The best 47 Space books

A Brief History of Time (1988) takes a look at both the history of scientific theory and the ideas that form our understanding of the universe today. From big bangs and black holes to the smallest particles in the universe, Hawking offers a clear overview of both the history of the universe and the complex science behind it, all presented in a way that even readers who are being introduced to these ideas for the first time will understand.

• Anyone who wonders how the universe began
• Anyone who wonders what quantum mechanics is
• Anyone interested how black holes work

The Particle at the End of the Universe gives you a crash course in particle physics by explaining the basics of what has become known as the “standard model.” The book also details the fascinating and exciting journey that eventually led to the discovery of the elusive Higgs boson.

• Anyone interested in physics
• Anyone who wants to learn about the origin and the characteristics of our universe
• Anyone curious about the Large Hadron Collider and how it works

Test pilot and astronaut Chris Hadfield was the first Canadian to space walk, and this is his story. He offers insight into life in the space business, from training and lift-off to space research and coming home. He outlines the surprising challenges astronauts face, both off and on this planet, and offers some of the wisdom he gained from leaving our natural home and coming back down to Earth. Even if you never make it to the stars, you’ll find that we have a lot to learn from spacemen.

• Anyone interested in astronauts
• Anyone who wants to know what an astronaut actually does
• Anyone interested in space exploration

Just how unrealistic is the technology we see in sci-fi novels and television shows? In Physics of the Impossible (2008), renowned physicist Michio Kaku takes a mind-bending look into how far away we really are from such fantastical notions as starships traveling faster than the speed of light or teleporting to different planets.

• Anyone interested in the future of technology
• Sci-fi fans curious about the science behind their favorite TV series and movies
• Anyone interested in astrophysics

The Magic of Reality (2011) offers an introduction to scientific thinking by going through the ways scientists have explained natural phenomena once thought to be supernatural. Whether shedding light on the building blocks of the universe or explaining the origins of life, scientific reasoning has an answer.

• Those curious about what the world is made of
• People who like to look at stars
• Skeptics wondering how we can be sure of what we know

Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs (2015) takes a close look at the remarkable interconnections between Earth and the universe around it. These blinks explain how dark matter, the invisible stuff that makes up most of the universe, relates to the mass extinctions of the past and to the comets that might one day bring about another.

• Scientists and students of science
• Anyone interested in how the dinosaurs became extinct
• People curious about Earth’s early history

Cosmosapiens (2015) is about the evolution of scientific theory – from the origin of matter and the universe to the emergence of life on Earth and the evolution of human consciousness. For centuries, we’ve been struggling to find out who we are and why we’re here. Learn about the progress we’ve made toward answering these important questions – and about the barriers that still stand in our way.

• Science nerds of all kinds
• Students and teachers of physics, biology and scientific theory
• People curious about our universe and how we got here

The Grand Design (2010) tells the fascinating story of how humans came into being and how we began to use the scientific method to explain both our remarkable growth as a species and the world around us. From the foundational laws of Newton and Einstein to the mind-bending science of quantum physics, find out how far we’ve come and how close we are to answering life’s big questions.

• Armchair philosophers
• Science geeks who are into astronomy and physics
• Anyone who’s ever wondered about the mysteries of life

The Big Picture (2016) is an ambitious look at the world as we know it and how scientific thinking can be used to make sense of most of it. An insightful examination of the origins of life, consciousness and the universe itself, this book gives readers a deductive way of considering the most challenging questions that philosophy, physics and biology have to offer.

• Philosophical buffs
• Students and fans of physics
• Anyone interested in biology and evolutionary theory

The Future of Humanity (2018) explores the challenges we face finding new homes on other, potentially hostile, planets. As physicist Michio Kaku shows us, this scenario is no longer science fiction, but rather a very pressing concern for scientists and future-minded entrepreneurs. Kaku presents the options currently being explored as well as the many problems that are on the verge of being solved.

