Starry Messenger Cosmic Perspectives on Civilisation
Harper Collins
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
