The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred

The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred

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  • Create Date:2022-04-22 07:53:02
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
  • ISBN:1541724682
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

From a star theoretical physicist, a journey into the world of particle physics and the cosmos—and a call for a more liberatory practice of science。

A Finalist for the 2022 PEN/E。O。 Wilson Literary Science Writing Award
A Finalist for the 2021 Los Angeles Times Book Prize in Science & Technology
Smithsonian Magazine Best Science Book of 2021
Symmetry Magazine Top 10 Physics Book of 2021
An Entropy Magazine Best Nonfiction Book of 2020-2021  
A Publishers Weekly Best Nonfiction Book of the Year
A Kirkus Reviews Best Nonfiction Book of 2021
A Booklist Top 10 Sci-Tech Book of the Year 

In The Disordered Cosmos, Dr。 Chanda Prescod-Weinstein shares her love for physics, from the Standard Model of Particle Physics and what lies beyond it, to the physics of melanin in skin, to the latest theories of dark matter—along with a perspective informed by history, politics, and the wisdom of Star Trek。 

One of the leading physicists of her generation, Dr。 Chanda Prescod-Weinstein is also one of fewer than one hundred Black American women to earn a PhD from a department of physics。 Her vision of the cosmos is vibrant, buoyantly nontraditional, and grounded in Black and queer feminist lineages。 

Dr。 Prescod-Weinstein urges us to recognize how science, like most fields, is rife with racism, misogyny, and other forms of oppression。 She lays out a bold new approach to science and society, beginning with the belief that we all have a fundamental right to know and love the night sky。 The Disordered Cosmos dreams into existence a world that allows everyone to experience and understand the wonders of the universe。

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Reviews

Hillary DG

Started off a little scattered but boy did it build up。 I especially appreciated her extensive yet crystal-clear discussion how how the idea of science as objective has been weaponized for US imperialism around the world。

Laurel

“‘Color’ and ‘white as neutral’ are here not as reflections of how the universe works, but rather how a homogeneous, white scientific community comes up with new names for stuff。 Part of science, therefore, involves writing a dominant group’s social politics into the building blocks of a universe that exists far beyond and with little reference to our small planet and the apes that are responsible for melting its polar ice caps。”

Ron

I wanted to like this book more but the combination of astrophysics/particle physics and ingrained racism just didn't mix well for me。 It felt like two separate books got mashed together and the result took away context from both subjects。 It was kind of jarring。 Unlike Reese's the two subjects pursued in this book didn't go together like chocolate and peanut butter。 I wanted to like this book more but the combination of astrophysics/particle physics and ingrained racism just didn't mix well for me。 It felt like two separate books got mashed together and the result took away context from both subjects。 It was kind of jarring。 Unlike Reese's the two subjects pursued in this book didn't go together like chocolate and peanut butter。 。。。more

Lali

We do get some introductory information around theoretical physics, but this book is much more memoir and call-out of white-supremacist practices in science than I was expecting。 Because of this, it took me quite a while to get through the book as I was not always in a good emotional state to read about the challenges and experiences the author was discussing。 Sometimes I felt like there was a clunky transition between subjects- such as discussing BLM issues to climate change in the next paragra We do get some introductory information around theoretical physics, but this book is much more memoir and call-out of white-supremacist practices in science than I was expecting。 Because of this, it took me quite a while to get through the book as I was not always in a good emotional state to read about the challenges and experiences the author was discussing。 Sometimes I felt like there was a clunky transition between subjects- such as discussing BLM issues to climate change in the next paragraph- but the overall conversation is very powerful in examining how her personal and professional experiences resonate with larger societal issues。 。。。more

