The Story of the Universe in 100 Stars

The universe contains so many wonders that trying to relate its story through only a hundred stars barely scratches the surface, rendering at best only the highlights of the universe’s story. This book tries to explore a facet of the universe through a star. Each chapter is only a couple of pages long, and the chapters are independent, meaning that they can be read in any order. The narrative flows easily and can be understood by those without a science background.

While one would expect the stories to center on stars, some chapters take their titles from asteroids (such as NOMAD 1), black holes, or stars that the text claims are fictional (such as the Star of Bethlehem). The four pages of color pictures in the center serve to adorn rather than enhance the text. Diagrams or pictures related to the chapters would serve the text better if placed in the relevant chapter. Given the vast treasure trove of marvels in the universe, this book is more the author’s list of highlights (which is expected given the work’s vast scope and physical limitations). Overall, it is a good introductory read for those who are interested in the stars and looking for something that is not technical.