Earlier this week, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope provided the deepest, sharpest infrared image of the distant universe to date. If you want to learn more about space and what lies beyond our planet, these four non-fiction books cover multiple perspectives on humanity and its relationship with the stars. They will answer many of your questions and prompt many more. All the books mentioned are available online.

A Brief History of Time (1988)

Author: Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking’s book may have been published four decades ago, but it remains the seminal text for all major theories of space and time. It explains complex concepts like black holes, antimatter, and general relativity theory, in an easy-to-understand way.

Price: Rs 2,099

Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth (2015)

Author: Chris Hadfield

A unique memoir from an astronaut’s perspective, this book is filled with real-life stories of life in space. The Canadian colonel remembers all the original, intriguing and downright scary stories he brought back from space and shares them in an honest and humorous way.

Price: Rs 1,306

Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in a Vacuum (2011)

Author: Mary Roach

A hilarious anthology about how humans would survive in space, this book explores all the arcane questions that come to mind when thinking about living among the stars. Without taking off from the ground, NASA explored how an astronaut’s daily life would affect the human system. It makes you think about how people would survive if we ever left Earth.

Price: Rs 1,213

The Human Cosmos: A Secret History of the Stars (2020)

Author: Jo Marchant

Most space books focus on the future. This interesting anthology, however, traces the past. It shows how humanity is intertwined with the world beyond planet Earth. The stars have shaped human personalities, religious beliefs, power structures, scientific advances, and even our biology since our existence. Discover how the universe has affected human beings and how it continues to affect all aspects of our lives.

Price: Rs 329