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American Eclipse: A Nation's Epic Race to Catch the Shadow of the Moon and Win the Glory of the World
American Eclipse: A Nation's Epic Race to Catch the Shadow of the Moon and Win the Glory of the World
American Eclipse: A Nation's Epic Race to Catch the Shadow of the Moon and Win the Glory of the World
Audiobook8 hours

American Eclipse: A Nation's Epic Race to Catch the Shadow of the Moon and Win the Glory of the World

Written by David Baron

Narrated by Jonathan Yen

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

About this audiobook

In the scorching summer of 1878, with the Gilded Age in its infancy, three tenacious and brilliant scientists raced to Wyoming and Colorado to observe a rare total solar eclipse. One sought to discover a new planet. Another-an adventuresome female astronomer-fought to prove that science was not anathema to femininity. And a young, megalomaniacal inventor, with the tabloid press fast on his heels, sought to test his scientific bona fides and light the world through his revelations. David Baron brings to three-dimensional life these three competitors-James Craig Watson, Maria Mitchell, and Thomas Edison-and thrillingly re-creates the fierce jockeying of nineteenth-century American astronomy. With spellbinding accounts of train robberies and Indian skirmishes, the mythologized age of the last days of the Wild West comes alive as never before. A magnificent portrayal of America's dawn as a scientific superpower, American Eclipse depicts a young nation that looked to the skies to reveal its towering ambition and expose its latent genius.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateJun 6, 2017
ISBN9781681685786
American Eclipse: A Nation's Epic Race to Catch the Shadow of the Moon and Win the Glory of the World

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Reviews for American Eclipse

