Book 1 Post 2

 

I chose to read How I Killed Pluto by Michael Brown because of the interesting title. What does killing Pluto actually mean? I knew I had to learn more and figure out exactly what this meant. I’ve also always had an interest in stars and planets, so I wanted to learn how deep this book would get into that and what exactly it had to do with Pluto. After finishing the book, I’ve learned so much more about Pluto and our solar system. Aside from astronomy and science, I also got an inside look into the life of the author and astronomer, Michael Brown. This made the book much more intriguing because you learned about the author’s passion for astronomy and his personal life aside from work. It was great to read about his experiences with his wife and daughter while at the same time discovering objects in the solar system.

One of the biggest things I learned was that the author ended up discovering more than one object out in space. These are things that I had never heard about, but now I know of these discoveries and that there’s more than one dwarf planet. Learning about the process of using telescopes and studying the skies was so interesting to learn about. As a reader, you get a sense of how difficult it really is to try to find objects out in space and figure out what they really are. The author made it his goal to find another planet out in space and discovered much more than that. The most exciting part of the book is when another astronomer tries to steal his work. This is something I never saw coming. Reading about the process the author took to prevent others from stealing his work and seeing the results from it brought suspense to the book. Aside from all these things and his discoveries, I enjoyed how he spent time talking about his experiences with his wife and how he adjusted to becoming a father. You read about his personal side and really get to know him away from astronomy.

I would recommend this book, especially if you have always wanted to learn a little more about planets and astronomy! Despite it being on astronomy and science, the text isn’t dense at all. It is an easy read for any reader and the author explains everything in detail. He also talks a lot about his wife and daughter throughout the book which helps you get engaged since there is always new topics to read about. His tone is very upbeat and isn’t formal at all. He makes it enjoyable and not like you’re reading a textbook. He makes it seem as if you’re having a conversation with him about planets and the solar system. It never really gets boring or dull because it seems as if there’s always something new going on in his work and life. You also get to read about his passion for astronomy and how it developed as a kid. It’s a great read and a book that I enjoyed!