The Bluffer's Guide To The Cosmos

This addition to the excellent Bluffer’s Guide series takes us on a whirlwind tour of the Universe. In the spirit of the series, author Daniel Hudon is a witty and tongue-in-cheek companion.

The book is great if you have to bluff your way on the still-contentious subject of galaxy formation, for instance: “blame mergers and acquisitions (like any large corporation) if you have to.” Or on the Big Bang, where everything began: “space, time, matter, energy, Belgian chocolates, left-handed scissors, ugly ties…”

Most importantly, for what may seem to be a casual take on cosmology, the information is absolutely up-to-date and accurate. And Hudon sweetens science with some lovely sugar-coated bites. For example, if you plan to scoop up alcohol from an interstellar cloud with a spaceship that has a funnel 1km across, you’d need to travel through the cloud at the speed of light for 1,000 years to collect enough to make a single dry Martini.

I’m sure even the most expert astronomer will enjoy digging out these nuggets to convey at an astro convention, or to enliven dinner party talk. Buy, and enjoy!

Nigel Henbest