The Planets

I found this to be hard to read initially but as I understood how the various components of mythology, science and culture intertwined, found it to be a fascinating read. I am so glad I bought it for reference. Have shared with professors of astronomy and philosophy and they, too, were impressed with its broad scope written in such a unique individualized manner according to the planet discussed. Each planet has a chapter devoted to the integration of our understanding over time. I really loved this book so much I e mailed Ms. Sobel and she responded! She has many wonderful books and truly has contributed to making life very interesting indeed.

When I began approaching this review I was going to start by saying "The Planets" is not a scientific book. That take wasn't going to be a criticism, simply an observation. There are no data presented in charts and tables, not one photo or illustration - nothing really quantified. And yet Sobel succeeds in a profile of the planets by weaving what they are into a cultural tale. After all, the majority of humans who ever lived had no real idea what those wandering lights were. Sobel juxtaposes planetary knowledge gained robotically in the last half century - knowledge that can seemalmost pedestrian to us - with the long-ago myths and god-like status given to planets as an explanation for them was sought.I once interviewed people for a print publication. As any good interviewer knows, the point is not to simply ask a list of questions and check them off. The key is to begin a conversation with the subject. This process takes longer, as what will be the interview must be found in the taped conversation, and as background information about the subject is fitted around his or her words. So, really, this is what Sobel did - she interviewed the solar system.Although I agree Sobel can be verbose at times, other reviewers have criticized the book's lack of explicit presentation. I think they miss the point. I am not a lay person regarding the subject, but I enjoyed learning about the historically cultural aspects of our neighbors. As one example, Sobel's description of tidal action contains no coefficients, and yet it is an elegant and accessible depiction. This book can be a good starting point for the lay person.

Book was like new as advertised and very thoughtfully packaged so that no damage would occur during shipping. Thank you!

If you are well versed in the cosmos, you will find nothing new in Dava Sobel's book. It will be the icing on your cake of knowledge. And what luscious icing it is! If your knowledge of the planets consists of basic high school science, you will be amazed and enthralled with the beauty and mystery that is our solar system. This book is beautifully well written, easy to understand, lyrical, poetic,....I could go on and on. And, from one who has been known to buy books for their covers in the hopes that the inside would be as intrigueing as the outside, in this case I was not disappointed. The cover is a work of art; so follows the text. You'll look at the night sky with a new appreciation and sense of wonder after reading this gem.

There is nothing inherently wrong with the premise of this book. It is not intended as a scientific journal elaborating on the most detailed of newly arrived astronomical data. It is informative in a pleasant, albeit, pedestrian way. It is a quick stroll across our solar system, skipping from planet to moon, to comet, to asteroid - like skipping a stone across the surface of a broad deep pool of knowledge. I learned many new things and had my memory jogged on items that had sifted through my memory.It was worth while getting up to speed on the latest discoveries of Viking, Voyager, Galileo, Cassini and other of our space probes. It was also interesting to read a little background of famous astronomers who dedicated their lives to gazing at the heavens.Nevertheless, this book lacks the passionate detail of Sobel's other works. Both "Longitude" and "Galileo's Daughter impelled the reader into the historic drama that she was presenting. There is no particular hero in this descriptive book and that may well a problem. It is more a high school reader chockablock full of facts and information. There is no detail, no in-depth analysis, no personality, no drama here. It is, perhaps, too dispassionate a subject for her keen writing skills.

A history lesson on how they worked to be accurate.

I found this little book on Amazon, and having read several of Dava Sobel's books, decided to buy it. It is a lovely historical ode the planets and simply a pleasant, informative read!

Excellent book, very well written and an interesting and easy read. It is obvious that the author did some very good research and had good editors, but her command of the English language, her superior word choice, and her precise use of appropriate metaphors make this book a true joy to read.

A very good friend of mine recommended this book to me so I took the plunge and bought it. I'd not heard of Dava Sobel before but I'm certainly glad that I have now. This book is not only beautiful (the sleeve and the actual book itself looks amazing) but it's informative and not complicated or overshadowed by technical jargon. Ideal for anyone who is interested in planets. I'd like to read more of Dava's books.

i read it. it's a book

Beautifully written. Current state of the science amazingly and understandably presented.

Nice book. Different to her other book ‘Longitude’, I bought it as a holiday read and would normally have left it at the hotel for someone else to read, but brought it home to read again!

A good guide to someone who wants to learn about planets.A great introduction to the planets.Enjoyable reading! *