The Cosmic Perspective (7th Edition)

I would rate book 4/5 due to the poor quality of the paperback cover, but the information in the book is so good I have to rate it a 5/5. I wish this book was a hardcover because I'm planning on keeping it the rest of my life, but the paperback cover quality is very poor. The quality of the pages and ink are very good though. I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in our universe.Anyways, I used this textbook for my Introduction to Astronomy course. This textbook is great in explaining concepts with only basic math (for a simple derivation of Einstein's Special Relativity, you only need to remember highschool geometry). The 1st chapter of the book is absolutely mindblowing as it ventures into the vast scale of the universe. The 3rd chapter, which address the nature of science, is well-written to give you a feel for how the scientific method works (everyone should read this section because there are so many misconceptions about the scientific method). The 2nd part of the book goes into key concepts mandatory for astronomy. These sections will be harder for people without a scientific background (i.e. those not in a science or engineering major). A lot of the students in the class struggled during these chapters not due to the mathematics, but due to the amount of information present in these chapters. What I learned during 3 years of physics and engineering is shrunken down to 3 compact chapters. But the authors do their best job to simplify concepts, and these sections were really fun to read. These chapters will show you how beautiful physics really is, and more importantly will set the foundation for the rest of the book.Parts 3-7 will be the most interesting parts of the book (about 20 chapters total), depending on which subfield you enjoy. These parts include planets (and exoplanets), stars, galaxies, cosmology, and a few other topics like quantum mechanics, special/general relativity, and exobiology. I would sit and read these chapters in awe. It's not worth getting into detail about each chapter, but I can't express enough how great these chapters were written. There are a ton of pictures, graphs, and tables to help with the concepts. I read this book word for word from front to back. For anyone without a strong mathematical background, but wants to learn about astronomy, I would highly recommend this textbook.Edit: I used this textbook last school year. This year I've began my 3-course astronomy minor and I keep this introductory book by my desk because the picture references are great. My professor even uses the diagrams in our astrophysics class because they are so colorful and, more importantly, informative (the HR diagram included is color-coded and merges the theorist's and observer's diagrams together. I have yet to see a better HR diagram than the one in this book).

Textbook review is a funny thing to write from a student's point of view. After all, these books are required. Our opinions are not high on the list of reasons we buy them. That being said, I had full access to this eBook through my class fees. I found it so fascinating that I did buy a used copy of the print book just to have. I like reading paper books and I'm happy to have this one on my shelf. It is written in a clear and easy to read way. Our class covered only the first half. I have skimmed sections of the second half just for fun since the class has concluded. There are many examples to try to help readers understand just how vast the universe really is. I love this book and the whole class experience that went along with it. It is written by people who know their stuff and are clearly passionate about it. The whole thing feels like an invitation from a team of real experts (who could out math me in the first 3 seconds) to an astronomy party. It's like they are nurturing a new generation of astrophysicists. It is very polished and coherent. Anyway, you get the picture. As far as required textbooks go, this one is a gem.

This text is quite comprehensive and suitable for an introductory astronomy course. The concepts are presented clearly, with plenty of visual aids. The book is written for a non-STEM audience but it does include content called "Mathematical Insights" that is separated from the main material so it may be utilized or not depending on the instructor's approach. The math does not include trig or calculus so it is approachable by any student who is familiar with basic algebra-level skills.There is a later edition of this book: https://www.amazon.com/Cosmic-Perspective-8th-Jeffrey-Bennett/dp/0134059069/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470002872&sr=8-1&keywords=cosmic+perspective+8th+edition so make sure that you are purchasing the correct edition required for your class. The 7th edition mentions things like the New Horizons mission that have since arrived at its destination. This book still has value and will stay on my shelf as a reference.

I'm a professional science writer and curriculum developer who is long out of college. This book is organizer beautifully for conceptually developing planetary geology, geophysics and astronomy on a readable level. Up-to-date with excellent graphics and a nicely done index, it is my go to reference guide. I prefer it over the Internet to help with the "big picture" ideas. I've read other textbooks cover to cover and the organizational flow, coupled with the through chapter development is outstanding. He begins with a page on pedagogy that says it all: Focus on the big picture, work on conceptual ideas, relate the material to what students already know and then idea more obscure details. I've taught for more than 20 years and this is a sound way to impart complex information.

I love everything about this seller! Wonderful hospitality! The card was so thoughtful and sweet. Free goodies/supplies for school were a definite plus! Never go wrong with candy, everyone loves candy! I will definitely purchase from this seller again

although the paper covered book is hard to maintain.... this book is filled to the max with knowledge and info we know of the universe. best of all you learn something new and facinating in almpst each.paragraph of each chapter. worth it ONLY IF YOU PLAN TO READ IT! so stop being lazy and pass that astronomy class!!

My copy was used so there were some damages to the corner of all of the pages. Other than that, everything was fine

It was exactly what I needed. Book did have a rental sticker on it so I was slightly confused but it got figured out.

I chose this book for my University science requirement. I loved the way I received it was super clean and new!