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This ordinary stardust : a scientist's path from grief to wonder / Alan R. Townsend.
"A decade ago, Dr. Alan Townsend's family received two unthinkable, catastrophic diagnoses: his 4-year-old daughter and his brilliant and vivacious wife developed unrelated, life-threatening forms of brain cancer. As he witnessed his young daughter fight during the courageous final months of her mother's life, Townsend -- a lifelong scientist -- was indelibly altered. He began to see scientific inquiry as more than a source of answers to a given problem, but also as a lifeboat: a lens on the world that could help him find peace with the painful realities he could not change. Through scientific wonder, he found ways to bring meaning to his darkest period. At a time when society's relationship with science is increasingly polarized while threats to human life on earth continue to rise, Townsend offers a balanced, moving perspective on the common ground between science and religion through the spiritual fulfillment he found in his work. Awash in Townsend's electrifying and breathtaking prose, This ordinary stardust offers hope that life can carry on even in the face of near-certain annihilation"-- Provided by publisher.
Record details
- ISBN: 9781538741184 (hardcover)
- Physical Description: 262 pages ; 22 cm
- Edition: First edition.
- Publisher: New York : Grand Central Publishing, 2024.
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| Genre: | Biographies. Autobiographies. Personal narratives. |
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeshore Branch | 616.994810092 Towns | 31681010375541 | NONFIC | Available | - |
- Baker & Taylor
After dealing with two unthinkable, catastrophic diagnoses: his 4-year-old daughter and his brilliant scientist wife developed life-threatening forms of brain cancer, and its aftermath, the author offers a moving perspective on the common ground between science and religion through the spiritual fulfillment he found in his work. - Baker & Taylor
"A decade ago, Dr. Alan Townsend's family received two unthinkable, catastrophic diagnoses: his 4-year-old daughter and his brilliant and vivacious wife developed unrelated, life-threatening forms of brain cancer. As he witnessed his young daughter fightduring the courageous final months of her mother's life, Townsend - a lifelong scientist - was indelibly altered. He began to see scientific inquiry as more than a source of answers to a given problem, but also as a lifeboat: a lens on the world that could help him find peace with the painful realities he could not change. Through scientific wonder, he found ways to bring meaning to his darkest period. At a time when society's relationship with science is increasingly polarized while threats to human life on earth continue to rise, Townsend offers a balanced, moving perspective on the common ground between science and religion through the spiritual fulfillment he found in his work. Awash in Townsend's electrifying and breathtaking prose, This ordinary stardust offers hope that life can carry on even in the face of near-certain annihilation"-- - Grand Central Pub
"[A] remarkable account of a shifting consciousnessâ - Publisherâs Weekly, starred review
âAn extraordinary, powerful bookâ - David Quammen, author of The Heartbeat of the Wild and Breathless
A compassionate exploration of scientific wonder that offers âa fresh perspective on life, death, and the bittersweet consequences of impermanence,â (Jon Krakauer) as illuminated through the tragic dual cancer diagnoses of author Dr. Alan Townsendâs wife and daughter.
A decade ago, Dr. Alan Townsendâs family received two unthinkable, catastrophic diagnoses: his 4-year-old daughter and his brilliant scientist wife developed unrelated, life-threatening forms of brain cancer. As he witnessed his young daughter fight during the courageous final months of her motherâs life, Townsend â a lifelong scientist â was indelibly altered. He began to see scientific inquiry as more than a source of answers to a given problem, but also as a lifeboat: a lens on the world that could help him find peace with the painful realities he could not change. Through scientific wonder, he found ways to bring meaning to his darkest period.Â
At a time when societyâs relationship with science is increasingly polarized while threats to human life on earth continue to rise, Townsend offers a balanced, moving perspective on the common ground between science and religion through the spiritual fulfillment he found in his work. Awash in Townsend's electrifying and breathtaking prose, THIS ORDINARY STARDUST offers hope that life can carry on even in the face of near-certain annihilation.
