The World's Easiest Astronomy Book

Simple, whimsical illustrations, direct language, and breezy, informative text made this little science book a bestseller in Japan; its author, naturally, is a high school science teacher (and former Aerospace Development Specialist) hoping to reach those ""who have no in-depth knowledge of space,"" and want to get a sense of ""the mysteries, wonders, and marvels of the universe, and... mankind's efforts in space."" As such, he addresses a list of 44 topics, some in the form of simple queries-""Do aliens really exist?"" ""Where does space start?"" ""Is there wind in space?""-and each with a relevant concept rendered in easy-to-grasp terms. When he isn't addressing astral bodies, mechanics, and important principles of space and time, Nakagawa looks at related topics like astronaut living (""If you live in space, you may come to love spicy foods"") and the influence of science fiction writers (""If it can be imagined, it can be made""). Primarily useful for students preparing for their first astronomy course, this volume also makes a friendly reference for casual stargazers. Illus.