• Fans of speculative science
• Students of physics and planetary science
• Astronomy enthusiasts

Rise of the Rocket Girls (2016) reveals the intriguing and enlightening stories of the women who worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. It traces the laboratory from its earliest days through to modern times, from its quirky beginnings to its role as one of NASA’s most important component parts. These women were responsible for crunching numbers and the important calculations that kept the United States in the space race and helped launch rockets, satellites and probes into the farthest corners of the solar system. Their influence cannot be denied. And, more than that, it must be acknowledged.

• Readers who seek strong female role models
• Science geeks
• Space enthusiasts

Rocket Men (2018) tells the riveting story of Apollo 8, the moon mission that put the United States ahead of the Soviet Union in the Space Race. In 1968, NASA chose to risk everything. They had to beat the Soviets to the moon, and they had just four months to do it.

• Amateur astronomers
• Space-exploration enthusiasts
• People with an interest in politics and social issues of the 1960s

Brief Answers to the Big Questions (2018) addresses some of our universe’s most fundamental questions from a uniquely humanist perspective. By merging scientific history with humanity’s future, the book dashes from the origins of the universe and the inside of black holes, to human space exploration and the dangers of artificial intelligence in a grand and sweeping narrative.

• Anyone curious about what came before the Big Bang
• People wondering what a black hole is
• Humans concerned about superintelligent AI

Seven Brief Lessons on Physics (2014) is an informative guide to how we arrived at the two pillars of modern physics: Einstein’s theory of general relativity and quantum mechanics. Author Carlo Rovelli describes the wondrous world opened up by these two theories, including the secrets they’ve revealed and the mysteries and paradoxes they’ve exposed.

• Curious people who want to know more about how the universe works
• Students who want an introduction to quantum physics
• Scientists, physicists and mathematicians

Cosmos (1980) is a milestone in popular science. It shows us the basic concepts behind our understanding of the universe, what the planets and the stars look like and how our comprehension of them has changed and evolved.

• Humanities students unsure of what gets scientists going
• Lovers of science fiction
• Anyone who’s ever looked up at the sky

Shoot for the Moon (2019) looks at the life lessons we can learn from the extraordinary people that accomplished the seemingly impossible mission of bringing mankind to the moon in 1969. This is practical and actionable advice that anyone can put to use today in order to do focused and purposeful work and achieve extraordinary things.

• Entrepreneurs
• Project managers
• Psychologists

Reality Is Not What It Seems (2014) offers a quick overview of the long journey modern science has taken from the cosmic observations of ancient Greece to the heady theories of quantum mechanics. These blinks offer an easily digestible take on the many twists and turns that have occurred in the history of modern physics, as well as an overview of the tricky questions physicists continue to grapple with today.

• Science geeks and curious minds
• Students and practitioners in the field of physics
• Anyone who wants to know the secrets of the universe

Shoot for the Moon (2019) provides you with a riveting, wide-ranging account of the early space race, culminating with Apollo 11 – the mission that first landed humanity on the moon. Blasting through twelve years of space exploration, these blinks guide you through Apollo 11’s historic mission and the preparatory ones that made it happen.

• Anyone interested in the space race and the Cold War
• Science geeks interested in NASA’s early endeavors
• Future astronauts who need to do their homework

The Order of Time (2017) unpacks the latest research in physics to turn our everyday concept of time on its head. What we perceive and experience as a linear movement, from past to present and into the future, is little more than a trick of the mind. The reality, Carlo Rovelli shows, is a whole lot more interesting and bizarre.

• Science lovers, physicists and philosophers
• Anyone curious about the world
• Those seeking to understand what time is and what it isn’t

Moon (2019) is a biography of the moon. It traces our relationship with our nearest interstellar neighbor – from early lunar rituals and mythology to the stunning revelations of the ancient Greeks; from the science fiction reveries of the nineteenth century all the way to the Apollo landing in 1969.

