Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilisation

Written by Neil deGrasse Tyson

Narrated by Neil deGrasse Tyson

Bringing his cosmic perspective to civilization on Earth, Neil deGrasse Tyson, bestselling author of Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, shines new light on the crucial fault lines of our time–war, politics, religion, truth, beauty, gender, race, and tribalism–in a way that stimulates a deeper sense of unity for us all.

In a time when our political and cultural perspectives feel more divisive than ever, Tyson provides a much-needed antidote to so much of what divides us, while making a passionate case for the twin engines of enlightenment–a cosmic perspective and the rationality of science.
After thinking deeply about how a scientist views the world and about what Earth looks like from space, Tyson has found that terrestrial thoughts change as our brain resets and recalibrates life's priorities, along with the actions we might take in response. As a result, no outlook on culture, society, or civilisation remains untouched.

In Starry Messenger, Tyson reveals just how human the enterprise of science is. Far from a cold, unfeeling undertaking, scientific methods, tools, and discoveries have shaped modern civilisation and created the landscape we've built for ourselves on which to live, work, and play. Tyson shows how an infusion of science and rational thinking renders worldviews deeper and more informed than ever before–and exposes unfounded perspectives and unjustified emotions.

With crystalline prose and an abundance of evidence, Starry Messenger walks us through the scientific palette that sees and paints the world differently. From lessons on resolving global conflict to reminders of how precious it is to be alive, Tyson reveals, with warmth and eloquence, ten surprising, brilliant, and beautiful truths of human society, informed and enlightened by knowledge of our place in the universe.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Sep 29, 2022
• ISBN: 9780008543204

Neil deGrasse Tyson

Neil deGrasse Tyson is an astrophysicist and the author of the #1 bestselling Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, among other books. He is the director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, where he has served since 1996. Dr. Tyson is also the host and cofounder of the Emmy-nominated popular podcast StarTalk and its spinoff StarTalk Sports Edition, which combine science, humor, and pop culture. He is a recipient of 23 honorary doctorates, the Public Welfare Medal from the National Academy of Sciences, and the Distinguished Public Service Medal from NASA. Asteroid 13123 Tyson is named in his honor. He lives in New York City.

Reviews for Starry Messenger

[Danielle Oliver · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Glitchy, had so much trouble trying to listen to the last few chapters

[berniean-961084 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is basically deGrasse Tyson pontificating on his view of life on this planet from a cosmological perspective, an attempt to put things in perspective. Some good insights mixed in with personal philosophy you may or may not agree with, but certainly worthy of consideration. He covers many topics and provides historical evidence that frequently contradicts popular belief, and that, alone, makes it worth reading.

[Marwan Bataineh · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book made very interesting and glamorous by Neil. He is an amazing story teller

[Rocky Kapur · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Cosmic perspective... Love it!! A must read for every one

[Honey Cooper · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I thank the STARS for Neil’s existence on this earth ??

[yarmando_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dr. Tyson ruminates on how a scientific mindset and cosmic perspective recasts the political and social concerns of today.Why I picked it up: Carl Sagan's "Demon-Haunted World" remains one of the most important books I think I've ever read. This seemed to offer more of the same.Why I finished it: I don't think there's anyone as skilled at helping the layperson understand vast, astronomical distances, geological spans of time, or the infinitesimal as Neil deGrasse Tyson. Those bits kept me going. He is by turns smug and self-deprecating, and there's enough of the latter to keep the former from being insufferable. Occasionally he will use logic to pierce a misconception (the section on how searing meat can increase cancer risk) and then immediately invoke the same fallacy—perhaps that was the point though, to make us even question his own declarative utterances.I'd give it to: Anyone despairing over the proliferation of misinformation.

[nmarun-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Reading this book felt like going through a journey of where we were, where we are and where we are headed. "Debunking Myths" is what a scientist is expected to do and Dr. Tyson does that exceptionally in this book with humor. I've heard him at talk shows and many a times during the book, I felt like I was hearing him read the book to me.

[guide2_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Some interesting sections that do make you think about the grand scheme of things and some quite different viewpoints on important aspects of our society. Overall an ok read only.

[mrsmommybooknerd7 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Thought provoking and interesting this book will not disappoint. If you want to think more deeply and have a book to discuss with others, this is the one!! I will not soon forget this book!

[castlelass · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

“Differences in opinion enrich the diversity of a nation, and ought to be cherished and respected in a free society, provided everyone remains free to disagree with one another, and, most importantly, everyone remains open to rational arguments that could change your mind. Sadly, the conduct of many in social media has devolved to the opposite of this. Their recipe? Find an opinion they disagree with and unleash waves of anger and outrage because your views do not agree with theirs. Social, political, or legislative attempts to require that everybody agree with your personal truths are ultimately dictatorships.”Neil deGrasse Tyson addresses how science, rational thought, and evidence-based decision making can improve our civilization in significant ways. He tackles this topic in ten chapters: Truth and Beauty, Exploration and Discovery, Earth and Moon, Conflict and Resolution, Risk and Reward, “Meatarians” and Vegetarians, Gender and Identity, Color and Race, Law and Order, and Body and Mind. He addresses both sides of the existing political divide, trying to find common ground. Rather than try to summarize this book, I offer the quotes below. Tyson backs everything up with evidence. If any of these passages sound interesting, you will likely enjoy this book. I applaud him for attempting to heal our large gaps in critical thinking, which have become increasingly evident in recent times.4.5Memorable passages:“People no longer know who or what to trust. We sow hatred of others fueled by what we think is true, or what we want to be true, without regard to what is true…We’ve lost all sight of what distinguishes facts from opinions. We’re quick with acts of aggression and slow with acts of kindness.”“Scientists may be the exclusive discoverers of what is objectively true in the universe. Objective truths apply to all people, places, and things, as well as all animals, vegetables, and minerals….they are true even when you don’t believe in them.”“Objective truths exist independent of that five-sense perception of reality. With proper tools, they can be verified by anybody at any time at any place.”“Objective truths of science are not founded in belief systems. They are not established by the authority of leaders or the power of persuasion, nor are they learned from repetition, or gleaned from magical thinking.” “To deny objective truths is to be scientifically illiterate, not to be ideologically principled.” “One of the great features of a working democracy is that we get to disagree without killing one another. What happens when democracy fails? What happens when we hold no tolerance for views that differ from our own? Do we, instead, desire a dictatorship in which all views in the land agree with the dictator? Do we pine for a system where dissenting views are suppressed, buried, or burned?”“People are more the same than different.” “Cosmic perspectives wield the power to humble our human hubris with full justification for doing so.”

[rhbouchard_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Hmm, really nothing profound here, despite trying to be. I'm glad I got the book for free; otherwise, I would have felt cheated at any price.