Life on Other Planets
A Memoir of Finding My Place in the Universe
- Paperback
352 pages
- Release Date
19 September 2023
Summary
As a child, Aomawa Shield’s first great love was the sky - she would bump into things on the ground because her neck was always craned upward - and she longed to become an astronaut. Determined to make her dream a reality, Aomawa applied for and attended an elite high school with an astronomy observatory, graduated with a degree in astrophysics from MIT, and began studying for a PhD. But one year into her studies, a white male professor recommended that she consider other careers. Was he sayi…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781408715284 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 1408715287 |
| Author: | Aomawa Shields |
| Publisher: | Little, Brown Book Group |
| Imprint: | Constable |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Number of Pages: | 352 |
| Release Date: | 19 September 2023 |
| Weight: | 420g |
| Dimensions: | 232mm x 152mm x 30mm |
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What They're Saying
Critics Review
A riveting memoir of crossroads, choices, and triumph. I could not put this book down. Shields is an astronomer whose writing miraculously feels like the night sky itself - vast, elegant, luminous. * Tara Mohr, author of Playing Big: Practical Wisdom for Women Who Want to Speak Up, Create and Lead *
This book is so good, so gorgeously written, covering with integrity so much: being smart, scared, taking your power, humour, family, being different and the same, science, stars, sky, being a woman, being black; it is a triumph and a pleasure. It compels the reader to learn more about the planets, and how to stretch our unlimited capacity to live fully in this universe. * Natalie Goldberg, author of Three Simple Lines and Writing Down the Bones *
Shields took my breath away with her candour on these pages. An inspiring account of the struggles of a hero who is both scientist and artist. * Ann Druyan, writer, director, and producer of COSMOS *
Life On Other Planets is a beautiful meditation on space, identity and belonging … As one of the few black women in her field, Shields’ story is one of resilience - battling detractors and imposter syndrome to become a prominent
astronomer. Her writing style is lyrical and readable, and while Shields might not be a household name in the UK, her story is well worth knowing
This riveting memoir is relatable and personable * BBC Sky at Night *
Author Aomawa Shields bring[s] a lot of science into her tale, but it comes with a lot of gentle wide-eyed wonder and explanations that are easy for an average reader to grasp. There’s beauty in what Shields sees, and she shares her excitement in a way that will make you see the sky with fresh eyes * Houston Style Magazine *
About The Author
Aomawa Shields
Dr. Aomawa Shields is an astronomer, astrobiologist, and the Clare Boothe Luce Associate Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of California, Irvine. She was named a 2015 TED Fellow and is the recipient of the NSF CAREER Award and a NASA Habitable Worlds program grant, among others. She is the founder and director of Rising Stargirls, a program dedicated to encouraging girls of all colors and backgrounds to learn, explore, and discover the universe using theater, writing, and visual art.
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