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The Last Lecture Book Review

book reviews, News

Once, at a book store with my mom, she spotted a book she had once read. While describing the plot, she began to tear up—this book was apparently that good and that sad. The next day, I picked up the copy we had at home and began to read.

The Last Lecture is by Jeffrey Zaslow and Dr. Randy Pausch. Pausch told about his life and Zaslow put the book together. In the book, Pausch is dying of cancer. He doesn’t have long to live, but he wants to impart his wisdom to the world. In particular, he wants to pass it on to his kids. These children will grow up without their father, so he must leave behind as much of himself as he can. 

Randy Pausch is a professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This allowed him to teach his students valuable life lessons, off the computer. Furthermore, it gave him ample opportunity to learn from students. These stories are used to teach the reader about life. 

Pausch tells the reader what he learned through personal stories, whether it was humility, gratitude, or respect. These stories carry universal themes that can help anyone, anywhere. That being said, Pausch shows his age. He is clearly from the same generation as my mother. This generational gap caused some of the lessons to fall flat for me. For example, he spoke of kids being “entitled” these days. This is an accusation that is often thrown onto Millenials and Gen Z, so it made me roll my eyes. 

My favorite thing about the book was that it was honest. Pausch admits his mistakes. Even better, he learns from them. 

I have to admit, the book did not make me cry. Although, I think that has more to do with me than the book. The story was sweet and touching, but not tear-jerking. That being said, many others have bawled at this story. I think this book is a fantastic read because it is applicable to everyone. There is at least one lesson for each person. The Last Lecture is a must-read for anyone looking to learn a little something about life.

Write to the Point Book Review

book reviews, News

Alright. I’m going to say it. Writing is hard. Sometimes I don’t know where to start. Or where to end. Or what to say in between. Usually, my solution is to read about it. Except a lot of writing books are textbooks. Or they’re bland. Or even worse, they’re pretentious. Some books talk of style and claim if you make grammatical errors, you’re a terrible writer and you’re going to fail. At least, that’s how they make me feel.

Luckily, I have found a book that doesn’t preach rules or make you feel bad: Write to the Point, and Feel Better About Your Writing by Bill Stott. This book is written for the young, insecure non-fiction writer. Bill Stott made me feel like I could be a successful writer, through this book alone. I already feel that my writing has improved after reading his book.

Stott is an English teacher, which gives him a unique perspective into the way writing his taught, and, therefore, the way the student thinks about writing. He talks about mistakes teachers make that, he claims, only bring young writers down. He is humanized as he admits his mistakes as a teacher and shares regret for some of his actions.

Stott tells the reader (a writer) to do things they already know how to do (no spoilers). Somehow hearing it said makes it seem so much easier. He points out common errors made by new writers. Not grammatical mistakes (although he does talk about those too), but organizational mistakes. He makes organizing a paper/article/book seem easy.

Write to the Point does talk about grammatical errors, but only briefly. They seem to be an aside at the end of the book. They are explained entirely through examples. I love this because without examples I cannot understand grammar rules.

I must mention that this book was written in 1991. However, you shouldn’t worry that it’s outdated. This book feels as if it was written yesterday. That is, except for the portion on what’s best to write on. If you’re like me, you might have to look up what a word processor is. Otherwise, it’s a non-issue.

If you want to write, but are intimidated or insecure, I would recommend this book to you. I often feel insecure about my writing, but this book reminded me that it’s okay to make mistakes. You can edit! This book is an easy, enjoyable read. It tells you everything you need to know. Get this book and get writing.

The Universe in Your Hands Book Review

Astronomy and Physics, book reviews, News

One thing about astronomy that has always overwhelmed me is its complication. It seems like you need a degree to understand even the simplest literature. Luckily, there are more books about astronomy than ever before, and you need to know less than ever to understand them!

One of my favorite astronomy books is The Universe in Your Hand by Christophe Galfard. This book boasts its use of only a single equation: E=mc^2. There is no math involved. It is purely conceptual, written simply enough for anyone to understand. This book is not for physicists, which is ideal because I (along with many others) am not a physicist. It is the perfect book for the casual astronomy enthusiast as well as the young astrophysicist-to-be.

I love this book because it has calm energy. The book opens with you, the reader, on a beach looking at the stars. The scene exudes peace and relaxation. There is nothing like learning a difficult concept by having it whispered calmly in your ear. Galfard carries this serene energy throughout the entire book.

The Universe in Your Hand is written in second person, with the author referring to the reader as you almost constantly throughout the book. I realize that some people will be skeptical of this, but trust me, Galfard makes it work. You are making the discoveries that answer the questions of the universe. The reader realizes what is happening around them, then Galfard explains it. The reader feels like a part of the experience and is invested in the text.

The book covers everything: string theory, black holes, quantum particles, photons, the life cycle of a star, and so much more. It’s the perfect glimpse into physics without confusing formulas.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in astronomy or astrophysics. Many of my physics friends have borrowed and enjoyed my copy of The Universe in Your Hand. It is perfect for anyone who wants to read about physics but often finds themselves confused by the difficult math involved. You do not need a background in physics to understand this book. If you want to dip your toe into physics, this book is for you. If you are intimidated by the complexity of physics, this book is for you. If you are interested in a lighthearted scientific read, this book is for you.

My point is that this book is for anyone. It’s one of the most accessible scientific texts I’ve ever read. Don’t fear physics, just read The Universe in Your Hand