Reviews for "Chasing Venus"
“Thrilling book … absorbing … exciting”, The Independent
"Andrea Wulf's engrossing history is a fitting tribute", Mail on Sunday
"Andrea Wulf's stirring history of Venus-gazing shows astronomy at its most adventurous and heroic … like an astonishing pre-Verne Around the World in Eighty Days ... a thrilling, stirring tale, very well told", The Guardian
"Andrea Wulf's story of the chase is an enthralling, nail-biting thriller and will undoubtedly prove one of the non-fiction books of the year. Even if you fail to see the Transit, don't miss this wonderful book," Daily Mail
"Entertaining tale … tastefully … Chasing Venus captures the spirit of adventure and the wonder … a pleasure to read from beginning to end", BBC Sky at Night Magazine
"But the 18th century stargazers whom Andrea Wulf chronicles in “Chasing Venus” proved themselves a different sort. Their exploits would put Indiana Jones to shame … appealing mix of science and travel … Wulf writes with enthusiasm … and marvelous concision over the 200 pages of her text. Better yet, she explains complex scientific phenomena in clear, layperson’s terms: Here is a book both astrophysicists and poets can understand," Boston Globe
“Replete with meticulous detail, delightful illustrations and a cast of very familiar names from world history, Chasing Venus is an eminently readable account of humanity’s effort to chart the heavens. At once an exhilarating adventure, a tale of personal obsession, a tragedy and a detailed history of astronomical endeavour, Wulf’s latest work is a fascinating read.” Press Association syndicated review
"The result is a human story, and it’s worth reading as a rallying call to humanity’s quest to explore the universe simply for the sake of it", Daily Telegraph
"Lovely book ... magisterial Chasing Venus," The Guardian
‘An extraordinary book …astonishing brio … enthrallingly written story. Andrea Wulf’s book is setting standards’, Journal für Astronomie (Journal for Astronomie)
“[Wulf’s] feeling for personality and her attention to both the scientific records and to the astronomers’ journals brings their exploits to life as both scientific exploration and adventurous derring-do … enticing tale … “Chasing Venus” effectively dramatizes an important moment in the history of science”, Washington Times
“Chasing Venus is beautifully paced, alternating between expeditions, with lush descriptions of the often arduous journeys involved,” Nature (Owen Gingerich)
"Andrea Wulf's immaculately researched book describes the endeavours of the early scientific community to observe the transit around the world ... an absorbing, even exciting yarn", The Lady
“Truly excellent … rip-roaring tales of the numerous expeditions that set off around the globe to observe the Venusian transit of 1761 …communicate[s] the verve and energy - not to mention the perilous nature - of the expeditions.”, New Scientist
“More typical of a globetrotting thriller than a history book … These moments of danger … keep the reader turning pages with an eagerness worthy of Wulf's characters themselves. Chasing Venus presents the history of science at its most fascinating — and most adventurous,” Nashville Scene and Chapter 16
“Outstanding book! It's the book of the year so far – do not miss it!”, Astronomy Now
“[An] enthusiastic account. . . . With the next transit predicted for June 6, 2012, Wulf’s well-handled history arrives in a timely manner,” Booklist
“A fine example of scientific storytelling … narrated with elegant expertise.”, The Times
“Lively narrative … like a nonfiction National Treasure with myriads of Nicholas Cages darting around—in a good way. Enlightening Enlightenment fare” Kirkus Review, Starred Review
“Thrilling tale … a fitting homage … an absorbing account … Wulf’s marvelous eye for detail and talent for simplifying complex science make the book, timed for release a month before the last transit of this century, well worth reading before June”, Associated Press (published in Washington Post, Huffington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Miami Herald, The Kansas City Star, The Seattle Post Intelligencer amongst many others)
“Andrea Wulf has now chronicled the 18th-century transit expeditions in a narrative light on astronomical detail but rich in personalities and adventures … she does wonderfully sketch the race for scientific, and patriotic, glory,” Dallas Morning Star
“[An] excellent book. . . . Chasing Venus chronicles a rare planetary event that happened at a rare juncture in human history, when the age of empire, the age of science, and the age of curiosity brought the world together for just a few moments—to achieve the measure of the universe.” Brain Pickings