Book 1 Post 2
I chose How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming by Mike Brown because I wanted to explore scientific discovery through an astronomer’s perspective. The book dives into Brown’s role in the reclassification of Pluto, a decision that reshaped how we define planets. The combination of personal and scientific storytelling intrigued me. I enjoy reading about complex topics through narratives as it is easier to understand.
The book is engaging and humorous. His personal anecdotes add depth to the story, aside from scientific accounts, the book is also about the human experience behind discoveries. I enjoyed how he made astronomy feel approachable and relevant. A downside is that the book can feel self-congratulatory at times. Brown is clearly proud of his discovery (which is understandable), but some parts come across as him justifying Pluto’s demotion rather than exploring the broader debate. If you’re someone who still feels nostalgic about Pluto being a planet, you might find his tone a bit dismissive of the emotional connection people had to it.
Despite the minor flaw, I would recommend this book, especially to those interested in science but intimidated by technical jargon. Brown’s storytelling makes complex ideas digestible, and his humor keeps the narrative entertaining. It’s a fascinating look at how science evolves and how discoveries can reshape public perception. If you're curious about how scientific advancements challenge what we think we know, this is a great read!
Although I am not a big fan of science, I do find your point about people's emotional connection to Pluto intriguing. I know it's not the key of part of the book, but I think it is interesting that even in a field that emphasize in on objective facts (science), a lot of human emotions are involved. But thanks for the recommendation!
ReplyDeleteI am an astronomy class right now, and we actually just talked about Pluto, so it was interesting to read this book post. I like that you covered both the good and the bad of the book, and considered different potential audiences. It sounds really cool, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Grace! I enjoyed your review. It's interesting to understand the reasoning and thought process that occurred when deciding to reclassify Pluto. I am still unsure why they removed Pluto as a planet and a little hurt. I think I would enjoy to learn more about the human experience behind discoveries. It's such a complex topic and profession that I do not have a lot of knowledge on. I am intrigued to read the book after your review and hopefully understand more about the world of science and discoveries. You're review made it less intimidating to read a topic on science.
ReplyDelete