• Budding astronauts and astronomers
• Buffs of human history and its relation to the moon
• Anyone who has gazed in wonder at the night sky

Narrated by Oliver Mains

Music by Federico Coderoni

Shoot for the Moon (2019) provides a riveting, wide-ranging account of the early space race. It guides you through the historic Apollo 11 mission which first landed humans on the moon, and sheds light on the legacy of the preceding missions that paved its way.

• Anyone interested in the space race and the Cold War
• Science geeks interested in NASA’s early endeavors
• Future astronauts who need to do their homework

Until the End of Time (2020) is an accessible, informal look at the loftiest topics of all time: time, the universe, and humanity’s never ending quest for meaning. Physicist Brian Greene begins at the very beginning – the big bang that set off this whole crazy spectacle – then zooms in to examine the evolution of human culture, from religion, language, and the arts. Finally, he zooms back out to examine what might become of the universe, and whether there might ever be a reemergence of life.

• Exploratory minds
• Science buffs with a poetic streak
• Far-futurists

Antimatter (2010) is a detailed look at one of the most mysterious and misunderstood topics in physics: antimatter. This accessible guide explains what antimatter is, how it works, and what it can teach us about the universe.

• Stargazers curious about the makeup of the universe
• Sci-fi fans interested in the facts behind their favorite fiction
• Anyone who has ever felt flummoxed by advanced physics

Extraterrestrial (2021) is an examination of ‘Oumuamua, the first interstellar object ever detected. This provocative overview argues that this strange object could be a piece of alien technology. 

• Amateur astronomers fascinated by ‘Oumuamua
• Sci-fi fans interested in a little science fact
• Anyone who wants to believe in life beyond Earth

Genesis (2019) lays out a gripping, blow-by-blow account of the first 13.8 billion years of our universe. From the mysterious initial void to the birth of the very first stars, it conjures up vistas no less dizzying than the grand creation myths of old.

• Star-gazers and armchair cosmologists
• Sci-fi fans interested in the reality of the great expanse
• Those who wonder how everything began

The God Equation (2021) is an approachable look at the history and present of theoretical physics. This primer untangles the science behind relativity, string theory, and the search for the elusive “theory of everything.”

• Science enthusiasts interested in the tiniest scales of physics
• Freethinkers asking the big question about the universe
• Anyone curious about the structure of reality

Liftoff (2021) tells the story of SpaceX’s beginnings – from the day that Elon Musk resolved to send rockets to Mars, through the first failed launch attempts on the tropical island of Omelek, to the make-or-break fourth flight. From a scrappy new venture to the world-renowned rocket company we know today, Liftoff has the inside scoop on SpaceX.

• Fans of SpaceX and Elon Musk
• Tech enthusiasts and budding aerospace engineers
• Would-be space explorers

Why The Universe Is the Way It Is (2008) takes you on a cosmic journey from the Big Bang to the mysteries of time, all while exploring the universe's beauty and complexity. With a perfect balance of science and theology, it's a must-read for the curious and contemplative.

• Curious cosmic explorers
• Theological scientists
• “Big picture” modern philosophers

Starry Messenger (2022) is about a way of looking at the world called the cosmic perspective. It’s the view that opens up when we think about human life in its largest possible context – that of the universe itself. This isn’t an exercise in making our worldly affairs seem small and trivial, though. It’s about unlocking insights that can help us live more happily and meaningfully on the cosmic anomaly we call Earth.

• Thinkers and stargazers
• Politicos interested in new ways of looking at old questions
• Scientists and rationalists

Dune (1965) is a modern epic, often considered the greatest sci-fi novel of all time. Set in a distant future, it follows the story of Paul, son of the noble Duke Leto of Atreides, as he adapts to life on Arrakis – his family’s new dominion. The desert planet is highly contested as it’s the source of a valuable commodity called spice. Soon, Paul must join the native desert people in an epic battle against the power-hungry enemies of Arrakis. 

