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There are currently 42 member reviews
for The Smallest Lights in the Universe
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Mark S. (Blauvelt, NY)
Finding Life in the Stars
Seager's memoir was a thoroughly enjoyable and captivating read. I love the way she bounces back and forth and draws parallels between her "life life" and her "work life." Not only did I learn about Seager's field, but her perspective on a wide range of issues struck me as both apt and timely. I also enjoyed reading about Seager's challenges as a working mother in such an incredible field and would have loved a chance to talk about this book with others. As such, this memoir would be great for any book club that enjoys philosophical conversations about people and what is truly important in life.
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Janet H. (Long Beach, CA)
Smallest Lights in the Universe
This a is a great story, autobiographical, about Sara Seager. Rarely do we get to read what goes into the making of an astrophysicist. The author describes her fascination with stars when she was a young girl, struggling with the break-up of her parents, and the challenges of frequent moves, and multiple schools. She describes her "ah hah" moment when she learned that if she studied harder, she could easily excel in school. ... leading to Harvard and MIT.
It is fascinating to read her thought process dealing with trying to fit in at college – not easy. Fitting in at MIT, where no idea was considered too outlandish to try – that worked for her. Her writing is excellent, and transparent as she describes her life as a single parent of two boys after losing her husband to cancer. I saw it as a model, and a road map of making a very crummy set of circumstances work out well, using unusual ideas. Taking a working vacation? Take along your friends and helpers so you can attend conferences, AND see the sights with your sons.
The author is a very intelligent, well-educated woman who is successful in an unusual career. Her life is not gilded; it's hard. She comes across as a very real person, who suffers great loss and great success. I loved her story, and read it in just a few days
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Paula B. (Albuquerque, NM)
Balancing family with a dedication to science
This is the memoir of an extraordinary woman. The description bills it as a story about recovering from tragic early widowhood. It is so much more. It is a story of an astro-physicist in a quickly developing scientific area about which I knew almost nothing. Now I know a little more through the life experiences of a person who has largely been defined by this fascinating area of science. Her personal connections and life story are well worth reading. Dedication to her chosen field of study and the family she adores makes for a good story. Astrophysics is a complicated field, but the telling of this story allows the reader a taste of development in the area without overwhelming the story with mathematics and scientific detail.
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Karen S. (Allston, MA)
Widowhood and astrophysics make a compelling read
I dd not expect to like this book as much as I did, and worried that it might be too manipulative and/or too scientific. The author actually found a balance that worked and keep everything quite readable. Someone who is rather extraordinary in several ways has written a memoir that made me empathize with her struggles and admire her professional perseverance in a scientific field I knew very little about that she describes poetically. (I still know very little about astrophysics, but a bit more!) Although the author was quite candid about many experiences, which is expected in a memoir, this is not one of those dramatic reveal-all confessionals. It is well written book about an unusual person's story.
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Patty S. (Towson, MD)
Somewhere Out There
If you have ever wondered if there is life outside of our universe and you enjoy poignant memoirs, then you will love this beautifully written book. Sara Seager is an astrophysicist, wife, mother, and friend who has told the extraordinary story of her life so far. Sometimes heartbreaking and always passionate, she deftly blends the scientific with the personal to tell a story I didn't want to end. She doesn't ignore how hard it has been for her at times, being a woman in a male-dominate profession but she doesn't dwell on it, either. Just pushes forward to achieve her goals.
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Darlene G. (Allegany, NY)
Finding the light in loss
I enjoyed this memoir immensely. Although the story is about loss, grief, and how one woman went about building a new life for herself and her children, Sara Seager's love and steadfast curiosity about herself, life, and relationships are what stand out most for me. And, as an astrophysicist, her enthusiasm and devotion in attempting to discover life in other universes was captivating. Lastly, the structure of the book was artful and adept: I was consistently curious about what would happen next.
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Julia A. (New York, NY)
An Outstanding Memoir
Sara Seager has had an extraordinary life so far. In this book, part memoir, part technical explanations of what astrophysicists actually do (the casual reader may want to skim these parts, though those of us who are fascinated by outer space will love them) she tells her inspiring story. A must-read for parents of daughters; the daughters themselves if they are teen-aged or older; and anyone who has ever felt "different" from peers. I had a hard time putting it down.
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