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The Planets cover art

The Planets

By: Professor Brian Cox, Andrew Cohen
Narrated by: Samuel West
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Publisher's Summary

A companion book to the critically acclaimed BBC series. 

The best-selling authors of Wonders of the Universe are back with another blockbuster, a groundbreaking exploration of our Solar System as it has never been seen before. 

Mercury, a lifeless victim of the Sun’s expanding power. Venus, once thought to be lush and fertile, now known to be trapped within a toxic and boiling atmosphere. Mars, the red planet, doomed by the loss of its atmosphere. Jupiter, twice the size of all the other planets combined, but insubstantial. Saturn, a stunning celestial beauty, the jewel of our Solar System. Uranus, the sideways planet and the first ice giant. Neptune, dark, cold and whipped by supersonic winds. Pluto, the dwarf planet, a frozen rock.

Andrew Cohen and Professor Brian Cox take listeners on a voyage of discovery, from the fiery heart of our Solar System, to its mysterious outer reaches. They touch on the latest discoveries that have expanded our knowledge of the planets, their moons and how they come to be, alongside recent stunning and mind-boggling NASA photography.

©2019 Brian Cox and Andrew Cohen (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic Reviews

"Cox’s romantic, lyrical approach to astrophysics all adds up to an experience that feels less like homework and more like having a story told to you. A really good story, too." (The Guardian)

"He bridges the gap between our childish sense of wonder and a rather more professional grasp of the scale of things." (The Independent)

"If you didn’t utter a wow watching the TV, you will while reading the book." (The Times)

What listeners say about The Planets

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Just wonderful

A great listen, well written, well performed, a beautiful overview of our home star system.

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Beautifully written and narrated

An excellent explanation of what nasa has achieved so far with regards to the the exploration of our solar system. I waa amazed at the number of exploratory missions completed and ongoing exploring our solar system and the discoveries they have made. For anyone interested in the subject, but maybe time poor, this is as good as it gets! I am inspired to but a telescope and the hard copy of the book. Good job Brian and Andrew!

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So detailed - You’ve got to listen hard

Incredibly detailed but explained with great clarity.
Probably need two or three listens to get the best understanding.

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Great read!

really enjoyed this book. it reminded me of all the names of our exploration projects. performance was awesome too, very easy to listen to.

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  • Overall
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The book about the planets I always wanted

This is a great exploration of the current state of knowledge of all the planets in the solar system, and much of exploration that has been undertaken to get this knowledge.
It provides a scientific understanding of the nature of the planets presented in an easily digestible, and compelling format.
I always wanted to know more about the composition of the gas giants, and now I do.

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  • Ian
  • 18-07-2019

A fascinating journey

This is a superbly written and narrated book. Full of stories that make you think "oh wow". It is a logical and captivating journey from the beginnings of our solar system to the outer reaches, bringing into play the ingenuity of man's space exploration. Loved it.

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Good read

Informative, detailed and will delivered, worth a listen. Worth the buy and would recommend getting a copy of this book.

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A fantastic review of the solar system

Brian Cox and Andrew Cohen give a phonemally punctual, well - directed look into the Planets of your solar system. A must read for anyone looking to learn more about the Planets.

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Love it. Easy listening and so interesting.

I’m really enjoying the style and pace of this interesting book. It’s not read by Prof Cox, however, the calm, inviting voice of Samuel West is appropriately matched to the style of book, as he are entices you to hear about Our Solar System - from the beginning as swirling dust through to each distinct planet and its personality. How wonderful it is we live on Planet Earth.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Too complicated

Didn't finish it. It's not suited for the general reader but might be good for a scientist or astronomer. Hard read/audio.

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