An Introduction to the Sun and Stars Paperback – Illustrated, 19 Feb. 2015

This book is an excellent, comprehensive, but surprisingly easy to read. It is lavishly illustrated with many notes describing the science or the scientists in greater detail. I assume this book to be a standard textbook but it doesn't always feel like it.If I have any criticism it is that the paperback version is too "soft" so it needs to sit on a desk or similar to be comfortable- definitely not easy to read on the train.

I've already given you a review on this. It was v good.

Excellent. Well written. Authoritative.

I did learn something from this book but had hoped for something on astrophysics on a similar level to Lambourne's excellent OU one on Galaxies and Cosmology, but this is more basic, (more O-level than A-level to use UK terminology). It would make an excellent gift to (say) a 16-year old interested in astronomy, for although the latest ideas of astrophysics are well-presented and nicely illustrated too - there are very good graphs and diagrams, eg of the CNO cycle - any mathematical explanation is at a most elementary level. One thing I would missing is a big Hertsprung-Russel diagram covering the evolution of the complete range of possible stellar masses, from brown dwarf to blue supergiant. I'm sure it's possible now.. Various bits appear here and there but never all in one graph.

An excellent source of general background knowledge to form a good foundation upon which to build. Interesting too for amateur astronomers like myself, although as a physical science graduate I sometimes found myself wanting to see more mathematics. I nevertheless very much enjoyed reading this book and am glad I bought it.