The Edge of Space-Time - by Chanda Prescod-Weinstein (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A fresh, charming, socially conscious tour of the mysteries of space-time, from the award-winning author of The Disordered Cosmos

In her highly acclaimed debut, distinguished cosmologist and particle physicist Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein shared with her audience an abiding sense of wonder at the cosmos, while imagining a world without the entrenched injustice that plagues her field. Now, in The Edge of Space-Time, she embraces that cosmic wonder, taking readers on a mind-altering journey to the boundaries of the universe, inviting us to spend time at the edge of what we know about space-time and about ourselves.

Guided by her conviction that for humanity to go forward we must know our cosmic past, Prescod-Weinstein renders accessible some of the most abstract concepts of theoretical physics and draws on poetry and popular culture--from Queen Latifah to Lewis Carroll to Big K.R.I.T. to Sun Ra and Star Trek-- to tell fascinating stories about the fundamental quantum nature of space-time and everything inside of it. Here we meet the quantum cat that is both dead and alive, learn the difference between dark matter and dark energy, explore the inner workings of black holes, investigate the possibility of a unified theory of quantum gravity, and map out the meeting place of the unimaginably vast with the confoundingly small, following our guide out to the far reaches of the particle horizon and down to the tiniest (and queerest) neutrino. Prescod-Weinstein shows us how spending time with the cosmos is a vital human activity that enriches all our lives. Along the way, she calls on us to resist colonial approaches to space exploration and instead imagine a better path forward in our pursuit of humanity's undeniable connection with the stars.

Through Prescod-Weinstein's clear-eyed and unique perspective, and informed by her deep knowledge of post-colonial history and Black feminist thought, The Edge of Space-Time argues that physics is an essential way for everyone to look at the universe and presents a compelling case that "the edge" is a powerful vantage point from which to see the big picture.

Review Quotes

"With this extraordinary book, Prescod-Weinstein cements her status as one of the most accomplished and important science writers of our time; as polymath, griot, teacher, and more; as the guide to the universe that we don't deserve but absolutely need. She has given us a book about physics as story and metaphor, as revelation and revolution, as answer and antidote. It's suffused with gorgeous poetry and frequently very, very funny."
­--Ed Yong, author of An Immense World

"Of course, the most politically audacious book I've read in decades would be a book about physics and space. In The Edge of Space-Time, Chanda Prescod-Weinstein shows us that we are here because we have always been there . . . making and reckoning with space. An absolute instant classic and an intergalactic monument. Read this now."­
--Kiese Laymon, author of Heavy

"Lots of books talk about the universe. The Edge of Space-Time talks about the universe from the perspective of a real human living within it--a person with a body, embedded in a community, burdened by history, fueled by curiosity, sustained by hope. A great read for any human being who lives in the universe."
--Sean Carroll, author of The Biggest Ideas in the Universe

"A lyrical, genre-defying exploration of the universe that dances at the intersection of physics, pop culture, and Black intellectual thought, this book invites readers to see the cosmos not just through equations, but through the rhythms of music, the textures of art, and the power of storytelling."
­--Ruha Benjamin, author of Race After Technology

"Yet another book by Dr. Prescod-Weinstein that I'll want to bring up in every conversation! Whatever you thought you would learn about space-time, you'll get that and so much more from this deft weave of quantum physics and cultural wisdom."­
--Moiya McTier, author of The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy

"An enthralling introduction to the universe, The Edge of Space-Time reminds us all that stargazing is the work of generations of physicists and poets, and people both enslaved and free. Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein invites us to imagine grander, queerer theories for our cosmic future and, along the way, achieves the unthinkable: She makes physics accessible and funny. A paean to caring for the unknown and the unknowable, this is a book for anyone in any world."
­--Sabrina Imbler, author of How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures

"Astonishing. One of the greatest gifts a writer can offer the world is vibrant, heartfelt perspective, and Prescod-Weinstein warmly presents a new prism that will stoke your curiosity about how we meet our universe. The epic tale shows how big and small, we're part of it all."
--Riley Black, bestselling author of The Last Days of the Dinosaurs

About the Author

Chanda Prescod-Weinstein is an associate professor of physics and astronomy and core faculty in women's and gender studies at the University of New Hampshire. She conducts award-winning theoretical physics research on dark matter, the early universe, and neutron stars, while also researching Black feminist science studies. Her first book, The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred, won the 2021 Los Angeles Times Book Prize in science and technology, the 2022 Phi Beta Kappa Award in Science, and a 2022 Josephine Miles Award from PEN Oakland. A columnist for New Scientist and Physics World, she is originally from East L.A., California, and now divides her time between the New Hampshire Seacoast and Cambridge, Massachusetts.