The Day We Found the Universe

By: Marcia Bartusiak

Narrated by: Erik Synnestvedt

From one of our most acclaimed science writers: a dramatic narrative of the discovery of the true nature and startling size of the universe, delving back past the moment of revelation to trace the decades of work--by a select group of scientists--that made it possible.

On January 1, 1925, 35-year-old Edwin Hubble announced findings that ultimately established that our universe was a thousand trillion times larger than previously believed, filled with myriad galaxies like our own. It was a realization that reshaped how humans understood their place in the cosmos. Six years later, continuing research by Hubble and others forced Albert Einstein to renounce his own cosmic model and finally accept the astonishing fact that the universe was not immobile but instead expanding. The story of these interwoven discoveries includes battles of will, clever insights, and wrong turns made by the early investigators in this great twentieth-century pursuit, from the luminaries (Einstein, Hubble, Harlow Shapley) to the lesser known: Henrietta Leavitt, who discovered the means to measure the vast dimensions of the cosmos . . . Vesto Slipher, the first and unheralded discoverer of the universe's expansion... Georges Lemaître, the Jesuit priest who correctly interpreted Einstein's theories in relation to the universe... Milton Humason, who, with only an eighth-grade education, became a world-renowned expert on galaxy motions... and others. Here is the watershed moment in our cosmic history, splendidly arising from the exceptional combination of human curiosity, intelligence, and enterprise.

©2009 Marcia Bartusiak (P)2009 Gildan Media Corp

Critic reviews

"One of our most thrilling science writers, has captured the excitement of the amazing years at the beginning of the 20th century when we truly discovered our universe. With a great cast of astronomers and physicists - from Lowell to Hale to Hubble to Einstein - this book is a cosmic delight." (Walter Isaacson, author of Einstein: His Life and Universe)

Interesting and educational if not riveting

Very interesting history of how we learned the origins of the universe and the personalities that shaped that understanding. The author does a good job not only breaking down complex scientific concepts, but the methods used prove cosmic origin theories. For me, parts were a little slow and plodding as a story, but considering the subject the author did a very good job walking through the debates and personalities that came together to understand how our universe functions.

Interesting book/monotonous narration

This book describes in an accessible language the great controversies of early twentieth century astronomy. Bartusiak also doesn't not leave out the characters involved, delving into the personalities, quirks and aspirations of the influential astronomers of era. It does so without dumbing down the science.

Unfortunately, the narration is less than stellar. The narrator proceeds at a good pace but reads almost every sentence with identical intonation.

An excellent book

For any interested in the techniques and history of Astronomy this is an excellent book and well worth the reading.

Worth the Effort

I try to read in unfamiliar areas every week and so I looked to "The Day We Found the Universe" and was not really disappointed. I further seek out books that are well written and read as well as informative. This book met those expectation.

In this volume Marcia Bartusiak has done an exceptional service by making this scientific story available to general readers. Her section dealing with problems of positivism in research were refreshing.

This book has enabled me to understand the contributions of Einstein, Harlow Shapely, Hubble and others to the understanding of our universe, its size and significance. Sections on Hubble were very interesting. Pages on how Einstein developed his theoretical perspective was warming. All of these players become real and human in the reading.

Readers who need to be entertained to maintain interest might be a little disappointed in this volume, however. The prose is wonderful, but will not carry the reader along on its own. Readers and listeners alike will need to concentrate or they will not benefit. Those without any background will, perhaps, not understand everything covered. There is a lot here to benefit the novice reader coming to this topic with an open mind and a the willingness to "listen up."

We need more like this!

It would be nice to have books of this quality for many other historical reviews of scientific progress. Developments in spectroscopy, discoveries in electricity and magnetism, selected discoveries in biology, botany, geology, stellar dynamics etc. "The Day We Found the Universe" had just the right balance of technical and history information. Great purchase.