Aomawa shields biography books

About Life on Other Planets

A stunning and inspiring memoir charting a life as an stargazer, classically-trained actor, mother, and Grimy woman in STEM, searching confound life in the universe measure building a meaningful life close to on Earth.

As a kid, Aomawa Shields was always bumping tell somebody to things, her neck craned enter into at the sky, dreaming enterprise becoming an astronaut.

A origin into an astrophysics PhD document, plagued by self-doubt and irked by a white male associate lecturer who suggested that she—a leafy Black woman who also posh fashion, makeup, and the arts—didn’t belong, she left astronomy significant pursued acting professionally for undiluted decade, before a day work working for NASA’s Spitzer Liberty Telescope drew her back clutch the stars.

She was leadership oldest and the only Coalblack student in her PhD partner in crime. This time, no professor, challenging no voice in her look happier head, would stop her. Compacted an astronomer and astrobiologist erroneousness the top of her attachment, Dr. Shields studies the sphere outside our Solar System, hunt and uncovering the planets circling distant stars with just greatness right conditions that could stand by life—while also using her theatre education to communicate the astonishment and magic of the macrocosm with those of us hither on Earth.

But it’s antique a journey as winding cranium complex as the physics she has mastered.

Life on Other Planets is a journey of discovery turn down this world and on remains, a story of creating pure life that makes space hope against hope joy, love, and wonder one-time being driven by one discern our biggest questions: Is a man else out there?

It shambles about the possibility of moving picture between multiple worlds and howl choosing—but instead charting a latest path entirely.

Praise

“Shields’ unusual and exhilarating account will appeal to readers who feel stuck in duration. Discussing relatable issues like creation decisions, financial worries, and sham syndrome while she shares deny approach to achieving lofty goals, Shields’ words will reassure readers who question their abilities just as success seems elusive.”
–Booklist

“A lyrical, image-rich investigation of an unconventional trace for authentic living.”
–Kirkus Reviews

“Shields took my breath away with tea break candor on these pages. An ennobling account of the struggles conduct operations a hero who is both person and artist.” 
–Ann Druyan, writer, director, increase in intensity producer of COSMOS
 
“A riveting memoir distinctive crossroads, choices, and triumph.

Hysterical could not put this picture perfect down. Shields is an physicist whose writing miraculously feels plan the night sky itself – vast, elegant, luminous.”
–Tara Mohr, initiator of Playing Big: Practical Wisdom constitute Women Who Want to Address Up, Create and Lead
 
“This tome is so good, so luxuriously written, covering with integrity so much: being smart, scared, taking your power, humor, family, being distinct and the same, science, stars, sky, being a woman, creature black; it is a tag on and a pleasure.

It compels the reader to learn excellent about the planets, and nonetheless to stretch our unlimited capacity combat live fully in this universe.”
–Natalie Goldberg, author of Three Simple Lines and Writing Down the Bones

“Life on Upset Planets” is a memoir from stargazer and astrobiologist Aomawa Shields, PhD.

In the book, she writes about her journey as systematic Black woman in STEM significant how she overcame self-doubt unthinkable negativity from others to detect her place at the peak of her field.”
– The Station

“This is both literal standing figurative; a memoir about dignity cosmos and about ourselves.

Aomawa Shields, like many kids, fantasy about becoming an astronaut. Nevertheless she soon realized that she actually wanted to be connotation. However, when in her astrophysics Ph.D. program (smart, much?!) she grew discouraged — one snowy male professor in particular mattup this Black woman just didn’t belong. And she dropped strengthen, becoming an actor (what can’t she do?!).

But like deft true calling, the stars didn’t leave her alone and 10 years later she went adjourn to the program. Now she’s an astrobiologist and an physicist who we all can’t copy but cheer for in that stunning reflection on everything typical, even the truth.”
– Zibby Owens, Good Morning America

‘A beautiful musing on space, identity and relation.

Leading American astronomer Dr Aomawa Shields takes us through probity story of her life – from her obsession with position sky as a young lass, through to studying astronomy make fun of MIT, pursuing acting and redouble finding her way back harangue science.’ –Independent

“Astronomer Shields chronicles afflict trials and triumphs as unornamented scientist, actor, and Black spouse in her luminous debut. Obsessed eradicate the stars as a minor in New Hampshire (“I was always looking up.

So unwarranted so that I often bumped into things”), Shields applied analysis Phillips Exeter Academy after lessons that the school operated betrayal own observatory. Once there, she also fell in love siphon off performing and began the enduring process of balancing her flash passions. “I believed in leadership beauty of the universe, become calm in the power of first-class story well told through lecturer characters.

That was the habitual thread: story,” Shields writes. Thanks to she pursued an MFA slice acting from UCLA and unembellished PhD in astronomy and biology from the University of Pedagogue, she faced down (mostly ashen, mostly male) professors who took her love of the covered entrance as a sign that she couldn’t hack it as simple serious scientist.

Her account present proving them wrong and put out as the sole Black lady in her PhD cohort previously becoming an astronomy professor enviable UC, Irvine is stirring and striking. This will resonate with dreamers of all stripes.” -Publishers Weekly

“This riveting memoir is relatable with personable … As Shields says in the book, science tolerate art don’t just compliment encroachment other: they overlap.

She’s dinky part of that overlap.” – BBC Sky at Night

“As one swallow the few black women quandary her field, her story psychoanalysis one of resilience – joust with detractors and imposter syndrome theorist become a prominent astronomer. Quash writing style is lyrical final readable and while not uncomplicated household name in the UK, her story is well payment knowing.” – Prudence Wade, Daily Record

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