Rating: 3.8387096258064513 out of 5 stars
4/5

62 ratings17 reviews

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Interesting look at the 1878 solar eclipse and what it meant for three individuals, James Craig Watson, Maria Mitchell, and Thomas Edison. The book goes into the history of each person and why they want to view the solar eclipse. I was hoping to read more about what the solar eclipse was like for everyday people at this time in this book, but there was maybe a sentence or two about it. The book goes into a lot of detail about the three people's lives and can get pretty "sciencey" at times at an advance level that went over my head.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book was an interesting look at how the total eclipse of 1878 drew the attention of a number of American scientists, but I felt that it was more about trying to provide insight into those individuals than about the eclipse itself. Ninety percent of the book is describing the background of the different players in the story, and then the description of the actual event and its aftermath seem to fall a little short. I did appreciate learning about Thomas Edison's struggle to be taken seriously as a scientist and about Maria Mitchell and her Vassar students. I listened to this as an audiobook and always struggle to pay as close attention as I would to a printed book, but I would not object to picking up a printed copy and looking at this book again.The audiobook was read by Jonathan Yen, who has a pleasantly Casey Kasem-like voice until you've heard it for a bit too long. However, he should NOT have attempted to do accents and voices in this reading. His Scottish and German accents were horribly wrong; his voicings for some of the male characters made them sound like feeble old men rather than some of the most important scientists in American history; and worst of all, his female voices were absolutely offensive stereotypes, particularly sad when he was reading an account of some of the feminist pioneers in women's education and science. This author's work deserved better.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Interesting look at the 1878 solar eclipse and what it meant for three individuals, James Craig Watson, Maria Mitchell, and Thomas Edison. The book goes into the history of each person and why they want to view the solar eclipse. I was hoping to read more about what the solar eclipse was like for everyday people at this time in this book, but there was maybe a sentence or two about it. The book goes into a lot of detail about the three people's lives and can get pretty "sciencey" at times at an advance level that went over my head.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Non fiction, early science, woman scientist. Good book. Timely with eclipse next month
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A fascinating account of the eclipse of 1878, detailing the major personalities involved and what they hoped to accomplish during the eclipse, their journeys West, the eclipse itself and the long-term effects of this race for scientific glory. Not something I would normally read, but the audio book was thoroughly absorbing.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The world was spellbound by the recent Eclipse and that made this book, “American Eclipse” timely. I both enjoyed and was sometimes disappointed by the presentation. Torn when listening to the audiobook between boredom and fascination. I was committed to continuing. The historical information on the area of eclipse study and science was well presented but the biographical and dialogue on Edison would have been better represented in a separate book. I must admit that I wanted to dislike and at times stop listening to the book, but then I would be drawn back in by a historical story or another interesting fact. I give this book a 3.5 rating. Thank you to LibraryThing for the complimentary copy to review.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book describes a single scientific quest, the study and observation of a mid 18th century total solar eclipse in the US. It discusses the context of the quest, the history and motivations of its participants, as well as the consequences of the outcome of the quest. Rather than a monolithic twelve volume history of everything, it addresses just the single incident and the author's interpretation. These books, written well, are accessible, and when set in the era of Indian Territory and the Great Exhibition have a steampunk appeal. There are quite a few such books, and together, the form a patchwork from which a reader can extract their own view of the broader picture. I do not think that this type of book would have been so successful without its ecosystem of similar books. This is a trend I happen to like, as I prefer to get my history from different voices, with perhaps a genuine interest in the particular subject matter that they have chosen.The book itself is lively and only somewhat technical but generally well written and includes quotations from a number of original sources. There are some fun details, like Edison choosing to ride on the cow-catcher. The reading was not as good, there was the usual unfortunate "ye" for the word that should be pronounced like we now pronounce "the". The reader's accents were not as good as with others and the reading had a certain tone which, while it was appropriate for the quotations of the contemporary newspapers, was far too excitable for the actual narrative.But the subject matter was interesting enough that I intend to read the book in physical form.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I listened to the Highbridge Audio version of this book, which I received as an Early Reviewer. It arrived just prior to the solar eclipse of 2017 so it made for timely reading. The book focuses on three scientists who were extremely involved with the eclipse: Thomas Edison, James Craig Watson, and Maria Mitchell. I especially enjoyed the sections on Edison and his inventions. The sections on the women astronomers were also of great interest. The book itself deserves a higher rating than four stars. But, this is also meant to be a review of the audio edition. As other reviewers have stated, the narrator's voice could have been a bit better so for that reason, I gave it four stars.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I enjoyed the topic of this book but I did not like the audio version which is what i received as an Early Reviewer for LibraryThing. The narrator's voice really put me off. I actually stopped listening to it and picked up a hard copy to finish.