"Most, if not all, cultures have a tradition and stories tied to patterns in the skies. It seems to be something innate to human behaviour the world over that has led us to make dot-to-dot pictures using the skies as a backdrop, as well as to tell such stories to pass down."

Astronomy's a subject I've always had a more-than-surface-level fascination with (Even if thinking about very distant galaxies and starts thousands of times bigger than the Sun breaks my brain and makes me panic), but my struggles with Physics have always made the subject feel somewhat difficult to approach. Masters certainly succeeds in demystifying astronomy with her work by building a collection of the most essential names and works throughout history.

Naturally, "The Astronomers' Library" is far from exhaustive and includes the works most prominent, culturally relevant, or, as stated by Masters herself, simply near and dear to the author. It does not claim to be a complete list nor does it aim to be one. However, it certainly doesn't lack in terms of perspective. It doesn't shy away from the subject's history and how it arose out of astrology, how for centuries the two were perceived as intertwined. Furthermore, it's not limited to just the Western perspective and discoveries, as works from historical figures around the world are given their spotlight, particularly those from the Islamic Golden Age.

The illustration quality is sublime and I imagine the physical copy makes for a gorgeous tome. It's a collection of prints, excerpts, and more recent spacy photography, providing a more or less chronological idea of how our understanding and vision of space has shifted over the decades.

"The Astronomers' Library" helps make the field feel more approachable, gets into the basics of science without overcomplicating things, and emphasises just how human it is to gaze at the stars - whether it's with a powerful telescope or your own two eyes.

The Astronomers' Library: The Books that Unlocked the Mysteries of the Universe by Karen Masters is currently scheduled for release on April 23 2024.

Humankind has looked to the heavens since the dawn of time, wondering what is out there, as well as how everything works and (originally) who was responsible for it. Every tribe, race and civilization has wondered about our place in the universe and what lies beyond and what lies within it, below our feet. Lately, attention has turned to the origins of the universe. From the turn of the millennium, knowledge and ideas were recorded, first on tablets or rock, then in the form of simple manuscripts, and eventually in a much more elaborate fashion as illustrative, engraving, and printing skills evolved. As far back as the tenth century, Persian scholars such as Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi was recording his findings, observations and speculations on the wider universe, in his Book of Fixed Stars. The focus turned to Europe in the Middle Ages, with Germany, Holland and England the centers of study and publication. Following the “Copernican Revolution”, observation and study underwent a radical change, paving the way for astronomers such as Kepler, Galilei and Newton to shed further light on the nature of the planets and stars of our known systems, and the ground beneath our feet. Each of those famous names contribute to the illustrated books that are featured within.

The Astronomers' Library is a well researched and documented book that explores some of the most important and influential astronomy books from the last 800 years. As someone that has always been fascinated with the subject, I found the combination of information about the history or the field and its texted enthralling. I thought the illustrations and photographs use enhance the understanding and keeps the reader fully engaged with the book while also encouraging further exploration of the featured texts and times. I felt that I learned a great deal from this read, and am likely to revisit it because it was an enjoyable read while also being informative. I also appreciated the list of more modern texts recommended by the author at the end of the book.

This is an informative and beautifully illustrated book. Unfortunately, it’s not formatted properly for reading via text-to-speech.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Beautiful and fascinating!

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very nice coffee table book for fans of the visual artifiacts of astronomy. It was a nice break for me, as I often read books on astrophysics that may have charts and formulas but few, if any photos. These are big and in color, though it was a challenge to properly enjoy them in the ebook. I recommend getting the hardcover.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿, 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗔𝗥𝗖. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲!

Did you know that Astronomy was born out of Astrology? Astrology is the seed from which Astronomy grew, so to say... Astronomy is a science, while its predecessor, Astrology, has always been a divinatory practice and sometimes a science, too.

🔭 🌌 🌠 🌕 ✨
I love Science just as much as I love the Esoteric & Occult, so this Book was a welcome read.

Professor Masters gives us one Eye candy after another and goes to great lengths to give us the accompanying text/explanations. The writing is easy to understand and very informative, no matter if YOU (dear reader) are a nerd, adept, or just curious.

In this Book, you will encounter well known people of science like Tycho Brahe, Johannes Kepler, Galileo Galilei and Carl Sagan, even if some only in passing like the latter.
Scripts like the MUL.APIN or devices like the Astrolabium and the Orrery will cross your path, too.

I love, that the Author went so far and didn't stay too US & Europe-centric.
Even though I would have loved some more 'name dropping', like Taqi ad-Din Muhammad ibn Ma'ruf or Ali Quşçi. BUT all in all this was a very satisfying read.

A hard science 5 🌟 Rating!

𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔, 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒋𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝑨𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒎𝒚.

The Astronomers' Library presents a curated selection of the finest astronomy books spanning eight centuries, offering an immersive journey through the vibrant history of celestial exploration in Europe. Featuring notable works from Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK, and Persia, it sheds light on the pivotal contributions of the Middle East to the documentation of star studies.

This captivating tome beckons readers with its allure, whether adorning a coffee table, sparking conversations, or providing moments of delightful perusal—be it all at once or in cherished increments.

Enhanced with breathtaking illustrations and photographs, this volume offers a compelling window into the portrayal and application of astronomy across the ages. I found its contents both intellectually stimulating and creatively inspiring, offering valuable insights and recommendations for further exploration. Perfectly tailored for enthusiasts of astronomy, literature aficionados, and admirers of visual artistry.

Indeed, this book's essence truly thrives in the tangible realm of a hardcover format. My heartfelt gratitude to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Ivy Press for the opportunity to immerse myself in the captivating pages of this literary masterpiece.

It’s a very informative, richly illustrated book that reads like those books you get after you visit an exhibition. It’s fascinating, and detailed, but I think I would appreciate it more in a paper-based format, due to the many different font sizes, and the gorgeous photos of space. Great idea to include a list of suggested reads at the end!

A beautifully illustrated/photographed book about how astronomy was contextualized and used in books historically. I found this incredibly fascinating and it gave me some ideas and books for future reading of my own. This would be the perfect book for astronomy lovers, book lovers, and for anyone who likes photos and illustrations. 4.5/5

I was intrigued by the cover of this book, was hoping for more of a historical aspect to astronomy (which it did deliver, just not in the amount I wished for, however that's not the books fault). Can see quite a few customers enjoying this who are interested in the topic. Very nicely illustrated.

An amazing book for astronomy lovers. It gave me a lot of book titles that I'm certainly going to be searching any time soon!