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The Sun's Heartbeat

And Other Stories from the Life of the Star That Powers Our Planet
by Bob Berman
The Sun's Heartbeat: And Other Stories from the Life of the Star That Powers Our Planet. Little, Brown. Jul. 2011. c.304p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780316091015. $25.99. SCI
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We all tend to take the sun for granted, and it is one of Berman's (columnist for Discover and Astronomy magazines) missions to make us step back and appreciate its awesome power and influence on Earth. In chapters covering various facets of solar studies, from sunspots and solar magnetism to global warming to the dangers solar activity poses for various earthbound technologies, Berman guides readers through the basics, liberally peppering his narrative with random interjections that are either whimsical or distracting, depending on one's perspective. Although the modern pop-culture spin he puts on historical situations provides moments of humor, his approach can also be a bit jarring.
VERDICT Fans of Berman's columns will enjoy this book, though serious students of astronomy may find it frustratingly lax, since Berman's big claims are not backed up with references to any peer-reviewed literature or reproductions of the charts and graphs he mentions in passing. Recommended for popular science collections only.
Reviewed by Marcia R. Franklin, MLIS, St. Paul , Jun 15, 2011
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