Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown and Company for an eARC of Pillars of Creation by Richard Panek.

I want to start off with the fact that I'd been following the creation of the James Webb Telescope for a long time and I had so much excitement when it launched. Just to see the photos it started sending back made me feel so giddy, especially when they were compared to Hubble's (not bashing Hubble, that was the og). So, I was excited to see that someone wrote about the James Webb Telescope.

Richard Panek certainly delivers a riveting account of the JWST, a groundbreaking instrument that is reshaping the understanding of the universe. It is extremely clear that Richard Panek meticulously researched the origins of the JWST, the formidable challenges faced during its development, and the extraordinary discoveries that are emerging from its observations. The writing is engaging and informative, using accessible language appealing to both seasoned astronomy enthusiasts and curious newcomers (which makes all the difference compared to other books). There is also this wonderful behind the scenes of the scientists and engineers, adding in their stories which makes the development of this telescope deeply human. But, let's not forget there is sixteen pages of full-color photographs which showcase the views that JWST has provided and will have

I found this book entertaining yet informative. I would definitely recommend to anyone interested in scientific nonfiction.

Pillars of Creation: How the James Webb Telescope Unlocked the Secrets of the Cosmos by Richard Panek is a very highly recommended overview of some of the known advances to science and future potential discoveries due to the James Webb Space Telescope.

"For the past four hundred years, each new generation of astronomers has inhabited a new universe." As each generation makes advances more of the universe is revealed and the Webb Space Telescope is transforming the universe right before our eyes. It was launched in 2021 as a successor to the long-serving Hubble Telescope but the planning for it began even before the Hubble was launched. This is the inside account of how the mission originated, how it performs its miracles of science, and what its revolutionary images are revealing.

All the new images capture the imagination and interest of many amateur astronomers around the world who anticipate even more incredible. For those who follow the pictures released, many of us marveled at seeing the rings of Neptune. The new Pillars of Creation and deep space images showing innumerable galaxies.

This is not a comprehensive collection of all the known discoveries to date, but instead is an overview making the material comprehensible and digestible for the more casual reader who is interested. The chapters are composed of three components: personal experiences of scientist or scientists, a sampling of the scientific breakthroughs Webb has achieved, and the inclusion of a historical context. Included are notes, an appendix, charts explaining the science and technology, and sixteen pages of awe-inspiring, full-color photos.

Pillars of Creation is a great choice for those interested in the potential scientific discoveries of the Webb Space Telescope as well as a brief history of astronomy. Thanks to Little, Brown and Company for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

This book chronicles the creation and groundbreaking discoveries of the JWST, a $10 billion space telescope unlocking the universe’s secrets. Through stunning images and firsthand accounts, it celebrates human ingenuity and the JWST’s unprecedented view of our cosmos, from the origins of our solar system to the birth of the first stars.

I enjoyed reading about the history of the JWST as well as the science. The book helped me understand a little more about how the JWST is an improvement over Hubble. There was a lot of hype in the leadup to the JWST launch, and I feel like we haven’t gotten our $10 billion worth yet (lol). My expectations are set a little better now, even if it’s hard to be patient. This book is a technological as well as a human story.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Did you know that even before Hubble launched, scientists were already planning the next generation’s space telescope? The James Webb Telescope has changed the game when it comes to viewing the universe around us. With its infrared capabilities, we’re able to see further than ever.

When the JWST deep field images were released to the public, I played the live stream on my phone during a staff meeting at work. With the volume off, and only able to glance at the screen under the conference table, I couldn’t stop my jaw from dropping. The deep field image from JWST was more than I ever could dream of. When my colleagues asked me what I was looking at, I said “Galaxies. Countless galaxies.” I’m sure I sounded crazy.

Since then, I’ve done my best to appreciate more of what Webb does, since the images the public sees may create awe, it’s the data and charts that may be harder to understand that are the true source of meaning. JWST can see exoplanets, and determine markers for different chemical signatures using spectroscopy. Will we one day determine that life exists on another planet with Webb? Maybe!

This book takes that excitement and puts a story around it. We learn about the telescopes of the past, and the people that did everything they could to see further and clearer into the universe. Countless advancements have brought us JWST, and I never really understood just how many! This book was able to describe complex concepts in an approachable and fun to read story format.

I’ve read a lot of nonfiction space science books, and this may be one of the most compelling books I’ve read in a long time.

Webb may still be doing science out there in the void, but scientists here on Earth are already working on the next group of groundbreaking telescopes. This is to ensure the progress of astronomy and our understanding of the universe, but also, it’s a gift to a future generation! How lucky we are to be alive today, in the Webb Generation!

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is now on my list of books to give to my space friends! Pillars of Creation comes out on October 22, 2024.

I recently finished Pillars of Creation by Richard Panek, and I have to say, it was an eye-opening read for anyone curious about the universe. Panek does a fantastic job of bringing to life the story behind one of the most advanced pieces of technology ever created—the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). If you’ve ever been captivated by those stunning images of the cosmos that have been popping up recently, this book gives you the story behind the science.

What really drew me in was Panek’s ability to make something as complex as the JWST accessible. He takes you through the development process, showing just how much innovation, dedication, and sheer ambition went into bringing this $10 billion telescope to life. And it wasn’t easy! Decades of obstacles and challenges faced the scientists behind this project, but their persistence is what makes the success of JWST even more inspiring.

The book also does a great job of explaining how the JWST is changing our understanding of the cosmos. Whether it’s the hunt for exoplanets or studying the birth of galaxies from billions of years ago, the discoveries are nothing short of mind-blowing. Panek manages to convey the wonder of these breakthroughs without making you feel lost in technical jargon, which is something I really appreciated.

The imagery is another highlight. The book includes some of the most iconic images captured by the JWST, including those jaw-dropping shots of the "Pillars of Creation." These photos alone are worth diving into the book for—they really help put into perspective just how vast and mysterious our universe is.

If I had to sum it up, Pillars of Creation is more than just a science book—it’s a celebration of human curiosity and the quest to understand where we came from. Panek’s enthusiasm for the subject is contagious, and I found myself looking up at the stars a little differently after reading it.

For anyone even remotely interested in space, science, or technology, this book is a must-read. It's packed with both fascinating history and cutting-edge discoveries, making it accessible yet thoroughly informative.

This is a book all about the development history of the JWST and some of the amazing finds that have been made as a result of the information it has provided. I picked this up because it sounded fascinating and it’s relatively short so I knew it would be a quick read.

This book was just as good as I was hoping it would be. I liked learning about the history of the telescope. I greatly enjoyed reading about all of the breakthroughs that have happened because of it. The book managed to successfully explain the concepts in a way that non-scientists can easily understand and absorb. The timeline seemed a little rushed with the explanation but like I said this is a very short book so it’s not like they could go too in depth into it.

Overall I very much liked this. I recommend this to non fiction fans, especially fans of books about science/space.

While this is a short book, I did not finish it. It felt like too much of a summation and narrative expansion than what I was expecting. I think having actual interviews of the crew involved in the project would have been extremely beneficial to this.

Well-written and engaging. I don't usually take to non-fiction, but storytelling approach is very helpful for me to get interested and stay interested.