R

2。5 I found this one hard to comprehend at points for a non-physicist especially the first half, so unlike other pop-science astrophysics books I didn’t learn much physics from this one。 This was very US-centric down to the acronyms or and technical terms (a refresher on the standard model would have been helpful) that were used without definition。 Frustratingly, the author regularly alludes to something or someome interesting without explaining what it is。 Overall, this needed firmer editing (t 2。5 I found this one hard to comprehend at points for a non-physicist especially the first half, so unlike other pop-science astrophysics books I didn’t learn much physics from this one。 This was very US-centric down to the acronyms or and technical terms (a refresher on the standard model would have been helpful) that were used without definition。 Frustratingly, the author regularly alludes to something or someome interesting without explaining what it is。 Overall, this needed firmer editing (the tone was all over the place from inaccessibly academic to as casual as a blog post)。 Many ideas put forth are fascinating to consider (how those in marginalised communities may not have the privileged experience of the sublime when looking at the stars; how colonialism and militarism shapes our ideas of progress, time and what is useful to know in science; and the problem of reduced focus on epistemology in the harder sciences)。 Others feel like a reach。 Definitely a mind-expanding read, somewhat messy in execution。 “I had barriers to break。 I wanted to be normal, but I felt I had to be extraordinary。 In the process of pushing myself, I damaged my body more…I still struggle with the impulse to work through stupid amounts of pain because I want to be a scientist, just like the white men”“this kind of [science fiction] storytelling reflects a kind of white anxiety that one day they might become the victims of the kind of colonial apocalypse they visited on Indigenous people”“It was from this period- from my solitary, lonely position…that I began to really see people and things, really notice relationships…the gift of loneliness is sometimes a radical version of society that has not been taken into account”“Let’s remember what we’re for, and not just what we’re against” 。。。more

Shirley Torrence

I think the book is a very good read, it opens your mind to the way you think about Physics。

David Vaisberg

A remarkable brilliant and important book that weaves together physics, curiosity of the world, and social justice。 A must read for any intelligent thinker。

Ian

Excellent and essential。Note: if you gave this book a 1-star review, you are probably a racist。

Betelgeuse

I had so many different expectations about this book, and contrary to a lot of reviewers, I hoped the actual scientific part wouldn't be too long。 It was a bit too much, still, even though I'm a proper science nerd with a side of a hard sci-fi aficionado。I wanted to read a memoir of a Black, female scientist and that's what the second part of this book is。 And it delivers。Dr Chandra Prescod Weinstein is both Black and Jewish。 She identifies as "agender female", which admittedly I don't completel I had so many different expectations about this book, and contrary to a lot of reviewers, I hoped the actual scientific part wouldn't be too long。 It was a bit too much, still, even though I'm a proper science nerd with a side of a hard sci-fi aficionado。I wanted to read a memoir of a Black, female scientist and that's what the second part of this book is。 And it delivers。Dr Chandra Prescod Weinstein is both Black and Jewish。 She identifies as "agender female", which admittedly I don't completely understand, as I thought being agender meant not feeling male or female, or both, but then it's not for me to validate or judge or have opinion about。 But the chapter in which she writes about gender identities and her very liberal take on it, really made me feel uncertain and a bit angry too, as I thought, here we had the personas such Andrea Dworkin(Jewish) and, Audre Lorde (Black), both strongly "queer" , both root feminists who basically fought for women to be who they want and need to be, who were dismantling the patriarchy with their writing and activity, and here's a brilliant theoretical physicist, also Black, also Jewish, also queer and female, who just puts this all aside for the sake of not being called a "t" slur if she dared say something less appeasing the lib-fem crowd。There, I said it。。。In any case though, this book is very important as the author unpacks a plethora of prejudice towards female scientists current and past, also pinpoints blatant racism and disregard for indigenous knowledge and needs when it comes to modern advances of science。 It's absolutely eye opening。 。。。more

daniel dillon

I loved so much about this book, from the memoiresque introduction to particle physics all the way through the "using science against scientists" to advocate for more culturally aware ways of doing physics。 Highly recommend for anyone interested in physics, feminism, and anti-racism。 I loved so much about this book, from the memoiresque introduction to particle physics all the way through the "using science against scientists" to advocate for more culturally aware ways of doing physics。 Highly recommend for anyone interested in physics, feminism, and anti-racism。 。。。more

Renee

“If our society is defined by white supremacist heterocispatriarchal capitalist values, science must contend with how it is shaped by those values。”5 starsStop what you are doing and buy this book。 A thoughtful, beautiful, necessary contribution to physics and intersectionality。 Chapter five should be required reading alone。

