astronomy, physics, space, oh my! Ever since I was a child, I have been obsessed with outer space, delighting in information about our solar system and our galaxy. I tend to keep track of meteor showers better than my own everyday tasks, and I’ve definitely accurately measured and placed constellations made of glow-in-the-dark stickers on my ceiling. If you didn’t already think I was a space nerd, I’m not shy to admit I’m a member of my local planetarium, and I go there so often I know the museum like the back cover of my favorite book.
Speaking of books, there are as many amazing space books as there are stars in the sky. well, okay, not that many, but there are plenty to choose from! From iconic authors and scientists like Stephen Hawking and Carl Sagan, to astronauts like Chris Hadfield, each has something new to reveal about the universe.
You are reading: Best nonfiction space books
Whether you’re interested in hard facts, impossible theories, or funny space jokes, I’ve got a great list of books for you. space exploration can make you feel small at times, but it also reminds you that you’re part of something so big it’s almost incomprehensible. Dive into these eight incredible books about space, time, and the impossible possibilities it offers:
1. a brief history of time by stephen hawking
although this masterpiece was published in the 1980s, many of hawking’s theories and predictions still hold true. hawking explores the ways humanity has tried to understand the stars and how that curiosity will never fade from humanity. Stephen Hawking writes massive and complex ideas in an understandable way. he is guaranteed to satisfy all space questions of his.
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2. death by black hole of neil degras tyson
neil degrasse tyson is easily one of the best known astrophysicists working today. he’s the host of one of my favorite documentaries, cosmos: a space-time odyssey, he’s best friends with bill nye the scientist, and he hosts a podcast called startalk: can this guy improve? I first picked up this book when I needed to do some astronomy research for a story I was working on, but it soon became one of my favorite space books.
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3. cosmos by carl sagan
carl sagan, the mentor of the beloved neil degrasse tyson, captured the great ideas of space and time and made them easily understandable in his book cosmos. Spanning anthropological, cosmological, biological, historical, and astronomical topics, Sagan shares his views on everything from extraterrestrial life to his views on the future of science.
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4. packaging for mars by mary roach
You will become a lifelong Mary Roach fan after reading the first page of this book. packing for mars is his fun science-based book about how living in space reflects what it means to be human. answering questions like: what happens to you when you can’t walk for a year, have sex, or even smell flowers? What is it really like to live in space? could we survive on another planet given what we are used to? cockroach finds a way to experience life in outer space without leaving earth.
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5. an astronaut’s guide to life on earth by chris hadfield
chris hadfield is known for the david bowie music video he made while aboard the international space station. In this book, the Canadian astronaut documents his sometimes terrifying, sometimes exciting, and generally crazy preparations for life in space. This fantastic book will teach you to think like an astronaut, a useful skill for living everyday life.
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6. physics of the impossible by michio kaku
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If you are a fan of science fiction or interested in inventions and innovations, this is your book. kaku takes impossible ideas like invisibility cloaks, force fields, death rays and explains them using real facts. he beautifully explains how these imaginary inventions could one day become reality. after all, decades ago, scientists and inventors thought lasers and atomic bombs were impossible!
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7. women in space by karen bush gibson
This book is a collection of stories from 23 brave, smart and amazing women who have done work related to space research. each story focuses on their triumphs and tragedies, their past and their future hopes. you will learn a lot about space and be inspired by these pioneering women.
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8. how it ends by chris impey
Filled with fun facts, illustrations, and unfortunate reminders, this book is impy’s humorous version of what the universe would be like without us. how it ends will bring you up to speed on the science behind the end: the end of people and the end of all existence. Despite the less than pleasant theme, how it ends is a joyous read you’ll want to return to again and again.
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images: josh wallace / 500px/500px/getty images; giphy
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