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Author David Baron is a self-proclaimed umbrophile – one who is mesmerized by total eclipses and has traveled to distant places to view them. This is narrative non-fiction about the US response to the total eclipse in 1878. Baron tells the story of the three minutes of the total eclipse in 1878 through the eyes of three historical figures: Thomas Edison, who was more a persistent gadget maker than scientist; James Craig Watson, a dedicated astronomer and discoverer of planets; and Maria Mitchell, the first woman astronomer and a professor at Vassar, who led an all-women team to investigate the eclipse.Through their eyes and efforts we see the United States in this time period through their varied goals of making pure science in the US more respected both at home and abroad; to further women's place in science and the world, and to dazzle the American public with inventions.It's also the story of the American West in the 1870's when trains where held up by outlaws, and vigilantes strung outlaws up to lamp posts.Fun and well-written with a good amount of eclipse science and vivid descriptions of totality.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    If I had any doubts that the world is still obsessed with eclipses, I need only turn on the television or look online or at a newspaper to set me straight. In two days Americans will see the most famous total solar eclipse in decades and everywhere I go people are talking about it. Granted, we no longer feel that we need to sacrifice virgins to volcanoes to get the sun to return but in our way, we are still enthralled by a mystical attraction to the most astounding astronomical event most people are ever likely to see. Former NPR science correspondent David Baron witnessed his first total eclipse in 1998 and has been a confirmed umbraphile ever since, traveling the world to witness this amazing phenomenon whenever he can. His newest book tells the story of America’s last greatest eclipse which occurred on July 29th, 1878, when path that the moon’s shadow took went right across the wild west from Montana territory down to Texas. Astronomers and scientists from around the world flocked to the American West to witness the event. Chief among them was Thomas Edison who, at just over thirty and having recently invented the phonograph, was already an American icon and media darling. Others making the pilgrimage west were Cleveland Abbe, chef meteorologist for the newly formed National Weather Service, Maria Mitchell, director of the Vassar College Observatory, and James Craig Watson, director of the Ann Arbor Observatory. Edison had recently invented the tasimeter, a device designed to measure infrared radiation and scientists hoped that it could be used during the eclipse to measure the temperature of the sun’s corona, something which cannot ordinarily be done due to the tremendous heat given off by the sun itself. Watson, the discoverer of 22 asteroids, was hunting an even more elusive prey. He hoped to be the first person to see the planet Vulcan widely believed to exist and have an orbit closer to the sun than Mercury. If it existed, such a planet would never appear in the night sky so the only way to see it would be during an eclipse. Mitchell’s goal was possibly the most important of all. In a world that believed the feminine mind lacked the aptitude for higher education and that strenuous mental activity was physically harmful to women, Mitchell and a team of female astronomers from Vassar set out to report on the eclipse and prove to the world that women were just as capable of men at when it came to scientific observation, reporting and methodology. The 1878 eclipse had result of putting the United States front and center on the stage of scientific study and discovery, a position that some would argue it has held firmly until the beginning of this year. Edison may not have perfected his tasimeter but as soon as he return home to Menlo Park he began work on the light bulb, an invention that forever freed mankind from the shadows. Bottom line: This book was entertaining an full of valuable information. It also gave me a good sense of the mood and attitudes of Americans during the decade after the Civil War. Baron researched the subject thoroughly, which helped keep me reading even when the story was less than compelling. The Highbridge Audio version of Baron’s book was ably narrated by Jonathan Yen. Unfortunately, I have come to the conclusion that audio recordings are not the best medium for most nonfiction books. Often when reading a nonfiction book, I like to highlight certain passages and refer back to them in the future. This is not convenient in audio. Also, I would like to how characters names are spelled so that I can do further research on them. Finally, many nonfiction books include photographs and maps of the subjects that missing from an audio recording. * The review was based on an advanced reading copy obtained at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review. While this does take any ‘not worth what I paid for it’ statements out of my review, it otherwise has no impact on the content of my review.FYI: On a 5-point scale I assign stars based on my assessment of what the book needs in the way of improvements:*5 Stars – Nothing at all. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.*4 Stars – It could stand for a few tweaks here and there but it’s pretty good as it is.*3 Stars – A solid C grade. Some serious rewriting would be needed in order for this book to be considered great or memorable.*2 Stars – This book needs a lot of work. A good start would be to change the plot, the character development, the writing style and the ending. *1 Star - The only thing that would improve this book is a good bonfire.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I bought this book totally because I heard Baron read the following paragraph on NPR:"As a science journalist, I thought I knew what to expect. For 174 seconds, the blue sky would blacken, stars would appear, and the sun would manifest its ethereal outer atmosphere, the solar corona. What I had not anticipated was my own intense reaction to the display.For three glorious minutes, I felt transported to another planet, indeed to a higher plane of reality, as my consciousness departed the earth and I gaped at an alien sky. Above me, in the dim vault of the heavens, shone an incomprehensible object. It looked like an enormous wreath woven from silvery thread, and it hung suspended in the immensity of space, shimmering. As I stood transfixed by this vision, I felt something I had never experienced before - a visceral connection to the universe."It is not the sort of book I usually read, but as I will be in Oregon on Monday, in the path of totality, I am very glad I read it. Although I do wish it had had more about total solar eclipses and maybe less about the scientists who witnessed the one in 1878, for what Baron set out to do, it was a total success.It ended with another beautiful sentence: "For us, collectively - as a society, a nation, a civilization - they [eclipses] can have the same indelible, life-affirming effect."Would that this one will, in these alarming times.