Kathleen

An interesting exploration of the human reality behind the study of science

Geric

A beautifully written, candid experience by a "queer, agender, biracial theoretical cosmologist。" Yes, it is a lot to say, but this author definitely does have a lot to say regarding her expertise, both professionally and personally。 The beginning of the book is almost a roller coaster ride of what her profession encompasses: complicated equations and concepts that comprise a zooming out of epic proportions: the cosmos。The subsequent chapters then zoom way in, into her culture, her experiences a A beautifully written, candid experience by a "queer, agender, biracial theoretical cosmologist。" Yes, it is a lot to say, but this author definitely does have a lot to say regarding her expertise, both professionally and personally。 The beginning of the book is almost a roller coaster ride of what her profession encompasses: complicated equations and concepts that comprise a zooming out of epic proportions: the cosmos。The subsequent chapters then zoom way in, into her culture, her experiences and concerns for people like her who are struggling to find a footing in a society that is largely colonial driven and are patriarchal white。 Her experiences are gripping, as monumental as her cosmology profession, and ensuing in that they are visceral experiences that cut to the heart of the matter。 Her chapter regarding her rape by a person she knows (but won't go to the lengths of outing) is very deep and may be triggering, but at the end of the day, it empowers her to move on and be forgive actively (a phrase I learned in the next book I read after this one)。I learned a lot about what women go through, and it behooves many others to perhaps explore, not only outer space but also their environment and themselves。 They may find more than what meets the eye。 。。。more

Nilufar Khaydarova

There is a universe beyond the terrible things that happen to us。What is a science beyond non-white, non-male, non-totaliarian and not-partisan one that we have now? It is a book about universe with its disordered particles and accelerated expanding speed, but it is also about people who live in it with their biases, fallacies, false beliefs and erroneous decisions。 How to make science more humane? How to not credit and believe only white cis male scientists, but anyone with any background and w There is a universe beyond the terrible things that happen to us。What is a science beyond non-white, non-male, non-totaliarian and not-partisan one that we have now? It is a book about universe with its disordered particles and accelerated expanding speed, but it is also about people who live in it with their biases, fallacies, false beliefs and erroneous decisions。 How to make science more humane? How to not credit and believe only white cis male scientists, but anyone with any background and work? Is science about power or is it just truly just about understanding the world? This book raises many great questions。 As a STEM woman, I relate to her a lot。 。。。more

Emma Sea

There's a jungle of sticky notes in the pages of my copy, but I'm not sure I have it in me to write a review: there's so much to unpack。 Yes, I recommend it。 Please approach knowing the book should have a trigger warning for discussion of sexual assault and rape, which was necessary but is still confronting reading。 There's a jungle of sticky notes in the pages of my copy, but I'm not sure I have it in me to write a review: there's so much to unpack。 Yes, I recommend it。 Please approach knowing the book should have a trigger warning for discussion of sexual assault and rape, which was necessary but is still confronting reading。 。。。more

Adam

There are things I love about this book and things I wish had been crafted better。 Prescod-Weinstein bills the book as a primer for people who want to dip their toes into particle physics; this it is not。 She gives a valiant effort, but I felt that some topics (what an acronym is) she trusts the knowledge of her audience too little and others (the definite of the weak force) she trusts too much。 I have zero interest in tone policing her - which she specifically writes about - and it is very clea There are things I love about this book and things I wish had been crafted better。 Prescod-Weinstein bills the book as a primer for people who want to dip their toes into particle physics; this it is not。 She gives a valiant effort, but I felt that some topics (what an acronym is) she trusts the knowledge of her audience too little and others (the definite of the weak force) she trusts too much。 I have zero interest in tone policing her - which she specifically writes about - and it is very clear that she is extremely passionate about her work and research。 For the most part, I appreciate the balance she strikes between colloquialisms and technical jargon。 I think readers will get more out of the first three chapters if they already know something about particles。This book is written with a very mathematical structure。 She begins by giving definitions and starts with building blocks, in a sense, and then builds out to higher order concepts, like misogynism and racism。 Prescod-Weinstein does her best writing when she uses scientific physical concepts to describe human behavior。 Her analogy between the physical definitions of power and work and rape was poignant and heartbreaking。 She gives a powerful indictment of the physics community (and as an extension the education system as a whole) as being inherently racist, trans- and homophobic, colonial, and patriarchal。 Not terribly surprising, but she makes a very strong case against a structure that believes itself to be colorblind and above bias。 I think that many of the chapters feel more disjointed than it seems she wants them to, and many of them read like blog posts。 Somethings come out of nowhere, like random shade toward Dan Savage, that I think would read more easily if she put more thought toward scaffolding her narrative to handle some of the references she makes。 Despite it's faults, however, I feel that this is ultimately a very important read - not only for BIPOC women and queerfolk entering STEM fields, but especially for cisgendered white men like myself who either mentor or evaluate students that we hope to inspire to entire a world and system that is stacked against them。 。。。more

