Listen to a sample
The Pluto Files
- Author
- Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Narrator
- Mirron Willis
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Publish Date
- 19 January 2009
- Run Time
- 4 hours 23 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
In August 2006, the International Astronomical Union voted Pluto out of planethood. Far from the sun, tiny, and eccentric in orbit, it’s a wonder Pluto has any fans. Yet during the mounting debate over Pluto’s status, Americans rallied behind this extraterrestrial underdog. The year of Pluto’s discovery, Disney created an irresistible pup by the same name, and, as one NASA scientist put it, Pluto was “discovered by an American for America.” Pluto is entrenched in our cultural, patriotic view of the cosmos, and Neil deGrasse Tyson is on a quest to discover why. Since he was involved in the first exhibits to demote Pluto, Tyson has received plenty of freely shared opinions from Pluto lovers, including endless hate mail from third graders. In his typically witty way, Tyson explores the history of planet classification and America’s obsession with the status of Pluto.
Critics Review
-
“You gotta read this. It is the most exciting book about Pluto you will ever read in your life.”
Jon Stewart
-
“[A] lighthearted look at the planet…Presents the medicine of hard science with a sugarcoating of lightness and humor.”
Publishers Weekly
-
“When astronomers stripped Pluto of its ‘planethood’ in 2006, it set off a surprisingly passionate debate. As director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City, Neil deGrasse Tyson was at the center of the dispute, and he tells his side of the story with wit and humility in this audio. Mirron Willis…does a fine job conveying the audiobook’s humor, including the letters from children who are angry that Tyson helped to demote their favorite planet.”
AudioFile
-
“Actor/narrator Mirron Willis…successfully gets Tyson’s often tongue-and-cheek tone across to the listener. An enjoyable title on a topic having broad appeal.”
Library Journal
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Narrator
- Mirron Willis
- Duration
- 4 hours 23 minutes
- Release Date
- 19 January 2009
- ISBN
- 9781481544658
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Genre
- Astronomy, space and time
Synopsis
In August 2006, the International Astronomical Union voted Pluto out of planethood. Far from the sun, tiny, and eccentric in orbit, it’s a wonder Pluto has any fans. Yet during the mounting debate over Pluto’s status, Americans rallied behind this extraterrestrial underdog. The year of Pluto’s discovery, Disney created an irresistible pup by the same name, and, as one NASA scientist put it, Pluto was “discovered by an American for America.” Pluto is entrenched in our cultural, patriotic view of the cosmos, and Neil deGrasse Tyson is on a quest to discover why. Since he was involved in the first exhibits to demote Pluto, Tyson has received plenty of freely shared opinions from Pluto lovers, including endless hate mail from third graders. In his typically witty way, Tyson explores the history of planet classification and America’s obsession with the status of Pluto.
About xigxag
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.