Revolutionary America

During the summer of my junior year, I was a participant in NIAHD (National Institute of American History & Democracy) program. (“Class” of 2014 alumni here!) Being able to be on the campus of the College of William & Mary, being able to literally walk into Colonial Williamsburg, meeting fellow students who were as passionate and interested in American history, and learning from some amazing teachers – it was an amazing experience. The opportunity to dedicate a part of the summer to learn about the American Revolution to the Civil War – I was on cloud nine the entire time.

When it was announced that a course on the American Revolution would be taught for Spring 2018, it was a dream come true. I think I may have mentally drooled at the thought of spending a whole semester studying it. I instantly got NIAHD flashbacks, and remembered my wonderful experience during the summer of 2014.

And so far, I am happy to say that my course has been amazing. We just finished reading Braddock’s Defeat (should it really be called “Braddock’s Defeat”?) by David L. Preston. I really enjoyed reading this book because it was about a campaign I had never heard of, yet as I learned, was so critical because it paved the way for the American Revolution and shaped the leaders that would play a part in it. There were of course big names in the book including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Gage – but I believe the book was so much more than just the “star” names. It discussed how British soldiers perceived the colonists, and vice versa, the logistics, the terrain, and the politics. As I stated before, I thought that this was a delightful and engaging read.

I look forward to learning more about Revolutionary America, and am more than eager to share my experiences with you all.

 

 

 

Escaping the Snow: The Astrophysics Edition

It’s no secret where I am currently located. Take one glance at my Instagram profile and you’ll see that I am currently on the east coast in the lovely town of Princeton, New Jersey. Which has some lovely historic sites such as Drumthwacket (the governor’s residence), Morven Museum & Garden (which was previously the home of Richard Stockton – a signer of the Declaration of the Independence – and later used as the governor’s residence), the Princeton Battlefield State Park, and of course, Princeton University.

However, today I am taking a different kind of journey. With the snow dancing in the air, and the wind howling – I’m currently wrapped up in a blanket on the couch, listening to Enya’s album And Winter Came…, and reading Neil deGrasse Tyson’s newest book, Astrophysics for People in a Hurry.

I never considered myself a true technical science-y person. I am an environmental studies minor, but my courses do not entail heavy (if at any) physics or chemistry. I do remember physics and chemistry during high school, and still can recall the fascination I had as I learned about concepts that I couldn’t 100% wrap my mind around. Biology in high school turned out to be one of my best subjects. During my childhood, I remembered asking my parents all about black holes, dark matter, and what exactly happens when a star explodes. (Sorry, mum and dad!) I think in elementary school my science textbook had one page that showed the life cycle of a star.

So coming into with a mostly humanities based mind (History and Classics), I was not sure what to expect or think. Neil deGrasse Tyson’s book has pleasantly surprised me. Not only is the author engaging, but he explains concepts well and thoughtfully. I am currently on chapter four, learning about what is actually between galaxies, and had to drag my eyes away from the book in order to sit down and write this blog post.

Yes, there are equations in the book, and yes, you should brush up on some of your knowledge about Einstein’s theory of general relativity and other physics concepts – but I find Tyson’s work to be relatively accessible. From time to time you may take a moment to look up a concept (for example, I had never heard of a quark or hadron), and while it may feel frustrating that you do not understand what Tyson is saying immediately – take it slow and digest it. By looking up information to help you understand the text, you are taking the time – investing in yourself and your knowledge – to come away with a better understanding of the universe.

In addition, you may feel like you need to pause, put the book down, and think. And that’s totally okay! I had to do that a few times – after all, here I am in the comfort of my own home on earth, and I’m embarking on a journey with Tyson to space – talking about how the universe came to be, how space acts, dark energy, and how we fit into this.

Yes, even though I am only about 1/3 through the book, I not only have a better understanding the universe – how it was created, how it is continuing to expand, and our own location in all this (aka within the Milky Way solar system), but also come to get a sense of who we are. As Tyson writes:

“And yes, every one of our body’s atoms is traceable to the big bang and to the thermo-nuclear furnaces within high – mass stars that exploded more than five billion years ago.

We are stardust brought to life, then empowered by the universe to figure itself out – and we have only just begun.” (page 33)

Q: What book are you currently reading or is on your to-read list?