Regarded by many as one of the most brilliant minds of this era, Neil deGrasse Tyson lives up to the reputation. Death by Black Hole is sufficient evidence as to why.

There are plenty of brilliant people at the frontier of science, but what makes Tyson exceptional is his ability to make these discoveries comprehensible to laypeople like myself. He doesn’t just explain astrophysics; he invites you to marvel at it.

What I appreciated most about this book is how the "Cosmic Quandaries" span such a variety of topics that there’s something to intrigue nearly anyone. It moves across disciplines: from the history of science to the hypothetical "fall" into a black hole, from the beginning of time to speculative endings.

I personally enjoyed the final two sections, and upon reading them, you’ll likely see why.

What surprised me most was how funny Tyson can be while educating. The tone is playful without ever losing sight of the science. It reads like someone who’s genuinely excited to explain the universe to you, not because he has to, but because he can’t help it.

Some essays are more compelling than others, but that’s the nature of a collection like this. One moment you’re pondering the philosophical limits of human knowledge; the next, you're considering the thermodynamics of toast.

While it’s easy to treat this as a “science book,” it’s really a book about curiosity. Tyson shows us how the biggest questions often hide in the smallest observations. Reading it reminded me that wonder is a habit, not just a reaction.

And this is why it appeals to me. I love when we find the questions that drive us, and I hope this book inspires others to find their own.