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    My daughter and I attended a program at our local library about the upcoming solar eclipse, and this book was a great follow-up to that, filling in much more detail about the history of human perceptions and thoughts about eclipses, with a special emphasis on the solar eclipse of 1878. I especially enjoyed learning more about Maria Mitchell, and her endeavors to bring a team of women scientists to Colorado to witness the totality of that eclipse. The author also includes quite a bit of other science history, for example about Thomas Edison and his inventions, both before and after his trip to Colorado for that 19th Century eclipse.I was provided a free audio copy of this book by LibraryThing.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    An interesting look at an historical event that urges comparison to current events. The setting is a rare celestial occurrence, the 1878 total solar eclipse across the American West. David Baron captures the feeling of the era and portrays some individuals involved. The narrow focus allows for significant detail. Close to a century and a half has passed and some things have not changed. It was noted that the American populace often had difficulty distinguishing scientific fact from pseudoscientific fraud. Also the difficulty women had gaining access to the scientific community from men blind to their own condensation. But the excitement of the general public for science seems to be a thing of the past. Worth the read - no heavy scientific lifting required.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Appearing just before the total eclipse that will across the United States on August 21, 2017, this book deals with the total eclipse of 1878, the last time there was such an event across a wide swath of the United States. This year, there are reams of material to describe what is gong to happen on the day of the event, as well as detailed maps that show where one can go to be in the area of maximum total darkness when the moon totally blocks the sun. Back in 1878, things weren't so precise.Author David Baron, a former science correspondent for NPR follows four different scientsts as they travel to Wyoming and Colorado to witness this rare event.--James Greg Watson, who had discovered many asteroids, was looking for a planet called “Vulcan,” a hypothetical planet that astronomers believed existed between Mercury and the sun because Mercury’s orbit didn’t make sense otherwise. Watson believed that because Vulcan was so close to the sun it could be seen because it would be lost in the sun’s glare. However, during a total eclipse when the moon blocks the bright sun, you might spot it. He was determined to try.--Maria Mitchell, an astronomy teacher at Vassar College,wanted to prove that women could be serious scientists. DR. Clark, a Harvard doctor, had claimed that higher education could actually ruin a girl’s health. His ideas were taken very seriously, and Maria Mitchell wanted to show that women could be smart and educated and healthy and feminine. She led an all-female expedition to Denver to study the eclipse.--Thomas Edison, who had already gained fame for inventing the phonograph, wanted to establish his own reputation as a scientist. He created something called a "tasimeter," which was an extremely sensitive heat detector hooked up to a telescope that he intended to test during the eclipse-- Cleveland Abbe, known as the Father of the National Weather Service, tried to see the eclipse from Pikes Peak, Colorado And nearly died from altitude sickness. The night before the eclipse he was suffering from cerebral edema, and unable to get out of bed.. He put on a stretcher and carried halfway down the mountain to 10,000 feet where he started to recover. The next afternoon he was laid out with his back on the slope to watch the eclipse. He still couldn’t get up, but he was able to see it nonetheless.” All these people were trying to prove that the United States, despite having an egalitarian society, could still produce serious scientists who would make the world sit up and take notice. And i think the author demonstrates that they were able to do the job.Baron tells eclipse-watchers theywill be awed by what they see. He says instead of worrying about taking photos and getting caught up in electronic equipment, watchers should set up a camera to record their own reactions to the eclipse.“It is so precious and so brief, you really don’t want to spoil it," he said. "You'll be excited and flabbergasted. Well-composed people just fall apart and become babbling idiots.”Even if you're not going to see the eclipse next month, you should read this entertaining and informative book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Simply superb. Baron is an engaging storyteller, and he's chosen his subject well: the 1878 eclipse, which attracted attention from scientists and non-scientists around the US and across the pond. Among the investigators were James Craig Watson, the famed (and egotistical) planet-hunter who hoped to find evidence of the planet Vulcan; Maria Mitchell, an astronomer and Vassar professor promoting greater involvement for women in the sciences; and Thomas Edison, hoping to test his new invention for measuring the heat of distant stars. Baron deftly weaves their stories into a larger narrative of a country trying to prove itself on the world stage, while also providing historical context and explaining why people (including himself) continue to be fascinated with this phenomenon.Disclaimer: I'm a friend of the author (my wife and he are childhood friends), but would give this five stars nonetheless.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Simply superb. Baron is an engaging storyteller, and he's chosen his subject well: the 1878 eclipse, which attracted attention from scientists and non-scientists around the US and across the pond. Among the investigators were James Craig Watson, the famed (and egotistical) planet-hunter who hoped to find evidence of the planet Vulcan; Maria Mitchell, an astronomer and Vassar professor promoting greater involvement for women in the sciences; and Thomas Edison, hoping to test his new invention for measuring the heat of distant stars. Baron deftly weaves their stories into a larger narrative of a country trying to prove itself on the world stage, while also providing historical context and explaining why people (including himself) continue to be fascinated with this phenomenon.Disclaimer: I'm a friend of the author (my wife and he are childhood friends), but would give this five stars nonetheless.