The Sun's Heartbeat by Bob Berman

And just when you think the summer couldn't get any hotter... I have a book about the Sun!

But I promise you, it's really interesting and a great beach read.

The beating heart of the sun is the very pulse of life on earth. And from the ancients who plotted its path at Stonehenge to the modern scientists who unraveled the nuclear fusion reaction that turns mass into energy, humankind has sought to solve its mysteries. In this lively biography of the sun, Bob Berman ranges from its stellar birth to its spectacular future death with a focus on the wondrous and enthralling, and on the heartbreaking sacrifice, laughable errors, egotistical battles, and brilliant inspirations of the people who have tried to understand its power.

What, exactly, are the ghostly streaks of light astronauts see-but can't photograph-when they're in space? And why is it impossible for two people to see the exact same rainbow? Why are scientists beginning to think that the sun is safer than sunscreen? And how does the fluctuation of sunspots-and its heartbeat-affect everything from satellite communications to wheat production across the globe?

Peppered with mind-blowing facts and memorable anecdotes about spectral curiosities-the recently-discovered "second sun" that lurks beneath the solar surface, the eerie majesty of a total solar eclipse-THE SUN'S HEARTBEAT offers a robust and entertaining narrative of how the Sun has shaped humanity and our understanding of the universe around us.

Check out what this great blogger and other reviewers had to say about it:

"As in his columns or speeches, he is humorous and delightfully un-condescending in his sharing of astronomical knowledge (and I mean that in both the literal and adjectival senses!), making this a fluid read. In fact, the fluidity is addictive. I'd planned to read the book next week and review it in July prior to its 7/13 release, but wound up finishing it after just two sittings, quite unable to put it down." --Pillownaut

“From ancient sun worship to the latest in Sol science, Bob Berman makes The Sun’s Heartbeat shine.” –Sam Kean, author of the New York Times bestseller The Disappearing Spoon

“Bob Berman is one o f those rare authors whose prose is as delightful to read as it is pleasing to learn from. Having read this book, I will never be able to regard the Sun—nor the future beneath it—in quite the same way.” –James M. Tabor, author of the New York Times bestseller Blind Descent: The Search for the Deepest Cave on Earth

“Bob Berman’s The Sun’s Heartbeat glitters and skips with the joy and excitement of science at its best. He explains things I always wondered about without diminishing the stargazer’s sense of awe.” –Mark Kurlansky, author of Salt and Cod.

If you'd like to review this title, please fill out this form:

http://tinyurl.com/thesunsheartbeat

You can also request an eGalley, but you need to be registered on NetGalley to request it here:

http://netgalley.com/PopupHandler.php?module=catalog&func=galle...

Just make sure that your profile indicates that you are a "Reviewer" and that you have blog URL, or else I will not be able to approve your request.

If you would like to host a giveaway of The Sun's Heartbeat, you can request it through this form:

http://tinyurl.com/GiveawayRequest

I will email those who may host a giveaway.

If you have any more questions, please feel free to email me at anna.balasi@hbgusa.com.