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Into the Unknown

The Quest to Understand the Mysteries of the Cosmos

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Into the Unknown

By: Kelsey Johnson
Narrated by: Kelsey Johnson
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Summary

 A leading astronomer and gifted teacher takes readers on a wondrous tour of how science confronts the big questions—about the universe’s origins, destiny, and fundamental nature—and how it contends with the limits of our knowledge

Humans have learned a lot about the world around us and the universe beyond. We have had powerful insights and created profound theories about the universe and everything in it. Surely the ultimate theory must be waiting, just beyond our current knowledge.

Well, maybe. In Into the Unknown, astrophysicist Kelsey Johnson takes us to the edge of scientific understanding about the universe: What caused the Big Bang? What happens inside black holes? Are there other dimensions? She doesn’t just celebrate what we know but rather what we don’t, and asks what it means if we never find that knowledge. Exploring the convergence of science, philosophy, and theology, Johnson argues we must reckon with possibilities—including those that may be beyond human comprehension. The very places where we run smack into total ignorance are the places where the most important questions—about the philosophy of knowledge, the nature of our cosmos, and even the existence of God—await.

As accessible as it is profound, Into the Unknown invites each of us to join in the great quest for knowledge. Astronomy Astronomy & Space Science Cosmology Epistemology History & Philosophy Philosophy Physics Science Black Hole Thought-Provoking
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The reason I've scored this a four rather than a five is that I kept feeling taken out of the book when the author would somehow bring her family life into it as examples for certain things, or the random examples she'd use from the real world to liken one thing to another ... rather than just continuing on with the science of it. I was also a little on the fence when it started as it made me wonder if was aimed at a lower reading age, but that was fear soon alleviated when she got into the hard science of her topics.

One thing I liked about this book is that she points out that scientists shouldn't be so quick to rule out such things as a gods/higher powers etc... I've always been of the mindset that, unless you can scientifically prove such a being's absence, you have to entertain the notion its a possibility. So it's nice to see that put out there in print. (Another purely personal moment of enjoyment was when she mentioned a theory on black holes that lines up with one I have had for a while. Makes me feel way smarter than I actually am haha)

Overall, the hard science aspects of the book are very good, it's just so often that the book leads away from that to try to make the reader understand by giving silly analogies. It might just be me being overly picky, but that was my gut feeling when going through the book.

The author did a splendid job of the narration. It's often usually a bad job when you see the author narrates their own book, but Kelsey knocked it out of the park. I suppose she has had great practice being a teacher :)

Good, just takes me out of the book with analogies

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If you've ever felt that the universe is a mind boggling, impossible to truly comprehend place then this is the book for you. It lays out the limitations of our fleshy brains and discusses some of the truly big questions we just haven't evolved to wrap said brains around.

If you enjoy popular science or if you work within the AI space, this is a book I'd highly recommend.

Kelsey does a brilliant job, both as an author, scientists as well as a narrator. I think this book is crucial reading for anyone looking to connect the dots on life, the universe and everything.

Absolutely brilliant and highly insightful

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