• Sci-fi and fantasy devotees 
• Anyone interested in stories about politics, ecology, and power 
• Timothée Chalamet superfans

Space, Time, and Motion (2022) is the first of a three-part series titled The Biggest Ideas in the Universe. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sean Carroll began producing videos that explained some of the biggest ideas and concepts of modern physics – and the equations which support them. He produced 24 videos in all and then developed the book series from that material.

• Physics buffs
• Paradoxical twins looking for an answer
• Anyone looking for an overview of the concepts of space, time, and spacetime

Welcome to the Universe (2016) is a mind-blowing and breathtaking introduction to astrophysics, based on the popular course the three authors cotaught at Princeton University. It takes everyone –⁠ even the nonscience-minded –⁠ on a trip through the known universe, stopping to examine stars, galaxies, black holes, and more, all while presenting fascinating theories regarding time travel, the big bang, and the prospect of life in other galaxies.

• Star-gazers who want to explore the far reaches of the universe
• Budding astrophysicists and astronomers
• Anyone curious about space, physics, and time

What If? 2 (2022) is Randall Munroe’s follow-up to the New York Times best-selling What If? Like its predecessor, it comprises Munroe’s serious scientific answers to the absurd, funny, and whimsical questions submitted to him by readers, ranging from “How big would a snowball be if rolled from the top of Mt. Everest to the bottom?” to “Could a person eat a cloud?”

• Fans of xkcd’s nerd-culture humor
• People who love science but don’t take it too seriously
• Anyone who’s ever wondered what would happen if Jupiter were shrunk to the size of a suburban house

On the Origin of Time (2023) guides you through the humbling, stranger-than-fiction theories that the late physicist Stephen Hawking developed in the last two decades of his life. With quantum physics, holograms, and inspiration from Charles Darwin’s evolutionary theory, it reveals what the great scientist came to believe about the origins of the universe.

• Those curious about the origins of space and time
• People fascinated by the multiverse

Anyone familiar with A Brief History of Time

When the Heavens Went on Sale (2023) is a trip into the wild new Space Age sparked by Elon Musk and accelerated by like-minded space geniuses. Buckle up for a mind-blowing journey through space tech innovation and the future of humanity.

• Aspiring cosmic entrepreneurs 
• Rocket mavericks
• Researchers of space governance

Foundation (1951) looks at the crumbling of a galactic empire from the perspective of the planet Terminus, located on the Empire’s outer edge. Terminus is home to the Foundation, a community formed by a mathematician who could predict the future and the Empire’s inevitable demise. As the Empire crumbles, the Foundation gains increasing influence through a mixture of atomic power, religion, and economic savvy.

• Sci-fi fans
• Those who’ve watched the new Foundation television series and are curious about the books
• Anyone who likes a good space opera

The Only Astrology Book You’ll Ever Need (2001) is a comprehensive guide to astrology, covering everything from sun signs and planets to houses and aspects. It provides an explanation of zodiac profiles, compatibility, and birth chart interpretation, allowing you to unlock the secrets of the cosmos to better understand yourself and your relationships with others.

• Holistic wellness seekers 
• People looking for New Age spiritual guidance
• Fans of astrology TikTok

Hyperspace (1994) offers an accessible introduction to string theory, one of the most exciting ideas in modern physics. It also explores some of the implications of the theory, such as the possible existence of wormholes.

• Physics enthusiasts
• Science fiction fans
• Anyone who wants to understand string theory

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (1979) is the first book in a series of science fiction novels that follows Arthur Dent, the only human to escape the destruction of Earth. Following his rescue by an alien researcher for the eponymous guide, Arthur’s reluctant adventure across space and time leads to an array of surreal and humorous escapades across the universe.