Jordan LaMagna-Meneghetti

Prescod-Weinstein, a theoretical particle physicist, talks about the things that excite her most about the universe and all of the unknowns。 She also discusses the ways in which humanity has gotten this information, and the things western civilization has done to indigenous communities against their will in order to get the scientific knowledge we have today。 She continues on to discuss the additional obstacles POC, women, and trans people must overcome in order to make it in science。This book i Prescod-Weinstein, a theoretical particle physicist, talks about the things that excite her most about the universe and all of the unknowns。 She also discusses the ways in which humanity has gotten this information, and the things western civilization has done to indigenous communities against their will in order to get the scientific knowledge we have today。 She continues on to discuss the additional obstacles POC, women, and trans people must overcome in order to make it in science。This book is phenomenal。 The first section is all about science and the fun and exciting things involved with particle physics。 You can really feel Prescon-Weinstein's excitement and love for this science through the page as she explains these incredibly complex systems。 This first section is in direct contrast to the rest of the book, where she discuss how hard it is for her to keep her love for this science when she sees the harm that the science community has caused and all of the extra work she must put into her profession to be successful。 I didn't know much, if anything, that was in this book, and I highly recommend anyone read this。 。。。more

Michael

Dr。 Prescod-Weinsein is a professor of physics and astronomy。 This book reviews some core concepts in modern physics like The Standard Model and does a deeper dive into dark matter and axions。 Dr。 Prescod-Weinstein also describes her experience as an agender, queer, person of color in physics。 The writing is crisp。 The book moves between the awe of the universe and the awful of society。

jayda

A new favorite and a must-read。 Don't be too intimidated by the physics aspects in this book if you are not someone who clicks well with science。 The first "phase" in The Disordered Cosmos (out of 4 phases) covers basics ideas of physics, but it's done in an accessible and engaging way that all ties into future chapters and points Dr。 Prescod-Weinstein makes。 Admittedly a lot of the physics info went right through me, but that did not affect my enjoyment or what I got out of this book in any way A new favorite and a must-read。 Don't be too intimidated by the physics aspects in this book if you are not someone who clicks well with science。 The first "phase" in The Disordered Cosmos (out of 4 phases) covers basics ideas of physics, but it's done in an accessible and engaging way that all ties into future chapters and points Dr。 Prescod-Weinstein makes。 Admittedly a lot of the physics info went right through me, but that did not affect my enjoyment or what I got out of this book in any way and I do not think you should let that deter you from picking this up。 This book is mostly about racism, sexism, and colonialism in science and gives really great insight to the struggles of being a Black, queer, agender, disabled woman in STEM。 She dives into the physics of melanin, the racist and colonialist roots of scientific history and language, patriarchy, gender, capitalism, and rape culture among many other things。 I cannot recommend this enough and I think everyone, especially those in STEM careers or education, should read this。TW: rape, sexual harassment 。。。more

Eric Lawton

An excellent review of the state of dark matter and cosmology from the point of view of a practitioner at a level readable by a lay person with no knowledge of the subject but more importantly a discussion of the state of the institution of physics from the point of view of a Black queer feminist。 A must-read, especially by the white establishment, which is generalisable to many scientific fields。

