Book Review: The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy
October 2022 :
Book Review: The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy, by Moiya McTier, New York: Grand Central Publishers, 2022, ISBN 9781538754153, hardbound, $27.00 US
Reviewed by Francine Jackson
It’s not often when we are able to have a chat with one of our celestial neighbors; however, in this case, it’s with the one that we are inside of: The Milky Way. In fact, it introduces itself by reminding us that it made us all, although not directly in the format we see, not chairs or even humans.
We then begin a voyage through and around the Galaxy, being introduced to the various stars it has made, plus how it is put together, and where we insignificant humans fortunately have our star situated. We learn of how it has devoured smaller galaxies that have ventured too close, and how the halo clusters are often leftovers of some of these former galaxies.
Of course, we are introduced to Larry and Sammy, the neighboring Large and Small Magellanic clouds, and bratty Trin, also known as Triangulum, or M33, and the bane of the galaxy’s existence, Sarge, that giant black hole right in its center.
Apparently our home’s favorite neighbor is Andromeda. It not only spends time “sending” messages to it, but is actually waiting for the time when the two will become one, creating the giant Milkomeda, when their stars and gas will dance together. Oh, and, no, we are reminded, we will not be there.
This book is one of the cutest, yet one of the most informative ones on all aspects of our galactic home. We not only learn all there is to our galaxy, and the others in our Local Group – including those that the galaxy has eaten – but the possible futures of our universe. We as humans are often put down, although the galaxy does like us as sounding boards, but we are reminded that our Milky Way is a beautiful, and “intelligent,” place to live. Not only will you enjoy this tour, but you may find yourself smiling more than you normally do while reading a science book. Try it.
