The Universe in Verse Audiobook By Maria Popova, Ofra Amit - illustrator cover art

The Universe in Verse

15 Portals to Wonder Through Science & Poetry

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The Universe in Verse

By: Maria Popova, Ofra Amit - illustrator
Narrated by: Maria Popova, Lili Taylor
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In this audiobook Maria Popova, creator of The Marginalian, presents a celebration of the human search for truth and beauty through the lenses of science and poetry.

Poetry and science, as Popova writes in her introduction, "are instruments for knowing the world more intimately and loving it more deeply." In 15 short essays on subjects ranging from the mystery of dark matter and the infinity of pi to the resilience of trees and the intelligence of octopuses, Popova tells the stories of scientific searching and discovery. These stories are interwoven with details from the very real and human lives of scientists—many of them women, many underrecognized—and poets inspired by the same questions and the beauty they reveal. Each essay is paired with a poem reflecting its subject by poets ranging from Emily Dickinson, W. H. Auden, and Edna St. Vincent Millay to Maya Angelou, Diane Ackerman, and Tracy K. Smith. Together, they wake us to a "reality aglow with wonder."

©2024 Maria Popova (P)2024 Storey Publishing, LLC Animals & Nature Nature & Ecology Outdoors & Nature Poetry Science Themes & Styles Inspiring

Critic reviews

“This book is a wonder. Science writing so often negates the inherent wonder of science, which comes so brilliantly alive here. Something bursts open in the mind. And let me say this: Maria Popova has the rare gift of starting a sentence and leaving you in trance by its end. I'd read anything she writes.”—Jad Abumrad, creator, Radiolab
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A deeply inspiring creative output, beautifully combining poetry and science. This publication is most sincere and lovely

Deeply inspiring

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Thoroughly enjoyed this selection of poems inspired by nature and math. As a scientist, I reveled in the beauty

So much beauty in the natural world

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Maria Popova’s work is a new discovery to me. Her work was highlighted through the DeepTime Network. She is able to explain and help us explore the Cosmos with a keen knowledge of the emerging science and expand one’s imaginal grasp of this knowledge through the poetic expression of the greatest of our poets. Popova is able to weave a web of historical background fore-mostly highlighting the women neglected by the ignorance of the patriarchal mind set.

Magical Brew of Poetry, History, and Science

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In this time of trial and turmoil, this listen will put your mind at ease and bring balm to your soul.

A Must Listen

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I wished I had the book to read along as the author spoke. Some times it was too deep for me; other times a poem moved me and I wanted to gaze at the Milky Way at midnight in order to see the stars the way astronomers and poet saw it.

Power of the Poetry

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The sampling of talented poets was great, but perhaps a better reader of poetry would have lifted the material higher

Cool idea

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Wonderful work beauty combined in poetry and science. Plus the offer overlooked contributions women brought and bring to the studies of our existence and the universe. Beautiful.

Big Bang of a tender book!

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Maria Popova curated life. Though this collection I have discovered poems to celebrate births, weddings and what I hope will be read at my memorial party.

Maria Popova Curates More than Poetry

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I so loved this fascinating short book on so many things! I will be listening to it again, to absorb much better all that is offered here. I was so happy to find it on Audible as I do love Maria's online posts already for years now. I hope she brings forth more to Audible!

As usual, Maria is brilliant!

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“My business is circumference, Emily Dickenson wrote.”
If a college course on science and poetry was offered by this author, I’d totally be on board. This novella is chock full of science and nature and things that make you go hmmm. Given the heaviness of the material, however, with science-y terms ending in y (entropy, infinity, singularity), I found myself craving Morgan Freeman’s uniquely identifiable god voice to liven up the narration.

“Octopuses: the Descartes of the ocean”
My favorite poem was written by this author- and not just because it was about octopuses (octopi?).
Beyond that, I enjoyed ones by Maya Angelou and Stephen Hawkins.

“The body is quieted in awe.”
Overall, however, most of the poems were just okay. The ratio of essay to poem, moreover, was unbalanced in favor of the essays. Thus, we hear five minutes of lecture about a topic before listening to the minute of poetry featuring the same.

Is it weird I wanted Morgan Freeman to narrate?

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