Marcela

This made me wish I had stuck to my original goal of being an astrophysicist。 She manages to combine details about particle physics and astrophysics with history of science and racism in this country。 Read for my book club and think it will definitely provoke good discussion。

Karen Larson

DNF at 55%。 It’s not that I didn’t like the book or the writing - both were very good。 But it feels to me that there are really two books here - one explaining astrophysics and another explaining the impact of racism on the progression of science。 I struggled with the parts where the author attempts to make a poetic connection between a physics concept as a transition into a social issue for marginalized scientists。 I didn’t take issue with the concepts or themes themselves but the transitions, DNF at 55%。 It’s not that I didn’t like the book or the writing - both were very good。 But it feels to me that there are really two books here - one explaining astrophysics and another explaining the impact of racism on the progression of science。 I struggled with the parts where the author attempts to make a poetic connection between a physics concept as a transition into a social issue for marginalized scientists。 I didn’t take issue with the concepts or themes themselves but the transitions, from a writing perspective, didn’t work for me and sort of pulled me out。 Also, the themes started to get repetitive, which is why I didn’t finish。 They were good themes, but as I am nowhere close to the field of science, and I’m not all that interested in the history of science, racism aside, it was just difficult to keep my interest。 I was not the audience for this book, but I have a feeling that the target audience would find this book extremely validating, but not really about space。However, I did come away from this reading with many “aha!” moments。 Most of those moments were in regards to physics — this author explained astrophysics better than any other writer I have read and I loved these parts。 The moments she spends on social issues are the majority of the book and center more or less on finding, cementing, and feeling confident in one’s identity in the scientific field, almost regardless of race or gender but mostly in regards to race, and for good reason。 The short of it is that most scientific thought is the product of white, cis, heteronormative males, which is actually anti-science, which attempts to have no bias。 And, creating space for diversity in the field is fraught with barrier after barrier and negligible compassion。 This quote from the book really sums up the crux of the issues for me:“If the testimony of some people does not matter, it means that we are not evaluating evidence on its own terms but rather evaluating evidence on the terms of who the evidence comes from。”If you’re at all like, “nah, it can’t be that bad” - I challenge you to read this book with an open mind。 But if you were in it for the science, this book may not be for you。 。。。more

Lisa

Where Black feminism intersects with physics, you will find this book。 A must-read for all scientists, not just Black women scientists! My mind is blown by Dr。 Prescod-Weinstein's ideas, thank you for helping me to see physics from a Black feminist perspective! Where Black feminism intersects with physics, you will find this book。 A must-read for all scientists, not just Black women scientists! My mind is blown by Dr。 Prescod-Weinstein's ideas, thank you for helping me to see physics from a Black feminist perspective! 。。。more

Nicole

Wow, really enjoyed this book。 At many points I felt very dumb (I've never taken so much as a high school physics class) but I never felt like I didn't understand what Prescod-Weinstein was trying to say。 A very difficult task when talking about particle physics! The way the author dissected the relationship between race and science was so interesting and made me rethink how I perceive scientists, especially white scientists, especially white male scientists, and the scientific achievements we'v Wow, really enjoyed this book。 At many points I felt very dumb (I've never taken so much as a high school physics class) but I never felt like I didn't understand what Prescod-Weinstein was trying to say。 A very difficult task when talking about particle physics! The way the author dissected the relationship between race and science was so interesting and made me rethink how I perceive scientists, especially white scientists, especially white male scientists, and the scientific achievements we've been told about and the ones we haven't。 Highly recommend! 。。。more

