiful, mysterious forces known to us. From magnificent galaxies to nebulas daunting in their size colors, only a book of this size could begin to give the true essence of what is out there. A picture is worth a universe of words.

My Brother in Law is so hard to buy for. He is interested in plants and the stars and I thought he had every book on both subjects. I took the chance of ordering this book for him and was shocked just how over joyed he was to receive it. I just had an e-mail thanking me again and saying he could never describe how wonderful the book is and he will treasure it all of his life. I realize I took a chance with sight unseen but the photo and description gave me courage to order. In seeing the book I was stunned at how beautiful it was and thrilled at the price. If you have anyone that is interested in planets, space and stars, you just can't go wrong.

I have to disagree with the two earlier reviews of this book. I examined this monster one leisurely afternoon in a bookstore--and was grossly disappointed (but, thankfully, richer). Don't be fooled: Timothy Ferris wrote the Preface but *not* the main text; both are decidedly second-rate. And the text on each star/constellation was disappointingly short and relatively dry; snippets of intellectual interest shorn of any poetical flourish or keen insight, devoid of any real attempt to integrate classical and modern understanding (as suggested by the cover) that truly feeds our sense of Universal wonder (such as made Ferris' "Whole Shebang" such a marvelous book). This book is also *way* too big. Like some hypertrophic Abrams art monstrosity, this Mother of All Coffee-table Books requires a whole table to hold and view; even so, it is still unwieldy. Ditto the grossly oversized Hubble photos: Bigger is not always better, and these photos lack clarity, warmth, wonder or charm. Photowise, you'd be better of to buy one of several collections of Hubble photos. For sheer star lore and history of astronomy, look to "The Glorious Constellations" whose crisp, delicious prose, lucid Greek and Roman mythological images, analogies and stories, abundant drawings, illustrations and reproductions truly animate the constellations and stars in a delicious, heartful way. On the more positive side, apparently no license is needed to own the present beast; so if you like BIG and dry, go for it.

After seeing these amazing, huge, gorgeous photos with stars in numbers beyond the imagination, I would think most people would find it hard to not believe (1) that there is a God and (2) there is plenty of other intelligent life out there.