Isaac Asimov's Guide to Earth and Space

I love Asimov's non-fiction works. This one is a rehash of several of his early works on physics and astronomy. For me, it was wonderful to have access to the ideas in these long-out-of-print works. For the newcomer to Asimov, it will be an amazing, understandable introduction to the topic. For the Asimov veteran, it will be an easy, enjoyable read - even if you read most of it in much older books before. Written in the 80's, it is amazing how he couches his descriptions in broad terms which have not changed in the ensuing 30+ years - and how he leaves prescient caveats which have all turned out to be correct... Such an incredible person - a must-read for any science-minded layman.

This is a very well-written book, suitable for all ages. Asimov is an entertaining teacher of the basic facts about Earth and space (e.g., the Earth is round, it rotates about its own axis, it revolves around the Sun). But, what is even more important, he is a master at describing the thought processes of the various philosophers and scientists who established these facts in the face of traditional beliefs (e.g., the Earth is flat, it is unmoving, the Sun goes round the Earth).It is thus a wonderful book for anyone who would like to learn how to determine the truth in this age of fundamentalism and conflicting claims posted on the Web and propagated by e-mails. The desire and the ability to think clearly and logically have always been rare commodities -- and have become even more uncommon today, even in technologically advanced communities such as the USA.The book costs less than $7, which makes it a great stocking stuffer. But it is worth more than $70, or even $700.

Isaac Asimov assembles 111 of his short, non-fiction essays into a question-and-answer book that teaches us about the Earth and its neighborhood. These answers are accessible to older children as well as adults. They are written in Asimov's conversational style that makes science seem so straightforward. A warning label is appropriate to remind us that some of these answers no longer represent current thinking. But most have aged well.My favorites include:- How old is the Earth?- Is the Earth hollow?- Is there life on Mars?- How fast does light travel?- What is the Galaxy?- Does anything reach us from the stars besides light?- What is in interstellar dust clouds?These short essays are a good reminder of the science we learned in middle school. And it's nice to hear the Good Doctor's voice again. Readers may also enjoy  Asimov's Guide to the Bible  and  Asimov's Guide to Shakespeare .

With Isaac Asimov, you know what you are going to get- good solid science, delivered in a readable and interesting manner.Now, let me be clear- science marches on. So, sometimes the science here is a little outdated. Thus- before you go using this as research material, check it on some other source.But if you just want to read, learn and enjoy- these are great books.This one is a little bit on the basic side, compared to some of his others.

This is Asimov writing for the novice with an interest in science. I bought for the Earth science ideas because of global warming; he has a different take on global warming, but definitely finds it's a possibility given the global engineering that we humans have performed.There's much more here and it's a good place to begin reading for the general reader with a new interest in basic, popular science.

An easy to read rational and clearly written history of how we discovered knowledge of the greater world around us. The simple but profound methods of discovery used by early scientists is an inspiration to thoughtful people. Asimov sets out more recent 20 century discovery and cuases us to wonder, where to now.

Great origins for explained scientific mysteries. A layman’s guide to visual representations of the past. Although dated in its assumptions most of the thoughts hold standard today.

A primer on the universe. Put into easily understandable chapters, you can read as much in one sitting as you want

One of my favorite writers. Asimov has the ability to explain difficult ideas simply

Isaac is always good, and this book does not disappoint.

At first I started listening to this book on audible, At the start it seemed a bit boring then After about 30 minutes it got more and more interesting and I began to realize just how good it was.It’s packed with facts and Asimov explains in detail while answering the questions and giving the historical back ground and reasoning.After I finished listening to the audible book I realized that I must have a hard copy as there was so much that I needed to repeat and go over again in my own time .I can recommend this book to anyone who is an Asimov fan and to anyone who just wants to know more about this and other planets.

This book follows a style Asimov used a lot for his non-fiction - small chunks, maybe just a few pages long, that shed light on a particular topic. As such, the book is very easy to pick up and read, while at the same time imparting much useful information on a variety of subjects related to our planet and its cosmic neighbourhood. Even those with knowledge of the areas in question should pick up some new insights.No reason not to give the full five stars.

Outstanding!I first tried the free sample and found it interesting.Then bought it, thinking that it will be a thin book with quick reading.It is a large book covering all of astronomy and exciting to read.I read it along with my children.I highly recommend it to everyone, particularly children.