With unhumble pride, I’d like to announce the release of my first real live book, “Bad Astronomy”. For those of you familiar with my website, the book has some topics already there, but with more detail. It also goes into new topics, like UFOs, astrology and creationism.
For those of you not familiar with my site, Bad Astronomy deals with myths and misconceptions in astronomy. There are articles about why the sky is blue, standing eggs on the first day of spring, why we have tides, and all sorts of other astronomical topics. I also review movies and television shows for the accuracy of their astronomy.
Hmph. Reading this makes it all sound dry. It ain’t. It’s fun. So please drop on by! I have more info about the book there too.
Anyone not familiar with our author here, believe me when I say he has a knack for taking a fascinating topic and making it quite entertaining. Being entertained while you learn something relevant to everything you do. Sounds to me like just about as good as it gets.
I’ll be over to order a copy right away. Any chance of getting an autographed copy?
First, thanks for the nice words. I never get tired of praise.
Second, I am not sure what to do about autographs. At first I was embarrassed, but then figured what the heck. We’ve been talking about it on my own BB, but never got a good solution. The best I can do is print up “book plates”, which are big stickers to put inside the book. I can sign those and mail them out. The problem, to be blunt, is cost; the stickers are fairly pricey. I am looking into it though. I am hoping the publisher can send me a bunch, but I haven’t heard from them yet about it.
My only question is, will the book contain those dissections of the bad astronomy and physics in movies, such as Armageddon and Red Planet, that I so enjoy on the website?
Not specifically. But the last chapter is a reprint of an Astronomy Magazine article I wrote that puts together generic mistakes in movies, and then debunks them.
Great Job! You seem to be the astronomy version of good old Uncle Cecil (actually, you are much better than Uncle Cecil but he is is getting old and we like to humor him and you know…). I have used your arguments against the Fox special claiming that the lunar landings were fake so many times that it is not even funny. Actually, now that I think of it, can you send me a short e-mail thanking me for fighting their ignorance (I am actually serious). I just need one more piece of ammo to prove to two usually intelligence people that they have the logical reasoning ability of my pet iguana (didn’t mean to insult you Atilla). They seem to by easily swayed be any media figure including whatever Fox throws out there. I will certainly buy your book as soon as I see it. Will it be available at Barnes and Noble?
Thanks for the info, BA! I’ve had your book saved in my shopping cart at Amazon.com for months now - guess I can click the purchase button now! Your astronomy site is great, and it’s badly needed, judging from the ratings those “documentaries” on FOX recieve. Here’s hoping some of those folks check out your web site and/or pick up your book.
I see that in the lastest issue of SKEPTIC Magazine, James Randi says your book is “readable, erudite, informative, useful, and highly entertaining”. Well done!
I knew of you from your web site long before I “knew” you here. Not that I really know you of course, but, well, you know what I mean.
As I posted months ago (which is probably lost in the Great Beyond, beyond December 7, a day that will live in infamy) I will most certainly purchase your book.
From other posts here, I infer that I can buy it at Amazon. Off I go!
