A thought-provoking exploration of not only Dr. Shields’ achievements and findings in the search for interstellar life but her experiences as a Black woman in STEM.

Dr. Aomawa Shields was in the first year of her astrophysics PhD program when a white male professor told her that she wasn't dedicated enough to the field if she also loved things like art, theatre, poetry, and fashion. She spent 10 years working as a professional actor before regaining the courage to pursue her dream. In this memoir, Shields shares her journey to becoming an astronomer and astrobiologist, creating her own path despite being the oldest student and only Black person in her PhD cohort, and why she dreams of life elsewhere in our universe. I really appreciate how Shields discusses things like imposter syndrome and the forces both external and internal that made her feel like an outsider in the world of astronomy. Her story is fascinating and written in a compelling way, and I love how she ties in some of her research topics. It's an inspiring memoir with approachable descriptions of astronomical concepts that will make you look at the stars in a new way.