David Eicher’s The New Cosmos was chosen as one of 14 “Books of the Year” by Cambridge University Press.
Cambridge, England: David Eicher’s book The New Cosmos: Answering Astronomy’s Big Questions has been chosen by Cambridge University Press as one of its “Books of the Year,” an accolade that honors 14 books published by the Press in 2016.
Eicher’s book (279 pp., hardcover, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2016, $30; ISBN 978–1–107–06885–8) has been a popular title this year for readers of science. It covers 16 major topics that have witnessed explosive interest in the past 10 to 15 years: How the Sun will die, The end of life on Earth, How the Moon formed, The history of water on Mars, Why did Venus turn inside-out?, Is Pluto a planet?, The explosion of exoplanets, The Milky Way’s barred spiral structure, the coming collision of the Andromeda and Milky Way galaxies, the Big Bang, the size of the universe, dark matter, dark energy, black holes, the universe’s fate, and the meaning of life in the universe.
Testimonials for David Eicher’s book have been enthusiastic:
"David Eicher has more than three decades' experience of writing about astronomy for a general readership. His experience and enthusiasm shine through in this wide-ranging survey of current 'hot topics'."
Martin Rees, Emeritus Professor of Cosmology and Astrophysics, University of Cambridge
"The New Cosmos by David Eicher is a wonderful read! This wonderfully written, accessible, authoritative new book spans the breadth of major topics in early twenty-first-century astronomy, engaging the reader in every chapter. I haven't seen a better book surveying modern astronomy in a decade. I highly recommend this masterpiece as a gift to yourself or anyone interested in space and astronomy."
Alan Stern, Principal Investigator of the New Horizons mission, Southwest Research Institute
"If you are looking for a collection of newspaper headlines full of hype about this discovery or that, then The New Cosmos probably isn't for you. On the other hand, if those headlines whet your appetite for something more substantial, then pick up a copy and settle in for a fascinating and enlightening read. The New Cosmos is not simply a survey of astronomy and planetary science - it is more of a travelogue, starting with intriguing questions and then following where each story leads. And there throughout the journey is David J. Eicher's obvious passion and joy for the wonders of the heavens, and for the human quest to make those wonders known."
Jeff Hester, Professor Emeritus, School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University
"In this book, Eicher synthesizes a wealth of relatively new information into an interesting, coherent, up-to-date overview of many of the most important and exciting areas of astronomy ... Immersing yourself in the chapters that follow will give you a new sense of wonder at the amazing universe that we inhabit, yet simultaneously awakening both your humility as a cosmic speck of dust and your awe at our present understanding of the cosmos."
Alex Filippenko, University of California, Berkeley, from the Foreword
"This is an exceptional book that places our life in a global perspective on the cosmic stage, both in space and in time. It leaves you wondering whether our civilization should reconsider its priorities if it wishes to be regarded as intelligent."
Abraham Loeb, Harvard University
Eicher’s book can be ordered here:
https://www.amazon.com/New-Cosmos-Answering-Astronomys-Questions/dp/1107068851/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1480706614&sr=1-1&keywords=eicher+new+cosmos