Timothy Ferris
This book about is nominally about amateur astronomy but it’s really three books in one cover. First, it’s a journalistic and historical account of a wide range of amateur astronomers. Second, it’s a memoir of Ferris’ own experiences as an amateur. Third, it’s popular science book about different aspects of astronomy. It’s a good book, but Ferris seems to switch “books” just when things are getting really interesting. The reader is left wanting to know more about each theme.
The accounts about various amateurs are the most interesting parts of the book. They come from various backgrounds and bring varying degrees of money, education, and sophistication to their avocation. Reading about people who do something for the love of it (the origin of the word “amateur”) is inspiring. The memoir is scattered throughout the book and, while it gives the book a personal voice, would be better as a stand-alone work. The popular science content is sufficient to provide background information, but I wish some of the space given to astronomical facts had been given to astronomical people.