About the Author

Marcia Bartusiak is Professor of the Practice, Graduate Program in Science Writing, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the award-winning author of five previous books, including most recently The Day We Found the Universe. She lives in Sudbury, MA.

Reviews

[A] reliable and readable account of this amazing story. Andrew Crumey, "Literary Review."--Andrew Crumey"Literary Review" (07/01/2015)"

""Black Hole" is engaging and lively, weaving in personal drama . . . with a clear account of the underlying science. An acclaimed science writer." Tom Siegfried, "Science News"--Tom Siegfried "Science News ""

"Expertly tells the story of the emergence of black holes. . . . [Bartusiak] offers a concise but comprehensive history . . . from the 18th century ponderings of stars massive enough that light could not escape to present-day studies of these very real objects." Jeff Foust, "The Space Review"--Jeff Foust "The Space Review ""

"Lively and dramatic. . . . There's no danger of being bored. Bartusiak does a good job of tracing the twisted route that our understanding has followed, from Newton to Einstein and to today as we try to extend gravity to quantum scales." Tara Shears, "Times Higher Education Supplement"--Tara Shears "Times Higher Education Supplement ""

"Lively and readable. . . . Read it if you want to know how the concept of black holes has changed dramatically over the past 100 years from being an apparent mistake in the maths to the strangest and most outlandish objects that we (currently) know of." Pippa Goldschmidt, "Spectator"--Pippa Goldschmidt "Spectator ""

"Tells this story with . . . an accessibility that other popular writers in the field have sometimes struggled to achieve when dealing with the subject. There s as much history and character study as hard science, which is no bad thing, and even the most mathophobic reader will find this book a satisfying and enlightening read." Mike Parker, "Tribune magazine"--Mike Parker "Tribune magazine ""

An engrossing and mind-bending read . . .Bartusiak provides a front row seat as many of the most famous scientists of all time grapple with the strangest objects in the universe, black holes. Adam Riess, Nobel Laureate in Physics, 2011--Adam Riess (12/05/2014)"

Astronomers took fifty years to carry the black hole from laughable concept to central importance in every galaxy. Marcia Bartusiak accomplishes the same feat here, in one irresistibly attractive read. Dava Sobel, author of "Longitude"--Dava Sobel (11/17/2014)"

Bartusiak's new book is thoroughly researched, beautifully written, and full of insights about the nature of the scientific enterprise. Aficionados of black holes will love this book. Alan Lightman, author of "Einstein's Dreams" and "The Accidental Universe"--Alan Lightman (07/10/2014)"

Captivating and authoritative, "Black Hole"traces a truly weird concept from its tentative conjecture to inescapable reality. Bartusiak recounts a compelling tale with quirky turns, curious revelations, intellectual rumbles and personal gambles. Ray Jayawardhana, author of"Neutrino Hunters"--Ray Jayawardhana (01/02/2015)"

Fear not; you don t need an advanced degree to enjoy this entertaining tale of how black holes meandered their way from theoretical oddity into everyday consciousness. . . . A beautiful case study in how scientific ideas grow through inspiration, thought and, finally, observation." Mike Brown, "Wall Street Journal"--Mike Brown "Wall Street Journal ""

Marcia Bartusiak takes us on a fascinating ride around black holes, showing the beauty and mystery of a concept that has intrigued scientists from Einstein to Hawking. Walter Isaacson, CEO of the Aspen Institute and author of "Benjamin Franklin," "Einstein," and "Steve Jobs"--Walter Isaacson (11/21/2014)"

"Captivating and authoritative, "Black Hole" traces a truly weird concept from its tentative conjecture to inescapable reality. Bartusiak recounts a compelling tale with quirky turns, curious revelations, intellectual rumbles and personal gambles."--Ray Jayawardhana, author of" Neutrino Hunters"

"An engrossing and mind-bending read . . . Bartusiak provides a front row seat as many of the most famous scientists of all time grapple with the strangest objects in the universe, black holes."--Adam Riess, Nobel Laureate in Physics, 2011

"Marcia Bartusiak takes us on a fascinating ride around black holes, showing the beauty and mystery of a concept that has intrigued scientists from Einstein to Hawking."--Walter Isaacson, CEO of the Aspen Institute and author of "Benjamin Franklin," "Einstein," and "Steve Jobs"

"Astronomers took fifty years to carry the black hole from laughable concept to central importance in every galaxy. Marcia Bartusiak accomplishes the same feat here, in one irresistibly attractive read."--Dava Sobel, author of "Longitude"

"Bartusiak's new book is thoroughly researched, beautifully written, and full of insights about the nature of the scientific enterprise. Aficionados of black holes will love this book."--Alan Lightman, author of "Einstein's Dreams" and "The Accidental Universe"