The Disordered Cosmos
Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
Hachette £20 ● HB
Dr Chanda Prescod-Weinstein’s debut book is two things: a journey into the world of cosmology and particle physics, and a refreshingly eyeopening insight into the too-often exclusionary arena that is science.
The book’s main premise is that physics doesn’t just affect us all as a society, but it taps into our natural desire to learn and understand; and yet one group for many centuries, and even to this day, has deemed itself worthy to tap into that knowledge above others. If physics is for everyone, then where is the justification to gate-keep?
There are parts of The Disordered Cosmos that read a bit like a popular science book, but the perspective is refreshingly different. It’s not often that physics is presented from the point of view of a black woman: in fact it’s so unusual that it’s a sad rarity.
Do not pick up this book thinking it will be just another title on particle physics or dark matter. It does explore those areas in an engaging and accessible way, from the Standard Model of Particle Physics – its origins and where it currently stands – to the latest theories on dark matter, but Dr Prescod-Weinstein’s experiences of navigating her way within the field of physics as a black woman – punctuated with many examples of racism and sexism – are interwoven throughout.
What I enjoyed most about this book was its raw honesty. I found its vibrant, bold and non-traditional take on the field of physics to be refreshing, saddening and frustrating to read at times – especially as a black woman myself – but very much needed. You may wonder what race has to do with physics, and the answer is everything, including why our skins are the colours they are (explained in captivating detail in the ‘Physics and Melanin’ chapter). The popular science genre is in desperate need of new voices that aren’t the typical standard we are unwittingly used to, and as a starting point I cannot recommend this book enough, especially for people of colour wanting to enter a field that, because of their gender or race, may seem like a lonely place. ★★★★★
Melissa Brobby is a science communicator and social media lead at the Institute of Physics