• Those interested in learning what the classic science fiction franchise is all about
• First-time intergalactic travelers looking to brush up on alien etiquette
• Anyone curious about the meaning of life, the universe, and everything

A City on Mars (2023) explores what would really happen if humans were to settle in space. Would we live up to the great promise of starting life anew on another planet? Or would we mess it all up, as usual? This engaging and funny guide answers every question imaginable about the prospects of space life – from making babies to interplanetary legal systems.

• Aspiring astronauts and space explorers 
• Science fiction fans fascinated by speculative futures
• Armchair philosophers and ethicists intrigued by thought experiments

Moonshot (2023) is a motivational and practical guide, drawing from the lessons learned as a NASA astronaut. It emphasizes perseverance, teamwork, and adapting to change to achieve lofty goals, combining humor and heartfelt storytelling. The book serves as a roadmap, inspiring readers to pursue their personal and professional ambitions with determination and resilience.

• Space enthusiasts 
• Leaders who want their teams to do incredible things
• Anyone with a dream they’re not ready to give up on

Alien Earths (2024) dives into the groundbreaking research transforming our understanding of the cosmos and the quest to find life beyond Earth. It explores the innovative techniques used to identify life on distant exoplanets, with insights from the latest discoveries. It highlights the most promising alien worlds and the potential for discovering extraterrestrial life.

• Astronomy enthusiasts and space exploration aficionados
• Science fiction fans interested in exoplanets
• Anyone interested in knowing if we’re alone in the universe

If the Universe Is Teeming with Aliens ... Where Is Everybody? (2002) examines the famous Fermi paradox and the troubling gap between the apparent likelihood of extraterrestrial civilizations and our failure to find any sign of them. It surveys 75 scientific, technological, and philosophical solutions, and helps you think more clearly about our place in the cosmos and the possible futures of intelligent life.

• Anyone curious about extraterrestrial life and the Fermi paradox
• Students and researchers of astronomy, cosmology, and astrobiology
• Futurists and big questions thinkers on human destiny

The Edge of Space-Time (2025) cuts straight to the heart of how space-time actually works, from special relativity to quantum superimposition, the particle horizon to quantum gravity, drawing on metaphors from art and literature. It makes the passionate argument that knowledge of the universe is too extraordinary to be left to a privileged few.

• Curious minds looking for cutting-edge ideas and brain teasers
• Mystery lovers craving the kind of plot twists in real life that are normally only found in novels and film
• Anyone who grew up in the universe and wants to understand a bit more about their cosmic “home town”

The Right Stuff is a non-fiction book that delves into the lives of the first American astronauts and the early days of the space race. Through interviews and extensive research, Tom Wolfe explores the qualities and characteristics that made these men the perfect candidates for such a dangerous and groundbreaking mission. The book offers a captivating and insightful look into the world of test pilots and the race to conquer space.

• Individuals interested in learning about the history and challenges of space exploration.
• Readers who enjoy personal narratives and character-driven stories.
• People curious about the qualities and mindset of individuals who push the boundaries of human achievement.

The Forever War by Joe Haldeman is a thought-provoking science fiction novel that explores the devastating effects of war and the passage of time. Set in a future where humanity is engaged in an interstellar war with an alien race, the story follows soldier William Mandella as he navigates through battles, relativity, and the profound changes occurring back on Earth. With its blend of action, social commentary, and hard science, this book offers a unique perspective on the nature of conflict and its long-term consequences.

• Anyone interested in science fiction and futuristic concepts
• Readers who enjoy thought-provoking exploration of war and its effects on humanity
• People who appreciate a deep and complex storyline with well-developed characters

Revelation Space is a gripping science fiction novel by Alastair Reynolds that takes readers on an epic journey across a vast and mysterious universe. Filled with complex characters, advanced technology, and mind-bending concepts, this book explores themes of identity, time, and the nature of reality. It is a must-read for fans of hard science fiction.

• Science fiction enthusiasts who enjoy complex and thought-provoking stories

• Readers who appreciate intricate world-building and detailed descriptions of futuristic technology

• Those interested in exploring philosophical and existential themes within a futuristic setting