Warning: this book will make you want to find a meteorite. Armed with metal detectors and magnets, Meteorite hunter Geoff Notkin makes a living finding rocks that have traveled in space.
“Meteorites are mementos of other worlds, far away, and long gone.”
Famous for the Science Channel’s Meteorite Men show, Notkin’s memoir reveals the backstory behind a man with a scientific zeal for space rocks and a heart of rock and roll.
Why is this on our bookshelf?
Notkin’s passion for meteorites– rocks that may give us valuable information about the very nature of our solar system– is the type of obsession passion most geeks can identify with. Plus, did you know he’s friends with Neil Gaiman?
Rating (3 stars)
Although I wasn’t a devout follower of the Meteorite Men television show, I saw (and enjoyed) a few of the episodes before reading Notkin’s memoir. From London to Tucson, his life story is a fascinating one.
Although there were places where the narrative seemed thin, my biggest complaint ( a first for a book review), is the formatting for the book. There were practically no margins and never were there larger gaps between paragraphs to indicate a slight topic change.
On the plus side, there were many interesting color photographs, although the quality and relevance of the photos varied.
I ended the book with a greater appreciation for space rocks. All in all, any fans of the TV show, or of meteorites and meteors in general, should read this book.
Read this book:
if you enjoy memoirs by geeks, for geeks.
Don't Read this book:
if you can’t stand a few chapters of rock and roll standing between you and the meteorites.
Once you're done, do this:
Get ready for the Perseid meteor shower or other meteor shower. Not the season? Grab a metal detector and go hunting.
