What readers think of The Smallest Lights in the Universe, plus links to write your own review.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

What an enjoyable and insightful memoir. I'm normally not an enthusiast reader of memoirs, but this book captured my attention from the very beginning! The book title in itself is a drawing card to read this book. I do have to mentioned that someone with my limited knowledge about our universe and even less about astrophysics, I found the book gripping and a good read. After reading the book, I did go to one of author's TED Talks, which helped me immensely to visually grasp an understanding of what the title of this book is referencing. A suggestion would be to include so type of charts and graphs referencing the subject matter. The non-scientific parts of the book are extremely captivating. Some book clubs might welcome such an enlightening subject matter, but others book clubs might not want to engage in this type of adventure. A target audience should those in the scientific research community that could relate to the demands of balancing work and family life.

I enjoyed reading The Smallest Lights in the Universe by Sara Seager. Intertwining her personal life with her professional life in this memoir, she is a wonderful writer who builds suspense with space exploration and what is happening in her personal life. Her fascinating job has given her lots of great opportunities to travel. She takes such good care of her husband and sons and talks about managing her work/life balance. Everybody should have a support group like the Widows of Concord.