Sara

I first have to admit I have a bias toward anyone who quotes Star Trek episodes throughout their writing since it’s a fast track to my heart。 This author weaves together pop culture, physics and Black feminist analysis。 Sometimes the weaving is more successful for me as a reader than others—I think a portion of this is my GenX curmudgeon-ness which I’ve noticed doesn’t respond well to the writing style of blog posts turned book writing style that has been the model of many books I’ve read over t I first have to admit I have a bias toward anyone who quotes Star Trek episodes throughout their writing since it’s a fast track to my heart。 This author weaves together pop culture, physics and Black feminist analysis。 Sometimes the weaving is more successful for me as a reader than others—I think a portion of this is my GenX curmudgeon-ness which I’ve noticed doesn’t respond well to the writing style of blog posts turned book writing style that has been the model of many books I’ve read over the past year or so。 But personal style aside, I think this is an important text on calling out that science does not exist in a vacuum。 The parts I enjoyed the most were the moments of visioning, not just what’s wrong or what she’s against, and I’m excited for this to spark more conversations on vision for those working at the intersection of science and liberation。 。。。more

Book Minded Mag

Alright, now that I've had time to think about this book, I will do my best to get all my thoughts down in a coherent way。 Here goes。 Also, I am adding a TW for the book because Dr。 Prescod-Weinstein talks about rape and sexual assault in one of the chapters。Plain and simple, this is an excellent book。 If you are a physics nerd or just want to know more about physics, this is the book for you。 But if you also want to know what it's like to be a non-cis white straight male working in the field of Alright, now that I've had time to think about this book, I will do my best to get all my thoughts down in a coherent way。 Here goes。 Also, I am adding a TW for the book because Dr。 Prescod-Weinstein talks about rape and sexual assault in one of the chapters。Plain and simple, this is an excellent book。 If you are a physics nerd or just want to know more about physics, this is the book for you。 But if you also want to know what it's like to be a non-cis white straight male working in the field of physics, this is also the book for you。 Dr。 Prescod-Weinstein does no pull any punches and goes deep into how physics and science in general are both incredibly important to the world and also far from eradicating racism, misogyny and sexual assault/harassment from within。 She talks of her love for physics, especially quarks, her time in college at different levels and the constant obstacles she faced, and how science has stood on the backs of, and done great harm to, Black and Indigenous people throughout history。I loved physics when I was in high school but lost that love after having a teacher who spent more time with the white kids than the rest of us。 His inattention soured me on the subject。 But reading this book reawakened my curiosity and desire to learn more。 Dr。 Prescod-Weinstein did extensive research for her book and cited to many books that I plan to add to my very long TBR。 Books I wish I had read as a teen, which probably would have kept me interested in the physics。 But she also laid bare her own experiences in becoming a theoretical cosmologist, experiences of constant racism, misogyny, rape and sexual harassment。 She is honest about whether physics is still something she loves, especially with everything that she has seen and had done to her。 The fact that she is still teaching, still learning and still in her field is nothing short of a miracle。It is a shame that racism and misogyny are still so rampant in pretty much every field because they cause those fields to lose out on fresh new talent。 Instead, we're stuck with the same old white men who continue to shape the world for their benefit alone, with the same dry ideas that keep us from moving forward。 Black and other POC, women and queer/trans people who just want to do what they love deserve to have the same opportunities that have been handed to, and stolen by, white men。 Innovation remains stunted when the same people keep the rest of us out of the creation process。 I'm glad that Dr。 Prescod-Weinstein opened our eyes to what the rest of us have to face in the science world and I hope that more and more people like her become part of it。 。。。more

Ted Manahan

Good physics for non-physicists in the first chapters。 Really good description of the author's world view in the rest of the book。 I am still struggling to understand what an equitable society would look like, but I am trying。Overdrive library ebook。 Good physics for non-physicists in the first chapters。 Really good description of the author's world view in the rest of the book。 I am still struggling to understand what an equitable society would look like, but I am trying。Overdrive library ebook。 。。。more

Jason

This was a really hard read at times。 The 1st 4 chapters cover some complex scientific theory i had some trouble wrapping my head around。 It also contained a lot of valid social and political aspects of science that I glad I was exposed to。 Mainly the affects the cis-heteronormative white-supremacist patriarchal pov on science。 There were many references to books that I added to my “want to read” list。

Annelise

Book 400 :,)

Manny Ledoux

Title is misleading - expected a book about space and physics and got a book about the physics of skin tone and the authors experience in the world。 Totally valid experiences, don’t get me wrong, but this isn’t a book about the cosmos。