Accessory to War
The Unspoken Alliance Between Astrophysics and the Military
5 October 2019
Description
An exploration of the age-old complicity between sky watchers and war fighters, from the best-selling author of Astrophysics for People in a Hurry.
In this fascinating foray into the millennia-long relationship between science and military power, “the world’s best science communicator” (Times Literary Supplement), astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and writer Avis Lang examine how the methods and tools of astrophysics have been enlisted in the service of war. “The overlap is strong, and it’s a two- way street”, say the authors, because the astrophysicists and military planners care about many of the same things: multi- spectral detection, ranging, tracking, imaging, high ground, nuclear fusion and access to space. Tyson and Lang call it a "curiously complicit” alliance.
Spanning early celestial navigation to satellite-enabled warfare, Accessory to War is a richly researched and provocative examination of the intersection of science, technology, industry and power that will introduce Tyson’s millions of fans to yet another dimension of how the universe has shaped our lives and our world.
Reviews
"Accessory to War is thought-provoking and reflective…" — Nature
"... wide-ranging and very readable history of the overlap between science and the military, penned with editor Avis Lang... The book is a fascinating exploration of humanity' s capacity to combine discovery with destruction…" — BBC Sky at Night
"In Accessory to War, Neil deGrasse Tyson and Avis Lang give a sweeping panoramic overview of the enduring alliance between astrophysics and the military—from the Greeks to Galileo to GPS. The book's key contribution is in documenting the various ways science has aided military endeavors over the millennia and making the sometimes-arcane source material accessible." — Science
"Throughout history, wars tend to be won by nations that are at the forefront of science. Thus astronomers and physicists have, since ancient times, benefited from an uneasy alliance with the military. This enlightening book explores the history and current implications of this partnership between space science and national security." — Walter Isaacson
Also By: Neil deGrasse Tyson 
Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution
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Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution
E Book, 2022
“Who can ask for better cosmic tour guides to the universe than Drs. Tyson and Goldsmith?”—Michio Kaku, author of Hyperspace and Parallel Worlds
Letters from an Astrophysicist
Hardback, 2019
New York Times Bestseller
A luminous companion to the phenomenal bestseller Astrophysics for People in a Hurry.
Letters from an Astrophysicist
E Book, 2019
New York Times Bestseller
A luminous companion to the phenomenal bestseller Astrophysics for People in a Hurry.
Astrophysics for Young People in a Hurry
Paperback, 2019
America’s most celebrated astrophysicist invites young readers to explore the mysteries of the universe.
Also By: Avis Lang
Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier
Paperback, 2014
A thought-provoking and humorous collection on NASA and the future of space travel.
Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier
E Book, 2011
A thought-provoking and humorous collection on NASA and the future of space travel.
