IF YOU want a crash course in cosmology, Stuart Clark’s The Universe is an excellent place to start. It seeks to answer 20 frequently asked questions, ranging from what are black holes to how big is the universe, all in 3000-word essays. There are also clear answers to two questions that every astronomer faces at least once: “Do other intelligent beings exist?” and “Is there evidence for God?”
The essay format works surprisingly well. Clark is an engaging writer who manages to convey of lot of information in each answer. Accompanying quotes, such as Galileo talking about the Milky Way…
