Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization

Highly recommended! - In his new book, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson provides a cosmic perspective to life on the planet. It is an excellent presentation of the adoption of a global perspective of nature, which is at the core of the yoga teachings and Indian philosophy. A global perspective helps us to recognize that we are all interconnected and therefore, interdependent. The right perspective facilitates us to properly view the details of reality, at the same time as we see the totality … it is the ability to see simultaneously the leaves of a tree and the entire tree. The better the view of the tree, helps to see better the leaves. Modern science tells us about the benefits of using a microscope and a “macroscope” to properly perceive our concerns.The author (born in 1958) has been the director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Museum of Natural History in New York City since 1996. He attended Bronx High School of Science in NYC (source of eight Nobel Prizes), studied at Harvard, University of Texas, Columbia, and Princeton. He began his interest in astronomy at age nine when he visited the Planetarium. He has received 21 honorary doctorates, the Public Welfare Medal from the National Academy of Sciences, and Asteroid 13123 Tyson was named in his honor.Tyson examines a large number of topics, including astrology, gender identification, safety and violence, race and ethnicity, religion, political orientation, eating habits, disabilities, our views on life and death, and many other controversial subjects. His views on all the them challenge our traditional stands and are easily digested by a special mixture of humor and sarcasm. The book has a comprehensive source of information, mainly available on the Internet.For many of his selected topics, he visualizes how aliens visiting the planet would see us. Those aliens, he says, have none of our biases, our preferences, or our preconceived notions. Probably, those aliens have noticed that the very concept of truth on Earth is fraught with conflicting ideologies and habits. In one of the most sarcastic passages, Tyson deals with vegans and meat eaters and says that aliens would be incensed by vegetarians for slaughtering their plant brethren and by their special interest in reproductive organs (flowers, seeds, nuts, berries); by eating then, humans disrupt the life cycle of the planet. And he concludes that the barbaric behavior includes eating the younger versions of plants and infanticidal practices like eating baby carrots, baby spinach, baby arugula, baby artichokes, baby squash, bean sprouts.Brilliantly, Tyson summarizes the enormous impact of space exploration on our view of the planet. In a short period of five years, just after Apollo 11 (the first walk on the Moon), in spite of the virulent Cold War, the Vietnam fighting, and numerous Campus unrests, the US took a significant number of unprecedented actions: “Comprehensive Clean Air Act” 1970), “First National Earth Day” (1970), “National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration” (NOOA- 1970), “Environmental Protection Agency” (1970), DDT banned (1972), “Clean Water Act” (1972), first unleaded gasoline emission standards (1973), and the “Endangered Species Act” (1973). During those five years, “Physicians Without Borders” was founded (1971), the first catalytic converted for cars was invented and adopted, and the “Whole Earth Catalog” became a hit publication (1968-1972). We began to see our planet with different eyes!

Great book - Neil is such a great writer and the subject is right up his ally. Highly recommend for any level reader!

While familiar with WHO Neil deGrasse Tyson is, this is the first of his books I’ve read. Concerned it would be scientifically difficult to read, I found it very reasonable to comprehend.For a foundation, I am an ordained protestant pastor with an undergraduate degree in psychology (minor is philosophy) and a masters degree in divinity with an emphasis in theology and biblical interpretation. I dare to open my mind to other’s viewpoints and allow truth to guide my thoughts.I appreciate the author’s perspective for this work: a Cosmic Perspective well beyond what many hold. Tyson fairly engages Christianity along with science and fact. To be clear, science and God, as understood through my protestant eyes, is fully compatible. In fact, in the current environment of alternative facts and misinformation, Tyson cuts through the chatter with scientific facts and truths.This is a timely book, which some may find difficulty if truths confront unsubstantiated viewpoints — either religious or political. This is the point. From the Christian viewpoint God created all that is and ever will be. Science bears this out, does not compete, but lives in harmony with divine truths. More so, as Tyson dares to bring politics in where facts and truth still reign supreme.Starry Messenger provides the framework for one to draw back, for a much wider viewpoint, and view our world from a distant cosmic perspective, illustrating the points that often we are too close to our own tribe, thus not allowing room for the other. Tyson’s work, in my opinion, reminds me of Jesus’ words: Love others as yourself. To this, humanity is sometimes failing miserably when we allow ourselves to see us as one superior race, which in fact is erroneous as we are one.Treat yourself to a wonderful book, brilliantly composed, and logically presented. As a bonus, the careful reader will ‘hear’ the infectious humor of Neil deGrasse Tyson.